The Surprises of God! Encountering God in Unexpected Places.
Do it for God, Anyway
Perfection is Found in Chirst Jesus.
“Christ Has No Body but Yours”
Where to Start Missionary Work?
P OSTER INSIDE!
FALL | 2016 VIANNEY MAGAZINE STAFF DIRECTOR Kyle McClure • Diocese of Orlando ASST. DIRECTOR Milton Martínez • Archdiocese of Miami EDITOR Mark Yarnold • Diocese of St. Petersburg Sebastian Grisales • Archdiocese of Miami DESIGNERS Kyle Fennesy • Diocese of Orlando Austin Mall • Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Jason Smotryski • Diocese of Venice
PHOTOGRAPHY
DIRECTOR Zachary Gray • Diocese of Orlando Cover Photo courtesy of Catholicnewsagency.com
ST. JOHN VIANNEY COLLEGE SEMINARY MISSION STATEMENT Founded in 1959 by Archbishop Coleman Carroll, St. John Vianney College Seminary aims to form men for the diocesan priesthood by focusing on the four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, pastoral, and academic. In accordance with the cultural makeup of Southern Florida, the seminary bills itself as bilingual, allowing seminarians the opportunity to interact, pray, and socialize in both Spanish and English. The Fifth Edition of the Program for Priestly Formation (approved by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops) directs the formation program of St. John Vianney College Seminary. As in the days of the first disciples, priestly formation takes place at the feet of the Lord as a journey of deep and continued conversion to Christ. St. John Vianney College Seminary guides men to learn His teachings, seek His wisdom, and pattern their hearts after His own.
www.sjvcs.edu
Table of Contents Featured
Rector's Message
Vianney 100
The Vocation of a Bishop
Bishop Frank Dewane
Seminary News
A Year of Mercy
The Surprises of God!
Do it for God, Anyway
Christ has no Body but Yours
Mark Yarnold
Peter Gonzalez
Zachary Parker
Be Not Afraid
Johnatan Fernandez
Reflections on Mercy
Vocation Spotlight
Diocese of St. Petersburg
Archdiocese of Miami
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Fall 2016
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Zachary Brasseur Milton Martínez
William Goble
Robert Marquez
Diocese of Orlando
Diocese of Orlando
Archiocese of Miami
Kyle Granath
Jean Dossous
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Message FROM THE
Rector
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ear Friends of St. John Vianney College Seminary, The priests, staff and seminarians of our seminary community are grateful to God for your continued support and prayers. This year, we are blessed to have 81 men in discernment of a priestly vocation. The year of formation was marked by the canonization of St. Teresa of Calcutta and the invitation of Pope Francis to the faithful to become Missionary Disciples. Thus, formation has continued through the lens of becoming a servant to everyone we encounter on the journey to God’s Kingdom. The seminarian community has be invited to remember always that to become an authentic Missionary Disciple we must always seek Christ and allow him to transform us for the mission. This vocation to the priesthood of Jesus calls for brave men willing to die to themselves, take up their cross and follow Christ. This is not an idea or external image but a reality of the heart; recognizing one’s unworthiness and accepting the challenge of becoming an instrument of the all powerful God. We are blessed to have the examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Charles Borromeo, patron of seminarians, St. Francis Xavier, co-patron of missionaries, St. Philip Neri, a holy priest, St. Margaret Clitherow, protector of persecuted priests, and many other holy men and women. Join our seminary family in invoking all the saints to intercede that we all grow in holiness and living a life in Christ at the service of all peoples. As we enter the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmas, be assured of our prayers for your family. As we await the second coming of Jesus, may we allow him to be reborn in our hearts and become more and more everyday true Missionary Disciples. May the mercy of God continue to strengthen our resolve to bring others to Christ and bring peace and joy to our world. With best wishes for you.
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stimados amigos de St. John Vianney College Seminary, Los sacerdotes, el personal y los seminaristas de la comunidad del seminario, al igual que este servidor, estamos agradecidos con Dios por su continuo apoyo y oraciones. Este año tenemos la bendición de tener 81 hombres discerniendo la vocación al sacerdocio de Cristo. Este año de formación estuvo marcado con la canonización de Santa Teresa de Calcuta, y la invitación que el Papa Francisco les hizo a los fieles a convertirse en discípulos misioneros, y a través de este lente hemos enfocado la formación en convertirnos en servidores para quienes nos encontremos a lo largo de nuestra jornada hacia el Reino de Dios. Continuamente concientizamos a todos en nuestra comunidad que para poder transformarnos en auténticos discípulos misioneros, debemos buscar a Cristo siempre permitiéndole que nos transforme para seguir en nuestra misión. Esta vocación al sacerdocio de Jesús requiere hombres valientes y dispuestos a morir a sí mismos, tomar sus respectivas cruces y seguir a Cristo. Esta no es una idea o imagen externa, sino una realidad del corazón; reconocer que no somos dignos pero aceptamos el desafío con dignidad y así podremos convertirnos en instrumentos de Dios Todopoderoso. Tenemos la bendición de tener el ejemplo de nuestra Santísima Virgen María, San Carlos Borromeo, patrono de los seminaristas, San Francisco Javier, copatrón de los misioneros, San Felipe Neri, un santo sacerdote, Santa Margarita Clitherow, protectora de los sacerdotes que son perseguidos y muchos otros santos y santas de Dios. Los exhortamos a unirse a nuestra familia del seminario en oración, y juntos podamos invocar a todos los santos para que intercedan por nosotros y podremos crecer en santidad y viviremos una vida en Cristo al servicio de todos los pueblos. Ahora que entramos en la temporada de Adviento y Navidad, les aseguramos que nuestras oraciones están siempre presentes por ustedes y sus familias. Al esperar la segunda venida de Cristo, dejemos que Jesús renazca en nuestros corazones, y así nos convertiremos cada vez más en verdaderos discípulos misioneros. Que la misericordia de Dios continúe fortaleciendo nuestra determinación de atraer a otros a Cristo y llevar paz y alegría a todo el mundo. Son mis mejores deseos para ustedes.
I remain at your service in Christ,
Permanezco siempre a su servicio en Cristo,
Rev. Msgr. Roberto Garza Rector 3
Rev. Msgr. Roberto Garza Rector sjvcs.edu
Vianney Magazine
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THE VOCATION OF A
BISHOP Located in Venice, Florida, Epiphany Cathedral serves as the seat of the Ordinary, Bishop Frank Dewane. Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Venice Department of Communications.
Bishop Dewane poses for a selfie at the 2016 Youth Rally for the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Over 1800 youth from across the diocese were in attendance.
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n the memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, I was fortunate to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with a gathering of the Presbyterate of the Diocese of Venice. The stated reason for gathering was to mark the tenth anniversary of my ministry as Bishop in the Diocese of Venice. However, very much on my mind was the gathering with the priests of the Diocese again in this Year of Mercy. In July 2006, Bishop John J. Nevins consecrated me as the second Bishop of the Diocese of Venice. On that day, I became the Coadjutor-Bishop and approximately six months later the Ordinary. Along with my Anniversary, I also welcomed the opportunity to again speak with my brothers about the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The priests and I were very much aware how the focus of being a Church of Mercy and the words of our Holy Father on this matter had powerfully impacted parishioners. It seemed opportune to reflect on how the Year of Mercy had also impacted my ministry
"Christ came not to be served, but to serve: let that be your call."
Bishop Dewane celebrates his first Mass. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 16th, 1988.
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and ask the priests to similarly consider how the year had moved them to more generously care for the faithful and those in search of a home in the Church. The prayers and readings for the Mass were from the memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, since the saint had been a bishop and there is a parish in the Diocese of which St. Charles Borromeo is the patron saint. However, while rarely deviating from the designated readings, I made personal choices for the Mass. One text was from Isaiah—The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he had anointed me; and one was from Ephesians – Paul, a prisoner for the Lord, calls upon readers to be worthy of their calling. The Gospel was from St. John about the post-resurrection account of Jesus thrice asking Peter: Do you love me more than these? When arriving to Venice, I probably would have made very different choices. However, each of the passages evoked a particular aspect of my decade of ministry as Bishop and how it had affected me.
