to our roster of seminaries. The college was founded in 1588 by King Philip II of Spain to aid the persecuted Church in England and Wales. The English and Welsh bishops secretly sent men to the college to be trained and ordained priests. Once ordained, these young priests returned to Great Britain, where many of them were martyred. A�er the penal laws were finally li�ed in the 18th century the English and Welsh bishops chose to keep St. Alban’s in opera�on. Perhaps they wanted a warm and sunny climate for their retreats! The college remains strong to this day. For the last twenty years it has specialized in offering candidates for priestly studies a propaedeu�c year. This is basically a “year zero” for seminary forma�on. The emphasis is on grounding the student in the Church’s spiritual tradi�on and training them in discern-ment. Pope Francis in his recent ra�o on seminary and priestly forma�on has called for the propaedeu�c year to become the norm for seminarians throughout the Catholic world. The propaedeu�c year offered by the Royal College is world renowned and hardly more expensive than a year at a domes�c seminary. We hope that the one student we have there now will be the first of many.

Father Michael KingDirector of Voca�ons and Priestly Forma�on

A NEWSLETTER FROM THE VOCATIONS OFFICE OF THE DIOCESE OF HAMILTON

Reflections“We want clarity and God gives a call.

We want a road map and God gives a relationship.

We want answers and God gives His hand.” -Ann Voskamp

2018

The seminary year at St. Peter’s in London, St. Augus�ne’s in Toronto, Christ the King in Buffalo, Pope St. John XXIII in Boston and the Royal College of Valladolid in Spain, has go�en off to a good start for the 25 sem-inarians of our Diocese. The seminarians had a good summer with some working in parishes, others receiving training for hospital ministry and s�ll others working with the poor at Kitchener’s soup kitchen. On any given Friday, beginning in May and con�nuing through August, seminarians came to the Voca�on Centre for dinner and good conversa�on. We were joined by some local clergy and look forward to hos�ng more priests to this weekly summer gathering.

The Royal English College of St. Alban in Valladolid, Spain is a new addi�on

Message from the Director of Vocations

For me, the call to the priesthood crystallized in my mind and heart only a�er I opened myself to receiving the deep and transforma�ve love of God. Only then, when I accepted my iden�ty as a beloved son of God, could I begin to pray more deeply about what God was asking of me in my life. It has been a joyous life ever since, even with the struggles inherent in growing in virtue. Seminary, though at �mes tedious and �ring, has been a great gi� and allowed me to meet incredible people, forming lifelong friendships. I look forward to my final year of study and cannot wait to begin serving God’s people as a priest of Jesus Christ in the Diocese of Hamilton!

Deacon Grayson HopeHome Parish:

Born: Timmins, ON

Hobbies: Hockey, so�ball, and triathlon.

Deacon Christopher Tracey Home Parish: St. Anne’s Parish, Kitchener

Born: Wooler, ON

Hobbies: Music (Performing, Teaching, Composing), reading and wri�ng, art and architecture, film, travel, weight-li�ing, biking, hiking, and canoeing.

Christopher WoodwardHome Parish: Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph

Born: North York, ON

Hobbies: Drawing, wri�ng, litera-ture, weight-li�ing, technology, poli�cal theory, and Catholic mys�cism.

It was a great joy to be ordained a Deacon on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart this past June.

I am enjoying serving Christ and His Church in my diaconal ministry. I look forward to finishing my seminary forma�on and serving as a priest for the Diocese of Hamilton!

As the years pass, I witness how life is a circle with God in the centre, observing, guiding, nourishing, and healing us. Though at �mes disappointed, he is always forgiving, loving, and surely laughing a li�le at our foolishness. I was blessed with careers in music, telecommunica�ons, and career coaching, but rounding a major curve, God said it was �me for me to give back. We are God’s most beloved crea�on, given free will in his hope we will return to him. With my past put aside to focus on God, I pray with his help to aid my fellow travellers in finding their way home to him and along in the circle of life.

