Hello everyone! Later on today, I will be leaving Orlando for Miami to return to the seminary for the beginning of the new academic year. Classes begin on Monday, August 24th. But, before then, the returning seminarians will go on a mini retreat to have some time to transition from our summer assignments back to seminary. It will gives us some time to reflect on our experiences of the summer. Please keep us in your prayers for Friday and Saturday. Peace and blessings to all!!

Many of you may think that my recent wrist surgery has made me a little loopy with a title of “Three Days” in the middle of August. No, “Three Days” is not an article about the most profound Christian celebration, the Triduum. Rather, it is simply about the remaining three days of the seminarians’ summer recess from the seminary.

Even though the majority of the seminarians have been enjoying the last few weeks at home, the new seminarians from all of the dioceses of Florida have already begun their year of formation. Altogether, there are 35 new seminarians from across the state, including eight from the Diocese of Orlando. (A breakdown of the numbers will be coming shortly.) Along with these 35 men, the additional 44 returning seminarians reenter St. John Vianney College Seminary on Thursday of this week. This makes a total of 79 seminarians for this academic year.

As we return to the seminary this week, please remember to keep us and those responsible for our formation in your prayers, especially during this Year for Priests. Please know that all of our benefactors are prayed for on a daily basis at the seminary. We voice our gratitude in our intercessions during our communal Evening Prayer. Thank you for your prayers and support.

SJVCS Crest

My how the time flies when you are having fun! It seems like just yesterday that I was driving myself crazy studying for hours on end for my final exams. In less than three weeks I will be returning to St. John Vianney College Seminary to begin a new academic year and my second year in formation. My junior year is going to be so busy, not only because of the workload associated with my class schedule, but also because it is the 50th Anniversary of the seminary. There is a whole list of events taking place towards the end of the first semester to celebrate this wonderful Golden Anniversary.

At convocation on Wednesday, the newest Diocesan Representatives were announced. For St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, the Orlando representative is Ben Lenhertz. For St. John Vianney College Seminary, the representative is yours truly. I hope and pray that I am able to perform the tasks and duties that come along with this responsibility.

Hello all!! My summer at Divine Mercy came to a close this past weekend. I was given the opportunity to thank all of the good Fathers (Fr. Michael Farrell, Fr. Karl Bergin, Fr. Ted O’Reilly), Sisters (Sr. Maura Bane, Sr. Mary Divilly), and Office staff for being so hospitable and welcoming; however, I was most thankful to the parishioners of DM for all of their support and prayers. By the end of my assignment, I really felt like a part of the community – the sign of a great parish! For the next few weeks, I will be resting from my time in “Little Ireland” – can’t get more Irish than being in a parish with 3 Irish priests, 2 Irish sisters, and an Irish seminarian.