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Vianney Magazine
Bishop Frank Dewane Diocese of Venice in Florida The priests chuckled when I spoke about the Lord telling Peter “…when you are old others will dress you and take you where you do not want to go.” I am originally from Wisconsin and it’s winters, how could I not want to go to Florida? But, the memory arose for me of how as the oldest of my seminary classmates, I often was called to ponder this phrase as formation challenged me to grow in ways that were different than my preferences. The phrase allowed me to share with the priests the tough reality of being called as Bishop to places, not at all geographic in nature, that I would rather not go, and yet having to go to those places if I was to be worthy of my calling. Isaiah’s profession that he had been anointed, called to mind how Bishop Nevins poured an abundant helping of the Sacred Chrism over my head at my Episcopal Ordination ten years earlier. The ritual proved prophetic as I confirmed with the same ointment so many of our youth and anointed the people of God. It was my encouragement to the priests to think of how important the ministry of anointing has been to their own calling and how we all had to struggle to answer our calling worthily, even when inconvenienced or in need of comfort from the Lord ourselves. The context of St. Paul when writing his letter was a rich source of spiritual refection. Paul was in prison, preparing for certain martyrdom and in many ways alone and dejected. It was not necessary to tell the priests that a religious vocation is most tested when we find ourselves discouraged, lonely or facing our own limits. Paul the prisoner gave me a good feel for the experience of those to whom I often minister, the
Fall 2016
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imprisoned in facilities around the Diocese. Brought low by their circumstances and often ashamed at how their life had turned out, these men to whom I never would have imagined I would be ministering, come to me as a representative of the Church. With edifying courage and humility, they come seeking a small taste of God’s mercy and the hope of healing. Humility, kindness, patience, enduring love, steadfast unity and peace are the habits of those who have come to full stature in Christ, Paul told his readers. Yet, those of us who are called must struggle every day to bring these virtues to our ministry. Whether we are priest, bishop or seminarian, it is these virtues that make us live up to our vocation. We are all well aware of how often we fall short in practicing these habits. Nevertheless, we must always seek to allow ourselves to be called to the places where these spiritual qualities are most needed. The Year of Mercy has placed this thought before me. It is my hope that the Jubilee Year had also awakened in the presbyterate the desire to feed the sheep and tend the lambs with these simple ways of being merciful as the Heavenly Father is merciful. Often I say to priests when we gather: It is good that we are here! It surely was good that day to reflect on my ministry and on the Year of Mercy with my brothers. Most Reverend Frank Dewane Diocese of Venice in Florida
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LA VOCACIÓN DE UN OBISPO
Monseñor Frank Dewane
Diócesis de Venice en la Florida
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"Cristo no vino para ser servido, sino para servir: deja que ese sea también el propósito de tu llamado."
n el memorial de San Carlos Borromeo tuve la dicha de presidir la celebración eucarística con varios miembros del clero de la Diócesis de Venice, aquí en la Florida. Esta celebración marcó el décimo aniversario de mi ordenación al ministerio del episcopado en la Diócesis de Venice. Sin embargo, la idea de reunirme una vez más con los sacerdotes de nuestra diócesis durante este año jubilar de la misericordia fue muy placentera.
raramente me desvío de las lecturas designadas, hice elecciones personales para esa misa. Una de las lecturas fue de Isaías—«El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí porque me ha ungido», y la otra fue de Efesios—Pablo, prisionero del Señor, llama a los lectores a ser dignos de su llamado. El Evangelio fue de San Juan sobre el relato después de la resurrección, cuando Jesús le pregunta a Pedro: «¿Me amas más que estos?» Al llegar a Venice pude tomar otras opciones sobre las escrituras. Sin embargo, cada uno de estas lecturas evocó un aspecto particular de mis diez años de ministerio como obispo, y también la manera en que me habían afectado. Los sacerdotes se rieron entre si al hablarles de la escena cuando el Señor le dice a Pedro: «... cuando seas viejo, otros te vestirán y te llevarán a lugares donde no quieras ir”. Yo soy originario de Wisconsin y de sus inviernos, ¿cómo no iba a querer ir a la Florida? Pero, me acordé de cuando estaba en el seminario. Como yo era el mayor de entre mis compañeros de clase, a menudo me pedían que reflexionara sobre esta frase, ya que la formación me desafiaba a crecer de maneras que eran diferentes a mis preferencias. Esta frase me permitió compartir con los sacerdotes la dura realidad de ser llamado al cargo del episcopado, y de ser enviado a diversos lugares, no necesariamente con una naturaleza geográfica de mi preferencia, sino el tener que ir a cualquier lugar ya que eso es digno de mi vocación. “CON UN VALOR Y UNA HUMILDAD EDIFICANTE, VIENEN BUSCANDO PROBAR UN POCO DE LA MISERICORDIA DE DIOS”
En julio del 2006 el obispo John J. Nevins me consagró como el segundo obispo de la Diócesis de Venice. Ese día me convertí en el obispo-coadjutor y aproximadamente seis meses después pasé a ser obispo ordinario. Junto con mi aniversario aproveché la oportunidad para hablarles a mis hermanos sobre el año Jubilar de la Misericordia. Los sacerdotes y yo estamos muy conscientes de cómo el ser una Iglesia Misericordiosa, y cómo las palabras sobre la misericordia del Santo Padre han impactado profundamente a los feligreses. Me pareció oportuno reflexionar con ellos la manera en que el Año de la Misericordia había impactado mi ministerio, y de igual forma, pedirles a los sacerdotes que consideraran cómo este año los había llevado a cuidar más generosamente de todos los feligreses y aquellos que buscan un hogar en la Iglesia. Las oraciones y lecturas para la Misa eran del memorial de San Carlos Borromeo ya que este santo fue obispo, y además hay una parroquia en la diócesis de la cual él es el santo patrón. Aunque
La profesión de Isaías al ser ungido me recordó de cuando el obispo Nevins derramó una abundante ración del sagrado Crisma en mi cabeza el día de mi ordenación episcopal hace ya diez años. Ese ritual me resultó profético pues con ese mismo ungüento he confirmado a tantos de nuestros jóvenes y he ungido al pueblo de Dios. Así fue como animé a los sacerdotes a pensar en la importancia que tiene el ministerio de la unción en su propia vocación, y recordarles que todos tuvimos que luchar para responder dignamente a nuestro llamado, incluso cuando nos ha incomodado o cuando nosotros hemos necesitado del consuelo del Señor. El contexto que usó San Pablo al escribir su carta es una fuente rica de reflexión espiritual. Pablo estaba en la cárcel, preparándose para el martirio, solo y abatido. No me fue necesario decirles a los sacerdotes que la vocación religiosa es puesta a prueba cuando nos encontramos desanimados, solos o desafiados por nuestros propios límites. El prisionero Pablo me hace recordar de las
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Vianney Magazine
Parte Superior: Obispo Frank Dewane en la ordenación sacerdotal del padre Lawton Lang. Parte Inferior: Los sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Venice celebran la Misa Crismal.
experiencias pastorales que he tenido con aquellos a quienes visito a menudo: todos los encarcelados alrededor de la Diócesis. Son ellos—a los que las circunstancias de la vida los han hecho tocar fondo, y muchas veces han sido humillados por la manera en que sus vidas se han desenvuelto—estos hombres a quienes yo nunca me hubiera imaginado que estaría ayudando, ahora vienen a mí pues me ven como un representante de la Iglesia. Con un valor y una humildad edificante, vienen buscando probar un poco de la misericordia de Dios y la esperanza de la sanación. Dicho por Pablo: la humildad, la bondad, la paciencia, el amor duradero, la unidad y la paz son los Fall 2016
embargo, siempre nos debemos dejar llevar a esos hábitos de aquellos que han lugares dónde estas cualidades espirituales están más alcanzado la plenitud en necesitadas. Esto es lo que me ha revelado el año de Cristo. Sin embargo, aquellos la misericordia. Es mi anhelo que este Año del Jubileo de nosotros que estamos también haya despertado en el clero llamados al servicio a el deseo de alimentar a las ovejas, los demás debemos "Hay y de cuidar a los corderos con luchar diariamente maneras simples de ser para traer estas cosas que ahora misericordiosos como virtudes a piensas que no puedes el Padre Celestial es nuestro lograr; pero el Señor te dará la misericordioso. ministerio. gracia necesaria para lograrlas. No importa A menudo, cuando si somos El Señor hará lo mejor en ti. Todos nos reunimos, le digo sacerdotes, estamos llamados para mejorar. a los sacerdotes: ¡Es obispos o Yo también." bueno estar aquí! Sin seminaristas, -Obispo Dewane, Homilía de duda fue muy bueno poder son estas virtudes las que reflexionar ese día con mis Ordenación Sacerdotal, nos hacen vivir a hermanos sobre mi ministerio y 2013 la altura de nuestra el Año de la Misericordia. vocación. Todos debemos estar bien conscientes de la frecuencia con la cual Su Excelencia Frank Dewane nos limitamos en practicar Diócesis de Venice en la Florida estos buenos hábitos. Sin sjvcs.edu
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The
PAT H O F FOR M AT ION @ St. John Vianney College Seminary
JUNIOR
Philosophy courses such as Metaphysics, Contemporary Philosophy, and Anthropology fill most of the class schedule. Also in this year, the juniors participate in a humanities project. Having worked on the project all year, they present their research to the community.