As a bookish kid growing up in Guelph, Ontario, I felt called to study and write philosophy as a career. But as I progressed in university, I discovered my studies and the system itself were leading me away from God, and towards a selfish life that would make me the centre, rather than Jesus. I began to discern, and found my true calling was to give myself whole and en�re to the Church. I’m now in my fourth year of Theolo-gy at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, and looking forward to ordina�on as a servant of God. Pray for me!

Be always with Christ and t��st God in ever��hing.

Pray as you can, not as you think you must.

Do acts of mercy in secret.

Deacon Tim TheriaultHome Parish: St. John the Bap�st Parish, Amherstburg

Born: Windsor, ON

Hobbies: Reading, hiking, going to the gym, and Ne�lix.

Maxims of the Christian Life

-Fr. Thomas Hopko

Gregory MerkleyHome Parish: St. Mark’s Parish, Kitchener

Born: Kitchener, ON

Hobbies: Reading, wri�ng, guitar and keyboard, sports and exercise. I have a deep passion for learning anything and every-thing about the Catholic faith, and also about the world.

John SchnurrHome Parish: Immaculate Concep�on Parish, Formosa

Born: Walkerton, ON

Hobbies: DIY Electronics, photography, avia�on, and amateur astronomy.

I wasn’t raised in a Chris�an household. As a result, as life went on I wandered farther and farther from God to the point of avoiding the Church. Nevertheless, even while being a self-defined “prac�cal athiest,” during my studies in psycholo-gy and philosophy at Wilfrid Laurier University, I had strong thoughts about becoming a priest and a desire in my heart to do so, which surprised me. Through a friend I began to go to Mass again, where I found peace, love, joy, and happiness that I didn’t know was possible. My parish priest had good answers to my ques�ons about the faith and so I decided to make Jesus the Lord of my life. A�er several years of prayerful discernment, I joined St. Augus�ne’s Seminary.

I entered seminary a�er four years of working as a commer-cial pilot. Being a pilot was something that I had wanted to pursue since my childhood, and I did not think that God could be calling me away from something I enjoyed so much. How-ever, a�er I entered seminary, I realized that God only desires us to be happy, even if we leave behind things that we enjoy. He has blessed me with many graces during my �me in forma-�on, and while I am grateful for my past career, I look forward to serving God as a priest.

Matt GunnarsonHome Parish: St. Ambrose Parish, Cambridge

Born: Burlington, ON

Hobbies: I enjoy reading and hiking, but most especially watching old movies. I am a film buff.

I have always wanted to be a priest: ever since I was an altar boy at the age of nine at the old St. Thomas Church in Water-down. I first joined a minor seminary at fourteen with the Legionaries of Christ in New Hampshire. I was with the Legionaries for four years, but then le� and a�ended Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry’s Bay and Redeemer University in Ancaster. A�er a few years of working, God once again called me back to the seminary—this �me for my home diocese. From the �me I read their biographies as a child, St. John Vianney and St. Pius X have been my two greatest influ-ences in life. Those two men are supreme examples of what it means to be a holy priest and a true shepherd of souls.

Vivek TrindadeHome Parish: St. Ma�hew’s Parish, Oakville

Born: Calcu�a, India

Hobbies: Reading, music, sports, and watching movies.

The Catholic Faith has always been important to me and my family. However, the Lord Jesus didn’t feature much in my decision-making un�l I encountered Him in a big way in 1988. Ever since then, discerning His Will for my life has been of utmost importance. This discernment (most unexpectedly!), led me to Canada to study for the priesthood. My walk with Jesus these four years has not been easy, but I couldn’t be happier.

It’s true, God knows be�er than us what makes us happy!

Reveal your thoughts and feelings to a t��sted person reg�larly.

Cultivate communion with the saints.

Be totally honest, first of all with yourself.

