Supporting Seminarians
As the strong right arm of the church, the Knights of Columbus are committed to providing moral, financial and spiritual support to our future priests and religious at all stages of their formation. Our Council 5618 Knights are keeping the faith alive by supporting our seminarians and postulants. Currently, the Council supports 3 Seminarians financially, morally and spiritually.
Our Council's Financially Supported Seminarians and their 2023 Updates
We asked the 3 Seminarians we support financially for updates on themselves. Their stories have been provided below.
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Joshua Theisen
Joshua Theisen is currently attending St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach Florida. Over the summer I was fortunate to spend some time at St. Thomas Aquinas parish in St. Cloud with Fr. Derek Saldanha. I spent some time working with the Bishop Grady Villas community, as well as going on sick calls, sitting in on various meetings, and getting to see more intimately what the day-to-day looks like for a priest. While I had an idea of how much of the day looks, getting to participate firsthand was such a blessing and positive experience for my discernment. As far as this year goes, I am currently undergoing a pastoral year experience outside of the seminary. My primary ministerial focus is the Catholic campus ministry community at the University of Central Florida (go Knights!). I am working alongside the Brotherhood of Hope and other staff members there to help them to engage the students. It has been challenging in many ways but I am already seeing growth and fruits from my first month here, and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has prepared for the rest of the year. This coming weekend, September 22-24, is the fall retreat for campus ministry, so much of my week is devoted to preparing for that. Throughout the weeks I also serve masses, attend on-campus engagement events, and have been involved with the men's nights. In addition, I am serving at St. Joseph parish with Fr. Benjamin Lehnertz on the weekends for masses. He has been another strong witness to the priesthood for me already and I cannot express how grateful I am for his witness. Please let me know if there is anything else I can send or provide for you or your council, and know of my prayers for you! Thank you for all that you do! Yours in Christ, Joshua Theisen Please pray for Joshua and help support his education by making a donation today. |
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Nicholas Couture
Nicholas Couture is attending St. Charles Borromeo seminary in Philadelphia, PA, which is the same seminary that our beloved Monsignor Ed Thompson attended. I am very happy to write you an update on my journey thus far. This past summer has been the best one yet. I spent two months at St Pius X parish in Fairfield, Ct. and after that time I was able to travel to Fatima and World Youth Day with my diocese. It was the most incredible trip I’ve ever been on and I’ve taken away so much. In Fatima there are processions of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima almost every day and I was even able to carry it! After World Youth Day I traveled to England for ten days with a brother seminarian where we stayed in York and London and had an unbelievable time. My favorite part of England was the English Martyrs who died for our faith; there are so many of them and the are highly venerated by the Catholic faithful. Finally in late August I returned to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary where I have now begun my third year of seminary formation known as the Spiritual Year or also called the Propoduedic Year. This is a year of deep prayer and spiritual reflection where we learn how to be more effective at prayer, learn more of the Catholic faith through the Catechism, and the study of the scriptures. It has only been a month so far and it is already proving to be my busiest year yet with the little free time I have! Please pray for me and I will keep your council in my prayers! In Christ and Mary, Nicholas Couture Diocese of Bridgeport Spiritual Year Please pray for Nicholas and help support his education by making donation a today. |
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Peter Kay
Peter Kay is our Council's newest Seminarian. He is starting seminary in St. Joseph's Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. Peter is from Orlando, and he graduated from Bishop Moore High School.
My name is Peter Kay, a new Seminarian from the Diocese of Orlando. I graduated from Bishop Moore Catholic High School and I am a parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church.
I enjoy serving at food banks and helping the church around my school. I was big in campus ministry and in choir. Performing magic was a hobby of mine and helped me get started in strong lasting relationships with people. The propaedeutic (preparatory) year in Seminary has been great so far with mainly focusing on human and spiritual formation. The technical fast we are currently on has given us more time to focus on what is important in life and also it will give us more fruits.
I am blessed that God has given me this calling to be a priest. I pray everything in Florida is going well. It is nice to meet all of you! Thank you and have a blessed day!
God Bless and In Good Faith,
Peter Kay
Please pray for Nicholas and help support his education by making donation a today.
Peter Kay is our Council's newest Seminarian. He is starting seminary in St. Joseph's Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. Peter is from Orlando, and he graduated from Bishop Moore High School.
