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A beautiful fall day greeted Kansas City area Serrans as they began their visit to St. John Vianney Theological Seminary (SJV) on Tuesday, October 15, which happened to be the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila. Serrans commuted to Denver on Monday and early Tuesday morning, anticipating the opportunity to meet and interact with seminarians.

The morning began with a visit Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and specifically to the rectory where seminarians live during their years of theology study. In a rather unique approach to the development of community among seminarians in giving seminarians a taste of parish life during their preparatory years, SJV assigns seminarians to residence in a parish rectory at one of three different Denver parishes. During the visit to Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the host parishes, Serrans observed where seminarians live their daily lives during the four years of theology studies, as they take on responsibilities at the parish even as they continue seminary studies. In afternoon comments to Serrans, SJV Vice Rector, Fr. John Nepil, identified relationship and the opportunity to interact with priests and laity in a parish setting as a major asset to the development of good priests. More about this in a moment.

The second stop on the visit was the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO. Here, Brother Jude Quinto, OFMCap, gave the group a brief but thorough walking tour of the chapel, providing historical information about Mother Frances Cabrini and details about the development of the Colorado shrine in her honor. Thanks and kudos to JOCO Serra President, Dale Romme, for making the necessary connection that resulted in Brother Jude's informative presentation to the group. Serrans walked shrine grounds and drank water from a miraculous spring that began to flow when Mother Cabrini instructed her sisters to look under a rock that she identified with her staff, as they searched for a water supply for the early facility.

We celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with seminarians in the seminary chapel at 12:00 PM, after which the group enjoyed lunch in the seminary refectory with seminarians and members of the seminary faculty. 

Following lunch, Fr. Nepil (photo left) spoke to the group in the seminary chapel, giving the group background about the seminary experience of men at SJV. He took questions from the group. JOCO Serran, Joane Wilkerson, asked what more, in his opinion, Serrans can do to support seminarians. Fr. Nepil spoke about the foremost importance of prayer, indicating that this is the most efficacious means of support. He thanked Serrans for the prayers they offer for seminarians, while fondly recalling the support he experienced from Serrans during his seminary experience. He also acknowledged the appreciation that seminarians have for the financial support provided by Serrans, describing the importance of having the means to enjoy one another's company in social gatherings outside the walls of the seminary facility. He acknowledged that a few extra bucks often meant a great deal during the seminary experience. Finally, he described the importance of relationship, identifying the visit experience of the day as an example of such. Communicating with seminarians by mail, inviting seminarians for a meal during visits to their local diocese, and looking for other opportunities to interact with seminarians are all activities that contribute to the formation of good and holy priests. 

At the conclusion of Fr. Nepil's remarks, seminarian John Donart gave the group a tour of the seminary facility. In the photo right, taken in the chapel, from left are: Gene Schreiner, Sharon Schreiner, Carroll Macke, Katie Macke, Gerry Euston, Connie Euston, Joane Wilkerson, seminarian and guide, John Donart, Dan Meara, Dale Romme, Dan Eliason, Pat Gallagher, Kelly Kmiecik, Wally Foote, and JoAnn Meara. During the tour, Serrans were able to address questions to John about the facility and about seminarian life within it. Gracious host that he is, John not only provided a thorough seminary tour, but deserves a big shout-out for his effort in assisting with organizing this year's visit to SJV. Thanks, John, for your work on behalf of the Serrans and the seminary visit!

Mid-afternoon social time unfolded for Serrans and seminarians at the Lowry Beer Garden, a pub located on the grounds of the old Lowry Air Force Base in east Denver. In the photo left, are (from left around the table) Wally Foote, seminarian Andrew Cunningham, JoAnn Meara, Connie Euston, seminarian Andrew Buyle, Kelly Kmiecik, Pat Gallagher, and seminarian James Euston, as the group shares a beer and fellowship time during the beautiful afternoon in the beer garden.

After the time together at the beer garden, the group migrated to the evening venue, where the day was capped by a terrific Italian dinner at Luca. The group of twenty-three (eight seminarians and fifteen Serrans from both the JOCO Serra and the KCK Serra clubs) dined together, enjoying a scrumptious five-course meal. 

Serran attendees included Dan and JoAnn Meara, Carroll and Katie Macke, Gene and Sharon Schreiner, and Dan Eliason, all from the Serra Club of Kansas City, KS; Bryan and Joane Wilkerson, Gerry and Connie Euston, Dale Romme, Pat Gallagher, Wally Foote, and Mike Skoch, from the Serra Club of Johnson County. Kelly Kmiecik, Administrative Assistant, Vocation Office, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, also joined the seminary visit.

Seminarians joining events of the day included John Donart, Andrew Cunningham, Andrew Buyle, Landry Weber, Zach McGuinness, Dominic Victor, Nathan Laudan, and James Euston.

The Serrans and Seminarians also wish to thank Kelly for her work in pulling together the details of the seminary visit (and for everything else she does for Serrans and seminarians!)

Photo credits: Connie Euston, Joane Wilkerson, and Mike Skoch