PASTOR'S COLUMN SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2024
It has been nothing short of a delight to have Deacon James residing and ministering among us this summer.
Beloved Family:
How did it come to be mid-August this swiftly? I trust I am not the only person “in the room” who has this thought. Among the unavoidable realities of this juncture of time is a transition for Deacon James. This weekend, he returns to Saint Mary Seminary for the seminarians’ year-opening retreat, followed by the beginning of his final year of theology. It has been nothing short of a delight to have him residing and ministering among us this summer. Like his peer, Fr. David, Deacon James brings a hefty backpack-full (so to speak) of pastoral gifts, including a joy of spirit. We will miss his day-to-day presence. There is consolation: he will continue to be with us on weekends through May 2025 when— God willing— he will be ordained a priest.
Regarding the work of contributing to the formation of men for Holy Orders, I want to share with you a venture in which I will be engaged over the course of the next two years. As you know, Saint Mary Church has been tremendously blessed to receive newly-ordained priests as well as seminarian interns in our history, particularly within the last two decades. About twenty-three years ago, I went through an initial program of orientation to serve as a “pastoral supervisor” within the seminary structure.
As we would expect, there are guiding principles and standards to which all seminaries are held accountable. In 2022, a new (sixth) edition of the official document, Program of Priestly Formation in the United States of America, was promulgated. “The PPF sets forth the nature and mission of the ministerial priesthood, norms for the admission of candidates, norms for the formation of candidates and norms for the governance and administration of seminaries.”
Related to this revision, a group of brother priests and I are beginning a Vocational Synthesis Stage Pastoral Supervisor Certification Program this month. As in any field, some form of continuing education is valuable. Concretely, here is how it fleshes out. Three times a year— again, for the next two years— this group will attend our own formation sessions out of state. Hence, I will be away for the first of these from August 25-30. Fortunately, this allows me to be here as the new year begins for Saint Mary School. I ask your prayers for us as we embark on this important work on behalf of the Diocese of Cleveland and, indeed, the whole Church.
Please pray for all teachers as they prepare for the new school year. We are blessed with a team of caring and capable staff here at St. Mary School. We anticipate one of the largest enrollments in many years. Thank you to Mrs. Laura Marvin for her continued efforts to tap resources and build quality.
Finally, if you are not already aware, all of the major presentations which took place at the National Eucharistic Congress are available online, via EWTN and YouTube. Among them, I particularly urge us to take in Monsignor James Shea’s talk. Monsignor Shea is President of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. It is well worthy of our 45-minute time investment.
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