SOPHOMORE
General studies continue, but philosophy and theology start to become the bulk of course work. Also in this second year of formation, men venture out of the classroom and into the local Miami community in order to put what they have learned to practice.
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FRESHMEN
In order to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, collegiate seminarians start their first year taking both prerequisite courses and philosophy courses: Reading/Comprehension, Western Civilization, Spanish I, Intro to Philosophy, Intro to Humanities, Intro to Old and New Testament, and Pastoral Ministries.
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Every seminarian’s journey to St. John Vianney College Seminary begins not with his own initiative but God’s initiative, love. His unique, individualized, and consistent call is what draws us to respond and take the bold step of contacting our respective vocations director. This is the beginning of the long and arduous journey of priestly formation.
SENIOR
This year is the culmination of all the philosophical courses while also synthesizing Catholic identity in philosophy. The inclusion of a capstone senior project encourages seminarians to pursue their studies in a personal and passionate way in order to develop a unique philosophical study.
After graduating from St. John Vianney, men continue priestly formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boyton Beach.
(5 year program) Theology I Theology II Pastoral Year at a Diocesan Parish Theology III - Diaconate Ordination Final Formation Year - Ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ
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The Pre-Theology Program is for men who have previously completed a bachelors degree in any field of study before discerning into seminary. They live in separate housing from the collegiate seminarians but will enter a parrallel track with the juniors and eventually converge into one class at the major seminary!
PRE-THEOLOGY II
The second year of pre-theology allows for pastoral ministry in the Miami community, the continuation of philosophical studies, and an introduction to theology.
PRE-THEOLOGY I
Pre-theologians are introduced to a two-year crunch of philosophy and humanities courses. This includes the historical sequence of philosophy (Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and Contemporary) as well as Greek and Roman World humanities courses.
The
Surprises of GOD
MARK YARNOLD
Senior Diocese of St. Pertersburg
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riving home for Easter break last spring, I received a phone call from my vocations director, Fr. Carl Melchior, asking whether I was interested in going to Poland for World Youth Day. I took his offer about as fast as he put it down. It was an offer I could not refuse. As the summer passed and the day “I quickly learned that we were departing approached, I began to have doubts about we have a God of great whether or not I would enjoy the surprises so long as trip I was about to go on. Youth we allow ourselves to be surprised.” group and other youth conferences hadn’t been much a part of my growing up in the faith. I thought World Youth Day would just be a big youth group event. So, my prayer was simply to remain open to whatever God had in store. I quickly learned that we have a God of great surprises so long as we allow ourselves to be surprised. First and foremost, the fact that this World Youth Day was in Poland made it an event like no other. I have never experienced a country that is so rooted in Catholicism. Not to mention, Krakow, the city in which the festivities took place, was the home to two Catholic giants of the twentieth
century, St. Faustina Kowalska and St. Pope John Paul II. St. Faustina, who relayed the message of Divine Mercy, and St. John Paul II, who made Divine Mercy a central focus of his pontificate, were now playing host to millions of young Catholics from around the world during this Holy Year of Mercy. Needless to say, the Holy Spirit was moving throughout the city and there was a buzz in the air. There is a spirit of World Youth Day that cannot be described. There is rowdiness, almost like one would find at a sporting event, it flows not from an excitement for the game about to take place but rather from a joy of living a life in relationship with Christ. People go chanting through the streets and gather in droves to sing and play music on the street corners because of a desire to share with others the joy that comes from an encounter with the living God. And I was right there with them, chanting and singing. I was swept away by that same spirit, and it whispered to me, “be not afraid.” During the Vigil Service the night before the closing mass, Pope Francis addressed about 2 million youth. The tenderness and authority with which the Holy Father spoke made it feel as though he were talking directly to me. He
180 countries... 3 million people... What is World Youth Day?
World Youth Day (WYD) is a worldwide encounter with the Pope which is typically celebrated every three years in a different country. This past summer, over 3 million people from 180 countries came together in Krakow, Poland to celebrate our faith and worship together. It is like a family reunion for the Catholic community!
urged us to “leave the comfort of the couch” and live life with the vigor of people who have encountered Christ. He urged us to go to the peripheries. The peripheries make us uncomfortable, because they force us to come face to face with things we would rather not see or hear. He told us that we should be the change that we want to see in the world. He also warned that it will not be easy. Change and discomfort require a dying to oneself, and we don’t like that. It was a message that I had heard many times over, but there in that field in Poland, surrounded by millions of people, being told by a man that looked the size of an ant from where I was standing, it struck me to the core. Here I was, hungry and tired, in a country whose language I did not speak, surrounded by people I did not know, trying to sleep on a shower curtain in the middle of a Polish field, completely uncomfortable in every way imaginable, and yet, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Why? Because in that place of discomfort, in the peripheries of life, there too is Christ. It is there that he helps to lift our crosses and carry our burdens.
From July 24 - August 3, Mark went on pilgrimage with other seminarians and lay people from Florida to join millions of other Catholics with Pope Francis in Poland.
“...in that place of discomfort, in the peripheries of life, there too is Christ” Responding to the dictations of both St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis to “Be not afraid” and to “leave the comfort of the couch” is not easy. Too often, fear of what others may think, fear of one’s own abilities, or fear of discomfort dictate our lives, but it is the call of the Christian to step out into the unknown and search for the face of Christ. World Youth Day allowed me to step out into mystery and trust completely in God. In the experiences and the messages I received at World Youth Day, I encountered a fullness of living not by fear or comfort but by joy and hope. This is a faith I can be proud of. This is the life that Christ offers to all who follow him. Fall 2016
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Kneeling among 3 million Catholics at World Youth Day, Mark prays with them and Pope Francis. 12
Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in honor of the canonization of Mother Tere
PETER GONZALEZ
Pre-Theology II Diocese of St. Petersburg Below is a glimpse of the crowd at Mother Teresa’s Canonization Mass in Rome.
Do it for God, Anyway courtesy of catholicnewsagency.com
Procession with relic of Mother Theresa at her Canonization Mass.
courtesy of catholicnewsagency.com
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any years before Mother Teresa was canonized, and while she was in fact still alive, I recall my older sister dressing up like her for school on All Saints Day. It seemed as though everyone was convinced this simple nun was a saint long before she was properly eligible to be called one. Her actions, loving the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, spoke so loudly they were heard all over the world, and in a way, she continues to speak to people of all nations. One of my favorite quotes of hers comes from the poem, “Do It Anyway.” Among the many exhortations to be forgiving, honest, and charitable, I am particularly struck by the line: Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
esa of Calcutta, Miami, FL.
“Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.” This verse strikes at the heart of one of my deepest tendencies: perfectionism. Perhaps, it’s the result of a natural pride in my work when it is done well. Or maybe, it stems from the ingrained paradigm of nearly twenty years of grade-evaluated education. Regardless, though this tendency pushes me to work hard, it also cripples me if I find myself actually unable to perform quality work in a given amount of time. I have also experienced how perfectionism inhibits my ability to minister well. Over the summer, I was assigned to a parish for eleven weeks, and I loved it! I had the opportunity to serve parishioners in the liturgies, at the hospital, during Vacation Bible School, on various trips, and in everyday activities. Yet, my biggest challenge was a certain obsession with
“In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” performance, which kept me constantly asking, “Am I doing well? Am I listening properly and saying the right thing?” It was really a search for acceptance and love. Perfectionism seeks to define who I am and whether or not others love me based on how well I perform. I, by myself, will never be able to do everything just right, and by placing my trust in the things I do, I set myself up for failure. To this, the final line of Mother Teresa’s poem presents an answer: “In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” This leads me to question my motives. For whom am I giving my best? Am I striving to be charitable out of genuine love for others or love for myself? Am I trying to do well in class out of love for God, or because I want to be proud of my own achievements? I’ll take the advice from the nun who is one of the greatest examples of faith and good works in the last century. God’s relationship with me is the very foundation of my existence, faith, and aspirations, so I always need to keep him in sight. When He calls me to any particular act of love, like a smile, I must fulfill that act towards my neighbor, as best I can, out of love for the one who called me to it. No, it won’t be perfect. No act of mine could ever save the world. But that was never for me to do, anyway; Christ did that already. So, I trust He will take the little act of love and turn it into something beautiful, as the psalmist says: “Make justice your sacrifice and trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 4:6)
HAZLO DIOS, TODAS FORMAS POR
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Misa de la canonización de Madre Teresa de Calcuta celebrada por el Papa Francisco en la Plaza de San Pedro en el Vaticano.
