By Mary Stadnyk | News Editor

Retreats are opportune occasions for people to get some rest and become spiritually renewed. And that was the goal that Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., had in mind when he invited the seven men he will ordain to the priesthood on June 9 to attend a retreat in St. Mary-by-the-Sea, Cape May Point, the week of May 27.

The seven men, who are currently transitional deacons, are: Rev. Messrs. Neiser Cardenas, Carlos Castilla, Robert J. Cro, Daniel E. Kirk, Matthew J.  Pfleger, Walter Andrei Quiceno and Andres Alberto Serna. Also on the retreat was Father Alberto Tamayo, diocesan vice chancellor and secretary to Bishop O’Connell.

Click HERE for gallery of photos

A main reason why Bishop O’Connell felt it was important to bring the seminarians together before their priestly ordination was to help build camaraderie between them, especially since they all attend various seminaries – Pontifical North American College in Rome; St. Mary Seminary and University, Baltimore; Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange, and St. Charles Borromeo, Wynnewood, Pa.

 “They do not get to know each other well during (their seminary) years,” Bishop O’Connell shared, then added that the week in Cape May also gave him a better chance to come to know the seven men as well.

“I do not get to see them often and I felt it was important to bring those about to be ordained priests together for a week of retreat and relaxation,” said Bishop O’Connell.

During the retreat, the bishop valued the quality time he had with the soon-to-be priests, and noted how important it was that they were able to pray together. He appreciated that “I could talk to and with them, I could hear them preach and I could help them as they put some ‘finishing touches’ on their formation from the perspective of our own diocese.”

Even though the retreat lasted only a week, Bishop O’Connell felt that he acquired a “surprisingly good sense” of the men who would become the diocese’s newest priests.

Bishop O’Connell shared how each retreat day included daily spiritual conferences as well as presentations by other priests from the diocese, who spoke about the more practical aspects of pastoral ministry within the diocese each evening.

Along with the many words of assurance that they received from Bishop O’Connell, the seven seminarians also took heart in knowing that their bishop will keep them close in his thoughts and prayers, especially in the coming weeks and months as they get acclimated in their new parish assignments. The bishop noted that he’s already planning to meet with the new priests in about six months following their ordination, with the goal of observing how they are faring in their new ministries.

“Our seminaries do a good job forming our priests, but parish life is a whole new experience,” Bishop O’Connell said.

Preparing to ordain his second class of priests, Bishop O’Connell expressed a sense of gratitude that when he places his hands on the heads of Rev. Messrs. Cardenas, Castilla, Cro, Kirk, Pfleger, Quiceno and Serna on ordination day, he feels “confident that they are ready to serve the people of God as priests.”