Seminarian Education Fund Appeal
Benefits Diocese of Winona-Rochester Seminarians 11 Executive Director Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota mherman@catholicfsmn.org
The following letter from BISHOP ROBERT BARRON was sent to parishioners in the Diocese of WinonaRochester. To discuss options for donating to the Seminarian Education Fund, contact Monica Herman at 507-858-1276 or mherman@catholicfsmn.org, or donate online at catholicfsmn.org by clicking "donate."
�reetings in the Lord Jesus Christ,
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus calls each person by name to follow Him. There are young men in our communities whom Jesus is calling to follow Him as a priest, and to bring
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136:1). As I have begun my final year of seminary in preparation for priesthood, my heart has been filled with awe and gratitude at the sheer goodness of the Lord who called me from before my birth and who has cared for me so generously along the way. In a particular way I thank each of you who have been a part of His providential care through your financial support and prayers which make our formation for the priesthood possible. Your generosity equips us to share the life and warmth of Jesus Christ with a world desperately in need of Him, especially through the Eucharist and Reconciliation. I and my brother seminarians are deeply humbled by your support and we’re excited to be on mission for Christ with you!
-Deacon Brian Klein Configuration IV, St. Paul Seminary Home Parish: St. Casimir, Wells
the Eucharist to His people. His call is an invitation to become intimate friends with Him. However, becoming a priest, let alone an intimate friend of Jesus, does not happen without the support of the Church. One cause for celebration, is the fact that the Diocese of Winona-Rochester has twenty-four young men in various stages of priestly education and formation. Seven of them are currently at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, one attends Mater Redemptoris House of Formation in La Crosse, Wisconsin, fourteen are studying at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, one at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy, and one is participating in a Pastoral Year within a parish in the Diocese. The Seminarian Education Fund was created to assist in covering the expenses of the men who are attending seminary and discerning a life of service to the parishes and faithful across southern Minnesota. The blessing of these many vocations presents a challenge: the cost of priestly formation averages $43,000 for tuition, housing, and additional expenses. With these men in priestly studies, that total is over $1,030,000. The Seminarian Education Fund covers a portion of the cost of room and board for Juniors, Seniors, and Pre-Theology semi-
narians attending Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and all the educational expenses of those who attend Major Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, or are participating in a Journey or Pastoral year. Would you be willing to make an investment in the future of the diocese by helping support the men who will bring the sacraments, priestly presence, and spiritual guidance to you, your children, and your grandchildren? My deepest gratitude goes to you for your prayers and many other contributions. Our seminarians feel the love of the people in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. More than ever, we need faithful priests with a dedication to their vocation and to the people in their care. Please pray for them as they continue their formation and education, and consider how you might join me in the task of forming future priests. God Bless You, Most Rev. Robert Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester
Due to the incredible and generous support of all you who contribute to the Seminarian Education Fund, I have been able to enter into seminary formation more fully and freely. While education costs continue to prove to be a great burden on much of society, God, in His providence, provides generous donors, like you, here in the diocese to help alleviate the burden. I have always been deeply moved by the support we receive as seminarians. Your support makes our education possible, and provides great encouragement, all of which allows us to, God willing, serve as priests of Jesus Christ. For this I would like to express gratitude on behalf of all our seminarians. Please know of our prayers for you and your families.
As St. Pope John Paul II says, life with Christ is a wonderful adventure. Time and again, I wonder at the gift that I have of being able to give myself and my life to God and His people in this journey towards the priesthood. Time and again I have also wondered at the tremendous generosity of God’s people for us seminarians by their prayers and support. I cannot tell you how tremendously humbling it is to have the freedom to say yes to God and grow in holiness and towards His vocation for me, thanks to the financial support of those who believe in the mission of Christ’s Church and continue to trust in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. You have my sincere thanks for saying yes to God in your own daily lives, and for lifting us up in prayer and support.
-Riley Becher
-John Paul Bickerstaff
Configuration II, St. Paul Seminary Home Parish: Pax Christi, Rochester
Discipleship III, IHM Seminary Home Parish: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona
Catholic Foundation
Monica Herman
November 2023 w The Courier w dowr.org