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uchos años antes de que la Madre Teresa fuera canonizada—de hecho, aun estando ella viva— recuerdo que mi hermana mayor se disfrazó de ella para una actividad de la escuela el día de Todos los Santos. En ese entonces parecía que todo el mundo veía que esta humilde monja era ya una santa en vida, mucho antes de que fuese propiamente elegible para la santidad. Sus actos de amor hacia los más pobres de Calcuta han resonado de tal manera que de una forma u otra continúan inspirando a los pueblos de todo el mundo. Una de sus frases célebres que más me gusta se encuentra en el poema titulado Hazlo de Todos Formas, donde ella nos invita a perdonar, y a ser honestos y caritativos. La frase dice así: «Da al mundo lo mejor que tienes y puede que jamás sea suficiente. Da al mundo lo mejor que tengas, de todas formas.» Esta frase llega al centro de una de las cosas a las que estoy más propenso: el perfeccionismo. Eso quizás nace de sentirme orgulloso de lo que hago cuando me sale bien; o tal vez proviene del paradigma que se encuentra en los casi veinte años que tengo de estudios académicos. Aunque esta inclinación al perfeccionismo me empuja a esforzarme mucho más, a su vez me impide aplicarme adecuadamente en lograr mi meta en un tiempo determinado. Estoy también consciente que el
PETER GONZALEZ
Estudiante de Pre-Teología II Diócesis de San Petersburgo 15
perfeccionismo impide mi habilidad de servirle a los demás correctamente. Durante el verano pasado estuve trabajando en una parroquia por once semanas, y ¡me fascinó! Tuve la oportunidad de servir en las liturgias, visitar enfermos en el hospital, ayudar en el campamento bíblico para niños y adolescentes, ir a paseos parroquiales—en fin, ayudar en los quehaceres de la parroquia. Sin embargo, mi mayor reto fue una cierta preocupación de desempeñar bien, el cual me hizo cuestionarme: ¿Será que sí lo estoy haciendo bien? ¿Estaré poniendo atención y diciendo las palabras
correctas? Me di cuenta que esas preguntas eran signos de que ansiaba ser aceptado y amado. Esta inclinación al perfeccionismo busca cegarme, y busca que me cuestione si los demás me aman sólo por el hecho de que me desempeño bien. Yo, por mis propios méritos, nunca haré las cosas perfectamente bien; si pongo todo mi empeño en las cosas que hago, me predispongo al fracaso. Esto me lleva a reflexionar en la última línea del poema de la Madre Teresa que dice: «Verás, el análisis final es entre tú y Dios; nunca será entre tú y ellos, de todas formas.» Esta frase me lleva a cuestionar los motivos de lo que hago: ¿Por quién es que doy lo mejor de mí? ¿El amor hacia los demás y hacia mí mismo es suficientemente genuino para esforzarme en ser caritativo? ¿Estoy dando lo mejor de mí en las clases porque amo a Dios, o porque me quiero sentir orgulloso de mis propios logros? He decidido seguir el consejo de esa monjita, que ha sido uno de los más grandes ejemplos de fe y buenas obras del siglo pasado. La relación con Dios es el cimiento de mi existencia, de mi fe y de mis metas; y es por eso que debo tener mi vista puesta en Él. Cuando siento su llamado, específicamente para ofrecerle una sonrisa al prójimo, lo debo hacer no para quedar bien, sino para entregarme genuinamente a ese hermano o hermana que necesita sentir el amor de Cristo a través de mí. No, no será perfecto pues no todo lo que hago podrá salvar al mundo entero. De todas formas, esa nunca fue mi misión; Cristo ya lo hizo por mí. Así que confío que Él tomará mis actos de amor, por muy pequeños que sean, y los convertirá en algo hermoso, como diría el salmista: «Ofrezcan sacrificios justos y confíen en el Señor.» (Salmo 4, 6)
Hazlo de Todas Formas!
Madre Teresa De Calcuta
Las reliquias de la Madre Teresa de Calcuta fueron presentadas en la Misa en honor a su canonización celebrada en la Catedral de Santa Maria en Miami.
La gente a menudo no es razonable, es ilógica y egoísta; perdónalos de todas formas Si eres amable, la gente puede acusarte de egoísta o tener intenciones ocultas; sé amable de todas formas. Si tienes éxito, te ganarás algunos falsos amigos y algunos verdaderos enemigos; ten éxito de todas formas. Si eres honesto y franco, la gente puede engañarte; sé honesto y franco de todas formas. Lo que tú puedes estar años construyendo, alguien podría destruirlo en una noche; construye de todas formas.
Las Hermanas de la Caridad en la Misa en honor a la canonización de Madre Teresa de Calcuta en la Catedral de Santa María en Miami.
Si encuentras la serenidad y felicidad, la gente puede sentir celos de ti; se feliz de todas formas. El bien que haces hoy, la gente posiblemente lo olvidará mañana; haz el bien de todas formas. Da al mundo lo mejor que tengas, e incluso podría no ser suficiente; da al mundo lo mejor que tengas de todas formas. Sabes, en el análisis final, se trata de algo entre Dios y tú; nunca entre tú y la gente de todas formas.
Los seminaristas llenos de regocijo en la Misa en honor a la canonización de Madre Teresa de Calcuta celebrada en la Catedral de Santa María en Miami.
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“CHRIST
Has no
Body but Yours”
ZACHARY PARKER
“What we are asked to do is love”
Junior Diocese of Orlando
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W
hen I was asked to write this article, I was at first at a total loss for words. Who am I to write on something like missionary discipleship? I have only been a seminarian for a short time, what do I know? However, as I was praying over what I should write in this article, I kept coming back to what our Lord himself said to the disciples:
All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.1 We are all called to be missionary disciples of the Lord. In our baptism, we are grafted onto the very cross of Christ and are born into a sharing of his life, death, and resurrection. It is through the freedom we have in Jesus, a freedom from slavery to the powers of sin and death, that we are directed and compelled to go out and share what we have experienced. To fear nothing because we know that Christ is with us always, and it is he who is moving us to share the love and joy we have found in him. “The love of Christ impels us”2 to share what we have experienced. Thomas Merton once said:
Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy. Our Lord asks us to go forth to share his message with everyone, and everything. To scream the gospel from the rooftops so that all may hear. He does not ask us to pick and choose who we will share his good news with. Saint Teresa of Calcutta went amongst the poorest of the poor, into places few even have the fortitude to smell, and through simple acts of love, she brought the love of Jesus to those in need. We have a tendency to believe in order to be a missionary we must go far off into third world countries or into a remote jungle and only after that are able to be called missionaries. However, this is far from the truth. Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said that “love begins by taking care of the closest ones-the ones at home.” We do not have to go far to find the poor, in reality, we just have to look out the window. And it is not just the physically poor that are in need but the spiritually poor especially. In fact, there is likely more spiritual poverty in our own cities and neighborhoods than there is physical poverty in these far off places.
zac Zachary Parker and Mark Yarnold walking around the seminary campus.
