ADVANC I NG THE MIS S ION
Golfing for Seminarians
Katherine Tibai
E
ach year groups from across the
Archdiocese of Detroit and beyond
congregate on the links for a fun day of
golf, fellowship, and support for semi-
narians studying at Sacred Heart Major
Seminary. The Desert Golf Classic out-
ing is a benefit for first-year Theology
students studying at Sacred Heart.
12
Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Winter 2020
As a major part of their formation, this class embarks on a 30-day
pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome to walk in the footsteps of
Jesus. The pilgrims leave in early May and spend the next month
encountering the lands that hosted miracles, conversations, and a
Passion that took place over 2,000 years ago.
For the 2019-2020 academic year, more than 20 seminarians are
preparing their hearts for this journey. This is one of the largest
groups that Sacred Heart has sent on the Desert Formation Experi-
ence. It is largely due to the generous support of attendees at the
annual golf outing that this unique formation experience is possible.
This past fall, the 37th Annual Desert Golf Classic took place on
September 16, 2019, at the Inn at St. John’s Golf and Conference
Center in Plymouth, Michigan. The Desert Classic boasted
another sell-out crowd with 148 golfers banding together to form
36 individual teams. More guests arrived in the early evening for
a cocktail reception and gourmet
dinner and program.
Seminarians in all four of the
Theology classes assisted with regis-
Please consider joining us
next year for the Thirty-
tration, loading golf carts, as well as
Eighth Desert Golf Classic
selling raffle tickets. Their favorite
on September 21, 2020. For
activity was chauffeuring golfers from
more information please
the golf bag drop-off to the registra-
visit desertgolfclassic.org.
tion tables—the smiles as they drove
the golf carts told a story much better
than any words could.
The men who had just returned from the pilgrimage a few months
prior had an opportunity to engage with donors and recount their
experience. During the dinner program, Diocese of Marquette
seminarian Brandon Yanni took to the stage to give witness to the
significance of the trip. (Read his testimony on page 17).
Shortly after Yanni spoke, the big winners of the day were
announced. Andrew Eischeid won the “Closest to the Pin” contest
and received the desired Dearden Cup, while Tim Trombley won the
“Straightest Drive” contest.
The first-place team comprised four members: Brian Bastic, Greg
Pope, Don Roe, and Fr. Charles Canoy. The runner-up team was not
far behind, its foursome included Dr. William Grace, Ron Grace,
Zenon Grace, and Colten Christensen. The third-place foursome was
made up of Joe Kloka, Ron Silos, Harvey Braun, and Tim Lafferty.
To close the night, Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, archbishop of
Detroit, offered closing remarks and a final blessing before seminar-
ians David Kruse (Diocese of Winona-Rochester), Benjamin Rivard
(Diocese of Marquette), and Ryan Eggenberger (Archdiocese of De-
troit) led the ballroom in singing “I Am the Bread of Life.” Singing
this song has been the traditional closing of the Desert Golf Classic
for many years.