The Magazine of St. Mary’s Seminary Summer/Fall 2019 | www.smseminary.com Features Legacy of St. Albert | Priestly Heart | For God & Country SUMMER / FALL 2019 1 Editorial Staff 3 EDITOR’S NOTE Editor’s Note Editor Cristian Bustos Garduño, ‘23 Cristian Bustos Garduño ‘23 O come, O come Emmanuel! PRESIDENT’S REMARKS Layout and Design Rev. Mr. Michael Cellars, ‘20 We are pleased to present our Summer/Fall ‘19 edition of the Regina Cleri! As we wait for Viet Nguyen ‘24 Christ’s advent in the manger, we eagerly rejoice with joy! This semester we welcomed 4 new seminarians, our returning Pastoral Year men, and new formation staff. A new Photographers THE RECTOR’S CORNER academic year means new opportunities, a new house and a new formation team. We have been blessed Aldo Camacho ‘22 5 with talented individuals who bring an array of experiences and gifts that greatly shape the makeup of the Viet Nguyen ‘24 House. St. Mary’s Seminary is blessed to have men in formation from a variety of Dioceses who significantly CHARITY AND RADICAL HOSPITALITY Thomas Vu ‘24 contribute to the meaning of what it means to be “Catholic”—cultural formation takes place in the encounters Mrs. Kathi Kramer, M.Div. themselves, and it truly adds an element of formation that complements what St. Mary’s Seminary has to Faculty Liason offer. Mrs. Kathi Kramer, M.Div. 6 DOCTOR UNIVERSALIS: Production Assistant THE LEGACY OF ST. ALBERT THE GREAT We joyfully present this current issue to you all as we hope this offers a perspective of life in the seminary. May you all continue to pray for us as we discern our vocation to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the High Mrs. Cathy Irantalab Sr. Albert Marie Surmanski, O.P., Ph.D. Priest. Queen of the Clergy, pray for us! 9 Administration IN A PASTOR’S SHOES Cristian Bustos Garduño, ‘23 Wayne Ly, ‘21 Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Rector Editor-in-Chief Very Rev. Trung Nguyen, J.C.L. ‘94 10 THE PRIESTLY HEART Vice Rector & Director of Human Formation Rev. Eurel Manzano, M.Div. ‘11 Rev. Vincent Anyama, S.T.D. ‘09 12 President’s Remarks Director of Spiritual Formation ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: Rev. John Rooney, M.A. OUR TEACHER & OUR GUIDE t. Mary’s Seminary is fortunate to have a Seminarian House Council. The Director of Pastoral Formation Rev. Mr. Mark Herbert, ‘20 purpose of the Council is to help me in exercising pastoral leadership and responsibility. Furthermore, it is a place to represent and express Mrs. Kathi Kramer, M.Div. 14 S the feelings and desires of the student body. The Council meets every month TEXIANORUM CŒTIBUS: to discuss and vote on issues that are brought before them by their brothers THE MISSION OF THE ORDINARIATE in the seminary. Additionally, each month there is a meeting with the entire For more information about St. Mary’s Rev. Mr. Armando Alejandro, Jr., ‘20 community to inform them of what is being done by the Council. Seminary, please visit our website at www. smseminary.com or call us at (713) 686-4345. 16 The House consists of an executive branch of President, Vice-President, This publication was written, edited, and A VOCATION WITHIN A VOCATION Treasurer, and Secretary. Furthermore, each class is represented by two photographed by the students of St. Mary’s 1st Lieutenant Callan Sweeney, ‘21 members that speak on behalf of their fellow brothers. The Council has focused Seminary. its attention on ways in which to help lead the student body in areas such as 17 charity, hospitality, and communication. It also works with the Rector to help in THE URGENCY: whatever capacity to better the seminary community. FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY 2nd Lieutenant James Craig, ‘24 As the current President, I have made it a focus to foster an awareness of charity, both in terms of the social teachings concerning subsidiarity and solidarity. With 18 funds raised from the student body, the House Council distributes aid to those LEARNING THE CULTURE in need or those affected by natural disasters. For example, this year, the Council Sam Anchondo, ‘21 sent financial gifts to both the Archdiocese of Nassau, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian, and also to the Diocese of Beaumont, which was 19 recently affected by flooding. CONTENTS LA MORENITA: STAR OF THE SEMINARY Rev. Mr. Michael Cellars, ’20 Marco Medina Cervantes, ‘24 Student Government President 2 REGINA CLERI MAGAZINE Diocese of Charleston SUMMER / FALL 2019 3 Editorial Staff 3 EDITOR’S NOTE Editor’s Note Editor Cristian Bustos Garduño, ‘23 Cristian Bustos Garduño ‘23 O come, O come Emmanuel! PRESIDENT’S REMARKS Layout and Design Rev. Mr. Michael Cellars, ‘20 We are pleased to present our Summer/Fall ‘19 edition of the Regina Cleri! As we wait for Viet Nguyen ‘24 Christ’s advent in the manger, we eagerly rejoice with joy! This semester we welcomed 4 new seminarians, our returning Pastoral Year men, and new formation staff. A new Photographers THE RECTOR’S CORNER academic year means new opportunities, a new house and a new formation team. We have been blessed Aldo Camacho ‘22 5 with talented individuals who bring an array of experiences and gifts that greatly shape the makeup of the Viet Nguyen ‘24 House. St. Mary’s Seminary is blessed to have men in formation from a variety of Dioceses who significantly CHARITY AND RADICAL HOSPITALITY Thomas Vu ‘24 contribute to the meaning of what it means to be “Catholic”—cultural formation takes place in the encounters Mrs. Kathi Kramer, M.Div. themselves, and it truly adds an element of formation that complements what St. Mary’s Seminary has to Faculty Liason offer. Mrs. Kathi Kramer, M.Div. 6 DOCTOR UNIVERSALIS: Production Assistant THE LEGACY OF ST. ALBERT THE GREAT We joyfully present this current issue to you all as we hope this offers a perspective of life in the seminary. May you all continue to pray for us as we discern our vocation to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the High Mrs. Cathy Irantalab Sr. Albert Marie Surmanski, O.P., Ph.D. Priest. Queen of the Clergy, pray for us! 9 Administration IN A PASTOR’S SHOES Cristian Bustos Garduño, ‘23 Wayne Ly, ‘21 Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Rector Editor-in-Chief Very Rev. Trung Nguyen, J.C.L. ‘94 10 THE PRIESTLY HEART Vice Rector & Director of Human Formation Rev. Eurel Manzano, M.Div. ‘11 Rev. Vincent Anyama, S.T.D. ‘09 12 President’s Remarks Director of Spiritual Formation ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: Rev. John Rooney, M.A. OUR TEACHER & OUR GUIDE t. Mary’s Seminary is fortunate to have a Seminarian House Council. The Director of Pastoral Formation Rev. Mr. Mark Herbert, ‘20 purpose of the Council is to help me in exercising pastoral leadership and responsibility. Furthermore, it is a place to represent and express Mrs. Kathi Kramer, M.Div. 14 S the feelings and desires of the student body. The Council meets every month TEXIANORUM CŒTIBUS: to discuss and vote on issues that are brought before them by their brothers THE MISSION OF THE ORDINARIATE in the seminary. Additionally, each month there is a meeting with the entire For more information about St. Mary’s Rev. Mr. Armando Alejandro, Jr., ‘20 community to inform them of what is being done by the Council. Seminary, please visit our website at www. smseminary.com or call us at (713) 686-4345. 16 The House consists of an executive branch of President, Vice-President, This publication was written, edited, and A VOCATION WITHIN A VOCATION Treasurer, and Secretary. Furthermore, each class is represented by two photographed by the students of St. Mary’s 1st Lieutenant Callan Sweeney, ‘21 members that speak on behalf of their fellow brothers. The Council has focused Seminary. its attention on ways in which to help lead the student body in areas such as 17 charity, hospitality, and communication. It also works with the Rector to help in THE URGENCY: whatever capacity to better the seminary community. FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY 2nd Lieutenant James Craig, ‘24 As the current President, I have made it a focus to foster an awareness of charity, both in terms of the social teachings concerning subsidiarity and solidarity. With 18 funds raised from the student body, the House Council distributes aid to those LEARNING THE CULTURE in need or those affected by natural disasters. For example, this year, the Council Sam Anchondo, ‘21 sent financial gifts to both the Archdiocese of Nassau, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian, and also to the Diocese of Beaumont, which was 19 recently affected by flooding. CONTENTS LA MORENITA: STAR OF THE SEMINARY Rev. Mr. Michael Cellars, ’20 Marco Medina Cervantes, ‘24 Student Government President 2 REGINA CLERI MAGAZINE Diocese of Charleston SUMMER / FALL 2019 3 The Rector’s Corner A Vision for Hope: Seeing as Christ Charity and Radical Hospitality Dear Alumni and Friends, ope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in his encyclical Deus who needs a bath and a meal, the other who desperately I recently got new glasses after 5 years! I noticed immediately first seminaries to properly provide pastoral integrative Caritas Est writes, “Only my readiness to encounter needs to know the depths of God’s love for them. the change of vision. This change brought some discomfort opportunities where men are trained to incorporate Pmy neighbour and to show him love makes me with the adjustment, but most important was the clarity— what they learn in their theological studies in parochial sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can Radical hospitality and charity are inextricably linked.