Meet the future of the Church: Seminarians gather in Rome for jubilee

Herald Malaysia

2 days ago

More than 2,500 seminarians from 57 countries converged on Rome this week to pray at the tomb of St. Peter, receive a blessing from Pope Leo XIV, and celebrate their vocations in the Jubilee of Seminarians. Jun 25, 2025
Seminarian Thomas Hammen smiles in view of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Tuesday. June 24, 2025. | Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA
By Courtney Mares
More than 2,500 seminarians from 57 countries converged on Rome this week to pray at the tomb of St. Peter, receive a blessing from Pope Leo XIV, and celebrate their vocations in the Jubilee of Seminarians.
'Thank you for courageously accepting the Lord's invitation to follow him, to be disciples, to enter the seminary. You have to be courageous and not be afraid,' Pope Leo XIV told the young men gathered in St. Peter's Basilica on June 24.
'As Christ loved with the heart of man, you are called to love with the heart of Christ!' the pope said in his catechesis to the seminarians, urging them to 'love with the heart of Jesus.'
Over two days, the jubilee pilgrims prayed the rosary together at the tomb of St. Paul, passed through the Holy Doors of the basilicas in Rome, and knelt before the Eucharist in adoration. Among them were seminarians from Albania to Argentina, India to Italy, and the United States to Ukraine — each carrying his own story of how God called him to the priesthood.
Here are nine seminarians who shared how they heard the call to the priesthood:
Thomas Hammen, 28, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida
'I think a key message is that we're made to give ourselves away in love, while the culture says to only live for yourself… In my college years specifically, I experienced having everything the world told me that would make me happy and like Pope Leo has been saying over and over again, quoting St. Augustine, 'my heart was restless.'
'Thankfully at Florida State University, I had an awesome friend who invited me on a retreat, and it was on that retreat where there was Eucharistic adoration that I heard the truth that my heart is made for God and when I live for him I come fully alive and I'm able to step into the mission that he has for me.
'I'd say my vocation is a result of God showing me mercy … and from knowing that I'm loved, that comes a great conviction that I'm chosen for something great and that's really the source of my entire vocation to be a priest.'
Hammen hopes to be ordained in 2030.
Joseph Mlawa, Archdiocese of Agrigento, Italy
'I'm from Tanzania and now I'm a seminarian in Sicily.'
'Since I was little, I wanted to become a priest. However, it was a bit difficult because my parents died in 2006. But in 2015, there were missionaries who came to my parish and they helped me to come here to Italy to fulfill the calling of my vocation … They helped to pay my tuition for the nine years.'
Thomas Stanczak, 35, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
A recent convert from Protestantism, Stanczak said he 'read' his way into the Church.
'I think, as St. John Henry Newman says, 'to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant,'' he said.
'I really felt a very strong call from the Lord during Mass … and when the Lord says for you to do something, it's hard to say no.'
In Rome, he has had a 'wonderful experience' going to the churches from 'the different ancient martyrs and saints that we pray in the Roman canon, seeing Cosmos and Damien's church, John and Paul, Agnes and Lucy.'
'All these different wonderful saints have really helped me connect in a special way to the universal Church.'?
He hopes to be ordained in 2030.
Pietro, 24, Diocese of Locri-Gerace, Calabria, Italy
'I have to say that like St. Peter, I gave the Lord a lot of resistance. Finally, he somehow 'pulled me by the ears,' as we say… Slowly, with his strength, [the Lord] showed me day by day what is the meaning of my vocation, not only my vocation to the priesthood, but also to follow him with all my heart, as far as he will lead me, even to the point of giving my life.'
'There are so many challenges, as there always have been, and so I think if the Church continues to trust and rely on the Holy Spirit, then she will overcome them all.'
Carlos Bárcenas, 26, Archdiocese of Panama
'The restlessness was already within me from my mother's womb,' Bárcenas joked.
While studying mechanical engineering, he 'realized that [God] was asking me for something more.
'I want to be above all credible, acceptable, and consistent with Christian life,' he said.
Pepe Zinkewich, 26, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
'I'm No. 9 of 10 kids. I grew up in a very heavily Catholic family … but I didn't really feel called to the priesthood until I went away for college. It was there that I got in contact with a very holy priest who loved the Eucharist and would die for it. And that really inspired me to follow Christ and devote myself to his Church.'
'Through prayer and spiritual direction, I found my vocation to the diocesan seminary, and I've loved every minute of it. Ever since I entered, I thought the priesthood was going to be quiet and simple, but it has turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime!'
Zinkewich hopes to be ordained in 2029.
José Ylef Felicidad, 22, Diocese of Arecibo, Puerto Rico
'I felt the call when I was 20 years old. It was through a priest friend of mine. Literally, the Lord was transfigured in him and he told me a phrase that moved me: 'He needs you.' His face changed to that of Jesus, but without ceasing to be him. It was extraordinary.'
Felicidad's greatest aspiration is to leave behind 'everything for the Lord and for the holy people of God.'
Randy Marfo, 25, from Ghana
Marfo discovered his vocation at a young age when he was serving as an altar boy. This experience motivated him to follow a vocation to the priesthood.
'The biggest problem that my country is facing is that the population of Catholics is decreasing in these days because some of the priests are not doing what is expected of them, so Church members are leaving to other denominations, like Pentecostals or the Baptists.'
He hopes to be ordained in 2030.
William Iván Sánchez Velázquez, Diocese of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
'I have been in the seminary for seven years now,' he said. 'I met with the bishop and, as soon as I finished school, I went straight to the seminary.'
His hope is to become a priest who resembles 'the Good Shepherd' and to be 'dedicated to serving my sheep.'
'The Lord himself said: 'Pray to the Lord of the harvest.' The Lord provides. I firmly believe that the Lord answers the people who kneel to pray. We should not stop praying for vocations. That's the only thing to do: pray, pray, pray.'
The Rome Experience The American seminarians taking part in the jubilee are in Italy this summer for the 'Rome Experience,' a six-week program to study, pray, and walk in the footsteps of the saints. These seminarians are taking classes on Church history and Christian art and architecture while also making pilgrimages to churches and holy sites throughout Rome.
'While I've been here, it's been so amazing to encounter the saints — to visit where they are buried, to hear their stories,' Hammen said. 'My hope is to return to the United States and share what I've experienced here.'
The Jubilee of Seminarians is just one of many spiritual celebrations taking place in Rome during the holy year. Beginning Wednesday, the Vatican will also host a Jubilee of Bishops and a Jubilee of Priests.--CNA