If your son is a seminarian for our diocese, or if he is considering being a seminarian for our diocese, please know that our office is here to support and encourage you. You are joining a family of families who are united by their sons’ pursuit of God’s will for them, which is a powerful connection.
There are several events held during the year for the parents and families of our seminarians and we do hope you can join us for them. You will get an invitation for each event when it nears:
August: The Office of Vocations and the Serra Club of Arlington sponsor Mass of Admission to Candidacy (those are seminarians entering Theology Studies/Configuration stage) followed by lunch. This is a great way to meet the seminarians and their families and have Mass with the Bishop.
December: Sometime after the seminarians have finished their semestral exams, there is a dinner for seminarians and their parents with the Bishop.
There is an informal group of seminarian parents that gather each fall and spring semester for fellowship and prayer.
Other events you may be interested in:
March/April: The Chrism Mass is held during Holy Week (usually Tuesday), and is the occasion for all the priests in the diocese to come together and renew their priesthood. It is also the Mass where the holy oils for the year are blessed.
June: Ordinations to the priesthood are held the first Saturday in June at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
November: National Vocation Awareness Week. Seminarians return to the diocese where they are assigned to speak at the Masses in parishes.
December: Ordinations to the transitional diaconate are held the first Saturday in December at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
