.::Firmum Est::. - - My Heart is Steadfast

Wow! From the Catholic Standard - the outpouring of prayers have been amazing!

Please consider offering one hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and for the intentions of those to be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Washington on June 14, 9:30 a.m., at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The men to be ordained as priests are: Deacon Jose Raul DeLeon, Deacon Vincent DeRosa, Deacon Juan Esposito, Deacon Mark Ivany, Deacon Kevin Regan, Deacon Patrick Riffle, and Deacon Marco Schad.

Holy Hours for Vocations before the Most Blessed Sacrament are offered at the following parishes:

Washington, D.C.

Cathedral of St. Matthew: June 13, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Church of the Annunciation: June 5, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Epiphany: June 12, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian: June 6, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Holy Name: June 3, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Holy Trinity: June 6, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception: June 5, 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Incarnation: June 2, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nativity: June 6, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help: June 5, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Our Lady, Queen of the Americas: June 6, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Evening Prayer in Spanish: 6 p.m.)
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament: June 5, 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Shrine of the Sacred Heart: June 6, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
St. Ann: June 4, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Anthony of Padua: June 6, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
St. Augustine: June 6, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Dominic: June 5, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Francis de Sales: June 3, 11 a.m. to noon and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Gabriel: June 2, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. Louis de France: June 6, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
St. Mary, Mother of God: June 2, 11 a.m. to noon
St. Patrick: June 6, 12:40 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
St. Peter: June 2, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
St. Stephen, Martyr: June 6, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Teresa of Avila: June 5, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Montgomery County

Christ the King, Silver Spring: June 6, 10 a.m. to noon
Holy Cross, Garrett Park: June 5, 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Holy Redeemer, Kensington: June 6, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Little Flower, Bethesda: June 6, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Mother Seton, Germantown: June 6, 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Our Lady of Vietnam, Silver Spring: June 2, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Our Lady of the Presentation, Poolesville: June 1, 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Our Lady of Mercy, Potomac: June 3, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Our Lady of the Visitation, Darnestown: June 5, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Our Lady of Grace, Silver Spring: June 4, 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Our Lady Queen of Poland, Silver Spring: June 6, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Andrew Apostle, Silver Spring: June 6, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Bartholomew, Bethesda: June 14, 9 to 10 a.m.
St. Bernadette, Silver Spring: June 1, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. Catherine Labour, Wheaton: June 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Jane de Chantal, Bethesda: June 6, 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
St. Patrick, Rockville: June 6, 9:45 to 11:45 a.m.
St. Paul, Damascus: June 4, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. Peter, Olney: June 6, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
St. Raphael, Rockville: June 5, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.
Shrine of St. Jude, Rockville: June 3, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Prince George’s County
Ascension, Bowie: June 7, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Holy Redeemer, College Park: June 8, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Holy Spirit, Forestville: June 6, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Mt. Calvary, Forestville: June 7, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Sacred Heart, Bowie: June 6, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
St. Bernardine of Siena, Suitland: June 7, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Edward Confessor, Bowie: June 13, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Jerome, Hyattsville: June 7, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
St. John the Evangelist, Clinton: June 2, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
St. Joseph, Largo: June 6, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
St. Mary, Piscataway: June 6, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and June 13, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Mary of the Assumption, Upper Marlboro: June 4, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
St. Pius X, Bowie: June 4, 9:30 a.m. to noon
Southern Maryland
Holy Angels, Avenue: June 3, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Holy Ghost, Issue: June 6, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception, Mechanicsville: June 6, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Jesus the Divine Word, Huntingtown: June 13, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Jesus the Good Shepherd, Dunkirk: June 5, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Solomons: June 3, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Our Lady Help of Christians, Waldorf: June 6, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Our Lady’s Church at Medley’s Neck: June 6, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sacred Heart, La Plata: June 1 and 7, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Sacred Heart, Bushwood: June 8, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier, Newtowne: June 5, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. George, Valley Lee: June 6, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
St. Ignatius, Chapel Point: June 6, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
St. John, Hollywood: June 6, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
St. Joseph, Pomfret: June 6, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
St. Joseph, Morganza: June 4, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Mary, Newport: June 14, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
St. Michael, Ridge: June 1, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Each year these statements are collected from those to be ordained around the country. You can find the whole list on the USCCB website.

I have placed some I like and/or guys I know here:

as a small child I played Mass everyday with all the neighborhood kids yet often times I was the only Catholic who was present.

love Chicken Fried Steak and gravy.

Played in a rock band in high school and college and like reading mystery stories.

That I have been a permanent deacon for almost 20 years.  I taught on the college level for 24 years and taught at the diocesan seminary for almost ten years.

was always interested in the priesthood, but took a circuitous route by becoming a Low Vision Specialist in Optometry first.

I have an identical twin who is an Anglican minister.

play the accordion or that I once wanted to be a professional chef.

practiced medicine for 2 years, and went to graduate school for 1 year before entering seminary.

was a fishing and canoe guide in Northern Minnesota.

have whitewater rafted down the Arkansas River.

was a lawyer.  I wanted to be a lawyer since I was eleven years old.  I never considerd the priesthood until my parish priest asked me to consider it after recognizing a potential priestly vocation.

Have second degree black belt in Taekwondo.

was a coal miner during the summers between college semesters.

was a successful investment banker before I entered the seminary.

worked in broadcasting for 32 years, 7 in radio and 25 in television.

Played college football and was a quarterback.

love to perform magic and juggling and have been doing magic and juggling since I was 7 years old.

don’t know how to swim.

was an actor in Hollywood for a year right out of High School.

Served in the 3rd Infantry Division, Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry. I also worked for Charles Scwhab & Co. as an investment advisor prior to entering the seminary.

Grew up on a tobacco farm in Southern Maryland. I joined the seminary after high school.  As a seminarian I have done mission experiences in Thailand and El Salvador

Was named a College Lacrosse All American my senior year.

Have traveled to 29 countires

Have completed 3 Half Ironman triathlons

really wanted to be in a Rock Band in High School and College.

Lived and worked abroad for eight years in the UK, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria prior to entering religious life

I was an  underground  diocesan seminarian for 7 years in Vietnam before I came to the U.S.

Knowing of your prayers over the next few weeks as I prepare to be ordained a Priest of Jesus Christ, I share with you the Rite of Ordination that the Bishop will follow on June 14th.

• A link with pictures and the rite together - [here]
• A link to a video of the Ordination of a fellow seminarian from the College [here]
• A link to the text of the rite [here]

Thank you for your specific prayers for me. I also ask for your prayers for all the men to be ordained in the following months and for priest and seminarians in general.