Dear Friends of SJV:
Greetings in Christ from Colorado, where we are experiencing a beautiful Indian Summer. October is in some ways the most challenging part of the fall term, as it is filled with midterm exams and papers. Now as we turn towards November, the men will be heading out on the parish appeals – visiting most of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver, asking for prayers and financial support. Many thanks in advance to all of you who give in support of our future priests.
Returning to the theme of summer, this month we asked two of the men to offer some reflections on their summer assignments. Deacon Jesse Ochs, from the diocese of Salina, speaks about his new diaconal ministry over the summer, as well as John Donart from Kansas City, offering some of his experience from his travels to Spain over the summer.
As we begin this month when the Church remembers the faithful departed, know of our continued prayers as a community for your beloved who have gone to Christ.
Fr. John
Joy, Peace, Fulfillment
Joy, peace, fulfillment. These three words describe my summer at St. Mary, Queen of the Universe Parish in Salina, Kansas. As a Transitional Deacon for the Diocese of Salina, Kansas, I was assigned to spend June and July at the largest parish in the Salina Diocese. For some of you in the Archdiocese of Denver, 1,000 families probably feels like a small parish, but it doesn’t
where I’m from.
I grew up on a farm in northwest Kansas, so a parish with 1,000 families is very large to me. But God’s providence always puts us in the right place at the right time. By the will of God, I was placed with a pastor who grew up only a couple of miles away from where I grew up. We connected instantly. On numerous occasions throughout the summer, Fr. Kevin would bring up certain names that I recognized from our area, and we shared many laughs together. I also had the privilege of doing my first Baptism and presiding at four Funeral Vigils.
The peace, joy, and fulfillment I received from the Lord was immense. I could never have imagined the depth of the joy that the Lord has given me as a Deacon thus far, and I can’t wait to be ordained to the priesthood for the Salina Diocese this upcoming May. The gratitude that I feel toward God for bringing me to this moment simply cannot be put into words.
Lord, thank you so much for all Your gifts.
Deacon Jesse Ochs
Seminarian, Diocese of Salina
Eternal Grace
This summer, I was given the daunting task (an inestimable gift) of learning Spanish in Ávila, Spain. For six weeks I lived in the ancient city attending classes, eating meals in a truly international setting (our first dinner included young men and women from Spain, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Portugal, all speaking in Spanish with varying accents), and traveling to various cultural and religious sites near Avila (the tombs of St. John of the Cross and St. Theresa of Avila are both within an hour from Avila).
While I could share all the grammar I learned, the lessons I learned staying at La Encarnación, where St. Theresa herself spent 30 years of her life, are far more worthy to recount.
My diocesan brother and I were blessed to have rooms at a guesthouse of La Encarnación, meaning every day we attended Mass, had meals, and gave museum tours at the convent. To spend any time in a convent is to come into close contact with its charism; to spend six weeks at a convent gives one the grace of acquiring spiritual family members. Part of the charism of the Discalced Carmelites is to pray for the holiness of priests (and for any seminarian who might darken their doorstep). I truly experienced the love of these sisters this summer. Further, the love these sisters had for Mary was inspiring, and I in turn grew in love and trust of our Blessed Mother.
The Spanish I learned this summer will last a lifetime, but the graces I received will last an eternity.
John Donart
Seminarian, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
