Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel was the location of the annual liturgy for admission to candidacy on Sept. 13. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost celebrated the Mass. Concelebrants included seminary administrators, faculty and members of the pastoral staff.
Seven men – five from the Diocese of Cleveland, one from the Diocese of Youngstown and one from the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea -- who are first-year students at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology -- took this next step in their formation journey. The newly admitted, their parents and home parishes are:
- Donald Bailey, son of the late Donald and Barbara Bailey, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Warren (Diocese of Youngstown);
- Benjamin Baratian, son of Marcus and April Baratian, St. Mary Parish, Hudson;
- Johannes Benninghoff, son of Donald and Barbara Benninghoff, St. Clarence Parish, North Olmsted;
- Jake Cermak, son of Jim and MaryAnn Cermak, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Parma;
- Jonathan Green, son of John and Carolyn Green, Holy Family Parish, Stow;
- Simon Park, son of Park Seung-wan Ignatius and Oh Eun-mi Ignatia, St. Andrew Kim Parish, Cleveland (Archdiocese of Daegu) and
- Stephen Zbiegien, son of Tom and Kelly Zbiegien, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Gates Mills.
The Mass was celebrated in the newly renovated and recently rededicated chapel at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe.
(See photo gallery above.)
In his homily, Bishop Woost recalled how Pope Francis reflected on the ordained priesthood during his homily at the 2017 chrism Mass. The pope recounted the story of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s “call within a call.” In 1946, while traveling on a train to a retreat, she heard “the voice,” which she said was the voice of Jesus. He asked her to take him to the hovels of the poor, to be his light. “I cannot do this alone. They do not know me, and that is why they do not love me. Bring me to them,” he said. Once again, he told her, “I cannot do this alone.”
The bishop used that theme to connect the seven candidates to their calling in ministry.
“Don, Ben, Johannes, Jake, Jon, Simon and Steve – you, too, have heard the voice. Probably not in the same manner as Mother Teresa, but no less real. Otherwise, we would not be here doing what we are doing,” he said, noting they would make a public declaration of their desire to devote themselves “to the service of God and others in the deaconate and the ministerial priesthood.”
He told the men the Holy Spirit’s gifts to them already have been recognized in them by their family, members of their parishes, the formation faculty, their spiritual directors, their fellow seminarians and others.
“Our prayer and hope is that these gifts and more will be further manifested and matured in your lives. In the years to come, your gifts will continue to be tested and discerned. For now though, we welcome the manifestations of the Spirit in your lives and rejoice in your desire to answer Christ’s call.”
They were asked two questions from the rite of admission to candidacy for holy orders. The first inquired if they resolved to complete their preparation, which includes intellectual, spiritual, pastoral and human formation. The second asked if they resolved to form their minds and hearts in such a way that they would be able to faithfully serve.
Reminding them that Jesus said he cannot do this alone, the men answered affirmatively. The bishop said they must “go out and be the icon, the sign, the sacrament” of the Lord’s presence in their lives. “With the mind and heart of Christ, you will be able to faithfully serve.”
He said they are the harvest master’s answer to the Church’s prayer, adding, “For this, we are most grateful to the Lord for his call and to you for your willingness to respond … Come, be my light. Bring me to them I cannot do this alone,” he added.
Trusting in the Lord, Bishop Woost assured them men “We will assist you, with our charity and our prayers.”