Seven seminarians admitted as candidates to holy orders

CHARLOTTE — Seven seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte stood before Bishop Peter Jugis July 20 at St. Patrick Cathedral during a livestreamed Mass and affirmed their desire to advance along the path toward the priesthood.
In the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders, the seven men officially embarked on a more focused period of formation. The next steps in their formation are ministry of lector, ministry of acolyte, ordination to the transitional diaconate, and finally, ordination to the priesthood.
The seven men include: Matthew Wayne Dimock Jr. of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte; Christian Joseph Goduti of St. Mark Church in Huntersville; Matthew Philip Harrison II of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury; Kevin Ruben Martinez of St. Joseph Church in Asheboro; Elliott Cade Suttle of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury; José Alfredo Palma Torres of St. Joseph Church in Asheboro; and Kevin Michael Tran of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte.
In the rite, the bishop asked each candidate two questions about his resolve to complete preparations for the priesthood.
“Our brothers come today to this Mass and they request to be admitted as candidates for holy orders,” Bishop Peter Jugis explained during his homily. “It’s a very important declaration that they are making today. I ask them two simple questions: Do you resolve to complete your preparation for the sacrament of holy orders – in other words, is holy orders your goal? We just want to make sure that you know why you are here today. You’re requesting to be admitted as a candidate for ordination to the diaconate and eventually to the priesthood.”
_The bishop continued, “The second question (is): Do you resolve then to give yourselves to formation for holy orders? To prepare yourself in mind and in spirit to serve the Lord and His Church? They publicly confirm with the response, ‘I do,’ that they are prepared to continue their formation seriously for holy orders.”
“We offer prayers for them and then they receive the Church’s blessing, which officially confirms them as candidates,” he concluded.
Dimock, Martinez, Suttle, Torres and Tran will study this fall at The Athenaeum of Ohio (Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology) in Cincinnati.
Goduti and Harrison will study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
“My brothers, the Lord gives you special graces now as candidates for holy orders,” Bishop Jugis told them during his homily.
“Christ, the High Priest, has brought you this far on your path already as you respond to His call, and He will continue to lead you. Trust Him, spend time with the Lord in prayer. He will give you the graces you need.
“And remember, many people are praying for you, and for all of our seminarians.