Ambria Hammel/CATHOLIC SUN

Fernando Camou, second from left, is one of several seminarians supported by CDA funds. Also pictured are Dan Connealy, Jimmy Wraith and A.J. Enfield.

CDA funds educate seminarians

As director of the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Phoenix, he wants them instead to focus their attention entirely on God and discerning His will for their lives.

“Seminary is a full-time commitment and experience so you can’t work,” Fr. Sullivan said, explaining that seminarians can’t hold outside jobs. “You can’t do seminary part time.”

So who pays the tuition and room and board for men studying to become priests for the Diocese of Phoenix? The answer may come as a surprise to many.

Most of it is paid for, in fact, by contributions to the annual Charity and Development Appeal, though some of it comes in the form of grants from the Catholic Community Foundation.

For one man to study at the Pontifical College Josephinum, for example, it costs about $24,000 a year. Last year, the CDA pumped $300,000 into the men’s formation at three seminaries.

Those from other dioceses, however, don’t always have that kind of support. Fernando Camou, a seminarian at the Josephinum, said he knows of some who have had to take out loans to pay for their formation and education. 

“It’s a great blessing the Diocese of Phoenix is able to provide for us,” Camou said of the CDA funding. “People are giving us an immense a gift and I want to give a big thanks to people who have contributed.”

His mother, Josefina, said she, too is thankful — and relieved.

“When Fernando decided to enter the seminary, our worry was that we couldn’t pay for a private university,” Josefina said. “Thanks to the CDA, Fernando was able to enter the seminary and do his studies.”

That’s something Linda McDonald can understand. When her son Cody told her God was calling him to the priesthood, she wondered how the family would pay for it.

Fr. Kline, then the director of the Office of Vocations for the Phoenix Diocese, told her not to worry — the diocese would take care of it.

“I didn’t want him not to pursue his vocation because of finances,” Linda said. “I would have supported him no matter what, but it would have been a tremendous hardship on the family. I don’t know at what point we would have said, ‘You’re on your own.’”

On May 30, Cody was ordained to the transitional diaconate. God willing, Linda said, he’ll be ordained to the priesthood in June of 2011.

“It’s a great blessing to have the support of the people of Phoenix,” Cody said, “to have that freedom to discern what God’s will is in my life without any restrictions or fears or any added pressure because of finances.”

Numbers paint a picture

Paying for the formation of the priests the Phoenix Diocese is going to need during the years ahead is going to require more support for the CDA.

Fr. Sullivan has faith that many more men are called to serve as priests, but cautioned there may be some tough years ahead.

“Nationwide we’re going to experience the toughest years with regard to numbers of priests, but in many places that recovery and that renewal is already happening in a big way,” Fr. Sullivan said.

The Diocese of Phoenix currently has roughly 23 men preparing for the priesthood. “We should have 10 times that many,” Fr. Sullivan said. “Those vocations are out there, but they need to be nurtured and they need to be invited.”

At the same time, there are other numbers to consider.

During the last year alone, five priests of the Phoenix Diocese died and about half of the 126 priests in the diocese are over age 65. While it’s true that three men were ordained to the priesthood June 5, over the next few years, there are only a handful of projected ordinations. 

Missie D’Aunoy, director of the Office of Stewardship, hopes the faithful will continue to pray for the seminarians and contribute to the CDA.

“As we come to a close of the Year for Priests on June 19, it is important to remember the support that the CDA provides to vocations throughout the diocese,” D’Aunoy said. “Our seminarians and their education and development are an important part of the CDA appeal.”

The CDA, D’Aunoy said, is also key in the formation of men studying to become permanent deacons.

Deacon Jim Trant, director of the Office of the Diaconate, said that the Phoenix Diocese has one of the largest diaconate program in the country. Currently, there are 34 men in formation.

“A good portion of our program for formation of deacons is funded by the CDA,” Trant said. “It’s used for all the fees for the instructors, for class materials, for books, for the different locations that we might hold the training sessions — those kind of things.”

Journey toward ordination

Linda McDonald said she is thankful for the support her son has received through the CDA during his formation. She said she shed tears watching Cody deliver his first homily on the Monday following his ordination to the transitional diaconate.

“It’s very exciting,” Linda said.  “I looked up there and I thought, that’s where he belongs. He looks like ‘I’m at home.’ It was overwhelming and humbling.”