Dear Friends of SJV,
The seminarians have returned to our beautiful campus, and we are all enjoying getting back into our routines. Soon after the men returned, they left for a camping trip at Annunciation Heights.
Last week, Archbishop Golka helped us usher in the new academic year with a Mass and Banquet that we shared with faculty, staff, and seminarians. And now the work begins. We are looking forward to a year of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation for our 90 seminarians.
Today we will hear from two more seminarians about their summer assignments. While Joe Tynan’s service at Camp Wojtyla and Martin Bisio’s service at St. Thomas More Parish were very different experiences, they both found themselves closer to Christ, the Church, and their vocations to the priesthood.
As always, we are grateful for your prayers for our men in formation.
In Christ,
Fr. Ángel Pérez-López
Seminarians at St. Catherine’s Chapel on the Rock during their annual camping trip.
Archbishop James Golka celebrates the Opening Mass for the 2026-27 academic year at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.
Camp Wojtyla and the Apostolic Church
This summer I was happy to be assigned to serve at Camp Wojtyla. Camp Wojtyla’s goal is to lead and challenge young people through adventures in the wilderness into a joyful, transformative relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Although I was volunteering as a counselor, I believe the mission impacted me just as much as the campers. We had three weeks of staff training to prepare for the kids’ arrival, which included scripture lessons from Dr. Scott Powell and the chance to experience many adventures in the Colorado outdoors. By serving the campers and my fellow staff, I believe my relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church grew.
Reflecting on my time at camp, I believe we as a community were living like the apostles did in the Acts of the Apostles. Life in the outdoors is challenging, and it forces you to lean on others much more. I learned to tie all sorts of knots to build a rain shelter, relied on others to help carry emergency supplies on hikes, and counted on others to prepare meals while I handled different tasks around camp. It was demanding work, and we rotated each week between serving as counselors and as “Sherpas” during the girls’ camper weeks, so we were constantly serving one another in some capacity. The staff grew close, continually giving of our time, talent, and treasure to each other. It truly felt like a primitive Christian community where we held everything in common.
Joe Tynan
Theology I Seminarian, Archdiocese of Denver
Joe Tynan, bottom left, with campers at Camp Wojtyla.
A Wonderful Summer
I was very happy when I found out I was going to be assigned to a parish during the summer! The parish is where we find Jesus in the Tabernacle, where we receive the sacraments and the life of grace, where we encounter our beloved pastors, where we join the Church through baptism and where Masses for our souls are celebrated after we leave this life. A parish is like a second home.
This is precisely what I witnessed and experienced at St. Thomas More: babies receiving baptism; numberless people going to confession and attending Holy Mass every day; catechumens receiving first communion and Confirmation; our dear elderly receiving the sacraments; funerals being celebrated for the beloved deceased.
I also participated in activities for children such us Totus Tuus and Vacation Bible School. I dressed as St. Martin of Porres and explained his life to the children. I was also very happy to teach a Confirmation class to a small group of adults. It was so consoling to see them receiving the Holy Spirit this summer! I also helped in a group meant for non–Catholics who are exploring our faith and who want to know more about the Church.
I was so blessed by the time spent at this parish. The priests, the parish staff and parishioners I met here were wonderful. My assignment helped me so much to strengthen my vocation and increase the desire to serve the People of God as a priest.
Martin Bisio
Theology II Seminarian, Archdiocese of Denver
