I learned in early October that the seminary community at Mount St. Mary Seminary has been doing very well and they have no COVID infections. They have continued to social distance, wear masks and be very mindful of hygiene. Thank you, God, and our Blessed Mother, for keeping our seminarians all safe.

We hope you have enjoyed the reflections of our seminarians. We are fortunate and blessed to have such good men willing to respond generously to God’s call. They are each gifted and unique. We now come to the final two reflections this November and next month as 2020 rolls to an end and into 2021.

Please continue to pray for young men to respond generously to the Lord’s call. This month we present another young man who graduated from UCONN, Julian Cuervo. He is a first-year theologian who has finished his two years of philosophy studies. Please continue to keep Julian and all our seminarians in your prayers.
Fr. Greg Galvin

“When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you arranged, what is man that you should keep him in mind, mortal man that you care for him?” (Ps 8:3-4).

At times it may seem that God is silent or ignoring our trials; yet, it is humbling to look back and consider how God’s Providence was always present, especially through the people He has placed in our lives. I was blessed to be born to a Catholic family in Colombia. Thanks to my family’s witness of deep faith and love for God, prayer, and the Mass, I experienced God’s personal love for me in a very tangible way.

Though I entered UConn as a finance major, I always felt uneasy about what career I was being called to. Throughout those college years, I also began to see the emptiness and superficial pleasures in the false idols which our culture glorifies. Through God’s Providence, I was introduced to St. Thomas Aquinas in a philosophy class, which ignited my pursuit for truth and goodness. Eventually I became integrated to the Catholic community at the Newman Center (through the outreach of Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and met amazing friends who challenged me to pursue virtue and the presence of our Lord in the Sacraments. After encountering Jesus’ mercy in confession and His Eucharistic presence in Adoration, I felt a call to discern the possibility of pursuing Him more fully, and in a unique way, as one of His priests so as to share His goodness with others.

I’m currently a first-year theologian at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This means that I am starting my third of six total years of formation. The first two years were characterized by philosophical studies and developing a strong prayer life. These latter years will be highlighted by theological studies, continued human and spiritual development, and pastoral integration.

An important milestone coming up is called Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders. Through this rite, I will publicly express my intention to complete my preparation for holy orders and my resolve to fully invest myself to that end, so that one day I may serve Christ, His Church, and in a particular way, the faithful in our diocese.

Please pray for my continued discernment and formation; and of course, know of my prayers for you.

+JMJ+