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PRIESTS
BY MARGARET HUNT
‘There’s always more to learn’
Q and A with seminarian Tony Budnick BY DA N MCW I L L I A MS
Father Michael Cummins has ‘come to a deeper awareness’ of his calling in his 15 years in the priesthood.
ather Michael Cummins was ordained June 3, 1995, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville. He is the third of four sons born to Betty and the late Jack Cummins of Johnson City. He is the chaplain for East Tennessee State University and the parttime associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City. He was recently named the director of the diocesan Vocations Office (see page 3). Were your parents Catholic? They were converts. My father grew up Presbyterian and my mother grew up Baptist, and my father converted before meeting my mother. My mother converted, but she didn’t necessarily convert for my father. [Before she married] she worked at the Alexander Inn in Oak Ridge. She met a sister who was some sort of scientist who was in Oak Ridge doing some work. I want to say she was a Franciscan, and they developed a strong friendship. She had a very powerful influence on my mom, so I think [her conversion] was a combination of the influence of the sister and my father. How were the seeds of your vocation planted? Looking back, I think it was the witness of my parents living their faith. They were certainly human and not perfect—no parents are—but they lived their faith. I remember when I was a young boy, we would often have the priests and sisters over for a meal or an evening, and I think something started there. Did you go into the seminary right after college? I had a bit of a time away from the church. I fell away from practicing the faith in junior high and my family did [also] for a variety of reasons, then I started going back to church on a regular basis during my third year of college at ETSU. At that time, I started going back to church at the Catholic Center at ETSU, and Father Mike Creson was the chaplain. So I got to know him and Father Bill Gahagan. It was really at that time when I got back into church that the idea of priesthood came forward—it had been there and was actually there when I wasn’t going to church, but it didn’t go anywhere; it kind of stayed in the back of my thoughts. I deter-
DEACON PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY
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Father Michael Cummins
mined that I needed to try seminary and see what happened, so I started talking to Father Creson about that and he put me in touch with Bishop [Anthony J.] O’Connell. Before I knew it, I was driving toward Southwest Missouri! How have you grown as a priest after 15 years? I think I have a deeper awareness of my calling to priesthood and even the fundamental call of discipleship. In all the experiences I’ve had these 15 years, I hope I’ve been able to serve others, but I think also in serving in the ways priests do, that serving has allowed me to come to a deeper awareness of my own calling and fundamentally my own discipleship in Christ. I think I have a deeper relationship with Christ now 15 years into priesthood than I had before, and because of that I have a deeper relationship with the Church, a deeper understanding of my role as priest in the Church—a deeper awareness of Church and a deeper love for the Church and for Christ. There’s always more to learn and another challenge in every assignment or whatever, but as you realize how God uses your gifts, you also realize the gifts you don’t have but you see that other priests have. You learn to appreciate their gifts and see how those gifts are doing great things for the Church. You recognize how God has used you, that you were the right person at the right time, usually not according to your plan. What is your role in helping men discern the call to priesthood? The components of the discernment program are the same as they were when Jesus walked the earth. What’s changed is the context of where we are as a society, which is a context of a lot of
noise, a lot of distraction, a lot of isolation, of our society pulling people away from one another. I think a needed component of the discernment process is providing an atmosphere where guys can step away from the noise and distractions, come together in relationship with other guys who are open to the possibility [of priesthood] and realize they’re not the only guys in East Tennessee thinking these things. The components of the discernment program are meant to encourage guys to be involved in daily prayer, service, working with a spiritual director, and gathering at least on a monthly basis. That provides an atmosphere that can allow those components of discernment to grow and develop. Can you think of a specific challenge that has helped you? When I went to St. Mary in Athens, the parish had started a weekly Mass in Spanish. When I took Spanish in seminary, I had just seven weeks of Spanish study. That was a struggle. I remember that first year, living through that frustration, but the people were very patient and understanding, which was wonderful. I remember praying, “God, if you want this ministry to flourish, you need to send the people that’ll make it happen.” And he did. There were people who showed up— some people are still there in Athens, some have moved on, but they were able to step in and provide and help the community grow. I’m proud to say that the community did grow, and I think during my time in Athens it got very well established and continues to do good things. As it was growing, my own confidence in being able to minister grew. Even though my Spanish is still limited, my work with the Hispanic community has been a blessing for my priesthood. I think I’m a better priest today because of that experience. What helps you relax? My two dogs. I have a chocolate Lab and a shepherd mix: Bailey and Maxine. They’re very good company and help me unwind. I also like to read and to exercise. My friendships are very important to me, and I try to stay connected. ■
Mrs. Hunt is administrative assistant for the Media Office.
