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Annual Fund Program
Chomping at the bit - and breaking 100!
Dear Sacred Heart Friends,
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Msgr. Jeffrey M. Monforton
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Fifteen years ago, on June 25, 1994, I was ordained a priest to serve the people of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
When I look back to the day of my ordination I recall some of my feelings—and they were many and varied as one may imagine. I felt anxiety. I felt joy. I felt anticipation. And I even experienced simple relief. After eight years of study and formation, I was "chomping at the bit" to begin my pastoral duties of preaching, teaching and administering the sacraments of salvation to those I now had the solemn responsibility to serve in the person of Jesus Christ.
Hardly could I have imagined then that today I would be honored with another profound role. As Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary—and with your prayers and support—I direct the education and formation of future priests. And not just for my own diocese, but for dioceses across Michigan, the U.S. and even overseas. (And believe me, after six and sometimes even eight years of seminary study, they too are chomping at the bit to begin their new lives as priests!)
It is important for you to know about the good fruit that comes from your prayers and financial support. 101 seminarians are enrolled at Sacred Heart for the semester that began this fall. This is the largest number since the refounding of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 1988, and the first time the total has been over 100 in almost four decades.
I thought you might enjoy the photos below depicting the culminating fruit of our work and your kindness. These nine men are the April 2009 graduates of Sacred Heart Major Seminary who are now ordained as priest-servants of the people of God. Please remember them in your prayers as they begin their own journey of priestly service.
Our 2009 Graduates, Your 2009 Priests
 Rev. Raymond Arwady
Archdiocese of Detroit |
 Rev. Philip Ching
Archdiocese of Detroit |
 Rev. David Cybulski
Archdiocese of Detroit |
 Rev. Charles White
Archdiocese of Detroit |
 Rev. Michael Wilkes
Archdiocese of Detroit |
 Rev. Leni Cubas-Julca
Diocese of Cajamarca, Peru |
 Rev. Noel Jean Nequim
Diocese of Doula, Cameroon |
 Rev. Mark Rutherford
Diocese of Lansing |
 Rev. Rudy Zoma
Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle |
Following is a special prayer for priests you may want to use. It was written especially to support priests in your parish and throughout the world during this Year for Priests instituted by Pope Benedict XVI, which began on June 19, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Jubilee Year for Priests
June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI has declared the French parish pastor St. John Vianney (1786-1859) patron of the Jubilee Year for Priests and patron saint of all priests. The Year for Priests coincides with the 150th anniversary of his death.
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This image of St. John Vianney greets worshipers to the chapel at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
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Prayer for All Priests
Dear St. John Vianney,
Your childhood dream was to be a priests, to win souls for God.
You endured years of toil and humiliation to attain the priesthood.
You became a priest outstanding in humility, suffering and service.
The Church has proclaimed you patron saint of all priests, trusting that your example and intercession will help them to live up to the high digity of their vocation.
Pray that God may give to his Church many more priests.
Pray for the priests of my diocese and he world that they may be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd and shining models of holiness.
May their devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary be the twin fountains of fruitfulness in the work of the New Evangelization.
Amen.
With prayerful best wishes for you and your loved ones, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Very Rev. Msgr. Jeffrey M. Monforton
Rector/President
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