Seminarians' summer in the diocese
By Marie Mischel and Laura Vallejo
SALT LAKE CITY — Five Diocese of Salt Lake City seminarians have spent time in Utah parishes this summer, getting a firsthand look at their future.
The experience "benefits them in their priestly formation, particularly in a pastoral sense," said Father Javier Virgen, the diocese’s vocation director. "They have the chance to face pastoral reality, like serving the people in their needs. Even though they do not provide sacramental assistance to people, they assist pastors in basic parish needs. They also improve their language skills, whether Spanish or English. Another important aspect is to work with different parish groups and to see the role of the pastor and the associate pastor. A summer experience is a great opportunity for them to be aware of what it will be like to be a pastor and running a bilingual parish and all the challenges any multicultural community is encountering every day. And, finally, it is for a seminarian a time of rest in terms of being out of school, assignments and exams."
The seminarians had various schedules; some arrived as early as May. In addition to serving in the parishes this summer, they also have taken time for vacation before they return to their studies.
The seminarians ask for prayers from the people of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. They also are supported by the Diocesan Development Drive, the annual parish appeal.
"When it comes to my fellow seminarians, I have no shame in saying that they deserve support, prayers – anything to help them get through the process," said seminarian David Trujillo said. "It’s comforting to know that our community is supporting us in any way."
Alejandro Camberos has been assigned for the summer to Christ the King Parish in Cedar City, and its associated missions. The assignment fits his interests – even before he entered the seminary he was drawn to serve the missions as part of a charismatic group in his home town of Guadalajara, Mexico.
In 2009, Camberos spent three months in Utah at Fr. Virgen’s invitation. Originally he was reluctant to consider living in the United States because he knew no one here and he didn’t speak English, but after touring various parishes and missions throughout the state, "I knew this was a diocese in need. This is a mission place. God put me here," Camberos said. He agreed to leave his seminary in Mexico to come to Utah to study English. He then entered St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif., where he is studying theology.
While in Cedar City this summer, his primary goal is to improve his English skills, which he does by speaking the language, watching movies and television. (His favorite show is NCIS.) In addition to assisting the parish priests at Mass, he helps in the thrift store, visits the incarcerated and, when he first arrived, helped with a study group until it disbanded for the summer. In his free time, he particularly likes playing soccer.
Christopher Gray, from Bountiful, is at Saint George Parish in St. George for the summer.
"There is quite a lot of ‘watch and learn,’" said Gray, who just finished his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a baccalaureate in sacred theology. When he returns to Rome this fall he will continue his theological studies at the Pontifical Lateran University. He will be ordained a transitional deacon on Oct. 4.
While in St. George, he shadows the priests on duties, but he is particularly looking forward to a one-week adult formation class that he will teach on Christology. The class will be offered at St. George Parish in English and Spanish, and at Saint Paul Mission in Hurricane in English. He also is working on a long-term project of his own – a set of reflections based on the Roman Gradual, "to make it more accessible," he said.
Gray decided to enter the seminary "because I believe that is what God wants me to do, and when God tells you to do something, you do it." In 2006, when he was working as a reporter for this publication, he covered the ICE raid on the Swift meatpacking plant in Hyrum, and saw "the horrific the way it tore people apart," he said. At that point, he decided he had to work for social justice, he said.
Jorge Martínez Gómez, from Veracruz, Mexico, is assigned to Saint Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City. He is currently studying theology at St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif., and expects to be ordained a priest after completing his studies in four years.
His love for the seminarian life started when he was very young. "I was very interested in this type of life since I was 5 years old," he said. "I started reading Catholic books and I loved those books."
His interest also was deepened by visits to a monastery that his mother would take him to. "I loved to see the images of the saints," he said. "I liked them so much that I decided that I wanted to be there."
Despite his call, it was years before he was able to live his dream. He graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in communications and entered the job force. "After some time I was able to get accepted in to the seminary, and for me it was like paradise," he said.
As a seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Martinez has been in five parishes: St. George, Saint Joseph in Ogden, Saint Patrick, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, and St. Ambrose.
At St. Ambrose Parish this summer, his primary assignments have been assisting as Mass, visiting the sick and taking the Eucharistic to shut-ins. In his free time, he enjoys walking in the woods, going to the movies and spending time with friends.
David Trujillo, a native of Midvale, is spending the summer at Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, where Father Stanislaw Herba is pastor. When Trujillo was young, Fr. Herba was his pastor. In those days, Trujillo’s involvement in the parish and his prayer life led Fr. Herba to suggest to the young man that he might want to consider the priesthood.
However, "I had other desires I wanted to fulfill," said Trujillo, who went on to other things, including professionally acting. But "finally I said ‘yes’ to the call, and here I am." He is at Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon.
His acting background came in handy this summer, when he was asked to play the part of the tax collector for the parish’s vacation Bible school, which recreated a Jewish village.
In preparing for the role, Trujillo took as his inspiration Zacchaeus, the Biblical tax collector who climbed the tree to see Jesus. "I wanted the kids to open my heart," he said, adding that after the first couple days of simply ‘collecting taxes’ he asked the kids if they were happy to see him. They answered no. Then he asked if Jesus would be happy to see him. Over the next couple of days, the youngest children began telling him how much Jesus loved him.
"They got it," Trujillo said. "They understood that in the Word of God there is hope ... that by their action they can change the world. It’s one of the most important roles I’ve ever participated in."
Jorge Roldán, originally from Tlalnepantala, Mexico, was assigned to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale for the summer, but a family emergency called him away. During his few weeks at the parish, however, he gave talks to Spanish-speaking groups, assisted at Mass and in the parish office, attended Lagoon on Catholic Day, helped with the parish festival and spoke to the adult confirmation class, said the parish pastor, Father Martin Diaz.
Roldán "has a gift for teaching," Fr. Martin said, adding that the seminarian has a good grasp of theology and is able to organize a presentation and give it well.
Roldán is studying English in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives at Assumption Seminary.
Stephen Tilley, from Ogden, has spent most of his summer vacation with family in Europe. However, he will be at Saint Joseph Parish for 10 days in late August before returning to Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon.
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