When Justin Seidleck graduated from Salsibury University in 2015, he found a job at a commercial furniture company in the District but soon felt his life stalled. Already a lapsed Catholic, Seidleck stopped practicing his faith and even switched companies but his career seemed to be at a stalemate.
A parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in Bowie, Maryland, Seidleck graduated from St. Pius X School and DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, but said he drifted away from the Church and had been “looking elsewhere” when he first felt God calling him – not only to return to his faith but to serve as a priest.
For Seidleck, a turning point came during the Covid-19 pandemic when he lost his job and contacted Father Mark Ivany, vocation director for the archdiocese.
“I started to open myself up more to the call,” said Seidleck who spent the last year as a missionary in Wisconsin serving youth. A dozen members of the group – Spiritus Ministries – lived in community and offered Confirmation retreats for parishes and schools. “It was the first time I had a spiritual director,” Seidleck added.
Upon his return home, Seidleck decided to enter the seminary “in total surrender to God’s will. My decision gave me a sense of peace and joy I’ve never experienced before.” And on Saturday, July 24 he joined new and current seminarians from the archdiocese at St. Patrick’s Church in Rockville, Maryland for the 15th Seminarian Family Day – an annual event for men in formation and their families.
“The day is an opportunity for introducing your own family members to your spiritual families,” said Father Carter Griffin, rector of St. John Paul II Seminary.
Featuring Mass, fellowship and a picnic lunch, the event allows seminarians and their family members to meet one another for encouragement, advice, and friendship. “Many parents don’t know the experience of a seminary,” Father Griffin added.
The priest said that experience may take anywhere from six to eight years with training and ongoing discernment. Family Day offers the seminarians a joyous occasion to recognize and “appreciate the fact you are entering a brotherhood, a communion of men who are also discerning this vocation and being formed in it.” Second, it shows gratitude to the seminarians’ own families.
“How beautiful it is to come from a family who raised you in such a way so you can say ‘yes’ to this vocation,” the rector added. Later, Father Griffin told the parents that the seminarians do not arrive to the seminary without having been influenced by their families and urged the men to always have reverence for their parents – “we can never say thank you or honor you enough.”
In his homily during Mass, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, also thanked participants and welcomed the seminarians – both new and returning – noting that the day is “intended to be a time of joy for sons, siblings, parents, and family.”
Cardinal Gregory said the faithful are like God’s chosen people, who in the Mass’s first reading promised to do everything the Lord asked. “Like us – we promise to be faithful to our prayer, more compassionate with our neighbor and to be gentler with one another,” Cardinal Gregory said. “God always takes us at our word – knowing full well about our frailties and our past failures.”
God keeps all His promises, Cardinal Gregory said. “God is after all, fidelity itself,” adding that although humans face difficulties keeping their promises to the Father, “we all must continue to make future promises of fidelity and growth.” The prelate described Family Day and each new day as “another reset moment for our relationship with one another and a reset moment for our relationship with God.”
Cardinal Gregory offered support to the seminarians: “Welcome to a new year of formation – a new chance to make promises to God and to take comfort in the fact He knows us and loves us in spite of our pasts.”
Newly ordained Father Nicholas Morrison encouraged the men in a brief witness to the seminarians during lunch. “Sometimes it is difficult to understand what the Lord is doing in your life,” Father Morrison said, “trust in the Lord. It’s no mistake you are here.”
Earlier this month Father Morrison received his assignment to serve as a parochial vicar, pro tem, at St. John Francis Regis Parish in Hollywood, Maryland. The new priest told the seminarians whether they become priests or not, the Lord called them to spend time with Him growing in holiness.
“The Lord knows you personally and chose you personally for a purpose,” he said. “So, trust in Him. Trust in the grace that brought you here today.”
In speaking with the Catholic Standard, Father Griffin also offered advice to the new seminarians. “Enter in the new school year with an open heart and open mind to experience joy, to spend time in prayer, to study, to meet some amazing people, to grow in faith, to mature, and to look forward to the year.”
Returning seminarian Alex Wyvill attended Family Day with his parents and advised the new seminarians to remember “God is on your team.” Wyvill who is studying at the North American College in Rome, said he is looking forward to ordination as a transitional deacon scheduled for the end of September.
He noted that throughout his previous years of formation, God became ever more present, especially during the times of challenge and difficulty. “My ordination will be another place where God will shepherd me.”
For Thong Nguyen, a second-year seminarian originally from Vietnam, the day provides a chance to “see I am part of the family of Washington, D.C.” Although Nguyen’s parents were unable to attend the event, Nguyen’s family has grown to include members of the Pham family from Nguyen’s parish, Our Lady of Vietnam in Silver Spring, Maryland.
“It’s a gift for me,” said Nguyen, “they support me and I am thankful to the Lord for this gift.”
While growing up in Vietnam, Nguyen came across the life and lessons of St. John Paul II and, later as a student in Hanoi, began advocating for religious freedom. He co-founded and became president of the Catholic Student Association drawing the attention of the Communist security police. Eventually he was arrested, escaped to Thailand, and made his way to the United States where he continued speaking out for human rights and freedom of religion in Vietnam.
He participated in discussions at the U.S. State Department, White House and even testified before Congress. “I recognized God loved me so much, He brought me here to speak up for the voiceless people – the faithful in communist countries. Now I want to be a priest,” Nguyen said.
The seminarian has one sister and four brothers – one who is a priest serving in New Zealand and two who are in formation in Columbia and India. Nguyen’s background and his benefactors in Washington helped him to see his work as a calling – first “to work for freedom of people in communist countries and now to work for true freedom, the salvation of souls.”
“He’s a good person,” said Victoria Pham. “I am honored to know him.”
Susan Vance, mother of recently ordained transitional Deacon Kyle Vance, said she looks forward to the event every year. “We were sad this was our last Seminarian Family Picnic Day,” Vance said as her son is scheduled to be ordained in the upcoming year. Family Day gives us “the chance to meet all their friends’ parents,” she said.
This year’s Family Day included prayers for Jenny Mulhare, the receptionist and secretary at St. John Paul II Seminary who passed away in June after a sudden illness. Mulhare “was a beloved part of the team for vocations for over 25 years,” Father Griffin said.
Maris Moriarty, a longtime volunteer with the Office of Priest Vocations and an organizer of the event, called the Archdiocesan Family Day “one of the best events” all year. She said vocations have been her ministry for the past two decades. “It’s been great work. It fills your heart to see happiness, to see such joy.”
As for the new seminarian Justin Seidlebeck, he said he is very excited to enter the seminary and join the others in the fraternity of formation, although “school might be a challenge – I’ve been out so long.” His mom Kelley Seidlebeck does not have such worries. “I’m just happy he’s found his path. I’ve seen the transformation and he’s at peace. I’m proud.”
