By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

Walt Whitman once wrote, “The art of art, the glory of expression, and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”

The 19th century poet and essayist might well enjoy the simplicity and glorious expressions emanating from the pens, pencils and even crayons of youth in the Diocese of Trenton as they engage in the annual Seminarian Letter Project.

The project, instituted in 2000 by the New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus, encourages students in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs to send letters and cards to men studying for the priesthood. The project both nurtures vocations in the young and provides men journeying to the priesthood prayerful support from their future flocks.

In the Diocese of Trenton, the Rev. Gebhard Braungart #8415 council, which serves the parishes of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Lavallette, and St. Catharine of Siena, Seaside Park, invited its parishes to send letters to seminarians studying all over the country, including five from the Diocese of Trenton: Rev. Messrs. Christopher Dayton, Michael DeSaye, James Smith and Rev. Brother Nicholas Dolan as well as Christopher Pinto.

Rev. Mr. Smith, who will be ordained a priest June 2, wondered how many of the young letter writers might themselves be considering a life in service to the Church.

“When I recognize this in their writing, I am not only reassured of my own vocation, but that the Holy Spirit is very much at work in each and every one of us,” he said. “I offer these words of encouragement to them: ‘My dear friends, no matter how young or old you are, we are all God’s children… [the letters] made me happy to be following God’s call to become a priest. Please know that, as you have been praying for me, I am also praying for you.’”

Pinto, who will be ordained a deacon May 19, echoed his fellow seminarian’s pleasure at the heartfelt and sometimes adorable letters.

“Each time I get these letters, it brightens my day,” he shared. “There are almost always drawings that accompany their writing, and it just makes me smile… Having been a middle and high school teacher for 15 years before entering seminary, I know first-hand the kind of joy that only students can bring. There is a beautiful innocence about them, and it is such a powerful reflection of the love and the holiness of God that is within all of us.” 

Robert Batta, project chairman for the Knights council, recognized the value of the project to all involved.

“We think there needs to be more of a family environment and more exposure to the Knights,” he said, “and exposure to seminarians for children. This [project] allows us to reach into the parish to the kids and have them develop a dialogue with the seminarians and follows the desire of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to find creative ways to promote vocations.”

Renee Casadonte, St. Catharine of Siena coordinator of religious education, engaged the youngest students to write (and draw) their well-wishes, while Dee Denturo, administrator of religious education in Lavallette, teamed with parish pastor Father Douglas A. Freer to involve the program’s Confirmation preparation class he instructed. When the priest spoke with the children about the years of education and formation necessary to be ordained, they seemed to take the assignment to heart, he said.

“I was impressed by the letters,” said Father Freer, a fellow Knight. “They were sincere and took it much more seriously than I would have thought at first. I am very proud of them. They were all different, not form letters.

“The project raises vocational awareness,” he continued. “Most of these young people have absolutely no idea where priests come from – they think they just appear. Anything we can do to raise awareness for the priesthood for younger people is essential. For the boys, other than me, many times no one has ever suggested being a priest; for the girls, no one has ever suggested them being a religious.”

Pinto shared a message for the junior pen (and crayon) pals he has met through the Seminarian Letter Program.

“I would want them to know how much power they have to make someone smile and laugh,” he said. “With one simple gesture like writing a letter, making a card or drawing a picture, they really have the ability to bring an incredible amount of joy to a person like me. Many of the seminarians here get such letters and cards, and we often share them with each other or even hang them on our doors for everyone to see and enjoy. Each one of the letters and cards we get as seminarians are so very special!”