Hayden StarczalaHome Parish: St. Mary of the Visita�on Parish, Cambridge

Born: Kitchener, ON

Hobbies: Reading, going for walks, and gardening.

Paul EdmondstoneHome Parish: Holy Rosary Parish, Burlington

Born: Toronto, ON

Hobbies: Playing piano, watching hockey, reading, and trivia.

Robin MendonçaHome Parish: St. Mary of the Visita�on Parish, Cambridge

Born:

Hobbies: Spending �me with friends and family, soccer, guitar, piano, and camping.

To prepare me for a voca�on to the priesthood, the Lord grant-ed me the grace to realize the vanity of worldly wisdom, and the truth of His word. He convinced me of my sinfulness, then forgave me through sacramental confession.

I do not have a “priest-gene,” but only a desire to honour the God who showed me mercy, by preaching His word and offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

than I thought it would when I first began. However, God has surprised me in never ceasing to call me. In fact, He called even louder a�er I had made decisions to leave the seminary. My reluctance to give my total self to God was out of fear, selfish-ness, and a feeling that God was forcing me to be a priest. How-ever, I received some great advice: that if I am called to the priesthood it is not out of God forcing my hand, but because He has planted a desire in my heart and, upon reflec�on, I realized that it was a burning desire to be a priest from within that led me to even consider this in the first place. I am so grateful that I now know what He is asking of me and that I can joyfully say “Yes” to God.

was not something I had always thought about as I grew up. It was a thought that came to me a�er I finished my undergrad and began se�ling into my career in the corporate world. This thought gradually grew on me and I decided to enter seminary to seriously discern it. Having been in seminary for a few years now, I’ve realized that discerning one’s call comes from truly having an open heart and an open mind to what God’s will is. This openness is a grace and gi� which daily recep�on of the sacraments, spiritual direc�on and the habits that allow for a deep prayer life foster. A�ending retreats, staying close to Our Blessed Mother and having the support of my family and friends con�nues to be vital for my forma�on.

My journey through the seminary has had more twists and turns

Deciding to discern the priesthood

Paul NiesiobedzkiHome Parish:

Born:

Hobbies: Hiking, reading widely, and learning languages.

In seminary, I have experienced the unfailing truth of this passage from Sacred Scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov-erbs 3:5-6).

For men wondering or worrying about the priesthood and going to seminary, I would put it this way: “When in doubt, apply. If accepted, show up. Having showed up, stay awhile. God will look a�er you.”

Be awake and attentive, f�lly present where you are.

Don’t seek or ex�ect pit� or praise.

Be defined and bound by God, not people.

Patrick OhlHome Parish: Sacred Heart Parish, Kitchener

Born: Windsor, ON

Hobbies: Reading, watching movies, and brewing coffee.

Francisco SordoHome Parish: St. Ma�hew’s Parish, Oakville

Born: Mexico

Hobbies: Photography and travel-ling to winter des�na�ons in winter!

Jonathan ReitzelHome Parish: Holy Family Parish, New Hamburg

Born: Kitchener, ON

Hobbies: Being outdoors, hanging out, and reading.

As a young Polish Canadian, it was a source of great pride for me to know that our Pope, John Paul II, was also Polish. On top of his example of holiness, I also experienced the guidance of wonder-ful parish priests whose lives were true models of Chris�an virtue. As a result, I began to consider a voca�on to the priest-hood from a very young age. The decision to follow through with this desire and become a seminarian has proven to be a source of great joy for me. I look forward to con�nuing my discernment and will follow the Lord’s call wherever He may lead me.

A�er 30 years of a “successful” career in the corporate world, I found myself not fulfilled. Something or I should say someone, was missing. I searched purposely for some �me and a�er being invited to lead Bible Studies (which I did for 4 years), my life changed. I heard Jesus’ voice saying “Come follow me.” In one week, I resigned from my job, sold my house, and drove to the seminary. I have not regre�ed my decision for one second.

