2019 Seminarian Appeal Video

“Spiritual accompaniment must lead others ever closer to God.”
– Pope Francis, "The Joy of the Gospel"

Fr. Jeff Eirvin: Pope Francis teaches that “spiritual accompaniment” is at the service of evangelization. It begins with an intentional relationship between two people, in Jesus Christ, and extends to the world in need of God’s love. A love that is real, close, personal.
Hi, I’m Father Jeff Eirvin, the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
Our seminarians need dedicated priests to accompany them along the way, to show them how to love God and how to effectively serve His people. Jesus himself has called these men to “lead others ever closer to God.”
I’d like to introduce you to a few of our seminarians and the priests who are accompanying them through their formation towards the priesthood.

Fr. Jeff Meeuwsen: You know, we’re talking about accompaniment, and not just accompanying seminarians, but accompanying people throughout their lives. Which is really a mandate of Pope Francis and Jesus Christ himself.

Fr. Bill Holtzinger: That Theology of Accompaniment is critical to being an effective priest.  If we’re not with the people, they will know it. And if we are serving ourselves, they will know that too.  And we will be totally ineffective in trying to spread that Gospel.

Fr. Hans Mueller: The school here, that for me has been a real stabilizer because that is everyday life.  And I make sure I get over there at least once a week to be with the kids.

Benjamin Cowan: I’ve received a lot of support from my parish back home, which is Star of the Sea in Brookings, Oregon. They were the first people that started to pose the question to me - asking me to think about it.  They’ve been praying for me since I was a kid.  (Pause) Quo Vadis Days had a big influence on my discernment process. Without it, I’m not sure how far along I would be. I may have been at this position a few years down the road - or if at all - but it made me consider an alternative option.  And even though it wasn’t something I wanted to do in the moment, because I thought about it strongly, and because it was so promoted, it allowed me to later on come back to it and accept it more readily. 

Fr BH: Well something I mentioned to James, one off those trade secrets of being a seminarian or a future priest, is to be a person who loves the people and is willing to listen. That would be the number one thing, because if they know they are heard, they know that they’re loved. So, that ministry of presence is most of what makes up ministry.

Fr JM: The things I found helpful as a priest is, first of all, pray every day.  Get up in the morning, say your prayers, eat breakfast… “Eat breakfast” is important because you need to have that strength physically and then, eventually get to Mass. And make sure you celebrate Mass every day.  (Pause) Take a break in the middle of the day. Say your prayers again. Slow down. Even take a nap - it’s ok!  And the same thing in the evening: Say your prayers. Take a break. Watch some Star Trek. Go see some ministry whatever it might take, you know, that’s your break. And then be with the people because that will give you the strength to accompany them through their Christian lives. But you got to pray and you got to eat and you got to rest.

Dustin Busse: For me, it’s not only that opportunity to celebrate the sacraments but then, the continual journeying with the people outside of that context as well.  Getting to know people on a personal basis.  How are their lives going?  What are they struggling with?  How are they seeking our Lord in their lives outside of the sacraments?  And how can I help facilitate that?

James Ladd: Being able to wake up every day knowing that you’re going to be serving God and serving the people, face to face, in real time, is something I so enjoy. Being the celebrant. The Eucharist, Confessions. Being with people in difficult times. Being with people in joyous times. That to me is such a privilege.

Fr HM:  Gentleness in interactions is one of the big things.  And you do get that in school, but a lot of the time the people you meet, they’re either at a high point in their life or at a low point in their life and just being really, really careful with how you talk to people.  That’s one of the things that was passed on to me and is something that I’ve seen the real importance of over the past year of ministry and hope to be able to pass on to whoever, Dustin this summer, but any other seminarian too. It’s just being really gentle with God’s people when they’re hurting.

Fr BH: We still need good priests - in fact more than ever - we need people that are going to be upstanding, people that are joy-filled - want to serve, not be served - and do what God’s calling them to do.

Fr JE:  Today I am asking you to accompany these men with a financial gift towards their seminary education and formation. The average cost of educating and forming one seminarian is $50,000 per year. We need to raise close to $1,500,000. That sounds like a lot, but I am very hopeful we can reach our goal. Together we can form the best priests possible for the future. Priests who genuinely serve in the person of Jesus Christ and know how to effectively lead others ever closer to God.
Thank you for your support.

Fr JM: This is what you’re going to look like in twelve years.