Number of Baltimore seminarians hits four-decade high

Colin Lukas knows some people won’t understand his decision to enter the seminary. Why be a priest at a time when many people still perceive the priesthood negatively – the unhappy fruit of decades of scandal?

Yet the 18-year-old parishioner of St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park said it was precisely his experiences interacting with priests and seminarians at his parish that helped inspire him to give his life totally to God.

“I’ve always had no doubt in my mind that there are very godly men who are doing great things with the priesthood,” said Lukas, a public school graduate who was an altar server and sacristan at his parish. “They have been amazing spiritual fathers that I’ve always looked up to.”

Lukas said he has seen friends “totally transformed” while in seminary.

“Being around them just made me want to be like them – just to be better and to be the man of God I’m being called to be,” he said.

Lukas is one of 11 men who have recently been accepted into the priestly formation program for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Ranging in age from 18 to their mid-40s, they bring the total number of those preparing to become priests for the archdiocese to 59 – a high not seen in four decades.

Four of the newly accepted seminarians hail from Colombia, the result of an archdiocesan outreach to recruit more Spanish-speakers to serve the growing Hispanic population in the archdiocese.

Father Steven Roth, vocations director for the archdiocese, said the increased number is partly the result of a ripple-down effect of having more seminarians available to be present in parishes and schools. Their example inspires more people to consider the priesthood, he said.

“The caliber of men stepping forward is just incredible,” Father Roth said. “They are talented and just so sincere and genuine in their faith.”

Over the course of the last few years, new seminarians have included one who gave up medical school to enter the seminary, another who stepped away from a six-figure salary and another who turned down a scholarship to law school. This year’s class includes a youth minister and a psychologist.

Lukas, who is taking college courses at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., while in formation at St. John Paul II Seminary, said he felt increasingly called to the priesthood as he became active in leadership with his parish’s youth group.

“Just to be there for my peers and walk with them in their faith journey was such an amazing blessing,” said Lukas, whose call to the priesthood was crystalized during eucharistic adoration.

Luis Castrillon Capacho, 25, had been in a seminary in Colombia for six years when seminarian friends from Baltimore invited him to consider coming to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. They shared with him the real need for more Spanish-speaking priests in the United States.

“It wasn’t on my mind to come to the United States,” Castrillon Capacho explained. “I wasn’t looking for another diocese. But I thought maybe I could be useful here.”

Despite knowing very little English, Castrillon Capacho left his homeland and is now a seminarian at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park. He is focused initially on studying English at Towson University, where he has already made rapid progress. He is nearly fluent in the language.

“When I first arrived in America, I thought, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t know the language. I’m so far from home and I’m so afraid because I don’t know anything about this country,’ ” he remembered. “In a month, I’ve learned so much English and I’ve made relationships that make me feel excited and motivated not to give up. If God wants to bring me here, I want to follow his will.”

Candidates for the seminary first undergo interviews with Father Roth. If the vocations director believes a candidate to be strong, he invites him to apply. The applicant then writes an autobiography and an essay on the priesthood. He undergoes background checks, a medical evaluation and a two-day psychological evaluation conducted by three psychologists.

A screening committee evaluates candidates and makes a report to Archbishop William E. Lori, who ultimately makes a decision on acceptance.

Father Roth noted that the amount of time it takes to become a priest varies depending on the background of each candidate. On average, it takes about seven years of formation.

“The archbishop has been incredibly supportive,” said Father Roth, who is assisted by Father Matthew Himes, associate vocations director. “He knows each seminarian well and meets with them regularly throughout the year. He insists that I keep him informed, not just of their progress, but also what’s going on in their families or if anybody is having any struggles or difficulties. That has helped a lot because the men see they’re entering into a real family. It helps spur fraternity.” 

Email George P. Matysek Jr. at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

New men

The following 11 men, listed with their seminary and home or sponsoring parish, have begun seminary studies for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, bringing the total number of seminarians preparing for the priesthood to 59:

St. Mary’s Seminary, Roland Park

Luis Castrillon Capacho, St. Francis de Sales, Abingdon

Jhonny Escobar, St. Clare, Essex

Jun Guami, Sponsor parish to be determined

Iyeli “Bienvenu” Ilanga, St. Matthew, Northwood

Anthony Whalen, St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg

Joan Perez Correa , St. Philip Neri, Linthicum/St. Clement I, Lansdowne

Martin Jauquet , Our Lady of Victory, Arbutus

Godwin Rodrigues, St. Isaac Jogues, Carney

Daniel Salazar, St. Philip Neri, Linthicum/St. Clement I, Lansdowne

St. John Paul II College Seminary, Washington, D.C.

Nicholas Hays, St. Rita, Fairfield, Pa.

Colin Lukas, St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park

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