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Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries has numerous fitness, educational, social, and creative-arts events planned for June. An open house featuring 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s music and a facility tour is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Alexian Grove in Chattanooga. Call 423-886-0542 by Friday, June 4, to RSVP. A “potluck Friday” event will be held at 11:30 a.m. June 11 and a pool tournament at 9 a.m. Monday, June 14, at the Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors Soddy-Daisy Senior Center. Call 332-1702 for more details. Visit www.Alexian Brothers.net to view the new “Alexian Chat” newsletter and a calendar of events.
Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 3:30 p.m. Sundays at Holy Ghost Church, 1041 N. Central St. in Knoxville. Call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880.
The Serra Club of Knoxville meets on second and fourth Thursdays in the Shea Room at Sacred Heart Cathedral’s office building. Meetings begin with Mass at 11:30 a.m., followed by
The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at the Chancery. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307.
TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C AT H OL IC
lunch at noon and a speaker at 12:30 p.m. The Serra Club of Greater Chattanooga meets on second and fourth Mondays at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Meetings begin with Mass at 11:40 a.m. celebrated by club chaplain Father George Schmidt, with lunch and a speaker following. Visit the www. serrachatta.org for more details.
The Community of Sant’Egidio is a Catholic lay ecclesial movement that focuses on prayer and service to the poor. Currently there are two Sant’Egidio groups meeting in the Diocese of Knoxville, in Knoxville and Johnson City. For more information on the Knoxville group, call Ellen Macek at 865-675-5541. Call Father Michael Cummins at 423-9267061 for more details on the Johnson City group. All of the faithful are welcome to attend. Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. Visit www.knoxlatin mass.net for details.
ony Budnick just completed his Pre-Theology I year at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. He is the son of Christine Budnick of Charlotte, N.C., and the late James Budnick. His home parish is St. Albert the Great in Knoxville.
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As a new seminarian, what has been the hardest thing to adjust to? Because I was 37 years Tony Budnick old when I entered seminary last fall, my difficulties ranged from getting used to living in an 8- by 10-foot room with no private facilities to just being back in school again. I truly miss all my friends and loved ones back in East Tennessee every day and look forward to the next time we get to see each other again. But keeping them in my daily thoughts and prayers helps keep them close to my heart.
What is your most challenging course in seminary and why? Each of my courses has presented its challenges. I do, however, prefer courses that present information in a more concrete fashion. Thinking abstractly has always been a challenge for me.
What is your favorite course and why? I’ve enjoyed my two Scripture courses over the past year, examining biblical passages for their underlying meanings and symbolism and learning ways to bring the Scriptures’ message to Catholic congregations. The Sacred Heart School of Theology is blessed with many exceptional biblical scholars, including an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It’s been my pleasure to learn from these individuals, and I look forward to future classes on Scripture and other subjects that really help bring ministry to the people.
What do you most look forward to in your future life as a priest? Being there for others in need and bringing the message of Christ to them, whether by saying Mass; at a wedding or funeral; or in the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, and reconciliation. Visiting the sick in their homes or in the hospital, comforting those who need comfort. It’s the duty of a priest to respond in a challenging but pastoral way, to be a caring and compassionate shepherd of Christ to the faithful inside and outside the Catholic faith. I look forward to helping bring God’s gentle touch, warm embrace, and listening ear to those yearning for it.
Who has inspired you? I’m forever indebted to my family, especially my aunt and uncle [Marlene and Chuck Budnik] in Wears Valley and all the people I’ve worked with and continue to be friends with. I’d like to think I’ve taken at least a tiny bit from everyone, and I believe that has helped me in my continued discernment toward priesthood.
How old were you when you first considered the priesthood? In third or fourth grade I remember telling folks I wanted to be a pilot or a priest. I thought either way I’d be closer to God. I tried becoming a pilot but ended up in local television broadcasting for some 16 years. The “fun” is in the journey after all. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Father Chris Michelson and Deacons Patrick Murphy-Racey, Mike Eiffe, and Dan Alexander at St. Albert the Great; along with Fathers Peter Iorio, Michael Cummins, and Bill Gahagan; and of course Bishop Stika, for guiding me in my journey through their daily example of what it means to be one of God’s shepherds.
What things about you have changed the most as a seminarian? I’ve come to better understand the true power of prayer and the Holy Spirit in my daily life. It’s so difficult to surrender and let the Lord “take over” and lead and just simply follow. I may spend my entire life continuing ever so slowly “letting go.”
Along with their prayers for you, is there another way East Tennessee Catholics can support you? The awesome folks of East Tennessee already do so much for us seminarians, and I’m forever grateful. Feel free to write or e-mail me, and I’ll try my best to respond, especially in prayer: tony.budnick@yahoo.com or The Sacred Heart School of Theology, P.O. Box 429, Hales Corners, WI, 53130-0429. ■
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JUNE 6, 2010
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