tvc.dsj.org | August 21, 2018
IN THE DIOCESE
7
Diocese Sees Increase in Priestly Vocations
Those young men attending the
seminary at the University of Saint
Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Il-
linois are:
By Liz Sullivan
The Diocese of San Jose is facing a
happy challenge.
After years of declining numbers
of priestly vocations, a growing group
of men are answering the call of Je-
sus to serve as priests in the Diocese.
Last year, the Diocese of San Jose was
blessed with seven seminarians; this
year it is twelve
The blessing of these many voca-
tions presents one particular chal-
lenge: the cost of one year of priestly
formation averages $50,000 for tuition,
room and board and a small monthly
stipend. With 12 men in priestly stud-
ies, that total is approximately $600,000.
While our Annual Diocesan Appeal
covers some of this cost, we still need
to raise an additional $300,000.
As a result, the Bishop is inviting all
parishioners to take part in our Semi-
narian Appeal. Letters will be mailed
to all parishioners during the week of
September 4.
“As bishop, I have had the bless-
ing of coming to know each of these
men personally. They are good
men: balanced, intellectually gifted,
joyful, generous and solid in their
Catholic faith. Each man has his own
story and his own set of gifts that he
John Hoang - Theology 4
Victor Trinidad - Theology 4
Robain Lamba - Theology 3
Angelbert Chikere - STL
Manuel Barrios - Theology 1
Joseph Nguyen - Theology 1
Joseph Tran - Pastoral Year
Tony Famave - Pastoral Year
Robert Lamorena - Pre-Theology 1
Ryan Mau - Pre-Theology 1
Duy Nguyen - Pre-Theology 1
Ricky Ferrer - Pastoral Year
Father Ritche Bueza, Director of Vocations, far right, poses with the seminarians from the Diocese
of San Jose before they leave for their studies at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.
brings to our diocese,” said Bishop
Patrick J. McGrath. “These men seek
to give themselves entirely in service
through the priesthood to our Lord
and to his people. In the midst of our
distracted and distracting culture,
they have heard the voice of Christ
calling them to works of service: a life
of radical, priestly discipleship rooted
in intimate prayer, joyful service, and
steadfast faithfulness to the Church.
In short, these men are seeking that
their hearts become one with the heart
of the Good Shephard.”
“I ask you to be willing to invest
in the future of this local Church, the
Diocese of San Jose, by helping me to
support the men who will celebrate the
sacraments and offer priestly presence
and spiritual guidance to you, your
children and your grandchildren,” the
Bishop added.
As each one has received a gift, use
it to serve one another as good stew-
ards of God’s varied grace.
-1 Peter 4:10
To learn more about the Seminarian
Appeal, and to make a donation, visit
www.dsj.org/seminarian-appeal.
Local Man Ordained to the Priesthood
On June 9, at Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Church, in San Ysidro, Califor-
nia, Thomas Flowers, S.J., who grew up
in Morgan Hill as a member of Saint
Catherine of Alexandria Parish, was or-
dained to the priesthood for the Society
of Jesus. The Mass was presided over
by San Diego Bishop Robert W. McEl-
roy and concelebrated by Jesuit West
Provincial, Father Scott Santarosa, S.J.
Father Thomas J. Flowers, S.J., is the
son of Deacon Phil and Sarah Flowers.
His family is active at Saint Catherine
of Alexandria Parish, where Thomas
served at Mass and his parents taught
catechism. He first met the Jesuits as a
student at Bellarmine College Prepara-
tory in San Jose, and immersed himself
in campus ministry, leading retreats by
his senior year.
At the University of California,
Santa Barbara, Thomas studied his-
tory while volunteering at the campus
Newman Center. After graduating
in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree, he
taught religion for a year at Archbishop
Riordan High School in San Francisco,
The Flowers family gathers in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, San Ysidro after the ordination.
Back row: Stephen Flowers, Father Thomas Flowers, SJ, Sarah Flowers, Deacon Phil Flowers,
Mark Flowers. Fr ont row: Mary Procaccio-Flowers, Kayla Flowers, Elsa Flowers, Eden Flowers,
Taran Flowers. (Photo Credit: JesuitsWest)
while discerning his vocation with a Je-
suit spiritual director. In 2007, Thomas
entered the Society of Jesus and, as a
Jesuit novice, published his first book
of poetry, “Walking Humbly: Scripture
Meditations in Verse.” He also spent
six weeks in Uruguay in a Spanish
language immersion program.
Missioned next to Saint Louis Uni-
versity, Thomas earned a master’s de-
gree in early modern European history
and published his second book, “God’s
Invitation: Meditations on a Covenant
Relationship.” In 2012, he returned to
his alma mater, Bellarmine College
Prep, to teach world history and reli-
gion for two years, before serving for
a year at the U.S.-Mexico border with
the Kino Border Initiative, a bi-national
humanitarian aid organization co-
founded by the Jesuits.
In 2015, Thomas was missioned to
Rome to study theology at the Pontifical
Gregorian University, where he earned
a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology.
Thomas, who lived at the International
College of the Gesù in Rome, just steps
away from the rooms of Saint Ignatius
of Loyola, considered his years in the
Eternal city an immersion in the history
of the Church and the Society.
Ordained a deacon this spring, Fa-
ther Thomas is serving at Most Holy
Trinity Catholic Church in San Jose
this summer before beginning doctoral
studies in history at the University of
York in England.