Dear Friends of SJV,
September was a fruitful month for the seminary, ending in Parents Weekend. The latter allowed families to visit in person and to gain a deeper understanding of their sons’ formation at the seminary.
In October, human formation focuses on the virtue “Meekness of Heart,” reflecting on Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” We ask your prayers so that our seminarians and everyone involved in their formation continue to grow in learning from Christ, who is humble and meek, thereby finding proper rest for our souls (see Matt 11:29).
This month’s newsletter will feature insights from Deacon Simon Ortiz of the Diocese of Phoenix, serving as our SEMCO President, and Denise Seery, our registrar, who is dedicated to supporting our seminarians throughout their academic journey.
May the peace of Christ reside deeply within us throughout this year.
In Christ,
Fr. Angel Perez-Lopez
Strengthen the Brothers
Prior to my ordination to the Diaconate this past spring, I had the great honor of being elected President of the Seminarian Student Council (Semco). This opportunity has already been an incredible joy, and I look forward to serving the brothers in this role throughout this year of formation.
This opportunity reminds me of a grace I received when I was in Spirituality Year 2021-22. This was my first year as a seminarian in Denver, but before I arrived in Denver, I attended College Seminary in Ohio. The Spirituality Year was composed of seminarians like me, who had experience in seminary prior to this particular year, in addition to men who were in their first year of formation. As I prayed about what Jesus had in store for me, I was struck by a particular passage in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus speaks to St Peter and says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to sift you all like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. But when you have turned back, strengthen the brothers.” This passage of Scripture cut me to the heart and has become a major theme in my desire to serve the brothers here at the seminary in preparation for serving the people in my home Diocese of Phoenix.
As my brothers and I continue our preparation for the priesthood, please continue to pray for our seminary community, that we might strengthen the brothers throughout this year!
Deacon Simon J. Ortiz
Seminarian, Diocese of Phoenix
Dedicated to Their Journey: Our Registrar’s Support for Seminarians
My name is Denise Seery, and I have the privilege of serving as the Seminary Registrar. As I begin my 10th year in this role, success means our 116 seminarians, 36 permanent deacon candidates, 32 faculty members, and numerous Formators, Spiritual Directors, and staff members know the “who, what, where, when, and how” of the weekly class schedule, course registration, degrees, transcripts, transfer credits, international student compliance, student loan deferment, and countless details associated with our intellectual formation program.
Born and raised in a small western Montana town, I moved to Denver in 1989 and began a fruitful corporate career. My “journey to seminary” began with a 2010 pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, where I seriously started seeking God’s desire for my life. Returning to Denver with greater appreciation for the Rosary, Our Blessed Mother accompanied me during five years of discernment. In April 2013, I left my corporate job and in January 2015, God unexpectedly opened a door to work at the seminary, where I spent 18 months with the Denver Catholic Biblical School, then moved to my current position.
Recently, I was asked, “How do you keep track of everything?” The simple answer is that I love solving puzzles, and this office is a “puzzler’s playground.” But, more importantly, this role allows me to live out my spiritual motherhood and to serve these amazing men who are discerning God’s call. This is a humbling and grace-filled opportunity that I do not view as a job, but as my vocation.
Denise Seery
Registrar
St. John Vianney Theological Seminary