I am truly moved to wonder when I look back on my past and see God’s hand at work. Some of the paths He has led me down I had ini�ally resisted, but God is pa�ent (and persistent) and He has brought me to places of greater joy than I could have imag-ined. Though beginning my discernment in high school, I had planned on studying chemistry before entering the seminary. However, I was led to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom instead. Having completed my philosophical studies at St. Philip Neri’s Semi-nary, I am now doing my theological studies at St. Peter’s Semi-nary.

Pawel StankiewiczHome Parish: Sacred Heart Parish, Guelph

Born: Toronto, ON

Hobbies: Tennis, reading, and coffee.

I give thanks to God for my parents who raised me and my three brothers in a bright and cheerful home. They introduced us to a personal, loving God, ever-ready to forgive, and not a moral policeman. I can truly say that my home was my first seminary, and the desire to serve God and the Church as a priest came about quite naturally. The priest has the very simple and joyful voca�on of breaking the barrier between God and the world. Our society today wants so-called ‘safe spaces’; it is the priest who tells us that God has already established the only true safe space: the Catholic Church. There, we experience God’s uncon-di�onal love.

Accept criticism g�acef�lly and test it caref�lly.

Be mercif�l with yourself and others.

Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation, and sin.

As far back as I can recall I have desired to be a priest. At �mes, as I grew up, the desire for the priesthood would scare me and my resolve to enter the seminary would waver, but nothing ever replaced that desire. The priesthood was and remains the only path that draws me forward. Interes�ngly, although up un�l the age of eight my family and I a�ended a Protestant church, I never had the desire to be a Protestant pastor. It was not un�l my return to the Catholic faith that I had a clear calling. Ul�mately, I cannot explain where this desire came from, but neither can I explain where I would be without it.

Daniel GallagherHome Parish: St. Peter’s Parish, Durham

Born: Orangeville, ON

Hobbies: Crea�ng stop mo�on videos or live ac�on videos with my brothers, collec�ng comics, model pain�ng, bicycling, and I always enjoy a good debate.

A voca�on to the priesthood is perhaps the most difficult to understand since the Lord has called me to empty myself of me; to give up selfishness, interest and personal success in order to fill myself with Him and His Word. While I have limita-�ons, I have to believe that I am an instrument of God and that He will provide me with the necessary means when my own are scarce. I like to imagine that I am a light that is fed by an electric current. The Eucharist and reading and studying the world are the electric current, which comes from Christ. As I enter the seminary, I hope to be able to reflect during my journey an even brighter light, always bearing in mind that the source of that light is Christ.

Daniel NaimHome Parish: St. Stephen of Hungary Parish, Hamilton

Born: Budapest, Hungary

Hobbies: Basketball and read-ing.

Pedro José VadilloHome Parish: Santa Maria, Vidreres (Girona), Spain

Born: Sant Gregori (Girona), Spain

Hobbies: Volunteering, learning classical languages, photogra-phy, reading, wri�ng, tennis, skiing, and cooking.

The first �me I seriously considered applying to seminary was in 2015. Through prayer, I had discerned that God was calling me to do so. At the �me, I felt my family needed me to work and help financially and, also, I was a li�le nervous about the responsibility. I did not end up applying that year. The follow-ing year, circumstances were be�er and I applied and was accepted to St. Peter’s Seminary. I really enjoyed my first year in seminary and look forward to studying theology in my second year!

Carlos DiazHome Parish: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kitchener

Born: Queretaro, Mexico

Hobbies: Coin collec�ng, wri�ng, languages, journaling, cooking, swimming, and bicycling.

A very important moment in my life was while I was at univer-sity I rediscovered Christ’s presence in the Eucharist through Eucharis�c adora�on.

A�er receiving the sacrament of reconcilia�on, I became aware of Christ’s personal love for me. It was during adora�on that my rela�onship with God developed and began to grow. My experience at the seminary thus far has been great. I finished philosophy and I am now in my first year of theology.

