Path to the Priesthood - Three-part Series

The Catholic Review ^ | June 8, 2009 | George P. Matysek Jr.

[MDJohnPaul]

When Hamilton Okeke stepped into his room at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park for the first time, the enormity of what he was doing seemed to hit him in the gut.

He was alone, literally and figuratively, as he was about to hand his life over to God. No one in his inner circle supported his desire to become a priest.

Just two rooms down the hall on the fourth floor of the massive seminary building that looms over Northern Parkway, Deacon Gregory Rapisarda’s room bustled with a family that embraced religious vocations.

At 61, Deacon Rapisarda was reversing an old cliché, turning it into “like son, like father,” as he was following the footsteps of one of his sons who had already been ordained to the priesthood.

Later that summer’s day, Christopher de Leon arrived at the seminary, leaving behind a successful engineering career and a sleek sports car. He had it all in the eyes of the world, but was looking for a greater purpose in life.

Okeke, Deacon Rapisarda and de Leon were among 74 men from 16 dioceses across the United States who enrolled at St. Mary’s for the start of the fall 2008 semester.

The Catholic Review spent nine months following the three seminarians during the first year of their journey to become priests for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

As the universal church enters the “Year of the Priest,” set by Pope Benedict XVI to begin June 19, we explore their formation in a three-part series.

[MDJohnPaul]

The Catholic Review did a three-part series following three seminarians throughout their first year. This is the beginning of the first part.

[MDJohnPaul]

Here’s the link to all three parts of the series...
http://www.catholicreview.org/subpages/path_to_the_priesthood.aspx

[joe fonebone]

bump for later

[Salvation]

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