Diocesan seminarians return to academics as they continue along the path to priesthood

Friday, Sep. 04, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Four new seminarians entered Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Ore., Aug. 24 to begin their journey, while four other seminarians returned to various seminaries to further their studies for the priesthood in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. 

“These local and international seminarians mean a lot for the revitalization and the future of our Church in Utah,” said Deacon Ricardo Arias, director of the diocesan Office of Vocations. “It’s a great blessing from God to have nine seminarians enrolled in the formation program for the priesthood at this time.” 

Last year, prior to his appointment to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the Most Rev. John C. Wester invited all of the faithful in Utah “to pray more intensely” for vocations to the priesthood and religious life through the yearlong Forty Hours Devotion for Vocations, during which each parish in the diocese hosts a week of Eucharistic adoration for this intention, Deacon Arias said. “It is a response to Jesus’ invitation to the disciples: ‘The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.’” (Matthew 9: 37-38)

One of the diocesan seminarians, Deacon Jorge Martinez Gómez, expects to be ordained a priest next year. He is completing his fourth year of theology at Saint Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif. He was ordained a deacon in June by Archbishop John C. Wester in his hometown of Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico, where he also was able to experience his first baptism, he said. 

Deacon Martinez served this summer at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Salt Lake City, where he had the “chance to celebrate many baptisms and quinceañeras,” he said. “I enjoy being a deacon – I’m very happy with this ministry.” 

Anticipating becoming a priest is something Deacon Martinez compares to a wedding. “I’m nervous and happy; this is a huge step in my life and a huge responsibility to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ, to act as he acted on earth – that is exciting,” he said.

Two seminarians are scheduled to be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate next in June. Stephen Tilley and Alejandro Camberos are in their third year of theology. Tilley is at the Pontifical North American College in Rome; Camberos is at St. Patrick Seminary.

“Cardinal Dolan once said that seminary formation is like a crockpot, not a microwave,” said Tilley. “I’ve found this idea to be true. Spiritual growth in the seminary, and throughout our lives, is like a river cutting into a canyon; we slowly learn to trust God in all things, even the things that we had no idea that we were holding onto. I know I have grown in patience, and I am much more at peace with everything in my life. God’s love and grace is sufficient for our every need.”

Camberos is looking forward to preparing for his diaconate ordination this year, he said. “Being in the seminary has changed my spiritual life in different ways,” he said. “The more I study about God and religion, the more I realize that I don’t know. Now I can say that I feel closer to God even though there are many spiritual challenges that come with our formation.” 

Among the seminarians at Mount Angel is Triston Dillon, who is in his third year of philosophy. He enjoys seeing the monks from the Benedictine Abbey walking around on the hilltop; “they are praying for us,” he said. “In every building, there is a chapel with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. … I try to make the most out of each of them. Each person also has a spiritual director we can seek for help and advice.”

Dillon is looking forward this year to his role as a mentor to new seminarians, he said. “I have a good understanding now of what to do and I can enjoy it,” he said. “The priests are happy; people have said how being a priest must be miserable, they’re so alone – but I feel if they can do it, I can do it.”

Sergio Chavez is completing some philosophy requirements and improving his English at Mount Angel Seminary, a place he never imagined he would be. After graduating from high school, Chavez entered the seminary in Mexico City, but a paperwork mix-up caused him to miss the admissions deadline. He decided to take a trip to the United States with his uncle. Passing through Utah, they stopped at Saint Bridget Parish in Milford and met Father Hernando Diaz, who encouraged Chavez to become a seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. 

“I thought that would never happen to me,” he said, adding “sometimes we think we want something, but God always guides us.”

After months of paperwork, Chavez studied philosophy in Mexico City, English at the University of Utah and became a diocesan seminarian. Along the way, his faith became stronger, he said.

The seminary is giving him tools to work in various areas, he said. “What has changed my spiritual life has been the people that I have had the opportunity to work with in different parishes. Their love for the Eucharist, for prayer, for Mary – their source of love, is contagious; they are awesome examples for us seminarians.” 

