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The Apostolate For Seminarians
Strengthening The Church, One Seminarian — And Prayer — At A Time
We all know from experience just how important our priests are. They baptize us, marry us, bury us. They hear our confessions and anoint us in our darkest hour. They offer us Christ in the Eucharist. They share life’s joys and sorrows with us, and in so doing, become a part of our family. With the number of vocations to the priesthood on the decline, it is important — now more than ever — for parishes around the world to spend time in prayer for our seminarians as they prepare for this essential role in the life of the Church.
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In 2008, a small Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) group at Our Lady Star of the Sea decided to begin praying regularly for our diocesan seminarians. This year, Msgr. Brennan asked that this ministry be opened up to the whole parish, and the Apostolate for Seminarians was born. As Chair of the ministry, Sister Joan Gabbin hosted a come-andsee introducing this apostolate to parishioners on March 2.
According to Sr. Joan, prayer is at the center of the Apostolate for Seminarians.
“The group was formed to pray for men that have entered the priesthood to stay on course,” she says. “We know that, statistically, about 70 percent of men who enter seminary do not complete it. It’s a discernment process, and we want to be a support to them and offer our prayers for them because we need them as priests. We know that priesthood is a call from God and a response to God, as He is asking them to embrace this vocation. So our group wants to support that, and prayer is the first priority.”
Serving alongside Sr. Joan in this ministry is a small team including an event planner, a Holy Hour coordinator, and two parishioners who ensure that seminarians receive cards and gifts from our parish on their birthdays and other special occasions.
Parishioners are encouraged to participate in a private devotion for seminarians following the 8:30 a.m. Mass and Miraculous Medal Novena on Wednesday mornings.
Another goal of the Apostolate for Seminarians is to facilitate personal connections between our parishioners and our diocesan seminarians. Parishioners and our school students are encouraged to send inspirational notes to the seminarians and to attend the social gathering with them planned for next summer.
By entering into an authentic relationship with our seminarians, we are able to show our support for them during their time of discernment.
“We need to encourage the laity to have that partnership with God’s plan to foster vocations and support vocations,” Sr. Joan says. “Participants in the ministry say to me they appreciate learning more about the life of the seminarians. They realize that these men are giving their lives for the Church, and it helps them to understand that they need great faith and perseverance.”
All parishioners are encouraged to participate in the Apostolate for Seminarians here at Our Lady Star of the Sea. They can learn about the ministry’s efforts, prayers that are needed, and planned events by reading the group’s newsletter that is sent out via email.
Sr. Joan hopes our parishioners will continue to pray for the 23 seminarians in our diocese. We are blessed to have a wonderful group of young men discerning a vocation to the priesthood and we are grateful to them for sharing their gifts with the Church!
“To keep the church open and serving the community — the Masses and the Eucharist and all the services that the Church provides — it’s really important that we keep the work of the seminarians alive and fruitful,” Sr. Joan says. “We extend an invitation to everyone in the parish to participate in this apostolate.”
A NOTE FROM FR. CLAY LUDWIG
On behalf of all the seminarians, I would like to thank Apostolate for Seminarians for their generous gifts that they give us throughout the year. It truly means a lot and it is very much appreciated. After every card I always say a prayer for the ministry. But know I have concrete experiences and friends that I am now able to offer up to the Lord in thanksgiving. It makes it even more meaningful!
Please know that you are and will continue to be in my prayers. Thank you for all that you did for me this summer. May Jesus Christ live in your hearts forever!
In His Love, Fr. Clay Ludwig
Fr. Clay, who was a seminarian in our diocese, was ordained to the priesthood June 20, and was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Jacksonville. In the fall, he will further his studies in Rome.
