Seven seminarians took a major step in their priestly formation when they were formally admitted to candidacy for Holy Orders in a Mass at St. Ambrose Church in Annandale Aug. 10.
Speaking directly to the candidates seated in the front row, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said in his homily that nothing less than total surrender to the Lord was required. “You have to make sure that no one or no thing has priority over your call to discipleship and union with him,” said Bishop Burbidge. “You’re being formed and prepared in such a way that you’ll be able to bring the truth as well as the joy of the Gospel to others who are so hungry and thirsty for it. And you’re not just forming your mind. You’re forming your heart so that you’re led closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
Immediately following the homily, the candidates were called by name and each answered “present” before presenting themselves before Bishop Burbidge, who asked them if they were resolved to complete their preparation to undertake ministry in Holy Orders, and to faithfully serve Christ the Lord and his body, the church. They answered in unison, “I do.”
The aspirants include: John Anthony Buono, Nicholas Ryan Farmer, Andrew John Gilmary Garcia, Michael Slaton Gibbons, Connor Miles Kleb, Joshua Alexander Muñoz and Kolbe James Tucker.
“I’m feeling really at peace with Our Lord at the moment, and his call for my life,” said Kleb. “Surrender has been the name of the game since I entered. We try to run a lot when we’re discerning things, especially when he’s calling you to something difficult. But when you actually surrender is when your life starts to get better and better.”
“It was a big step, really committing to being called by the Lord,” said Muñoz. “I feel ready to commit more of my life to God. One of the things I’ve learned in the last two years is just being humble enough to receive what God wants to give. I feel like this was a milestone.”
As the aspirants made their promises before the bishop, in front of family and friends, the moment was powerful. “It was very cool — standing up there in front of the bishop and the whole church saying, “I desire to be a priest — that is what I want,” said Farmer. “Christ has called me to himself to live a life solely for him, that I might pray often, sacrifice for the people, and serve and love them as Christ himself did.”
Bishop Burbidge compared returning to the seminary to returning to work on a construction site. “Work hard, tirelessly, so that progress can be made but don’t forget the one who is the project manager, the one who’s in charge,” he said. “It’s the Lord to whom you must surrender everything, and the one who promises to give you the graces and strength you need. Know that we trust your sincerity and receive your intention. May God who has begun this good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
