Eight MTSM Seminarians Receive Admission to Candidacy

One of the many great traditions at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology is the annual combined celebration of the feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the patroness of the Seminary) and the addition of candidates for the Sacrament of Holy Orders. On Friday, December 8, The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, welcomed eight MTSM seminarians across three dioceses to the next step of their vocational journey through the Admission of Candidacy.

“Discernment is a decision made in prayer,” Archbishop Schnurr said during his homily. “You have reflected carefully and discerned that God has called you to ordained ministry. The Church promises to support you as you begin to discern the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”

The Rite Admission to Candidacy is the first of three public steps a seminarian makes before diaconate ordination. Within the Rite, seminarians publicly state his intention to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The next two steps prior to the diaconate, Ministry of Lector and the Ministry of the Acolyte, happen in the subsequent years of formation.

Those installed are listed below:

Archdiocese of Cincinnati
From Left: Evan Sharp (Cincinnai), Charles Wiedenmann (Liberty Township), Joe Allaire (Miamisburg), The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr (Archbishop of Cincinnai), Joseph Graff (Cincinnati), Thomas Wheeler (Eaton)

Archdiocese of Louisville
From Left: The Very Rev. Martin Linebach (Vicar for Vocations, Archdiocese of Louisville), The Very Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr (Archdiocese of Cincinnati), David Vest (Louisville)

Diocese of Columbus
From Left: Rev. William Hahn (Vocations Director, Diocese of Columbus), Kennedy Ofezu (Arua, Uganda), The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr (Archbishop of Cincinnati), Shane Gerrity (Columbus)