Chavez considers his family as his first seminary, where he learned to love God and “our brothers and sisters,” he said, “but the seminary is where I live and share with my classmates. We are in formation now and I should give back to the seminary.”

Four new seminarians have begun their journey to the priesthood at Mount Angel Seminary. They all heard the call to the priesthood as young boys, they said.

Anthony Shumway from Saint Martin de Porres Parish in Taylorsville, was born and raised Catholic in Murray; he pursued the priesthood after he graduated from college.

“Something was missing from my life,” he said. “I had moved back to Utah a couple of years ago after college, and I started praying. Through a lot of prayer it became clear God wanted me to become a priest.” 

Shumway is looking forward to learning more about his faith, about the Church, being able to grow in who he is as a person and who he will become, in better serving the Lord and the brotherhood of the seminarians, he said. 

Romnel Tan is excited to start a new chapter in his life in the seminary, he said. “My mother recalls me saying I wanted to be a priest at age 4, and says, ‘If this is God’s will it will happen,’” said Tan, a member of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City. 

While in the seminary, Tan wants to pray the Liturgy of the Hours in community, “to experience prayer in the monastic tradition of community prayer,” he said; he also is devoted to the Virgin Mary. “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for our Blessed Mother; I have a lot of thanks for her guidance.” 

Another new seminarian, Giancarlo Gazani, became an American citizen on June 17; he is from Lima, Peru, and has always been a devout Catholic, he said. 

Gazani was influenced to become a priest by Vincentian Father Emiliano Rodrigo Conde, his elementary and junior high teacher, who also was his father’s high school religion teacher. “Thanks to him the idea of becoming a priest started to grow, and it’s becoming true as I begin my seminary studies,” he said. 

Becoming an altar server at 6 was “one of the most important influences in my life for the priesthood,” said Gazani. “I’m ready to discover what God wants of me. Many people have told me ‘It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.’ I surely trust them. I’m open to listen to [God’s] voice, and willing to do whatever He wants with my life. After many difficulties and struggles, I can finally see the goal, and I will do my best to reach it.”

Andre Sicard was born in Bogotá, Colombia and moved to Sandy and to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, when he was 2. He later became an altar server and has always “loved going to Mass,” he said. 

“I became involved in my parish’s liturgical life when I became a cantor and pianist; I’ve helped closely with the Triduum celebrations. St. Therese has become a second home for me.

“My family has also influenced my vocation,” he said. “A vocation grows out of love, prayer, support and faith; growing up with my family and my parish has taught me what it is to be in a deep faith-filled love with God and the Church.” 

When Sicard began high school, his former pastor, Father Martin Diaz, now Cathedral of the Madeleine pastor, encouraged him to discern the priesthood; he also was in contact with Deacon Arias. 

After graduating from high school, Sicard discerned waiting a year before going to the seminary. Then he read a reflection called “Born to Be Bold” in the monthly Give Us This Day, and felt the Holy Spirit was leading him to the seminary. 

“I’m looking forward to learning more about this great faith tradition and being a part of a community of peers who are all working and praying to form, discern, and deepen our vocations,” Sicard said.

Luis Uriel De Dios Hernández, who has already completed three years of philosophy in Mexico, is studying English at the University of Utah, and wants to learn quickly so he can return to the seminary in the United States for theology, he said. 

He is in residence at St. Ambrose Parish, where he practices English by speaking to parishioners.

Hernández, originally from Martinez de la Torre in Veracruz, Mexico, entered the seminary when he was 14. Having always been close to Christ, he attended a vocational retreat at the seminary; when the opportunity arose, he enrolled for his first year of high school. However, the class size dwindled until he was the only one left, so he returned home to finish high school, but never gave up on becoming a priest. 

Hernández began observing how people approached and interacted with the priests, how they were grateful for them, trusted in them, he said. “Everything was an incentive to confirm my vocation.”