Work at Catholic Charities to be part of seminarians’ formation

Seminarians Richard Gutierrez, James Hernandez, Abran Leal, Charles Silvas and Margarito Trevino were honored with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey in the chapel at Catholic Charities on Aug. 2.
 
Seminarians Gutierrez, Leal and Silvas gave the chapel a facelift over the summer. Hernandez and Trevino worked full time at the Mother Teresa Shelter. Bishop Mulvey said that working at Catholic Charities gave seminarians an exposure to the problems encountered by “all of humanity.”
 
Father Joseph Lopez, Vocations Director for the diocese, said working at Catholic Charities and the Mother Teresa Shelter exposed seminarians to “two of the four pillars of formation: human and pastoral.” The four pillars of formation are spiritual, intellectual, human and pastoral.  The bishop directed that future seminarians be required to work at Catholic Charities as part of their formation.
 
The seminarians will receive a short break before heading back to their seminaries for the fall sessions. Gutierrez said that he is excited to get back to St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, Louisiana to see his brothers and resume his studies. Hernandez is also ready to get back to work at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas.
 
Linda McKamie, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, and Sister Rose Madassery, Director of the Mother Teresa Shelter, also thanked the seminarians.