On Friday, September 2 Archbishop Blase Cupich celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. At Mundelein, this Mass is also when the first theologians declare candidacy, a crucial step toward Holy Orders. By declaring candidacy, the 22 men publicly declared before the Church and the community their intention to study seriously for the priesthood. In the person of the local bishop, the Church then accepts with joy the declaration made by these men.
During his homily, Archbishop Cupich told the candidates, “I stand in admiration at your presence here in this place” because it takes great courage to hear and follow the call of Jesus Christ. He told the community that September 2, 2016 marks 45 years since his first day of major seminary and exhorted the seminarians, faculty, and staff to remain open to the presence of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. Archbishop Cupich reminded the community that just as Jesus got into the boat with the disciples and was with them in the ordinariness of their lives, “Jesus comes in your boat…and wants to take up residence in you.”
In addition to the declaration of candidacy, the Mass of the Holy Spirit also saw the Profession of Faith of four new seminary faculty members:
Rev. Bradley Zamora (Archdiocese of Chicago – Director of Liturgy)
Dr. Patricia Pintado-Murphy (Professor of Philosophy)
Rev. Dennis Spies (Diocese of Joliet – Formation faculty and Director of Pre-Theology)
Rev. Thomas Byrne (Archdiocese of Chicago – Formation faculty and Director of Chicago Seminarians)
