“Traveling to another culture gives a
lived awareness of the Universal Church as
a priest needs to be comfortable serving all
of God’s people,” Father Burr said.
During their trip, the Fuego Volcano
erupted just eighteen miles away from where
the seminarians were staying in Antigua. Al-
though there was ash in the street and smoke
in the distance for several days, the seminar-
ians were not harmed by the volcano.
INSPIRING THE NEXT
GENERATION | Michigan
Undergraduate college seminarians in
their first and second year often spend
their summer at Camp Sancta Maria, a
fun, spiritually-centered outdoor experi-
ence for kids and teens. As counselors,
the seminarians become role models, life-
guards, and coaches as they offer helping
hands with the horses, music, crafts, and
the high ropes. This interactive role allows
them to share their faith and inspire and be
inspired by campers and fellow counselors.
MISSION TRIPS
While Sacred Heart organizes the afore-
mentioned formation experiences, semi-
narians also have the opportunity to orga-
nize or participate in other mission trips if
they feel called to do so.
with the people and villages that sometimes
feel left behind,” said Deacon Adam.
Deacons Adam and John were hosted by
the bishop of the Kahama Diocese, traveling
with him on pastoral visits to several villages
where Mass is sometimes only celebrated
once a month because of the priest shortage.
At one village, the entire town welcomed
them with singing and dancing and contin-
ued doing so as they walked to the church to
celebrate Mass. In another town, two thou-
sand people came to Mass at a church that
only seats one hundred fifty people.
“There were twenty people peeking into
each window, just trying to adore Jesus…
their dedication and faith even though they
couldn’t see, hear, or even receive, was a
beautiful reminder of the great mystery of
the Mass,” Deacon Adam said.
Visiting the high school seminary and
the seminary’s home of formation also
made a profound impact on the deacons,
where they gave a talk and did a question
and answer session.
“It’s hard in Africa because a lot of celi-
bate men don’t receive respect… It’s a poor
country, so for a person to leave the family
to become a priest and not get paid, it’s a
really hard decision and their parents often
look down on them,” said Deacon Adam.
Deacon Adam explained that he and
Deacon John exchanged stories of encour-
agement and support and reminded the
young men that even if their families are
not supportive, God is faithful.
ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN
THE OTHER | Ecuador
Deacon Adam also accompanied four-
teen high school students on the tenth
annual mission trip to the Diocese of Rio
Bomba in Ecuador, sponsored by the Arch-
diocese of Detroit’s Office of Youth Minis-
try. As their spiritual guide, Deacon Adam
witnessed a diverse mix of teens from dif-
ferent backgrounds come together as one
while they served their brothers and sisters
in Christ, abroad.
“They’re able to work with each other
and rely on each other in a way they would
never have the opportunity to,” he said.
The group began construction on a cha-
pel located deep in the mountains at an
altitude of thirteen thousand feet above sea
level. This made for exhausting but reward-
ing work. Other mission work included go-
ing door to door giving away rosaries and
sharing the Good News, attending Ecua-
dor’s National Youth Day, and spending
time at the local orphanage and nursing
OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT
Tanzania
After the Archdiocese of Detroit’s young
adult mission trip to Ethiopia was canceled
due to turmoil in the country, fourth-year
graduate seminarians Deacon Adam Nowak
and Deacon John MacKenzie decided they
still needed to do mission work in some way.
They began researching, fundraising, and
praying about traveling to Tanzania.
They told their Tanzanian contact they
were open to whatever help was needed,
so before the seminarians arrived, they did
not know what kind of work they would be
doing.
“When we think about mission trips as
Catholics, we think of building something
or doing something and getting our hands
dirty. But this was very different. We didn’t
do any of that, but what we did was even
more important, probably. We spent time
18
Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Fall 2018
Graduate seminarians for the
Archdiocese of Detroit, Dcn. John
McKenzie and Dcn. Adam Nowak
ministering in Tanzania.