This year the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana will ordain four men to the priesthood, following the call of Jesus like those first apostles to serve his people.
To be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon, on June 4, 2011 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Lafayette, Indiana will be Samuel Frank Futral III, Dominic Charles Petan, and Travis Ryan Stephens.
Rev. Messrs. Sean Vincent Pogue, Joshua Tobias Bennett, Matthew John Arbuckle and Anthony Thomas Rowland, will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ on June 11, 2011, at 11:00 AM at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. The Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana is truly blessed!
Currently there are 27 seminarians in the formation process studying in 3 different seminaries around the country. Because more and more men are answering God's call, the opportunity to be educated in the best seminaries relies on the help of the laity they will one day serve as priests. As a result, seminarian education is one of the recipients of donations to the biennial Fruitful Harvest Campaign. However this is simply not enough so an appeal to help defray these costs is held held each year.
The theme of this year's Seminarian Fund Appeal is, "As You Sent Me Into The World, So I Send Them"...which provides the opportunity for donors to help seminarians with their education - a true investment in the Church's future. The Appeal provides us with a tangible way to give back to those men who have chosen to give their lives to the Church. The average annual expense associated with formation for the priesthood is more than $40,000.00 per seminarian per year.
As you know, in supporting seminarian education, that cost can be overwhelming. With your prayers and response to the 2011 Seminarian Fund Appeal, the affirmation of the people of God is invaluable to the training of the future priests of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.
Deacon Sean Pogue, who will be ordained in June along with Deacon Matt Arbuckle, Deacon Joshua Bennett and Deacon Tony Rowland.
According to Deacon Sean Pogue, the life of a seminarian is very demanding and very busy and he is grateful for the support of the laity through the Annual Seminarian Fund Appeal. "I couldn't pay for this education by myself so the Appeal made my vocation a reality", said Deacon Pogue.
To those who donate to the Appeal, Deacon Pogue said, "Thank you for all your support throught the years. Without your support and prayers, following our vocations would not be a reality. It's important for the continued support of the people not only now but for many years in the future". Deacon Pogue added. "I am a product of the Appeal, having benefited from the generosity of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. I think every priest and seminarian certainly knows of the great debt he owes God's people whose support allows us to serve others as priests of Jesus Christ".
"Having the people's support financially and spiritually is immeasurable. The fact that it's in and through God's people that the Lord gives us shepherds after His own heart. Under the leadership of Bishop Doherty we are blessed as a diocese to have so many candidates who have a great desire for the priestly heart of Christ", Deacon Pogue added.
On the weekend's of June 11-12 and June 18-19 parishioners will have the opportunity to give to the Appeal. However gifts can be made at anytime thhroughout the year.
To support the 2011 Seminarian Fund Appeal at any time, visit the diocesan web site at
www.dol-in.org and click on "
Onlne Giving", then
Seminay Education Fund. If you need assistance please contact the Stewardship and Development Office at 800-617-7466, 765-742-7000 or kwaldrep@dol-in.org.
Your seminarians thank you.