News
Bishop Requests Prayers for Seminarians
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge is asking Catholics in the Diocese of Raleigh to join him in praying for the 20 men in formation for the priesthood this year from the Diocese. Eight of the men are new to the program. The Bishop said the seminarians need to know that everyone is praying for them.
This year, 14 men will be attending St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where Bishop Burbidge once served as Rector. Two are enrolled at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, two at Theological College in Washington, D.C., and one each at St. Andrew’s College Seminary in South Orange, NJ and St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore.
Two of the seminarians, Romen Alfredo Acero and Michael Richard Spurr, were ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Burbidge in June. Both men are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood next June.
“Prayers are a special gift to our seminarians, our Diocese and our Church,” Bishop Burbidge said. The Bishop encourages parishioners to pray for the men “by name,” asking God to Bless them.
Below is the list of Diocesan seminarians and the Diocesan Prayer for Vocations.
Pray for our Seminarians by Name - 2007-2008
- Deacon Romen Acero
- Deacon Michael Spurr
- Jonathon Bagget
- Alexis Barreto
- Juan Pablo Barrientos
- Al Benthall
- Brendan Buckler
- Michael Burbeck
- Nick Cottrill
- Ryan Elder
- Charles Fraune
- Vic Gournas
- Ron Hackett
- Alex Hernandez
- Eladio Hernandez
- Juan Manuel Lopez
- Don Maloney
- Patrick McLaughlin
- Adam Richard
- Sergio Velez
Diocesan Prayer for Vocations
O Lord Jesus Christ, Great High Priest, I pray that you call many worthy men to your holy priesthood.
Enlighten our Bishop in forming our candidates, our Director of Vocations in guiding them and their professors in teaching and training them.
Lead the seminarians in your unerring footsteps so they may become priests who are models of purity, possessors of wisdom and heroes of sacrifice. May they be steeped in humility and aflame with love for God and others.
Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us.
Amen.