‘You are a friend of God’s’
Nine young men graduating from St. Joseph College Seminary this month got an early start on celebrating May 9 – trading in their college “house cassocks” for new black cassocks and birettas that mark their upcoming move to major seminary. Seven of the men earned undergraduate degrees from Belmont Abbey College. All nine men will continue their studies and priestly formation for the Diocese of Charlotte at two major seminaries: Joseph Yellico, Nicholas Kramer and Kolbe Murrey will study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Christopher Angermeyer, Anthony del Cid Lucero, Luke Martin, Noe Sifuentes, Andrew Templeton and James Tweed will study at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is the largest set of seminarians to graduate since the college seminary was founded in 2016.MOUNT HOLLY — The largest class to date graduated this month from St. Joseph College Seminary.Nine young men are moving on to major seminaries to continue their formation as future priests for the Diocese of Charlotte.
Seven of the nine men received undergraduate degrees from Belmont Abbey College May 15. They join the ranks of nine other men who have graduated from the college seminary – a total of 18 men in just five years.
Joseph Yellico, Nicholas Kramer and Kolbe Murrey will study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Christopher Angermeyer, Anthony del Cid Lucero, Luke Martin, Andrew Templeton and James Tweed are headed to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Noe Sifuentes will take a pastoral year, assisting in campus ministry at Charlotte Catholic High School.
Established in 2016, St. Joseph College Seminary has been a magnet for young men wanting to discern the diocesan priesthood. Enrollment growth has been faster than the diocese had anticipated, from eight students in its first year to 27 this year.
The diocese fast-tracked construction on a permanent home for the college seminary in Mount Holly, after the rising number of seminarians quickly filled four houses the diocese temporarily acquired for the burgeoning program. The new building opened last September and can house up to 40 college seminarians.
The nine graduates spent only a year in the new building, but their formation over the past four years has been pivotal, they said.
“On a practical level, the establishment of St. Joseph College Seminary made going to seminary much more feasible,” noted Murrey. “Instead of traveling across country right after graduating high school, I have stayed in North Carolina and in the heart of the diocese. This has been a great blessing and given me a unified and focused first four years of seminary formation.”
In his homily for the graduates’ baccalaureate Mass, Father Matthew Kauth encouraged the nine young men to keep growing in their relationship with Christ.
“I think the greatest thing and compliment I can say to you in front of those who are here – in front of your brother seminarians and your families – is that (God) abides in you and you abide in Him, that you are a friend of God’s,” he said during the Mass, offered May 9 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. “I don’t know of any title in the world that is more desirous to have, than to say someone is a friend of God’s.”
As its largest graduating class moves out, St. Joseph College Seminary is preparing to welcome another large incoming class next school year.
At least eight new men are expected to enroll this fall, joining 18 others who are continuing their studies.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter. Photos by SueAnn Howell
BELMONT — “You have come on pilgrimage to Belmont Abbey today. It is a trip that you have made with a holy purpose in mind,” Bishop Jugis told the more than 1,400 people who participated in the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage April 6 at Belmont Abbey.
“What is the holy purpose for being here? It is to be with Jesus. To spend time with Jesus is the purpose of pilgrimage,” he said during the Holy Hour homily at the all-day event.
The Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage, held each spring, is designed to provide young people of the Diocese of
Charlotte with a day of reflection, prayer, formation, vocation awareness and fellowship. It is a component of the annual Eucharistic Congress, and the 15th annual event shares the 2019 congress theme: “Stay With Us, Lord,” which is based on the words of the Gospel of Luke (24:29).
This passage is the account of two dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus after leaving Jerusalem after Christ was crucified and died.
“As they are approaching the town, what do the disciples say to Jesus? ‘Stay with us. It is nearly evening,’” recounted Bishop Jugis. He relayed to the youth that in a sense that is a prayer which they uttered to Jesus – a petition.
“Isn’t it great that Jesus decided to be with us always, all days, until the end of time?” Bishop Jugis asked.
“Isn’t it great then, that because Jesus is with us always, you are never alone, because Jesus promises always to be with you?
“Isn’t it great that you today are able to repeat those words that the disciples said recorded in this Gospel? That you can say, ‘Stay with us’? That you can say, ‘Stay with me, Jesus’?”
The day-long pilgrimage included confession, midday prayer, specific talks geared toward middle school and high school students, as well as Eucharistic Adoration and an outdoor Eucharistic Procession.
Bishop Jugis also preached on Our Lord’s presence in the Holy Eucharist during his Holy Hour homily.
“Let’s take a look at the Holy Eucharist. (This is) the most special and extraordinary way that He stays with us, by Himself being really present in the Blessed Sacrament.
“What an answer to prayer that is, when we say ‘Stay with us’ … His Real Presence. Jesus says, ‘OK, I will stay with you.’
“What a gift He has given to each one of us.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter. Photos by SueAnn Howell andDoreen Sugierski, Catholic News Herald
Watch videos from the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage
