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Priest morale is high, homilist tells graduates
by Christopher Anadale
Photos by Karen Ceckowski
The Christian should live a life of constant dying to self, of being pruned by God of all that is not pleasing to him, the homilist told Conception Seminary College students and faculty at the May 14 graduation Mass. The graduation homilist was Father Patrick York, pastor of the Church of the Magdalene parish in Wichita.
Graduate David Chavez poses for a photo with Brother Justin Hernandez.
A recent survey of priests showed that priestly morale is good, Father York said. The survey results also showed a correlation between high morale and other factors, including a good relationship between the priest and his bishop, good relations with fellow priests, an active spiritual life, and a positive view of the Church.
Graduate Cameron Smith with his family.
Father York connected these statistical findings to the gospel reading, John 15:1-8, on the need to be a fruitful branch. Those priests who unite themselves to the vine of Christ and the Church are satisfied with the priestly life, said Father York, while those who separate themselves or live in isolation are not.
“What this tells us is: Be a fruitful branch! Those men who aligned themselves to the Church, their Bishop, and each other were happier. Those men who prayed and developed a spiritual relationship with our Lord were happier,” he said.
The message of fruitful union with the Church is not just addressed to priests and religious, however. It is a message for all Christians, Father York observed. “We are all called to be a fruitful branch!”
Father York then addressed the assembled graduates. “You are going to be challenged to live out your faith in ways that you never expected. God is going to shove and push and bend you in the direction He wants you to go. You are going to be pruned.”
Some of the graduates pose for one last group shot before the procession into
the Basilica.
“To you young men who are staying in formation and moving on to theology, you are going to be pruned – take my word for it. To those of you who are going to be priests one of these days, by God’s will: you are going to be pruned, in ways you never thought possible, in the ministry of the priesthood. And it doesn’t end when you have been ordained; it continues throughout your life in the priesthood, from one day to the next, from one assignment to another. You are going to be pruned.”
“For those of you who will leave this place and follow another route and another vocation, you will be pruned. Those who marry, most especially those who have been married for a long time, understand the pruning process better than most.”
“So each and every one of us will be pruned. It does not matter who we are. Our life is a constant dying to oneself and rising in Christ Jesus, and seeing Christ Jesus in everyone that we meet on life’s journey.”
“Gentlemen, you will leave this place and you will go on the journey that Christ has chosen for you. I hope that at the end of your lives, you will have been a fruitful branch, a fruitful member of the Church,” he concluded.
The 2006 graduating class with Father Samuel Russell, dean of students; Abbot Gregory Polan; Father Benedict Neenan, president-rector; and Brother Frowin Reed.
Nineteen seniors and seven pre-theology students graduated at the ceremony. Twenty-three of the twenty-six graduates intend to continue on the path toward priesthood.
Graduating seniors receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree included: Chad Arnold, Maximilian Biltz, Patrick Reilley, and Craig Sanger of the Diocese of Wichita; Joshua Brown of the Diocese of Grand Island; David Chávez of the Diocese of Salina; Barry Clayton of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas; Evan Harkins of the Diocese of Kansas City– St. Joseph; Justin Hartwell, an independent student; Richard Hartzell of the Diocese of Boise; Michael Kilker and Jahary Llacsa of the Diocese of Joliet; Carson Krittenbrink and James Uhlenhake of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City; Steven Lucero and Cameron Smith of the Diocese of Cheyenne; Dylan Schrader of the Diocese of Jefferson City; Stephen Thompson of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and Sister Christina Jeon, OSB of the Benedictine Sisters of Norfolk, Neb.
Pre-Theology students receiving a Bachelor of Philosophical and Theological Sciences degree were: Jonathan Brotemarkle of the Diocese of Wichita, Stephen Eickhoff and Joshua Miller of the Diocese of Joliet, Chad Graeve of the Diocese of Des Moines, and Brother Luke Schieber of Conception Abbey.
Receiving a Pre-Theology Certificate were Brothers Peter Tran and Tri Vu, both of the Congregation of Mother Co-redemptrix.
Seven students graduated with honors: Messrs. Arnold, Biltz, Lucero, Reilley, Schrader, and Smith graduated summa cum laude, and Mr. Chávez graduated magna cum laude.
Several students also received academic scholarships and awards.
In the junior class, Angel Delfin (Kansas City, Kansas) received the Leo P. and Catherine M. Petsche scholarship; Adam Johnson (Kansas City–St. Joseph) received the Harold and Lillian Harvey scholarship; and Cory Stanley (Oklahoma City) received the Abbot Anselm Coppersmith scholarship.
In the sophomore class, Abram Cordova (Pueblo) received the Anna Schappler scholarship; Brother Ba Do, CMC, received the John N. and Frances Kern Schieber Scholarship; Ian Murphy (KansasCity–St. Joseph) received the Monsignor Leo J. Ruggle scholarship.
In the freshman class, John Fitzpatrick (Kansas City–St. Joseph) received the Bishop Charles Helmsing scholarship; Brian Hess (Cheyenne) received the William B. and Rose Mary Ullrich Memorial scholarship; and Andrew Kleiner (Jefferson City) received the James P. Aylward scholarship.
Chad Arnold (Wichita) and Justin Hartwell (Independent) were recognized by Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and Andrew Syring (Omaha) received the Bailey/Bales Award for Excellence in Philosophy.
Chad Arnold (Wichita) was also recognized for High Academic Achievement in the Senior Class.
We welcome your comments:
communications@conception.edu
www.conceptionabbey.org
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