Nearly 1,000 people attended the 41st annual Bishop’s Seminary Brunch on March 23 at Landerhaven. The event is a major fundraiser that helps provide for the individual needs of seminarians attending both Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries in Wickliffe. Dave Karpinski chaired this year’s brunch. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost also was in attendance.
“I hope you will be truly inspired and encouraged by what you hear today as we witness the impact of this important stage in the seminarians’ journey,” Karpinski said.
Father Andy Turner, president/rector of the seminaries, said proceeds are used to help offset rising medical costs, unforeseen car repairs, loan deferments and registration for spiritual seminars, retreats and other programs attended by seminarians. The goal of this year’s brunch is $180,000 for the Rector’s Fund.
(See photo gallery above.)
“I am so happy to be here with you today,” the bishop said as he looked out at the sea of faces. “After nearly five years as your bishop, I feel I can call you friends.”
The bishop said he is pleased that so many men – 64 from the Diocese of Cleveland, the Diocese of Youngstown, the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea and Capuchin Franciscans from the Province of St. Augustine – are enrolled in the diocesan seminaries. “Our seminaries consistently rank among the best in the nation,” he said. And while it’s good to have so many men in the seminaries, “It’s important to get them out,” he said, so they can begin their ministry. “The best day of my seminary career was seeing it in the rear-view mirror of my car,” he quipped.
He talked briefly about his first pastoral letter, “A Flourishing Apostolic Church,” that was released in December 2024, which calls for the faithful to engage in prayer, evangelization and service. “If we do those things, our numbers will grow like they did in the early Church.”
He said the men being formed in the seminaries are following those guidelines.
The recently renovated Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, which houses the seminaries, was financed by many generous benefactors throughout the diocese and beyond, the bishop said. That chapel is the heart of the seminaries. “Our seminarians and others encounter Christ in the chapel,” he noted. The bishop extended an invitation to attend monthly adoration and 10 a.m. weekly Sunday Mass in the new chapel.
The seminarians also are being formed as missionary disciples, he said, noting it is important for them to relate to those they serve. “I evaluate you on how you smile,” he said, smiling and noting his episcopal motto is “Serve the Lord with gladness.”
“After all, that’s why we do this. We have hope in the Lord. Smile and always tell the truth,” he said.
As for service, Bishop Malesic said the seminarians are compelled to serve others as they are rooted in the life of Christ, “who came to serve and not to be served. Our friendship with God is at the heart of this. There is no moving ahead as a diocese unless we move forward in our relationship with our friend, Jesus.”
He said the seminarians “are good men and I am grateful to the seminary faculty and staff for their leadership. I am also grateful to the seminarians for listening to and answering/following God’s call.”
Both the bishop and Father Turner mentioned the newly instituted propaedeutic year, during which a small group of seminarians, under the guidance of Father Mark Ott, live together and fast from social media/technology. They spent a month in a poverty immersion experience in January and will conclude the year this summer by spending a monthlong pilgrimage walking the Camino.
Father Turner said funds from last year’s Bishop’s Brunch helped with some propaedeutic year expenses.
Bishop Malesic said he is pleased that eight men are anticipating ordination as diocesan priests on May 17, with another scheduled to be ordained for the Diocese of Youngstown. In addition, six men are anticipating ordination as transitional deacons for the diocese on April 12.
“I’ve never ordained eight men before,” he said, noting how exciting it will be.
“You are making this possible as we are preparing the best priests for our parishes. The fruits of our labor will create a bountiful harvest,” the bishop added.
Father Turner said he felt “privileged to witness the men studying at the seminary, to pray, worship and learn with them and to witness their personal growth as well as their hunger to serve the Church and all of you.”
In addition to the propaedeutic year, Father Turner said transitional deacons will spend an entire year at their parish assignments, living there rather than traveling back and forth to the seminary as they do now. He called the two programs “bookends of formation.”
Father Turner also invited brunch attendees to watch a short video highlighting the propaedeutic year. He said it would be updated once the men return from their Camino pilgrimage in the summer.
Two seminarians, Daniel Jordan from St. Mary Parish in Hudson, a Borromeo seminarian who is part of the propaedeutic immersion year, and Deacon Anthony Donatelli, also from St. Mary, Hudson, shared some of their seminary experiences with the brunch attendees.
Jordan said the propaedeutic year has been a blessing because it gave him “time for discovery of myself, going with Christ into the depths of my heart. I now realize that formation is a gradual process. I am coming to realize and understand he (Christ) wants to walk with me and how much he loves me.” Although he was close to leaving the seminary a year ago, Jordan said he decided to participate in the propaedeutic year and it has made a difference in his life.
“I realize I need to be a priest,” he added.
Deacon Donatelli said one thing he learned in Scripture class with Father Ott has stuck with him “You are wonderfully made,” he said. In addition, he said it is important to believe what you teach.
“I want to go out and teach people that they are wonderfully made and that Jesus loves them. As I prepare for the priesthood, I go fully understanding that I am God’s beloved son and I am excited to share it,” he said smiling.
“I hope you hear the goodness, holiness and healthiness of our seminarians,” said Father Turner. “The goal of our seminaries is to form shepherds who will lead their flocks to Christ.”
Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, thanked all for their support. “We want to go forward and build a strong culture in our seminaries,” he said, noting they are among the best in the country. “Thank you for your support and collaboration.”
The seminary choir, directed by Agnieszka Bieniek, director of music for the seminaries, performed and led the group in singing the closing hymn, “Holy God we Praise thy Name.”
As attendees filed out, they were invited to drop their pledge envelopes into the large silver bowls carried by seminarians.
Click here to read a story from the November/December 2024 issue of Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine about the men who are participating in the first propaedeutic year.
Anyone with questions about a possible vocation can click here to be connected with the diocesan vocation office.
View the propaedeutic year video. “Look to Christ: The Propaedeutic Immersion,” here.