My name is Peter Kay, a new Seminarian from the Diocese of Orlando. I graduated from Bishop Moore Catholic High School and I am a parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church.
I enjoy serving at food banks and helping the church around my school. I was big in campus ministry and in choir. Performing magic was a hobby of mine and helped me get started in strong lasting relationships with people. The propaedeutic (preparatory) year in Seminary has been great so far with mainly focusing on human and spiritual formation. The technical fast we are currently on has given us more time to focus on what is important in life and also it will give us more fruits.
I am blessed that God has given me this calling to be a priest. I pray everything in Florida is going well. It is nice to meet all of you! Thank you and have a blessed day!
God Bless and In Good Faith,
Peter Kay
Please pray for Nicholas and help support his education by making donation a today.
A VOCATION Message from Seminarian Sinclair Cushmore
I am Sir Knight Sinclair Cushmore. I have belonged to the Knights of Columbus since 2015 and made my 4th Degree in 2017. I became a Seminarian for the Diocese of Orlando in 2020 and have been a beneficiary of the Knights of Columbus by being directly sponsored by a Council (which means getting sent an annual check to help with my personal expenses), and as a recipient of the Thomas V. Daily Vocations Scholarship (which goes toward my tuition). So firstly, I want to extend to all of my Brother Knights and their families my gratitude for the spiritual and financial support that you offer to so many men and women who pursue the priesthood and religious life. To have you behind us means more than we can say, and may God reward you for your generosity!
I attend Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA (about 30 minutes west of Boston), which is a special Seminary for “later vocations.” Most seminarians who study there are between 30 and 60 years of age, and we come from a wide array of previous occupations and walks of life. This means that some of my classmates are old enough to be my dad, but since we are all perusing a common goal, we all treat each other as equals. In addition to academic learning, or intellectual formation, we receive pastoralformation, human formation, and spiritual formation. We attend daily Mass and pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church’s public prayer, in common. We go on pastoral ministry assignments to supplement our classroom learning with practical experience and feedback. We are also assisted to improve as men with feedback on how we treat others, our affect, our manners, and the like. Seminary is an intense process that requires a great deal of humility and charity, but it is also very fulfilling and fruitful when embraced with a generous spirit. I am currently on my Pastoral Year at St. Mary Magdalen Church, which means that I am spending this academic year living with the Pastor in the rectory, and being immersed in as many ministries as possible, so that I can better understand what goes into making a parish run well. God willing, I will be ordained a priest in 2026!
Please continue to pray, not just for the men and women who are already pursuing vocations of service to the Church, but that more men and women would be open to a call to the priesthood and religious life. Also, if you notice a man or woman who seems to have the qualities of a good priest or religious brother/sister, invite them to consider that life! I was encouraged to pursue my vocation by so many people telling me that I could be a good priest and pointing out my gifts and pastoral qualities! Thank you again for your support and generosity.
May God bless you all!
Sinclair Cushmore
I attend Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA (about 30 minutes west of Boston), which is a special Seminary for “later vocations.” Most seminarians who study there are between 30 and 60 years of age, and we come from a wide array of previous occupations and walks of life. This means that some of my classmates are old enough to be my dad, but since we are all perusing a common goal, we all treat each other as equals. In addition to academic learning, or intellectual formation, we receive pastoralformation, human formation, and spiritual formation. We attend daily Mass and pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church’s public prayer, in common. We go on pastoral ministry assignments to supplement our classroom learning with practical experience and feedback. We are also assisted to improve as men with feedback on how we treat others, our affect, our manners, and the like. Seminary is an intense process that requires a great deal of humility and charity, but it is also very fulfilling and fruitful when embraced with a generous spirit. I am currently on my Pastoral Year at St. Mary Magdalen Church, which means that I am spending this academic year living with the Pastor in the rectory, and being immersed in as many ministries as possible, so that I can better understand what goes into making a parish run well. God willing, I will be ordained a priest in 2026!
Please continue to pray, not just for the men and women who are already pursuing vocations of service to the Church, but that more men and women would be open to a call to the priesthood and religious life. Also, if you notice a man or woman who seems to have the qualities of a good priest or religious brother/sister, invite them to consider that life! I was encouraged to pursue my vocation by so many people telling me that I could be a good priest and pointing out my gifts and pastoral qualities! Thank you again for your support and generosity.
