Tomorrow Priests

PRIESTS FOR TOMORROW FALL/WINTER 2018 NEW SEMINARIANS SEMINARIAN REFLECTIONS WHAT TURTLES TEACH US VOCATIONS FOCUS GROUPS Congratulations to Deacons Ethan Hokamp and Brandon Guenther. WITNESS TO CHRIST SAVE THE DATE Welcome to the Fall Seminar- again. Please read the article Priests For ian Newsletter! This year our Teresa Brown, the Coordinator Tomorrow theme is “Witness to Christ”. I of Safe Environment, wrote for Friday, know you will find many ex- the newsletter. In it she details July 26, 2019 amples of how your 26 semi- the efforts to keep children narians have witnessed Christ’s safe in parishes, schools and at love and service this summer to diocesan events. people throughout the diocese and in various places around You will notice how much is the world. happening in the vocation of- The continuing emergence of fice, especially over the past details regarding child sexual four months. I am continu- abuse has been on the minds ally impressed with how the and hearts of all of us in the seminarians embrace their vocation office as well as the formation and education. We seminarians. We keep all vic- couldn’t do any of it without tims of abuse and their families your prayers, your financial in our prayers. Since 2002 assistance and kind support – there are stringent background Thank you! checks and psychological evalu- ations completed on the semi- Rev. Alan Wierzba narians to ensure that no abuse Director of the Office ever occurs in the Church for Vocations 1 conduct are taught to every- SAFE ENVIRONMENT one with a position of trust with our children. afe Environment – What those people who will spend Safe Environment doesn’t is it and why does the hours with them are suitable just happen at the Diocese SDiocese of La Crosse and qualified. We don’t al- of La Crosse, but is done mandate that it is used in all ways have the luxury of know- throughout the country. The Parishes and Schools? ing all the people that work or USCCB - United States Coun- We entrust our most pre- volunteer as well as we would cil of Catholic Bishops has cious gift from God, our chil- like. How often have you created guidelines that are dren, to those that teach, work said to yourself, “Who is that used across the United States. and volunteer in our parishes, person, do they belong here The focus is for a consistent, schools, and churches. We or are they a visitor?” Many of ongoing, and comprehensive will invest more of our time, our parishes have hundreds approach to creating a secure money and often tears into of families and as much as we environment for young people our children than any car we would like to know everyone, Safe Environment. It has throughout the Church. There will drive or house we live in. we just can’t. established a way for us to should never be a doubt or Often, we don’t have the abil- As the Diocese of La be accountable. All clergy, hesitation about the people ity to shop around for a Catho- Crosse, we need be able to seminarians, paid employees involved with teaching our lic school or church and “test give each family the reassur- and volunteers who work with children. drive” several until we decide ance to know that paid em- children and youth as part of The Diocese of La Crosse on the correct fit for our fami- ployees and volunteers have their ministry must submit to has the best interest in every- ly, simply because there might been trained and screened to a background check and have one and this is why we care only be one school or church the best of our ability prior to annual training. Paid employ- enough to follow the guide- in the community in which we even beginning their assign- ees also have fingerprinting lines to ensure the safety of live. ment within the Diocese. done. Part of the annual all involved within our diocese. When we drop our children This is why the Diocese training consists of recogniz- at the doors of school or of La Crosse has a set of ing child abuse and how to Teresa Brown church, we must know that measures in place called report it. Standards of good Safe Environment Coordinator DIACONATE ORDINATION - THE PROMISES By Deacon Brandon Guenther ment in the journey towards world pays so much atten- of prayer is a great duty of the priesthood we make the prom- tion to the vow of celibacy, so ordained, but it is also When thinking about becom- ises that shape our daily life does the Church, especially sustenance. We promise to ing a priest for the first time I and identity and prepare and during seminary formation. It pray for the People of God didn’t know what I would be dispose us to celebrating the is important to remember that and to offer them the sacra- getting into. In fact, even being sacraments in their fullness, celibacy is not merely a crucible ments; the Liturgy of the newly ordained to the diacon- especially Holy Mass. necessary to be a priest, but a Hours is a natural continua- ate I still don’t know exactly “Since you are prepared to gift and calling from God that tion of these sacraments and what God has in store for me, embrace the celibate state: also, in a way, requires sacrifice. offers the priest special times throughout the day to re-cen- but these years in seminary do you resolve to keep forever Jesus was the perfect model of celibacy and it is to this celibacy ter himself in Christ. Again, have been a great start! We this commitment as a sign that we are called to strive for we use Jesus as our model are able to study philosophy of your dedication to Christ and the gift we participate in. working tirelessly for the and theology, take numerous the Lord for the sake of the A celibacy that ends in perfect kingdom, but always making workshops on pastoral minis- Kingdom of Heaven, in the love and union with the Father time for intimate prayer with try, learn how to celebrate the service of God and man?” has perfect love and sacrifice the Father. sacraments, and most impor- The promise of celibacy has for others. With hands joined between tantly, spend time in prayer perhaps been the most fre- “Do you resolve to maintain those of the Bishop: “Do you with our Lord, the one who quently asked about aspect and deepen the spirit of prayer promise respect and obedi- calls us in the first place. One of my call to the priesthood. that is proper to your way of life ence to your ordinary?” Again particular aspect that we learn In the eyes of the world there and, in keeping with this spirit the model for obedience is about and reflect upon are the seems to be nothing quite as and what is required of you, to unsurprisingly Jesus Christ promises that are taken at the radical as giving up the natural celebrate faithfully the Liturgy who “humbled himself, diaconate ordination; namely, goods of a spouse, spousal of the Hours with and for the becoming obedient to death, celibacy, obedience, and love, and the possibility of People of God and indeed for even death on a cross” prayer. At this important mo- children. I think because the the whole world?” The promise Philippians 2:8. 2 This verse, the nucleus of in free, full, filial, transparent, promises all at once it can the larger context of Christ’s and heroic obedience. A seem daunting, but it is a Incarnation, relationship sense of duty remains, but consolation that in seminary with His heavenly Father, only duty to a Father who we essentially live the and with us, gives the loved us so much that He promises; further, God always greater hermeneutic of how sent His only Son so that gives us the grace sufficient to understand obedience. we too may call Him “Abba.” to follow His call. Please pray An obedience that as St. This obedience extends to for Ethan, myself, and the John Paul II says can only be legitimate superiors who are nearly 40 others ordained at understood in the context and will be placed over us St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. of: “Father, child, love.” by God’s will. Obeying them Know of my prayers for you! Obedience is rooted not in a is obeying the Father and “master-slave” relationship, though not always easy or Deacon Brandon Guenther but the relationship between pleasurable in the moment, was ordained to the a father and his beloved child; is in the end a delight to have diaconate in Rome at but not just any father, the given everything to the Father. St. Peter’s Basilica on Father, who calls us to Himself When looking at these September 27, 2018. Congratulations Deacons Guenther and Hokamp! By Deacon Ethan Hokamp community and assist the the Church what we have apostles. Through ordination, so generously been given in “Receive the Gospel of Christ, a deacon becomes one with seminary formation. whose herald you have Christ the servant as he as- We will spend this year become. Believe what you sists the priest at Mass and finishing our studies in Rome read, teach what you be- does works of charity among and serving as deacons here lieve, and practice what you the community. He is to be a in our seminary community at teach.” These are the words living embodiment within the the Pontifical North American the ordaining bishop says to community of the service of College and at our apostolic a newly ordained deacon as Christ, who came not to be outreaches here in Rome.

Load more