$300,000 collected for seminarians

Published: August 10, 2015

Two events in the Diocese of Little Rock grossed more than $300,000 to pay for seminarian education. For the first time a Taste of Faith dinner was held at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro Aug. 7 and grossed $71,612. A second Taste of Faith was held at the Marriott Hotel in Little Rock Aug. 8 for more than 600 people and grossed $256,700.

During the Little Rock event, the artistic talents of the seminarians were on display. An 18-member band, made up entirely of diocesan seminarians, donned sunglasses and performed three blues songs, “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Superstition” and “Soul Man.”

In addition to local artists, seminarians Emmanuel Torres and Jaime Nieto gave away two pieces of original artwork as door prizes. Testimonies by Deacons Joseph Chan and Mario Jacobo gave attendees some insights into their vocational call.

Msgr. Scott Friend, diocesan vocations director, said the need for funding for seminarian education is critical. The diocese currently has 44 seminarians and it is estimated to cost the diocese $36,000 a year to educate one man for one year. Thus, the diocese needs about $1.5 million a year for their immediate education and living expenses.

In 2016 the diocese will have six new priests ordained and in 2018 the number could jump to eight.

“We are praying for vocations, but we need to really believe it can happen,” he said. “If you don’t believe, you might as well stay in bed. You have to pray believing. … I ask you to pray every day for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I ask you to help us educate our seminarians.”