Whether they come from as far away as the Philippines and South America, or as close as Red Bank, Toms River and Plainsboro, they all come with one purpose in mind and heart -- to devote their lives to serving the Lord as priests.

This year, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., welcomed the following seven men to begin their journey to the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton: Renato Esposito, Arian Wharff, Thomas Barry, Michael Gentile, Michael Kennedy, Juan Carlos Munoz and John Michael Patilla. The seven will join the 28 men who are returning to the seminary this fall, bringing the diocese’s total number of seminarians to 35.

The new seminarians are a mixed group ranging in ages from mid-20s to early 40s, and all have had varied life and educational experiences before arriving to their decisions to enter the seminary.

Of all the seminarians, with the exception of Daniel Kirk, who is studying at the North American College in Rome, the other 34 will now be divided among four area seminaries – St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore; Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pa., and as of this year, there will be men who will also begin their priestly formation at Theological College, Washington, D.C.

For those new candidates who have yet to complete the credits in philosophy that are needed prior to beginning their actual seminary studies, they will enter the seminary as pre-theology students.