May God bless you all!
Sinclair Cushmore
E. Matthew Rios
Matthew decided to leave the Seminary. Please pray for Matthew.
Success! Our Seminarians Become Priests!!
Father Zachary Gray - Ordination to the Priesthood May 28, 2022
Congratulations Father Zackary Gray! Bishop John Noonan proudly blessed and welcomed Father Zackary Gray to the Diocese of Orlando as a newly ordained priest. Let us pray and celebrate Fr. Gray as he serves God's people in our parishes! Amen!
Congratulations Father Zackary Gray! Bishop John Noonan proudly blessed and welcomed Father Zackary Gray to the Diocese of Orlando as a newly ordained priest. Let us pray and celebrate Fr. Gray as he serves God's people in our parishes! Amen!
Father Robert Marquez - Ordination to the Priesthood May 29, 2021
On May 29, 2021, Robert Marquez was ordained a priest and was assigned a Parochial Vicar at St. James Cathedral in Orlando Florida. Praise be to God!
On May 29, 2021, Robert Marquez was ordained a priest and was assigned a Parochial Vicar at St. James Cathedral in Orlando Florida. Praise be to God!
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Donate with a Text Message:
Text 1-888-444-8774 using the keyword ‘vocations’.
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Donate by Check:
Send your check to: Knights of Columbus Bishop Thomas J. Grady Council 5618 P.O. Box 150517 Altamonte Springs, FL 32715-0517 Please add "Vocations" in the memo field of your check. |
St. Joseph's Seminary College
St Joseph's Seminary College
St. Benedict, Louisiana
Saint Joseph Seminary College is a community of faith rooted in the Benedictine tradition which promotes learning in the liberal arts and the development of the whole person. The formation program fosters the commitment of seminarians to the Roman Catholic priesthood in accordance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation. The Seminary College also makes available its educational and other resources to the local community.
St. Benedict, Louisiana
Saint Joseph Seminary College is a community of faith rooted in the Benedictine tradition which promotes learning in the liberal arts and the development of the whole person. The formation program fosters the commitment of seminarians to the Roman Catholic priesthood in accordance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation. The Seminary College also makes available its educational and other resources to the local community.
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
Boynton Beach, Florida
Since its founding in 1963 St. Vincent has granted degrees to nearly 500 priests who have gone on to serve parishes throughout Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. The only bilingual multicultural theologate in the southeastern U.S., St. Vincent is also a free standing, graduate professional school of theology committed to providing continuing education for clergy, religious and laypersons of all denominations. The seminary is owned by the seven dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in Florida.
Boynton Beach, Florida
Since its founding in 1963 St. Vincent has granted degrees to nearly 500 priests who have gone on to serve parishes throughout Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere. The only bilingual multicultural theologate in the southeastern U.S., St. Vincent is also a free standing, graduate professional school of theology committed to providing continuing education for clergy, religious and laypersons of all denominations. The seminary is owned by the seven dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in Florida.
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Founded in 1832 by Reverend Francis Patrick Kenrick, third Bishop of Philadelphia, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s mission is to form priests to be shepherds after the heart of Jesus Christ, and permanent deacons, religious and lay men and women for various forms of ministry, service, and discipleship.
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Founded in 1832 by Reverend Francis Patrick Kenrick, third Bishop of Philadelphia, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s mission is to form priests to be shepherds after the heart of Jesus Christ, and permanent deacons, religious and lay men and women for various forms of ministry, service, and discipleship.
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Two Seminarians Sharing the Same Bond Nicholas Couture, the grandson of Gary Couture, a brother Knight of our Council, is attending seminary at St. Charles Borromeo seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Our beloved Monsignor Ed Thompson, as well as his brother, Bishop David, graduated from this seminary in 1950. |
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Monsignor Ed Thompson
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Vocation Prayer
Please pray for vocations.
God our Father,
we thank you for
calling men and women to serve in your
Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and
consecrated persons.
Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond
generously and courageously to your call.
May our community of faith support vocations of
sacrificial love in our youth and young adults.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
God our Father,
we thank you for
calling men and women to serve in your
Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and
consecrated persons.
Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond
generously and courageously to your call.
May our community of faith support vocations of
sacrificial love in our youth and young adults.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.