A gift for the future
Seminarians stand as they are introduced to members of the St. John Paul II Shepherd's Guild during an Advent event on Dec. 21, 2024 at St. Patrick Cathedral. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — Tim Moloney was born to support seminarians. Or rather, he was raised that way.
Growing up, his father frequently invited young priests to dine with his six children so the priest could experience family life despite being away from home.
Moloney absorbed the lesson.
“It's important for all Catholic families to show gratitude and appreciation to the priests,” said Moloney, who, like his father and brother, has served as president of a local chapter of Serra Club, which fosters and promotes priestly and religious vocations.
In addition to belonging to the Arlington Metro Serra Club, Moloney and his wife Mary Jean are charter members of the St. John Paul II Shepherd’s Guild, which provides spiritual and financial support for diocesan seminarians.
The couple, parishioners at Most Blessed Sacrament in Arlington, joined other Shepherd’s Guild members, seminarians and their parents, prospective seminarians, Bishop Michael Olson, and some clergy at St. Patrick Cathedral on Dec. 21 for an Advent gathering with Mass, breakfast, and conversations about vocations in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
The Shepherd’s Guild, founded in 2012, helps cover the approximately $50,000 of expenses each year for the formation of each seminarian, including tuition, books, housing, health insurance, and living expenses.
The assistance is invaluable, according to Trent Barton, a seminarian currently serving a pastoral year at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Arlington.
Barton appreciates support from the Shepherd’s Guild, the Serrans, and the Knights of Columbus. “It's such a blessing for us because it allows us as seminarians to just focus on our formation. We don't have to worry about whether our families can afford the things that we need financially. We don't have to worry about medical insurance… which allows us to just focus on two things: our studies and prayer.”
Originally from Sacred Heart Parish in Seymour, Barton said the assistance from various apostolates reminded him of Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”
He explained that the entire Church participates in prayerful and material support of pastors and future pastors in formation. “We're not called to journey alone. … We're all called to serve the Church. Getting as many people as involved as possible in the work of Christ through the Church is essential.”
Barton will resume theology studies at Catholic University of America in August.
Legacy for the future
At the Shepherd’s Guild Advent gathering, Father Brett Metzler, diocesan director of vocations, thanked the 27 seminarians present “for their perseverance, their dedication to the Lord, their dedication to His Church, and at the end of the day, for their courage to say yes to this call. I want to thank the Shepherd’s Guild for supporting them in that process. … It is such a tremendous gift to our men.”
It is a gift that looks to the future. Rachel Martinez, director of annual giving and grants for the Advancement Foundation, described the long-term goal of the Shepherd’s Guild. “Increasing the Seminarian Endowment Fund by $1 million each year will fully fund it in 20 years so that earnings on the fund could completely cover the annual educational expenses of our seminarians,” she said.
The Guild offers five levels of support, from $500 to $10,000 annually, in addition to lifetime and corporate memberships.
Formation boosters
Along with the Shepherd’s Guild, the Knights of Columbus provide financial support for seminarian formation, and the three Serra Clubs of the diocese foster priestly vocations through prayer and material support.
Daniel Apodaca is a founding member of the Northeast Fort Worth Serra Club and currently serves as vice president of communications for the chapter, which originated almost 10 years ago.
Apodaca explained that in addition to committing to daily prayer for priestly vocations, the Serrans provide gift cards and care packages to the seminarians on holidays, birthdays, and the beginning and end of each semester.
Serrans also provide practical help with discernment events such as the Come-and-See weekends and St. Andrew breakfasts.
The apostolate coordinates with the Serra Club of Dallas to host the annual Vocation Awareness Program for men and women considering a priestly or religious vocation.
For Apodaca, becoming acquainted with seminarians and observing them progress through formation is “a great journey together. … Once they do become ordained, it's awesome to see him get to that point.”
Since his ordination as bishop in 2014, Bishop Olson has ordained 24 men to the priesthood for the diocese, and he plans to ordain two more in May, but neither the Serrans nor the Shepherd’s Guild will pause their efforts.
Apodaca said, “There's always a need of priests. We need to build priests for our parishes and for the diocese, because without priests there's no Church.”
A statue of St. Pope John Paul II is seen as members of the St. John Paul II Shepherd's Guild socialize during an Advent event with seminarians on Dec. 21, 2024 at St. Patrick Cathedral. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)