We are called to be a light for the world, to bring those trapped in the shadows and lies of sin out from the darkness. We stand not as the source of light but as a reflection of Christ’s light. Cardinal François-Xavier Van Thuán was tortured, abused, and kept in solitary confinement nine years during his imprisonment in a Vietnamese reeducation camp. During his imprisonment, he was tormented by the fact that he had so many things he wanted to do for the Church but here he was isolated, inactive and far away from everyone. However, he came to understand through prayer that, “If God wants you to give it all up and put the work into his hands, do it and trust him. You have only to choose God and not the works of God!” It is only God who does, we are the instruments that he uses. I have been praying over how I should end this article for quite a while now and I believe there is no better way than to end with the words of St. Teresa of Avila:
Christ
has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Courtesy of catholicnewsagency.com
Courtesy of catholicnewsagency.com
1
Matthew 28:18-20 2 Corinthians 5:14
2
WHAT WE CARRY at SEMINARY Notepad for Prayer
“Please pray for me! Since the summer before I entered seminary, I have kept a small notepad and a pen on me all the time. This lets me write down prayer intentions, graces, and notes from conferences in order that I may pray with them later on!” -Peter Gonzalez
Scapular
“I wear my scapular all the time. The only time I take it off is when I shower. I was given my first scapular when I received all of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil in 2003. My CCD teacher explained how the scapular is a Catholic’s armor, the rosary is a Catholic’s sword, and the Bible is a Catholic’s shield. She told me that ‘when you go out into the world, you can be strong in your faith knowing that you can defend our faith with your bible, you can be certain that no evil will harm you with your scapular, and you can fight off evil with your rosary.’ These words probably sound silly to most people, but I found comfort in those words. The scapular holds a special place in my heart because of my devotion to our Blessed Mother. She made a promise that she will intercede for all those wearing it during the time of judgement.” -Khalil Selim
A Rosary a Day
“I have received many rosaries from friends and family as gifts over the years. I carry a different rosary in my pocket every day. For example, on Tuesdays, I pray using the rosary my mother gave me at my Confirmation, and because I used to teach Confirmation classes at my home parish on Tuesday nights. When I pray the Rosary on Tuesdays, I pray for my mother, my entire family, and those preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. These rosaries have helped me to maintain the habit of daily prayer.” -Christian Galvan
MEET THE MAGAZINE CREW: KYLE McCLURE
MILTON MARTÍNEZ
MARK YARNOLD
KYLE FENNESY
DIRECTOR
ASST. DIRECTOR
EDITOR
DESIGNER
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Vianney Magazine
Reflection Journal
“Writing well has been a struggle I have had since kindergarten. My mom would breathe down my neck to make sure that I had my subjects and clauses in their proper places. I could sure use her motivation today! Even though grammar has never been my strong point, I have found sufficient joy in writing out the songs of my soul, and my reflection journal has always been the instrument which gives me the opportunity to do so. This journal contains my heart’s cries of pain and poems of love. Above all, a journal is my place for God and his mysterious wonders to caress my existence. Writing has become a way I make my soul visible to humanity.” -Devereaux King
A Special Cross
“I carry a small cross in my pocket daily, because it reminds me of the parishioner who gave it to me. The cross was given to me on the day I left for seminary. She gave the cross to me so that I may remember to pray for her. When I pray with this cross be it in the chapel or in my room, I am reminded of our special relationship, and I hope she is encouraged that I am praying with the cross.” -Rafael Gutierrez
Rosary from Calcutta
“I carry a rosary in my pocket. It was given to me by a religious brother who desired that I know our Mother Mary more. He received it when he had gone to Calcutta, India. I carry it virtually everywhere, except when I shower or play sports. I have gone to over four different countries with it and have touched it to many different relics, including Sts. Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II! The rosary reminds me of the Lord’s personal love for me. It always reminds me that I am invited into a personal relationship with Jesus and his mother. Christ and the Immaculate Conception grant me comfort, strength, and peace when I pray with it, even when I’m simply fiddling with it’s crucifix at anytime particular time.” -Christian Chami
Family Cross
“I wear this cross because it belonged to my grandmother. Every day, it reminds me of her simplicity and kindness. I have worn the cross since the start of my discernment four years ago. My grandmother’s example is always with me through the presence of this cross which after all was the model of her life.” -Phillip Mills
PHOTOGRAPHY CREW: JASON SMOTRYSKI
AUSTIN MALL
ZACKARY GRAY
RYAN CALLAHAN
DESIGNER
DESIGNER
DIRECTOR
ASST. DIRECTOR
Fall 2016
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Los
Discípulos
M
isioneros
ZACHARY PARKER
ESTUDIANTE DE TERCER AÑO DE FILOSOFÍA DIÓCESIS DE ORLANDO
C
uando me pidieron que escribiera este artículo, me quede sin palabras. ¿Quién soy yo para hablar de algo como el discipulado misionero? He sido seminarista por muy poco tiempo, ¿Qué puedo saber yo? Sin embargo, al buscar en oración lo que debería escribir, me acordé de lo que le dijo nuestro Señor a los discípulos: «Dios me ha dado autoridad plena sobre cielo y tierra. Vayan y hagan discípulos a todos los pueblos y bautícenlos para consagrarlos al Padre, al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo, enseñándoles a poner por obra todo lo que les he mandado. Y sepan que yo estoy con ustedes todos los días hasta el final de los tiempos.» (Mat 28, 18-20) Todos somos llamados a ser discípulos misioneros del Señor. En el bautismo fuimos adheridos a la misma cruz de Cristo y hemos nacido para compartir su vida, su muerte y resurrección. Es a través de la libertad que obtuvimos en Cristo—una libertad a la esclavitud del poder del pecado y de la muerte—que somos conducidos e incitados a ir y compartir lo que hemos experimentado; a temerle a nada porque sabemos que Cristo está siempre con nosotros, y es Él quien nos impulsa a compartir el amor y el gozo que hemos encontrado en Él. Zach Parker practicing music in St. Raphael’s Chapel. 21
“Nos urge el amor de Cristo» (2 Cor 5, 14) a compartir lo que hemos experimentado. Thomas Merton dijo:
Nuestro trabajo es amar a los demás sin detenernos a preguntar si son o no dignos. Ese no es nuestro asunto, de hecho, no es asunto de nadie. Lo que estamos llamados a hacer es amar, y sólo ese amor hará de nosotros y de nuestros prójimos dignos. Nuestro Señor nos pide que salgamos a compartir su mensaje con todos, y con todo; nos pide que pregonemos el evangelio desde las azoteas para que todos escuchen. Él no nos pide que seleccionemos con quien compartir su Buena Nueva. Santa Teresa de Calcuta estuvo entre los más pobres de los pobres, en lugares donde muchos no tienen la fortaleza ni de oler, y a través de pequeños gestos de amor ella pudo llevar el amor de Jesús a aquellos con “Lo que estamos necesidades. Tenemos la inclinación de creer que para ser un misionero tenemos que ir lejos, a un país tercermundista o ir a una jungla remota, y sólo así podremos llamarnos misioneros. llamados a hacer es amar, y sólo Sin embargo, eso está lejos de la verdad. Santa Teresa de Calcuta dijo: «el amor comienza en cuidar de los que están más cerca—aquellos en el hogar.» No tenemos que ir muy lejos ese amor” para encontrar pobreza—en realidad sólo tenemos que mirar por la ventana. No tienen necesidad únicamente aquellos con pobreza física, sino también aquellos con pobreza espiritual, de hecho, hay quizás más pobreza espiritual en nuestras ciudades y vecindarios que la pobreza física que existe en aquellos lugares remotos. Estamos llamados a ser luz para el mundo e irradiar luz a aquellas personas atrapadas en las tinieblas de la mentira y el pecado. No somos la fuente de la luz, sino el reflejo de la luz de Cristo. El cardenal Francisco Javier Van Thuan fue torturado, abusado y encerrado durante nueve años en confinamiento solitario en un campo de reeducación vietnamita. Durante su encarcelamiento, se encontraba afligido pues deseaba hacer mucho por la Iglesia pero estaba aislado, inactivo y lejos de todos. Sin embargo, en oración se dio cuenta que «si Dios quiere que renuncies a todo, y pongas todo el trabajo en sus manos, ¡hazlo y confía en Él! Pues debes escoger sólo a Dios, no el trabajo de Dios.» Sólo Dios obra, nosotros somos los instrumentos que él usa. He orado por encontrar cómo terminar este artículo, y creo que no hay mejor manera que terminar con las palabras de Santa Teresa de Ávila:
«Cristo no tiene cuerpo sino el tuyo, no tiene manos, ni pies en la tierra sino los tuyos. Tus ojos son los que Él usa para ver la compasión del mundo, tus pies son los que Él usa para caminar y hacer el bien, tus manos son las que Él usa para bendecir al mundo entero. Son tus manos, son tus pies. Son tus ojos, tú eres su cuerpo. Cristo no tiene cuerpo, sino el tuyo. no tiene manos, ni pies en la tierra sino los tuyos, Tus ojos son los que Él usa para ver la compasión del mundo, Cristo no tiene cuerpo en la tierra sino el tuyo.» El centro del mural en la Capilla de San Rafael ilustra a Cristo como epicentro univeso. The del center artwork of our chapel, St. Raphael, depicting Jesus as the epicenter of our salvation. Fall 2016
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BE
NOT AFRAID !
JOHNATAN FERNANDEZ
SENIOR DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG
“Do not be afraid.” Saint John Paul II, during the homily for his inaugural mass of his pontificate in 1978, told the world a truth that needed to be heard then, heard now, and heard in the future. Upon pondering these words, the question arises: What is it that we are afraid of? When Pope John Paul II pronounced these words, the world was afraid of communism and nuclear annihilation. Those were very real external fears, but there are other fears that hide within us that can be just as dangerous. For us Catholics, we have the
ability to come face to face with these internal fears in places like confession and spiritual direction. For us seminarians, those things that cause fear in our hearts are addressed every time we go to spiritual direction with a particular priest every couple of weeks. No matter how many times I have gone to confession or spiritual direction, I still remind myself, “Do not be afraid.”
Photo: Johnatan Fernandez serving during a Eucharistic procession. 23
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an attempted assassination, the very first thing John Paul II did was visit the man who shot and almost killed him in order that he may forgive him. For many, the response was to let him rot in jail, but for the Pope, it was about freeing the man from his inner fears and inner evil. Mercy is what allows me as a seminarian to minister to the other, to go outside and share with the world who God is and how he can help us. Saint John Paul II was able to share God’s mercy in the way he did because he was not afraid. He revealed to the world the mercy of God that dispels any fears and scatters any ghosts. Do no be afraid to look for that divine mercy which refreshes us, urges that tired disciple within us, and loves us, so that we may go into the world and bear witness to the one that calms all our fears.
