The following story appeared in the November 19 Idaho Catholic Register.
Nine seminarians at Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary were admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders on Oct. 20. Tim Segert, front row left, and Nelson Cintra, front row right, are seminarians for the Diocese of Boise. (Photo courtesy of Mount Angel Seminary)
MOUNT ANGEL, ORE – There are three major steps for seminarians before their ordination as transitional deacons and then as priests. The first two are relatively minor, the institution as lector and acolyte. These allow the seminarians to read the Gospel and serve at the Eucharistic liturgy.
The third step, the Rite of Admission to Candidacy, is a prerequisite for ordination. In its essence, this rite is the formal act of the seminarian’s faith community, represented by his bishop, affirming that this man is indeed recognized and received as a candidate for Holy Orders.
This rite was celebrated at Mount Angel Seminary on Oct. 20, with Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, as principal celebrant. He was joined by Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, chancellor, and several prelates from dioceses with men studying at Mount Angel.
Archbishop Sample spoke for his fellow bishops as he received as candidates nine seminarians studying for six dioceses, including two – Timothy Segert and Nelson Cintra – from the Diocese of Boise.
In his homily, Archbishop Sample emphasized that priestly ordination happens within the context of a faith community. The nine men presenting themselves for candidacy to Holy Orders are received by their bishop, representing the consent of the broader faith community. And once, God willing, these same men are ordained as priests, they will act within their parish communities, under the direction of the local bishop, to provide the Eucharist and sacraments.
Those received, in addition to Timothy Segert and Nelson Cintra from the Diocese of Boise, were Anthony Hoangphan, Archdiocese of Portland; Sylvester Chanda, Archdiocese of Seattle;
Ian Gaston, Diocese of Orange; James Tasy, Diocese of Fresno; Marc Gandolfo, Diocese of San Diego; Efrain Razo, Jr., Archdiocese of Portland; and Mark Hun Chae Jung, Diocese of Orange.
Candidacy is the final step before ordination to the transitional diaconate. Please join us in praying for these and all the seminarians studying at Mount Angel Seminary.
Photo - Seminarians Nelson Cintra, left, and Timothy Segert, right, are candidates for the Diocese of Boise. (Photo courtesy Mount Angel Seminary)
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