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We need to learn again the importance of finding one’s vocation and giving oneself over to it.

One recurring theme in my prayer during the Rome Experience has been surrendering to the Will of God. While many times it can seem easy to simply “surrender”, I have begun to see that it is in moments of trial and tribulation that God is calling us to submit to his Will in order to mold us more and more into His own likeness. Read the entire reflection on The Rome Experience website.

One of the things that is being emphasized on the Rome Experience and during our Silent Retreat is the importance of Mental Prayer. There are many different forms of prayer, and they are all good. But what is it about mental prayer that makes it so important? Read the entire reflection on The Rome Experience website.

In his homily on May 18, 2014, Pope Francis said the following regarding the first seven deacons of the Church (emphasis are mine): “[These] deacons will provide for the service of the tables for the poor. These seven men are not chosen because they are experts in business, but because they are honest men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom; and they are established in the service through the imposition of hands by the Apostles.”

As I began to write my petition to receive the Ministry of Acolyte, I realized that the next petition I will be writing (God-willing, of course) is for ordination to the diaconate. From that thought, to the busyness of seminary and the excitement of my internship year coming up, receiving the Ministry of Acolyte could easily become just another box to check off on my journey and discernment towards priesthood.

This Year of St. Joseph is our chance to learn to live the same way: to be creatively courageous.

Having been in seminary for 2 years, Candidacy was something I was both looking forward to and wondering what it would be like. Having seen fellow seminarians admitted into Candidacy I was always amazed and inspired by their courage.

On October 17th, my brother seminarians and I were instituted into the Ministry of Reader. This ministry is received by those who wish to become deacons and eventually priests. This public and formal event communicates to the Church our intention to become priests. 

In collaboration with Catholic Schools LA and the Office of Religious Education, the Vocations Office of Archdiocese of Los Angeles is offering a Vocation Poster Contest and a series of live and prerecorded talks and presentations for students to celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week. #NVAW

Your Support will further St. John's Mission to prepare good holy men for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and our neighboring dioceses.

Watch the ordinations of our newest #LAPriests

2020 has been the worst year for many people because of the pandemic, economic crisis, and political fighting. However, this year has been an amazing year for me and sixteen young guys who started the new chapter of our lives at Saint John Seminary to follow Jesus in the priestly vocation.

Coming back to the seminary after being away for my internship year was exciting and exhilarating, mainly because after being away from the Seminary one begins to miss the friendships and the fellowship we had with our fellow seminarians at St. John’s.