Fall Appeal

This fall, we are overjoyed to welcome 26 new seminarians to Saint Francis de Sales Seminary from 12 dioceses across the Midwest and beyond! We are especially blessed to welcome men from the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, new this year. In fact, the Salesianum has not welcomed men from so many dioceses since the years following the First World War.

These new seminarians come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professional experiences. Yet despite their different paths, most share something in common: a Catholic faith that took root early in life through parish involvement, youth ministry, camps, retreats, and vocation events. Those experiences helped them hear and respond to God’s call.

Many people assume that a vocation to the priesthood begins with certainty. More often, however, God works through the experiences, challenges, and desires that shape a young man’s life. Time and again, we witness the Lord leading men toward an extraordinary mission through seemingly ordinary circumstances.

For Samir Bhatt (Lafayette), God’s call grew out of a desire for adventure. After a backpacking trip through the mountains of New Mexico as a high school senior, he found himself searching for a purpose worthy of giving his life to. In prayer, the Lord revealed that this desire would be fulfilled through service to the Church as a priest. Since entering seminary, Samir has discovered that priesthood is the meaningful adventure he had been seeking, one that draws him daily ever closer to Jesus Christ.

For Caleb Delsman (Green Bay), God’s invitation came through an unexpected setback. A highly ranked wrestler, an injury during high school led him to reflect more deeply on God’s plan for his life. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, daily prayer and time before the Eucharist at the Newman Center awakened a call to the priesthood and a desire to one day celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and lead others closer to Christ.

Though their paths were different, Samir and Caleb each discovered the same truth: the deepest desires of the human heart find their fulfillment in Christ. Whether through adventure or hardship, God used their experiences to prepare them for a life of priestly service.

The same is true for many of our new seminarians. Eric Kohr (Milwaukee) first felt drawn to the priesthood as a fourth grader through vocation camps and serving at Mass, a desire that continued to grow through the encouragement of priests, seminarians, family, and friends.

Phil Swietlik (Milwaukee) began discerning after a Lenten reflection he wrote in college sparked a conversation with his brother and eventually led him to a profound sense of peace and joy during a visit to Saint Francis de Sales Seminary.

Jack Mannebach (Milwaukee) spent years serving as a missionary with Biking for Babies and working in software consulting before recognizing God’s call during prayer before Mass at Cor Jesu.

Their stories remind us that God calls men from many different backgrounds and life experiences. Yet each vocation points to the same destination: a life fully given to Christ and His Church.

Those same experiences continue to enrich our seminary community. The men entering formation this fall are excited to build upon the strong culture of brotherhood, fraternity, and faithful discipleship that defines life at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. They come eager to grow together in prayer, study, and service as they prepare to become priests after the Heart of Christ.

Supporting the Formation of Future Priests

Founded in 1845, Saint Francis de Sales Seminary has served the Church for more than 180 years. Today, with more than 90 men in formation, including 26 new seminarians this fall, our mission remains unchanged: to form the hearts, minds, and souls of men called by Jesus Christ to serve His people as priests.

Your support makes this possible. Through your generosity, seminarians receive the spiritual, intellectual, human, and pastoral formation necessary to become faithful shepherds. One day, these men will celebrate Mass, administer the sacraments, accompany families, visit the sick, and bring Christ’s presence to countless people throughout their lives.

Will you prayerfully consider making a gift today and becoming a partner in the formation of future priests?

Every gift, regardless of size, helps ensure that men who hear God’s call receive the formation they need to answer it generously. Thank you for investing in these seminarians and in the future of the Church.

Sincerely in Christ,
Very Rev. Luke N. Strand
Rector

Samir Bhatt’s adventurous spirit leads him to the Seminary.

Caleb Delsman rises above adversity and answers the Lord’s call.

Fourth-grader Eric Kohr’s vocation camp experience sparks his interest in the priesthood.