Diocesan seminarians find
summer assignments rewarding

By MIKE GORDON
Anchor staff

FALL RIVER -Summer is traditionally a time of rest for students. For diocesan seminarians advancing to the priesthood, however, it's a time for continuing education and parish assignments. That opportunity is a valuable one that seminarians look forward to and are enjoying.

Seminarian Jay Mello is spending his summer at Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich. He recently completed his third year of theological studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and called the summer assignment, "a great opportunity to put what you've learned into practice and get to know the diocese."

He and other seminarians assigned to parishes for the summer will experience the everyday life of a parish priest and will receive valuable mentoring as they move closer to the day they will be ordained as diocesan priests.

In his previous field assignment, Mello gave daily reflections at the end of Mass, taught a mini-course on the titles of Christ, and spent one day a week at St. Luke's Hospital with chaplain Father Michael Racine. This year he will be doing the same at Cape Cod Hospital.

"Hospital ministry is so necessary," said Mello. "It's important to the families, but also to the hospital staff. I'm looking forward to getting to know the people at Corpus Christi and to know what their thoughts are of the Church and Christ. Although I wear clerical garb, I'm still one of them."

Mello said life in the seminary is regimented and he has very little control over his own schedule. "In a parish, you have to schedule your own time for a holy hour and rosary. Our work is our prayer and it's refreshing to be around God's people."

A native of Fall River, Mello grew up in SS. Peter and Paul Parish. He was only seven when he started thinking about priestly life, and eventually entered a formal program in 1999. He will be ordained a transitional deacon October 5 in Rome and will be ordained a priest the following summer.

Father Edward E. Correia, diocesan director of Vocations, said assignments such as these are "great opportunities because seminarians have a chance to get to know some more priests of the diocese and the diocese itself. They will be living here for the rest of their lives so the more they know about parish life and the work of the priests, the better."

Because life at the parish is not as structured as the seminary they must make their own schedules and figure out how they pray in the parish life.

"Prayer plays an important role in spiritual development and that is another gift that the seminarian receives. It enriches their knowledge of what the priesthood is and the priestly journey," he added.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to sit down with a pastor and have a mentor. The pastor helps them see what it all means and helps them prepare for the priesthood. The beauty of having several assignments during summers is that each parish is a different experience," said Father Correia.

He was grateful for the assistance the seminarians have given him in helping to prepare vocational posters and other things for the office.

"They have been a tremendous help to me," said Father Correia.

Seminarian Daniel Nunes of Swansea is beginning a pastoral year at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Bedford. "I'm very excited about this," said Nunes. "It's nice to go from studies to a parish."

Nunes has been in formation for five years and said he is looking forward to putting some of what he's learned in to practice.

"I've heard priests talk about how you can go through the spectrum of what a priest does in one day, but I never believed it," said Nunes. "The first weekend I was here I went through it firsthand because there was a funeral in the morning, Mass and then a baptism."

Nunes spent four years at Our Lady of Providence house of formation in Providence, R.I., while taking classes at Providence College. He said, "It was nice to spend time with men who also wanted to become priests.

"When I was young I met a man who was really in love with his priesthood and that had an impact. I look forward to growing in my own vocation and being able to think about the priesthood without being bogged down with studies. You can truly pray about it and also serve God's people."

After he completes the assignment, Nunes will enter his second year of theology at Mt. Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He said the best part of being a seminarian is "the knowledge that you'll be serving God's people in a unique way. Like a doctor helps people, it's a good feeling to know that we have a special duty to help people get to heaven. I'm very happy for that."

Seminarian Gregory Bettencourt is currently completing a pastoral year at Holy Family Parish, East Taunton. This fall he will attend St. John Seminary in Brighton for his first year of theological studies.

"This has been a great experience for me," said Bettencourt. "I'm lucky because this is my home parish and I've had the opportunity to put the things I've learned into practice and get a feeling of what it might be like to be a parish priest."

Bettencourt said from a spiritual aspect his time has been well spent in prayer and reflection. "I've experienced spiritual growth and this has been invaluable," he said.

When asked what the most eye-opening experience has been, Bettencourt didn't need much time to respond citing bringing the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. "When you arrive with the Eucharist and someone starts to cry because they love God and you see how strong their faith is it renews your own faith. It's moving," said Bettencourt.

Bettencourt has helped with various committees at Holy Family including vocation awareness and respect life. He also worked with lectors, led Bible study classes and visited the sick.

"I've enjoyed bringing Christ to individuals and families," said Bettencourt. "The best thing about being in a parish is ministering to the people and seeing them grow in their faith."

He will leave the East Taunton parish on August 31 to begin classes on September 5.

Seminarian Ronnie Floyd is serving for the summer at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in New Bedford. He will return to his third year of theological studies at the Pontifical North American College this fall.

Some seminarians do not have official parish assignments this summer, but are spending the time studying. Jason Brilhante will continue his studies this summer and is preparing to enter St. John Seminary this fall for a year of pre-theology studies.

David Deston and Peter Fournier are spending their summer in Omaha, Nebraska, participating in the Institute for Priestly Formation's summer program at Creighton University. In the fall, Deston will begin a pastoral year at St. Michael Parish, Fall River and Fournier will be at St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth.

Seminarian William Sylvia is spending part of his summer serving the diocesan mission in Honduras and will return to Mt. Saint Mary Seminary this fall for his third year of theological studies.

For seminarian Riley Williams his summer will be spent in school as he takes a seven-week course in Italian at Middlebury College in Vermont. "I'm looking forward to it," said Williams. "It will broaden my knowledge."

Williams is preparing for his senior year at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio this fall. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in philosophy with minors in theology and Latin.

Williams has been helping out at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville and was grateful for the experience. "My pastor here has given me a lot of wonderful opportunities to participate in the life of the parish," said Williams. "I've been able to serve at daily and weekend Masses and I've taught a four-week adult education class on the Vatican II's contribution to the Church."

He was thankful for the support he's received from the parishioners and said, "All the seminarians are so grateful for the support and prayers we've received. We're truly thankful."

Williams has enjoyed the college experience and said faith is very alive at the Franciscan University. He noted that spending time in the parish is an opportunity to "see the real world. It reaffirms where I am and encourages me to continue towards the goal of becoming a priest."

For the second summer in a row, Father Karl Bissinger will travel to parishes throughout the diocese speaking about vocations at weekend Masses.

Father Bissinger's schedule includes: July 8-9 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, New Bedford; July 15-16 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New Bedford; July 22-23 at Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton; July 29-30 at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet; August 5-6 at Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; August 12-13 at Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro; and August 26-27 at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville.

For more information on these seminarians and vocations visit the Diocesan Vocations Website at www.fallrivervocations.org.