Forty-five young men in discernment for the Priesthood traveled to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, March 1-3, 2013, with a brief stop in Washington, D.C. The group was accompanied by Diocesan Vocations Director Fr. Ned Shlesinger, Fr. Bill John, seminarian Edisson Ureggo and several chaperones.
This is the fifth year for the pilgrimage and the largest group to date. It included junior high and high school age students and college age students.
The group left by charter bus early Friday morning from Raleigh, arriving at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There they were met by Msgr. Michael Clay, a Diocese of Raleigh priest, who is on assignment at Catholic University of America. Msgr. Clay celebrated Mass in the Lower Crypt Church for the Diocesan pilgrims.
Following a visit to the nearby Franciscan Monastery, the group then departed for the Seminary. On Saturday morning, they were greeted by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, who celebrated Mass for the group at the Seminary’s Immaculate Conception Chapel. Bishop Burbidge was at the Seminary for his visit with the fourteen men from the Diocese currently in formation at St. Charles. (The Diocese also has two seminarians studying in Rome, two in formation in Mexico and two on pastoral assignment in the Diocese.)
The forty-five men had the opportunity to tour the Seminary and meet with staff and the Diocesan seminarians. They also had the occasion to take a brief tour of Philadelphia, including a visit to the St. John Neumann Shrine. They then joined the seminarians for Evening Prayer on Saturday and Sunday Mass before departing for home.
Bishop Burbidge has asked Diocesan faithful to pray for the young men discerning a call to the Priesthood and to continue to pray for the Diocesan seminarians.
On April 6, Mr. Michael Burbeck is scheduled to be ordained by Bishop Burbidge to the Transitional Diaconate at a 10:00 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
On June 1, Bishop Burbidge will celebrate a Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood for Deacon Nick Cottrill, Deacon Tom Duggan and Deacon Ryan Elder. The 10:00 a.m. Mass will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Cary.
Above: Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Diocesan seminarians, following the celebration of Mass on February 28 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. Concelebrating the Mass was Bishop Timothy Senior, front row, Rector of the Seminary. Click photo to view larger.