6 novicesWe are blessed to have six men enter the Internal Seminary of the Congregation of the Mission on WednesdayAugust 10, 2016. The reception took place in the context of Eucharist celebrated at 4:00 p.m. in Saint Vincent’s Seminary Chapel in Philadelphia, PA 19144.

Those entering the Internal Seminary are:

  • Thomas King (Eastern Province)
  • Benmet Melaku (Province of the West) Julian
  • Julian Ohizu (Province of the West)
  • Erik Sanchez (Eastern Province)
  • Joseph Swaris (Province of Austria-Germany)
  • Rok Zlender (Province of Slovenia)

Eastern Province Provincial Fr. Michael Carroll presided over the Eucharist and Fr. Tony Dosen of the Province of the West offered inspiration drawn from the life of St. Lawrence and the readings of the day. Immediately after the homily the Director of the Internal Seminary, Fr. Jack Timlin present each with the book of Constitutions. This was especially fitting in light of the newly elected Superior General, Father Tomaz Mavric’s reminder that all of us are called to be people of the book – the Bible and our Constitutions.

The day before their reception they joined the confreres at the Seminary for lunch. Immediately after, all, including staff members serving the seminary, gathered in the Assembly Room of St. Catherine’s Infirmary to hear their backgrounds and stories. The exchange was quite lively and, at times moving.

“The goal of Vincentian formation in the internal seminary is to provide the seminarian with a firm foundation for living the life of a Vincentian missioner, committed to “following Christ, evangelizing the poor.” This level of formation can be likened to that of a sprouting plant in process of developing deep roots for a stable and fruitful life in the Congregation. ” (Ratio Formationis of the Congregation of the Mission)