The nine men studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey, are “works in progress,” said Father Charles Lana, diocesan vocations director.
“Because they don’t automatically become priests when they are born, seminaries form these men whom God calls to the priesthood. They learn the teachings of the Church and how to live lives of prayer and minister to people effectively — from priests who already know how to live that life,” Father Lana said. “Our seminarians are learning to become ‘another Christ’ as priests are called to be.
For the first time in a long while, most of the Paterson seminarians are “homegrown.” Six originate from the local Church, and three are from Colombia, contributing to the multicultural spirituality of the diocese. They study at St. Joseph’s Seminary & College in the Dunwoodie neighborhood of Yonkers, N.Y., Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
“These men we have are good, committed to the faith, serving Jesus and the Church, and are generous. They are the kind of men we want to be priests,” said Father Lana, who asked the diocese “to pray that more men answer God’s call.”
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But putting these men through seminary is expensive. Seminary costs exceed $50,000 annually, encompassing tuition, housing, and health insurance. The diocese supports seminary education with critical help from contributions by diocesan faithful raised through the Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA), which also funds vocations awareness.
“The cost of educating and forming seminarians is substantial and takes a large financial commitment from the diocese. The generous contributions to the Appeal by parishioners help the diocese fund their seminary studies for these future priests,” said Father Lana, who was ordained a diocesan priest in 2019 after studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary.
Those seminary costs have increased. Starting last academic year, new seminarians who attend St. Joseph’s have been required to take an additional first year of study, called the propaedeutic formation stage, as mandated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A seminarian completed that stage last academic year, and three more recently started it for this academic year.
“The propaedeutic formation stage is a spiritual year for new seminarians. It’s a time of discernment and learning to adapt to what studying at a seminary entails. They also learn to become Christian gentlemen,” Father Lana said.
Other DMA beneficiaries are Catholic Charities, urban Catholic schools, and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, a home for retired diocesan priests in Chester, N.J.
DMA contributions also support the Vocations Office programs for young men discerning a call to the priesthood. They include Project Andrew dinners with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Quo Vadis Days retreats, and First Saturday Days of Discernment.
“The diocese thanks God for our nine seminarians who are responding to God’s call to the priesthood and supports them as they progress on their vocations journey.”
The Diocesan Ministries Appeal supports the education of seminarians. Please consider participating in the DMA. To donate or pledge online, scan the QR code or visit dopappeal.org. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 215.
Diocesan Ministries Appeal helps fund formation of future priests