Get help when you need it, without fear or shame.

Don’t compare yourself with anyone.

Be g�atef�l. Be cheerf�l. Be humble.

Kevin UpendranHome Parish: St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish, Scarborough

Born: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hobbies: Reading (and a lot of it, especially history and classical Russian authors like Dostoevsky and Chekhov), religious art (espe-cially by the European masters), listening to both classical and

Mauricio MunozHome Parish: Annuncia�on of Our Lord Parish, Hamilton

Born: Medellin, Colombia

Hobbies: Outdoor and indoor soccer and mee�ng with friends.

The most important goal of my discernment journey is to grow daily in the knowledge of Jesus Christ; To fall completely in love with Him, and to give myself totally without reserve. It is only then that I can be the priest God wants me to be and, in turn, make others fall in love with such a loving and just God. You can only give what you have.

As a teenager, I felt in my heart the desire to draw close to the Lord. Not knowing where that decision would lead me nor that God had a plan for the life that He gave me, I was surprised by the invita�on to consider the priesthood (despite my unworthi-ness!). The good and merciful Lord showed me the path that He intended for me. May we all remain open to the s�rrings of the Holy Spirit and have the zeal and courage to accept the invita�on to imitate the Lord Jesus in His selfless giving. Please pray that we all do the same so that we may become living reflec�ons of God the Father.

ecclesias�cal music (chant and polyphony), and cooking.

John HaHome Parish: St. Clement’s Parish, Cambridge

Born: Vietnam

Hobbies: Soccer, badminton, biking, road hockey, socializing, guitar, and harmonica.

Answering God’s Call was a very tough decision, but one that I am taking seriously. Through spiritual direc�on and prayer life at the seminary I realized that I am honoured to follow God by serving God’s people. Devo�on to the Holy Rosary is my sacred weapon in suppor�ng my voca�on. Over four years of studying at the seminary I have learned the significant value of the inter-rela�onship between faculty and seminarians.

I have grown to admire the selfless lifestyle adopted by priests.

Damian FrederickHome Parish: Holy Spirit Parish, Barrie

Born: North York, ON

Hobbies: Web and graphic design, �nkering with computers and other electronics, and read-ing scien�fic research, theology, and spiritual ma�ers.

by the love of Christ through His Church. I encountered the love of Christ in my second year of university, a�er I had been away from the Church for several years. What drew me back was�first and foremost�God tugging on my heart, but also the Catholic club at McMaster University, the sacraments, and the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary. By the end of univer-sity, I was strong in my faith and heard the subtle yet clear call of God to consider the priesthood. I entered St. Philip Neri’s Seminary in Toronto. I finished my philosophy degree this past May and am now studying theology at St. Peter’s Seminary. Please pray for me as I con�nue my priestly forma�on; be assured you are in my prayers as well. God bless!

I am simply another sinner, saved

Lord of the Har�est, BLESS young people with the gist of courage to respond to your call. Open their hear�s to g�eat ideals, to g�eat things.INSPIRE all of your disciples to mut�al love and giving—for vocations blossom in the good soil of faithf�l people.INSTILL those in religious life, parish minist�ies, and families with the confidence and g�ace to invite others to embrace the bold and noble path of a life consecrated to you.UNITE us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament, so that we may cooperate with you in building your reig� of mercy and t��th, of justice and peace. Amen. - Pope Francis

Re�lections is published by the Vocation Of�ice of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.700 King Street West Hamilton, ON L8P 1C7

T: 905.528.7988 web: www.HamiltonVocations.com We welcome your comments and suggestions.

The Diocese of Hamilton welcomes four new Priests!

On Saturday, May 6, 2017, His Excellency, Bishop Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., D.D., welcomed four newly ordained Priests to the Diocese of Hamilton.

Father David AvilaFather Ross CampbellFather Kevin D’SouzaFather Paul Jamroz

Please join the Vocation Office in welcoming them in their new ministry!