Nearly $700,000 raised for seminarians

Published: November 25, 2024

"Without your participation, it would be impossible for these men to continue on their way to priesthood. Thanks be to God for your continued generosity!" — Father Jeff Hebert, vocations director

Taste of Faith dinners were held in Little Rock, Jonesboro and Hot Springs Village in 2024. Along with donations through the mail and online, more than $670,000 was raised through the Taste of Faith campaign to benefit seminarian education in the Diocese of Little Rock. This includes $73,227 in Jonesboro, $83,552 in Hot Springs Village and $254,089 in Little Rock.

Taste of Faith is hosted by the Vocations and Seminarians Office. In addition to the meal, attendees at Taste of Faith dinners were treated to music, entertainment and testimonials from seminarians and talks from Father Jeff Hebert, diocesan vocations director, and Bishop Anthony B. Taylor.

The video, "Six Steps to Priesthood," premiered during the Little Rock dinner held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton on Saturday, Aug. 10. It featured seminarians, newly ordained Father Cody Eveld and other priests describing key stages in priestly formation and how those impacted them in their discernment of priesthood. This content was included in the Taste of Faith video highlighting the dinner below and on our diocesan YouTube channel.

Father Hebert detailed the steps to priesthood in a letter he mailed to Catholic households in July.

"Important milestones mark the way at which the Church equips these courageous men with the gifts necessary to serve you with the Good Shepherd’s charity. They are accepted as seminarians, admitted to candidacy, instituted as lectors, then acolytes and finally ordained as deacons and priests," he explained. "It is not possible to walk this path alone. With Christ leading the way, our seminarians need you, the Church, to accompany them on their journey to priesthood."

It is estimated to cost the diocese $41,000 a year to educate and provide for the living expenses of one seminarian. This includes tuition, room and board, health insurance and other needs.

Father Hebert also thanked parishioners for their generosity in supporting the needs of seminarians in the past with an appeal to donate again this year in his letter. "I ask you to pray for our seminarians and for an increase in vocations. If God works so generously with humanity to provide shepherds for his flock, then may all of us generously collaborate with each other to form these men well."

Donations are always welcome online. For more information, visit the Taste of Faith website or contact Deacon Chuck Ashburn, assistant director of development and academic advising for the Vocations and Seminarians Office, at (501) 664-0340, ext. 368.