The Most Reverend Michael O. Jackels, S'81, Bishop of Wichita, celebrated Mass with Admission to Candidacy at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary on November 17.

Among the twenty-five seminarians of the third theology class admitted to candidacy were Anthony Joseph Killian from the Diocese of Arlington; Juan Fernando Areiza,  Henry Amingwa Atem, Neil Michael Dhabliwala, James Raymond Flanagan, Jr., Timothy Joseph Gallaher, Roberto Herrera-Castafieda, and Daniel Patrick Ketter from the Archdiocese of  Atlanta; John Christopher Rapisarda from the Archdiocese of Baltimore;Richard Allen Chenault, Jr., and Bryan William Jerabek from the Diocese of Birmingham-in-Alabama; Saul Fonseca-Martinez, and Jose Elias Mera-Vallejos from the Diocese of Cajamarca; Tri Vinh Truong from the Diocese of Charlotte; Stanley Lisska Dailey from the Diocese of Columbus; William Michael Sylvia from the Diocese of Fall River; Gary Wayne Blake, Jr., Geoffrey William Horton, Kevin Mark Lucas, and Dustin Paul Schultz from the Diocese of Peoria; Brother Benedict Grant, F.P.O. from the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance; Mariusz Karol Fuks from the Diocese of Savannah; Juan Rafael Esposito-Garcia from the Archdiocese of Washington; Adam John Keiter from the Diocese of Wichita; and Frederick Daniel Fraini III from the Diocese of Worcester.

The rite of admission to candidacy for ordination as deacons and priests is celebrated when the candidates have reached a maturity of purpose and are shown to have the necessary qualifications. During the ceremony, the seminarians are asked about their resolve to complete their preparation for ordination and to prepare themselves in mind and spirit for faithful service to Christ and the Church.

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary is the second oldest, as well as one of the largest, Catholic seminaries in the United States.