Brotherhood Event Brings Generations Together

The annual gathering of priests and seminarians, nineteen of whom are first-year students, began four years ago as a way for Archdiocesan priests to meet the seminarians, according to Fr. Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh, Rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. Father Tom King, pastor of nearby Guardian Angels parish added, “The great thing about the Brotherhood gathering is that it bridges the generation gap. It gives the older men the opportunity to get to know the younger guys.”

Archbishop Schnurr said it’s good for the seminarians to know what is going on in the parishes, and what the brotherhood that they are joining is all about. Ben Dollarhide, a first-year student from the diocese of Toledo, commented, “These priests are our mentors; they are training us and giving us their wisdom. They share the joy of their pastoral zeal with us.”

Deacon Jarred Kohn, in his fourth theology year, offered some advice to the first-year seminarians, who started their seminary training on August 20^th. “Keep praying and keep plugging away. You will learn who you are. Just be patient with yourself and love our Lord in the midst of your trials,” he recommended.

First-year student, Chris Turner, described the first three weeks as “overwhelming in the best sense. I’m starting to love the routine, but it is strenuous. There is something very beautiful about it though, because it frees you just to focus on what God wants,” he reflected.

Father John Macquarrie’s (St. Bernard and St. Teresa, Springfield) advice to the seminarians is to prepare oneself academically, and to remember that prayer and the spiritual life are very, very important in priestly formation. He reminds the seminarians, “You are a sign of hope to us and to the future of the Church.”

Click the following link to see a photo gallery of Beer, Brats & Brotherhood 2017 http://www.mtsm.org/PhotoGalleries/PhotoGallery62.aspx

Text Credit: Colleen Kammer
Photo Credit: E.L. Hubbard Photography.