Stephens declares candidacy to pursue the priesthood

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey officially presented Joshua Stephens as a candidate for priesthood during a Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Portland on June 1. During the Mass Stephens publicly declared before the Church his intention to become a priest, and the Church officially accepted that request and recognized him.

The Rite of Candidacy takes place at the end of a seminarian’s first few years of formation, known as the aspirancy period. After the Rite of Candidacy has been conferred, the candidate can then formally continue his formation. The next steps on Stephens’ road to the priesthood will be receiving the Ministry of Reader and the Ministry of Acolyte, ordination as a Transitional Deacon and finally priesthood.

The Vocation Director for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Father Joseph Lopez, JCL called Stephens forward and he answered “present” and proceeded to kneel before Bishop Mulvey. The bishop said that the pastors and teachers in charge of his formation, and others who knew him had given a favorable account of Stephens, and the bishop and the community had full confidence in their testimony.

The bishop then asked Stephens two questions. “In response to the Lord’s call are you resolved to complete your preparation so that in due time you will be ready to be ordained for the ministry of the Church?” Stephens answered, “I am.” The bishop then asked, “Are you resolved to prepare yourself in mind and spirit to give faithful service to Christ the Lord and his body, the Church?” Stephens again answered, “I am.”

“The Church receives your declaration with joy. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment,” Bishop Mulvey said to conclude the formal ceremony.

“You have been in the seminary for several years in a community of faith. You have been educated here, worshiped here [at Our Lady of Mount Carmel]. You have done an exemplary job at Holy Trinity [Seminary in Irving, Texas]. Now you enter into a new phase...to continue your education in theology to enter into the mystery of God,” Bishop Mulvey said to Stephens.

Stephens is scheduled to report to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in the fall to continue his formation. “It’s going to be an exciting journey to be with seminarians from all over the world,” the bishop said to him.

Bishop Mulvey directed him to “Be attentive to your studies but also to the universality of the Church, be attentive to the poor.”

“May the Lord grant you peace during these years and may He continue to increase your faith, “ Bishop Mulvey said.