Saint John Paul II only made popular the beautiful assurance of Christ himself who many times throughout the Gospels reminds us to not be afraid. Jesus Christ told his disciples in the Gospel of Mathew, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” These were Jesus’ words of assurance as he walked on the water, sending the disciples into a state of panic for they thought they were seeing a ghost. This episode in the life of Jesus has to challenge me to think about those ghosts, those fears, that reside within me and that paralyze me in the face of Jesus Christ. To heed these words is more than possible because there is something very powerful that allows me to focus on the positive and fight the negative with the help of God, and we call that mercy. Pope John Paul II showed the world through his own actions that the mercy of God is not something to be bottled up but shared with one another. After he had recovered from being shot in
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No Tengan “No
Miedo
tengan miedo.” El papa san Juan Pablo II, pronuncio estas palabras durante la homilía de su misa inaugural de su pontificado en 1978. Le dijo al mundo una verdad que necesitaba ser escuchada entonces, necesita ser escuchada ahora, y ser escuchada en el futuro. Surge entonces la pregunta: ¿A qué le tenemos miedo? Cuando el Papa Juan Pablo II pronunció estas palabras, el mundo tenía miedo del comunismo y la aniquilación nuclear. Esos eran temores externos, muy reales, pero hay otros miedos que se esconden dentro de nosotros que pueden ser igual de peligrosos. Para nosotros los católicos, es fácil sobreestimar la oportunidad de estar cara a cara con estos miedos internos en lugares como la confesión y la dirección espiritual. Para nosotros los seminaristas, esas cosas que causan temor en nuestros corazones salen a la luz cada vez que vamos a la dirección espiritual - nos reunimos con un sacerdote cada par de semanas para ver cómo el Señor ha estado trabajando en nuestras vidas. No importa cuántas veces he ido a confesarme o a dirección espiritual, tengo que recordarme a mí mismo, “No tengas miedo.” Pero en la realidad
JOHNATAN FERNANDEZ
ESTUDIANTE DE CUARTO AÑO DE FILOSOFÍA DIÓCESIS DE SAN PETERSBURGO
¿Cuántas veces tuve que recordarme a mí mismo y todavía me recuerdo a mí mismo que no tuviera miedo. San Juan Pablo II sólo hizo popular el hermoso testimonio de Cristo mismo quien muchas veces a través de los Evangelios nos recuerda que no tengamos miedo. Jesucristo dijo a sus discípulos en el Evangelio de Mateo lo siguiente: “¡Ánimo! Soy yo. No tenga miedo.” Estas fueron las palabras de alivio de Jesús mientras caminaba sobre el agua; este episodio envío a los discípulos a un estado de pánico porque ellos pensaron que estaban viendo un fantasma. Este episodio de la vida de Jesús tiene un reto para mí al pensar en esos fantasmas, esos temores, que residen dentro de mí y que me paralizan ante el rostro de Jesucristo. Estas palabras me permiten concentrarme en lo positivo y luchar contra la negativo con la ayuda de Dios, y esto es lo que llamamos misericordia.
“La
misericordia es lo que me permite como seminarista poder salir y compartir con el mundo, quien es Dios, y cómo él nos puede ayudar.
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Vianney Magazine
San Juan Pablo II compartió plenamente la misericordia de Dios porque él no tenía miedo. Él reveló al mundo la misericordia de Dios que disipa los temores y dispersa cualquier fantasma espiritual. No tengas miedo y busca esa misericordia divina que nos refresca e invita a que el discípulo cansado dentro de todos nosotros a salir al mundo y dar testimonio de la persona que calma nuestros temores y nos todo su amor. Y esta persona se llama Dios.
El Papa Juan Pablo II mostró al mundo a través de sus propias acciones que la misericordia de Dios no es algo que debe ser reprimido, sino compartido con otros. Después de que él se había recuperado de recibir un disparo en un intento de asesinato, lo primero que Juan Pablo II hizo fue visitar al hombre que le disparó y que casi lo mató con el fin de poder perdonarlo. Para muchos la mejor respuesta hubiera sido dejar que él asesino se pudriera en la cárcel; pero para el Papa, se trataba de liberar al hombre de sus miedos internos y el mal interior. La misericordia es lo que me permite como seminarista poder salir y compartir con el mundo, quien es Dios, y cómo él nos puede ayudar.
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“The foundation and center of all human formation is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. In his fully developed humanity, he was truly free and with complete freedom gave himself totally for the salvation of the world.” -Principles of Priestly Formation
Community Life
We live a life of community aimed at forming us as missionary disciples.
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Reflections on
Mercy
ANGEL GARCIA
ESTUDIANTE DE TERCER AÑO DE FILOSOFÍA DIÓCESIS DE ORLANDO
E
n el libro “El Nombre de Dios es Misericordia,” el Papa Francisco nos instruye que la misericordia es “abrir el corazón a los menos afortunados.” En otras palabras, es abrirles el corazón a las personas más necesitadas. En este año de la misericordia tuve la gran bendición de experimentar lo que es la misericordia. El verano pasado participe de un viaje misionero a Belice, en conjunto con un grupo de la parroquia del Blessed Trinity, localizada en Ocala, Florida. En Belice, tuvimos la oportunidad de enseñarles estudio bíblico a los niños, y de construir un piso de concreto en la casa de una familia la cual vivía en el suelo. Pero más que compartir la misericordia de Dios a través de las diferentes obras de caridad pude yo recibir la mejor muestra de misericordia. Recibí la misericordia de Dios a través del amor desinteresado, del abrazo fuerte, y del agradecimiento genuino de los niños, y de aquella familia que ayudamos. Durante este verano, además de vivir la misericordia, también pude vivir el evangelio de Cristo, abriendo mi corazón y acogiendo al pueblo de Dios, a los más necesitados y desamparados.
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MICHAEL BATISTA
SOPHOMORE DIOCESE OF ORLANDO
B
efore entering seminary, one of the ministries I had the privilege of serving in was our Diocesan Prison Ministry. Every Friday, some ministers and I would head to the local state prison and celebrate a communion service for the inmates. During my time in prison ministry, I recognized how I was being used as a vessel of God’s mercy through my simple actions. In the simplicity of a handshake or a hug, I was able to share a tangible sign of my dedication and love for those whom most had left behind due to their circumstances. I also shared the mercy of God by giving my ear to listen to their stories that they so desperately wanted to share. It’s amazing how the love and mercy of God can be manifested through the little things in life.
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Vianney Magazine
MERCY
H
ere at Saint John Vianney, we have been striving to expand our understanding of God’s mercy. We are continuously praying and seeking to encounter this mercy in a new way. Every Friday morning in the liturgy of the hours, we pray Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love.” This psalm provides us an oppurtunity to refocus, look past our sinfulness, and acknowledge God’s merciful love. Praying the Psalms are a way to enter into dialogue with God and open our hearts and minds to his mercy. This opening guides us to reflect on how God’s mercy is incarnate in our daily lives.
GREGORY LAMBERT
SENIOR DIOCESE OF ORLANDO
D
uring my time in seminary, I’ve learned that love is a language, and it must be practiced often. While this language is spoken fluently in our house, I have seen and received mercy outside of the seminary. The college campus ministry at the University of Miami (UM) has welcomed me with open arms since my freshmen year. Now as a senior, I am amazed at the opportunity UM has given me to participate in God’s mercy by way of service, presence, and community. I am forever thankful for the family I have at the University of Miami, and I thank you for being such a witness of God’s mercy in the world and to me.
Fall 2016
CARLOS GARCIA
ESTUDIANTE DE SEGUNDO AÑO DE FILOSOFÍA ARQUIDIÓCESIS DE MIAMI
H
e podido sentir la misericordia de Dios en distintas etapas de mi vida. En especial, les comparto uno de esos momentos a finales del año 2015, donde me aparecieron muchas enfermedades consecutivas, en la cual los doctores no encontraban un diagnóstico final. Sin embargo, a través de las oraciones de mi familia, amistades, sacerdotes, y en especial, de mi director espiritual, me ayudaron a llevar ese proceso médico con mucha paz y a aceptar lo que estaba viviendo, con la esperanza puesta en el Señor.
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A “Moment of
grace”
ZACHARY BRASSEUR
Pre-Theology II Diocese of St. Petersburg
I
n his address to seminarians in Cologne in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI said that a call to the priesthood might be experienced in a “moment of grace which could be defined as falling in love.” My call to the priesthood of Jesus Christ certainly has felt like falling in love, with all of its joys and pains. I was introduced to this love by my parents whom always made it a point to bring my sisters and me to mass on Sunday. On top of that, both mom and dad gave a great deal of their time and talent to the Church.
