For God's Limitless Love Seminarians Focus on Goal Grandparents
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WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Aug. 7-20, 2015 | Volume 76, Number 19 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Bishop Frank J. Dewane is at the center of the Diocese of Venice seminarians and vocation leaders who Students and seminarians experience prayer in particpated in a three-day gather at Our Lady of a powerful way during Eucharistic Adoration of Betty David of Emmanuel Parish walks with her Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice July 28-30. the Blessed Sacrament at the Steubenville Youth great-grandchildren, Sean O’Sullivan, 4, and Caitlin (BOB REDDY | FC) Conference July 18. (JACKIE HALE | FC) O’Sullivan, 5. (LINDA REEVES | FC) Youths ‘thirst’ Grandparents: Seminarians for God’s faith-filled role focus on goal As diocesan seminarians say “Yes” by answer- ing a call from the Lord to serve, their growth and limitless love models response to that call could determine their path toward a vocation to the priesthood. Those were The youthful vigor displayed during the 2015 Grandparents and great-grandparents from the words offered by Bishop Frank J. Dewane to a Steubenville Youth Conference, held July 17-20 in across the Palm Beach Diocese gathered for Mass gathering of diocesan seminarians. Orlando is a witness to the abundant life of Christ. as an opportunity “to affirm each other in what “The Lord has given you the grace to hear his “The conference made me realize how active we all want to help our children do — pass on the call,” Bishop Dewane continued. “Now go forth the youths are today, and that gave me hope for faith to our grandchildren.” The Mass was held in and reflect on the path you have chosen, using the Church,” said Angel Garcia, a second-year celebration of the first U.S. chapter of the interna- that grace to overcome any obstacles that are laid seminarian for the Diocese of Orlando. “It moti- tional Catholic Grandparents Association, which before you as you continue on your journey down vated me to see them praising God.” launched in the Diocese of Palm Beach in June. the path of priestly formation.” Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE for more Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. on this story. on this story. Congress E-edition Pope urged to exclusive: Francis ensure During audience, says ‘fair Pope Francis don’t be and just states that afraid or wages’ divorced and ashamed for all remarried are not to go to workers excommunicated confession WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Aug. 7-20, 2015 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Youths ‘thirst’ for God’s limitless life, love THOMAS COPPOLA Special to the Florida Catholic ORLANDO | The 2015 Steubenville Youth Conference, held July 17-20 in Orlando, brought 2,000 high school students and nearly 20 semi- narians together from around the state. The youths witnessed to the fact that they are not just the Church of the future, but today as well. The youthful vigor displayed during the confer- ence is a witness to the abundant life of Christ. “The conference made me realize how active the youths are today, and that gave me hope for the Church,” said Angel Garcia, a second-year seminarian for the Diocese of Orlando. “It mo- tivated me to see them praising God.” Garcia’s motivation for his vocation is re- newed from the inspiration of God’s people. His mission as a seminarian is to use that inspira- tion and channel it to serve the Church, hope- fully one day as a priest. The theme for the conference was “Limit- less,” based on “I came that you might have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The confer- ence emphasized how the abundance of life is limitless, just as God himself is limitless. Speakers taught the young people how God gave his life on the cross so that others may live. Seminarians, too, witness to God by laying down their lives so that others may live. And they did so through service at the Steubenville conference. “I witness to a life of faith by living the light of Clockwise from top left, students and Christ,” said seminarian Eddiel Rivera of Holy Re- seminarians experience prayer in a powerful deemer Parish in Kissimmee. Rivera commented way during Eucharistic Adoration of the on his experience at the conference, saying, “My Blessed Sacrament at the Steubenville Youth main responsibilities were to help with organiz- Conference July 18. Youth groups from around Florida participate in the Steubenville ing confession lines, altar serving at liturgies, Youth Conference. The theme this year was manning the vocations table, and reaching out in “I came that you might have life and have it prayer.” abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Many young people Rivera said the light of Christ shows itself raised their arms in prayer and adoration. through humble service. He and Garcia said they Below, Seminarians from Florida and Knights received something intangible for their concrete of Columbus members join Bishop John works of charity: a confirmation of their vocations. Noonan for a photo before the closing Mass of “Saturday’s adoration of the Blessed Sacrament the Steubenville Youth Conference in Orlando. reminded me of my youth group in Puerto Rico,” (PHOTOS BY JACKIE HALE | FC) said Garcia. “Then I first felt God was calling me to be a priest. I had that same feeling last night, which reminded me and was a confirmation. I said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow you.’” His words are a response to Jesus’ first public words some 2,000 years ago: “Come, follow me.” These words continue to stir the hearts of men to consider the priesthood. Garcia explained how being called is not some- thing reserved for priests and religious. “All are called,” he said. “Our job is to find out what that call is. Some are called to the priesthood and re- ligious life, others to the diaconate, consecrated single life, or marriage. We must always be open to hear what the Lord wants.” He encourages people to step away from daily activities through silence and seek God’s will. That message of actively seeking God summed up the experience for conference attendee Amy Roldan. For her, the conference could be ex- pressed in two words: “I thirst.” She said, “Silent time and reading of Scripture is important.” She added her perspective on the conference theme, saying, “Nothing is impossible for God — that is the meaning of a limitless God.” n Aug. 7-20, 2015 Florida Catholic YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY 2 JOY OF MY VOCATION Sister applies God’s love to daily life experiences Editor’s note: In celebration of college, I taught religion in grade the Year for Consecrated Life, school, which was wonderful. I the Florida Catholic offers a learned to take care of the children series of articles told by religious and they learned about Jesus. I still sisters and religious order priests know many of these children after and brothers, who will share so many years. the joy of their vocation. Sister In religious life, I had the chance Concepta Najjemba of the Sisters to go to school get two master’s, of the Immaculate Heart of and my doctorate degree. All this Mary Reparatrix, from Blessed knowledge doesn’t mean as much Trinity Parish in Ocala and who as the work I have done from my operates Brother’s Keeper soup heart. I started out helping out in kitchen there, shares her story. the schools and now I am working with the homeless and people with SISTER CONCEPTA NAJJEMBA, needs. That is the most important SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE to me. HEART OF MARY REPARATRIX I found that in religious life, Special to the Florida Catholic our presence is very touching to people. Even though I am working OCALA | I belong to the con- in a foreign country where I don’t gregation of the Sisters of the Im- know the language, I find people maculate Heart of Mary Repara- coming and asking me questions. trix. We were founded in Uganda I am not here for my own; I am in 1948. I joined this congregation here for Jesus. My daily life and when I was only 14. The experi- my religious life go hand in hand ence of joining so early was won- because if we separate them from derful because I have grown up in another, then life would not be so religious life and have seen how meaningful. I try each day to use much the love of God empowers what I have learned and put it into religious. I have found I was able practice. In fact, in the Gospel it is to learn how to serve God’s peo- very well understood that we are ple. In 1964, I was able to make to live in Christ in our daily lives Sister Concepta Najjemba, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix, speaks with volunteers the vows of poverty, chastity and and apply his love to our daily life at the Brother’s Keeper soup kitchen in Ocala. (LINDA CALDWELL | FC) obedience. experiences. When I was sent to school to be Last year, I had the chance to very hard to reach out to others — We have a practice in the soup amazing. I love my ministry and trained as a teacher, it was a little go to Israel, to the Holy Land. Be- the sick, the prisoners, the home- kitchen. Before we have a meal, we I am so happy to be there for ev- bit of struggle to be a student and ing able to see where Jesus walked, less — where they are.