As summer begins to wind down, thoughts of going back to school intensify. For men considering a vocation to the priesthood, this means the beginning or continuation of life in a seminary – a unique course of study and community that may be challenging to describe to others, including one’s family members. For the past 16 years in late July, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington brings together seminarians and their family members for Seminarian Family Day. The annual celebration features a Mass focused on gratitude for vocations and a picnic-style luncheon that is part introduction to seminary life, and part reunion for all the participants.

“There’s no other parish event you can compare this to,” said Father Tom Robertson, a newly ordained priest who joined Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory in concelebrating the Mass at St. Patrick’s Parish in Rockville on July 30. 

Describing the annual event as a “venerable tradition,” Cardinal Gregory welcomed the seminarians and their families and used the occasion to offer “heartfelt gratitude to the priests of the archdiocese who are engaged in seminary work.” 

In his homily the cardinal described the work as “helping young men to become dedicated to Christ, who is Truth.”

The cardinal pointed to the earlier readings of the liturgy which focused on Jeremiah and St. John the Baptist. Jeremiah called on the ancient Hebrews to remember the covenant with God, and John the Baptist challenged God’s people to live in justice. These ministries often led to dire situations for the prophets, Cardinal Gregory said, noting, “Being men of truth was perilous.”

However, truth is more than accurate data or correct information, Cardinal Gregory said. “Christ is God’s perfect humanity in Himself. Every one of us is summoned to live in God’s image and to live in the Truth,” Cardinal Gregory said.

Turning to the seminarians, Cardinal Gregory added: “My young brothers – please tell the truth always in love. For in doing so you will lead others to Christ who is Truth. Telling the truth led Jeremiah and John the Baptist into hot water, but it made them great and holy men.” 

Joining Cardinal Gregory as concelebrants in the liturgy were: Msgr. Charles Parry, pastor of St. Patrick Parish; Father Carter Griffin, director of seminarians and rector of Saint John Paul II Seminary; Father Kevin Regan, vice rector of Saint John Paul II Seminary; Father Mark Ivany, the archdiocese’s director of priest vocations and formation; Father Scott Holmer, parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish; and newly ordained priests, Father Robertson, Father Ryan Braam and Father Gerald Andrews. A fourth member of the class of 2022, Father Kyle Vance, also attended the event – as newly ordained priests are invited to share their experiences with seminarians and their families at the luncheon. 

Recalling his first archdiocesan Seminarian Family Day in 2015, Father Robertson said: “I remember walking in with my family and two older brothers – not knowing a single face – my brothers were terrified.” 

In a brief witness to participants Father Robertson, who completed a degree in finance from the University of Delaware, said his vocation to the priesthood surprised him after attending a Thanksgiving Day Mass with his mother during senior year. As he discerned his vocation, Father Robertson realized he was unable to find the same peace away from the altar as near to it. “It took seven years and here I am – it’s truly beautiful to be here now,” said Father Robertson, recently assigned as parochial vicar at the Church of the Little Flower Parish, Bethesda.

The priest’s mother, who was unable to attend Father Robertson’s last family day, was sad to be missing the event she valued over the years as an opportunity to meet his classmates and other parents with sons in the seminary. “To the new parents,” he said, “it’s going to be an incredible experience.”

For parent Monica McKenzie, sending her son Shane McKenzie to seminary feels right. “I feel good about sending my son there,” Monica McKenzie said. “Everybody’s really kind – it’s such a great group of guys, the parents seem so friendly and welcoming.”

Roxanne Rojas said she was very surprised when her son Jessiah Rojas announced his vocation. She expected her son, a 2016 graduate of St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, to find a position in football coaching, especially after he attended Ave Maria University and worked with the head football coach there, Joe Patterson. Jessiah Rojas described Patterson as a mentor who eventually told Rojas there are plenty of football coaches but not enough priests.

This fall Jessiah Rojas, a first year theology student, will enter Mount St. Mary’s University. He advised new seminarians to “keep their parents in the loop, discerning with them,” adding that ultimately “it’s a calling. God is calling you – the rest is details.”

Rojas’ parents, brother, and sister joined him at Seminarian Family Day. Nick Rojas, his father, said the whole family is proud of Jessiah, although they come from a Protestant Christian tradition. Nick Rojas is taking theology classes at Regent Seminary and said he can see Jessiah’s education is Christ-centered. The elder Rojas cherishes the discussions with his son. “We get to talk a lot,” he said.

Rojas’ sister Christina Rojas, 19, says she appreciates Jessiah’s vocation. “I love his dedication to it. I admire his loyalty. He is learning how to be faithful,” she said.

Msgr. Parry said St. Patrick’s Parish “loves to see seminarians and their families together with the cardinal.” At the Mass, Msgr. Parry noted there were currently eight men from the parish in seminaries – five in the archdiocese and three studying for the priesthood in religious orders. Msgr. Parry said seminaries train men “to be able to do pastoral work, be involved in parish schools, and be the presence of Christ in a sacramental way.” 

The pastor also said the parish prays for vocations at every Mass, having seen the number of men in seminaries increase from two when he first arrived in 2017. This fall, the parish has invited women religious to speak on religious orders for women. For the men at Seminarian Family Day, it is a reminder that priesthood is a “spiritual fatherhood for the people of God,” Msgr. Parry noted.

For second year seminarian Michael Falcone, seeing all the family members gathered for one day “is really beautiful.” Falcone the youngest of seven siblings and 28 first cousins, has family spread out over the country. His cousin Paula Zelaya, who lives in Silver Spring with her five sons, attended family day to support Michael. “We came last year,” Zelaya said, describing the gathering as “comfortable, joyful, (and) welcoming.”

The cousins’ grandmother immigrated to the United States from Italy, and Falcone recalled her big hugs and always whispering to him that he would become a priest. The seminarian, who also served as lector at the Mass, explained his parents recently moved to Tennessee, but that “the Lord is surrounding me with so much family – I count that as one of my blessings.”

Falcone said he can see ministering to God’s people as well as his family if it ends up that God calls him to ordination. “When I’m following the Lord in this vocation, He’s going to provide the rest – which is family,” Falcone added.

For the seminary rector, Father Griffin, Seminarian Family Day is a visual reminder to thank all parents, grandparents and siblings, because the students are continuing to pursue a vocation they first discovered in their own homes – already with years and years of formation.

Father Griffin noted it is a high caliber group of young men beginning the journey to the priesthood, but they will still require help – for even though they are impressive, they enter the seminary at a time “when the world is drifting,” he said.

Describing current society as divisive, shrill and hardened, Father Griffin called on everyone to take on the role of “penetrating that shell with the Gospel of Peace, the Gospel of Truth.”

Now more than ever, the seminarians need “our love, our support, our prayers, standing by these young men in a time when there is not a lot of support out there,” he said, encouraging the seminarians’ family members to “take courage. The Lord wants to use you in powerful ways in His life.”

(The DC Priest website has information on priestly vocations and the seminarians of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.)