So aside from Sunday, it was almost a guarantee that we would be hanging around the parish on a weeknight. Through this involvement, I was blessed to grow up around many wonderful and holy priests who inspired admiration in my heart by their witness and dedication to holiness. But what drew me in and captivated me above all else was the Blessed Sacrament, which is where this love story really kicks off. My First Communion was one of the best days of my life, and to be honest, I don’t remember a whole lot about it. I’m certain that I didn’t have any great insight into what it meant to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, but I was happy. And for some reason the notion of receiving Jesus was exciting. In high school, this love grew deeper as I became more and more aware of God’s love for me. It was a persistent love, and deep down, I knew it was real no matter how often or how far I might have felt tempted to stray.
This love followed me to college where, after four years, I finally relented and said ‘Yes, Lord. I will go wherever you want me to.’
Zachary Brasseur and Zachary Parker chat during the St. Luke’s Addiction Recovery Center annual walk.
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This love followed me to college where, after four years, I finally relented and said “Yes, Lord. I will go wherever you want me to.” I came to realize that the only person with whom I felt totally at peace was Jesus, in service to his Church. Whenever I looked at all of the other things I might want to do, teaching, youth ministry, or missionary work, they all seemed to be missing a certain luster. They were all good, very good in fact, but there was just something about the priesthood that felt complete. Now in my second year of formation, this call to love and be loved feels more concrete. I cannot wait to see where his love leads me next.
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Vianney Magazine
¡Hombres Ordinarios, Haciendo Cosas Extraordinarias! MILTON JOSÉ MARTÍNEZ
Estudiante de Segundo Año de Filosofía Arquidiócesis de Miami
Milton en la capilla San Rafael del seminario, acompañado de su madre Miriam Blass y uno de sus sobrinos Jorge Luis Martínez.
L
a vocación del sacerdocio de Jesucristo ha estado siempre pulirnos, para que nuestro amor hacia Él y la Iglesia continúe en lo más profundo de mi corazón, desde que tengo uso de ardiendo en nuestros corazones. Son hombres ordinarios razón. La Iglesia ha mantenido un lugar muy importante en haciendo cosas extraordinarias en cada uno de nosotros, los mi vida, incluso en mis etapas de rebeldía, acudía a la parroquia seminaristas. de mi comunidad. A lo largo de mi vida, en Miami, frecuentaba las parroquias adyacentes a mi domicilio: Sts. Peter and Espero un día poder hacer lo que cada uno de estos hombres Paul, St. Hugh, St. Agatha, Our Lady of Divine Providence, han logrado en mi vida. Y poder inspirar y despertar el amor y St. John Bosco, que al sacerdocio de Jesucristo en es la parroquia donde otros, para que al igual que yo Les pido sus oraciones para que yo pueda, finalmente se desarrolló mi puedan decir SÍ al designio de un día, al igual que estos hombres, amar al enamoramiento concreto Dios. Les pido sus oraciones pueblo de Dios a través del corazón de Cristo y con Jesucristo. para que yo pueda, un día, poder ver a todos mis hermanos y hermanas al igual que estos hombres, a través de los ojos misericordiosos de Cristo. A lo largo de mi amar al pueblo de Dios a vida nunca tuve un guía través del corazón de Cristo y espiritual o sacerdote cercano a mí, para poder hablar de poder ver a todos mis hermanos y hermanas a través de los mis inquietudes sobre la Iglesia y el Sacerdocio. En Don ojos misericordiosos de Cristo. Pero principalmente para que Bosco tuve la oportunidad de conocer al párroco de aquel el pueblo de Dios, un día, pueda ver a través de mí a Cristo entonces, el Padre Juan Carlos Pagüaga. El Padre Pagüaga Jesús. es un hombre ordinario haciendo cosas extraordinarias. Logró que un pecador, confundido y descarriado, como yo, pudiera entregarme en las manos de Jesucristo. Él fue mi guía espiritual. Hoy en día, el encargado de la parroquia de San Juan Bosco es el Padre Yader Centeno. El Padre Centeno se ha convertido en un amigo y consejero. Estos dos hombres tienen algo en común: el amor a Jesucristo, la mejor disposición para guiar al pueblo de Dios y plena confianza para seguir a nuestro Sumo Sacerdote: Jesucristo. Ahora estoy en mi segundo año de estudios de filosofía en St. John Vianney College Seminary. En el seminario tenemos la bendición de convivir con los sacerdotes, nuestros formadores: nueve que residen en el seminario y otros tres que vienen durante la semana para enseñar o para la dirección espiritual. Cada uno de estos hombres nos instruyen, a los seminaristas, y nos aconsejan en todo momento. Pero, principalmente he visto la presencia de Jesucristo en cada uno de estos hombres y en sus diferencias he podido observar diferentes fases de Jesucristo en ellos: amor, alegría, dirección, humildad, misericordia, apoyo, constancia, genuinídad, y hermandad. Tienen diferentes personalidades pero todos tienen algo en común: el amor a Jesucristo y el deseo de
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Milton en la parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Managua, Nicaragua. Acompañado por su padre Guillermo Martínez Leyva y sus sobrinos Joseph Rocha Rosales y Gabriela Martínez Orozco. 32
WRESTLING with the
Call
WILLIAM GOBLE
Junior Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
One
of the most important aspects of receiving a call is the response. Whenever we hear our calling from God, our vocation, we are invited to enter into a dialogue with our Lord. For me, a significant moment in my life was when I responded to Christ’s call to come and follow him. At the end of my senior year in high school, I felt like I had everything that I wanted: I was accepted into my dream school (Florida State University); I was studying for a degree that I thought I would love; and I had a job that would assist me in my studies. In the midst of everything that I thought I wanted, I still had a yearning for more. Towards the beginning of my freshman year at Florida State, I started to make a weekly holy hour. Originally, I was helping cover
my brother-inlaw’s time while he worked, but eventually, I took the hour as my own and it became my personal time with the Lord. I started to notice the desire to learn more about the faith; There was a thirst that I could not quench. The more I learned about my faith the more I felt the call of “come, follow me.” (Mark 1:17) In these weekly holy hours, I began to feel the presence of that which I always longed for. Spending time each week alone with Christ began to teach me how to listen, not only to what my desires in life were but also to what God was calling me towards. Throughout my life, there had been moments when I felt called to look into the priesthood, but it wasn’t until I began spending adequate time with the Lord that I was then able to wrestle with this calling.
“I felt the call of ‘come follow me.’”
After two years of growing in my faith and wrestling with this idea of becoming a priest, it was time for me to make a choice: either stay at Florida State and continue to question this calling or take the plunge and follow where the Lord was calling me. At the end of my sophomore year, I decided to see where this calling would lead me, and I applied for the seminary. It seemed like a crazy idea for me to leave behind all that I thought would bring me happiness, but it was during that time of discernment that I realized I needed to trust where the Lord was taking me and simply follow after him.
Will Goble enjoying a game of frisbee with the community. 33
Vianney Magazine
oración
amigos entre
ROBERT MARQUEZ
Robert en la celebración de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre en el Bank United Center de la Universidad de Miami.
S
anta Teresa de Ávila describe la oración como “un intercambio íntimo entre amigos; tomando tiempo con frecuencia para estar solo con aquel que nos ama”. La oración nos confirma la presencia de Dios en nuestras vidas, mientras que escuchamos humildemente y nos abrimos a la voluntad de Dios. Como dijo el Papa Francisco: “La oración nos abre al espíritu y el espíritu nos guía en la misión”. Especialmente, fue a través de esta disposición que encontré la paz para invitar a Cristo en mi vida y poder discernir la llamada que Dios había puesto con tanta gracia divina en mi corazón.
Estudiante de Pre-teología II Diócesis de Orlando
Desde entonces, la oración se convirtió en una gran fuente de transformación en mi relación con Cristo, mientras que me proveía sabiduría y discernimiento para mi vocación. Aprendí que en la oración nos encontramos con Dios y también nos ayuda a descubrir a lo que El nos está llamando a ser. A través de una vida sincera en la oración, he descubierto un sentido de fortaleza y paz. Por lo tanto, uno no debe pasar por alto la oración, ni permitir que se convierta en una carga; al contrario, la oración debe ser algo que hacemos con y por amor.
