Father Mark Latcovich, president-rector of Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries, celebrated a Mass on Sept. 14 to admit eight men as candidates for the priesthood.
Those admitted from the Diocese of Cleveland are David Chojnacki, Dominic Gideon, Jon Hawkins and Christopher Stein. Candidates from the Diocese of Youngstown are Garrett Guerrieri, John Rovnak and Frederick Schlueter. One candidate, Jaehyun Ryu, is from the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea.
Father Latcovich noted that Sept. 14, which was the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, was a perfect feast day to celebrate admission to candidacy for holy orders for these men. His homily made a connection between the cross and the seminarians? vocation to the priesthood. He invited them to pour their heart, sweat and tears into the mystery of the cross.
?The cross,? he said, ?is not an instrument of death, but of life.? The cross signifies life; it?s God?s response to evil. During these times of scandal in the Church, it is the mystery of the cross that calls us to something more, Father Latcovich said. With words of encouragement, he sent the men away affirming that their ?yes? will make a difference in the Church.
He reminded them that their families play a strong role in their vocation. The witness of the seminary faculty is important, also. ?You don?t make this journey alone; you do it with a community,? Father Latcovich added.
Concelebrants for the Mass included seminary faculty members. Bishop emeritus Anthony Pilla was in attendance.
At the end of Mass, Bishop Pilla briefly addressed the men thanking them for their choice to discern the priesthood.
?It won?t be easy. Jesus never said it would be easy, but it will be worthwhile,? he added.
The new candidates and their guests were invited to a reception in the seminary dining room after Mass.