“Le abrí mi alma y lo coloqué en el centro de mi vida.” Desde joven sentí un llamado al sacerdocio, pero mi reacción inicial fue evitarlo. Tenía miedo de rendirme, e impulsado por mis miedos, levanté mis defensas y me encerré en mi egoísmo. Mi vida de oración estaba vacía y sinsentido, lo que evitaba que pudiera escuchar a Dios y recibir sus gracias. La relación estaba desequilibrada porque yo estaba estableciendo los términos y condiciones, queriendo controlar la situación. Mi enfoque era más transaccional que amable. Mantenía a Jesús distante y no invertía en nuestra relación, al mismo tiempo que desatendía la confianza y el compromiso. A veces, sentía sus intentos de acercarse pero lo rechazaba. Finalmente, un día me di cuenta que, con mis miedos y mi obstinación había establecido una relación engañosa y no fructífera. Reconociendo que esto no era manera positiva de vivir la fe, decidí romper el ciclo. Tuve que realmente permitir el amor de Cristo en mi corazón y dejar que me conmoviera con su gracia. Le abrí mi alma y lo coloqué en el centro de mi vida. Para realizar este cambio, mi vida de oración también tenía que cambiar. Tuve que aprender a escuchar, a hacer las preguntas correctas y comprender en la profundidad de mi corazón el plan del Señor. Sólo entonces, podría verdaderamente responder en amor.
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KYLE GRANATH
Mercy, the Food of Vocations
Senior Diocese of Orlando am often at a loss for words when asked to share my vocation story. I am sure that many of my brothers in the seminary would agree with me when I say that it is almost impossible to share the entirety, or even half, of our discernment journey in one brief sitting. How can I explain a call that not even I, myself, can truly understand? The best I can do is to share with you how God has spoken to me through the ordinary events of my life.
I
Kyle Granath and Justin Khulman walk back from a day of sports. .
not equipped with an understanding of what that meant. It would be the priest who had baptized me, Father John Caufield, that would change this.
Fr. Caufield was a man who lived in the light of Jesus’ love. He was devoted to the Divine Mercy chaplet and all it represented. In every moment of his life, he lived out the mercy of God. Though I could speak at length of his holiness, I will speak of one particular act of mercy that influenced me to seek out the priesthood: every morning, without fail, he fed me.
It lies at the core of my desire to be a priest.
My family was not always financially secure – I have lived longer at seminary than any other place in my life – and due to our constant relocation, I was home schooled until leaving for seminary. I usually studied at night, leaving many of my later teenage years free to work in my parish’s office. My actual relationship with God was legalistic at best. As a teenager, I lived a life of laws rather than a true relationship with Jesus. It is true that I wanted to know him, even to love him, but I was
My family was poor enough that we often had no food to feed the entire family, and I was often hungry. Every morning, when I arrived for work, the old Irish priest would be waiting for me with a bowl of hot oatmeal and easy conversation. It was never theological unless I made it so, and some mornings, we didn’t even speak at all. He merely ate with me, and it made all the difference in the world.
Kyle Granath and Milton Martínez share a laugh during St. Luke’s Addiction Recovery Center’s annual walk.
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As small as this act may seem, it lies at the core of my desire to be a priest. There is an indescribable pain in being unable to feed one’s self fully and to always worry about the next meal. How much more did he feed me as a priest, giving me the same Eucharist that had taught him to love. By his example, I learned not only that I was capable of being truly loved, but that there was one who had taught him this great love. God’s mercy and love had shone through the old priest’s simple mercy, and from that, I was able to undertake the relationship that would see me to the path I walk today.
Vianney Magazine
HISTOIRE
de ma
VOCATION
J
e suis Jean Guyto Dossous, séminariste de l’Archidiocèse de Miami. Je suis en quatrième année de Philosophie au séminaire Saint Jean Marie Vianney. Je suis originaire d’Haïti. Je suis issu d’une famille catholique pratiquante de sept enfants dont je suis le troisième. Dès mon adolescence, J’ai été animé par un grand désir d’entrer en religion afin de pouvoir consacrer ma vie au service du Christ et de mes sœurs et frères. Un Dimanche du mois de Mai, après la messe, je suis allé rencontrer la responsable de la Chorale de Jeunes en Marche avec qui j’ai partagé l’idée d’entrer dans le groupe. Cette initiative fut pour moi un moment clé dans ma recherche de Dieu. Depuis lors, dans un esprit de discernement, je me laisse séduire par Dieu.
JEAN DOSSOUS
Senior Archdiocese of Miami
Aussi, en voulant suivre mes devanciers dans la vie sacerdotale qui ont tout abandonné pour se mettre au service du Christ et aussi, en tenant compte du peuple de Dieu qui a tant besoin d’entendre un message d’espérance, malgré les difficultés qui peuvent surgir parfois, je décide librement de me donner totalement à Dieu. Sœurs et frères, je vous demande de prier pour votre petit frère en Christ afin que je puisse continuer mon cheminement vocationnel.
“Ma vie nulle ne la prend, c’est moi qui la donne: dit Jesus.”
C’est donc cette conviction qui, jusqu’ici me maintient à ne pas faillir devant les épreuves inhérentes à la vie humaine. Le désire de servir le Seigneur à mon humble avis par la voie du sacerdoce, n’est autre qu’un instrument, comme l’argile dans la main du potier. Ma vocation baptismale suscite en moi le désire d’aller à la rencontre du peuple de Dieu là où il se trouve. Mon experience au séminaire m’a permis de découvrir combien marcher à la suite du Christ n’est pas chose facile. Cependant, celui qui est appelé à la suite du Christ, doit être prêt à se sacrifier en vue de répondre favorablement à Dieu.
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Seminary We welcome two new professors to our staff:
Rev. Timothy S. Valentine has extensive experience serving the Church. He was ordained for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, in 1985. In ministry, Fr. Valentine taught philosophy at Fordham University in New York City. From Fordham’s Manhattan Campus, he witnessed the events of September 11, 2001, and following the horrors of that day, he felt a call to serve as a military chaplain. He spent eleven years in military chaplaincy. Two of those eleven years were spent overseas ministering to the men and women in uniform. This year, he joins our full time staff as both a professor of philosophy and a member of the formation team.
Erika Harlitz Kern, our new professor of Western Civilization, hails from Sweden where she received her Ph.D. from the University of Gothenburg in 2010. From 2008 to 2012, Dr. Kern held many positions as a Teaching Fellow at various Nordic Universities. As of late, she has been enjoying the warmth of Florida working as a visiting scholar at the University of Miami, work that she continues today, while also serving as an adjunct professor at Florida International University for the 2015-2016 academic year. Much of Dr. Kern’s research is published, and she is the sole proprietor of E.H. Kern Publishing. We are delighted to have her on our seminary staff.
News
VIANNEY WRITING LAB
T
he new Writing Lab opened at the beginning of the fall term, housed in the classroom L-204. As part of the five-year QEP (Quality Enhancement Program) for the SACS accreditation, the Writing Lab is currently in the pilot-program stage. Student and faculty input will help set the course for future directions. Mrs. Ann Rose, English instructor and Writing Lab director, is assisted by four peer tutors–Patrick Lambert, Robert Marquez, Eddiel Rivera, and Mark Yarnold. “The peer tutors are outstanding,” says Mrs. Rose. “They are all excellent writers themselves. They are articulate in giving explanations, sensitive to individual students’ needs, and fun to work with. Those are critical characteristics for good mentors or tutors in writing.” Two of the tutors have seminary work assignments that make them available for consultation during study hall hours on Tuesday and Thursday nights, so in that sense the lab hours are already extended. Workshops in basic writing skills are offered every Wednesday from 1:30 to 2:30, and help as needed is available from 2:30 to 3:30. Students may come on a drop-in basis or with a referral from a faculty member. They may also schedule time to work with a tutor. The lab offers assistance on writing issues from basic skills to the Senior Project. Input from faculty and students about how the Writing Lab can be more helpful is welcome. A new series of workshops will be offered during the spring term, and those topics are yet to be determined. The lab looks forward to evolving over time to the needs of the seminarians and helping them fine tune their writing skills.
"I've seen my writing skills growing little-by-little every day since attending the writing lab; I am very happy for that."
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CURIOUS ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD?
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL VOCATION DIRECTOR Diocese of Palm Beach Rev. Brian Lenhert
[email protected] 561-775-9555 Diocese of St. Augustine Rev. David Ruchinski
[email protected] 904-262-3200 ext. 101
Archdiocese of Nassau Rev. Glen Nixon
[email protected] 242-356-3008
Archdiocese of Miami Rev. Elvis Gonzalez
[email protected] 305-762-1137
Diocese of Orlando Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Rev. Jorge Torres Rev. John Cayer
[email protected] [email protected] 407-246-4875 850-435-3552
Diocese of St. Petersburg Diocese of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Diocese of Venice Rev. Daniel Hernandez Rev. Carl Melchior Rev. Eric Scanlan
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 787-450-4540 727-345-3452 941-484-4720
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Diocese of Charleston Rev. Mark S. Good
[email protected] 843-216-0039
@SJVCS