Three groups of Catholics, all on different steps of their faith journeys, are once again uniting to strengthen their bonds with God and faithful with the aid of a simple, heartfelt letter via the Knights of Columbus Seminarian Letter Project.
The project, instituted in 2000 by the New Jersey State Council of the Knights, guides students in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs in sending letters of encouragement to men studying for the priesthood. Created by John Tirado, a Knight of the Saint Jude Council #12092, Bellmawr, the project nurtures vocations in the young while providing men journeying to the priesthood prayerful support from their future flock.
‘Essential and Grateful’
“This is my pet project,” admitted Thomas Kohler, Grand Knight of the Villa Marie Council #6342, Absecon, about the letter project. “We had another banner year.”
Kohler enlists the aid of Joan Dollinger, principal of Assumption Regional School, Galloway, to generate letters of support, encouragement, curiosity and even humor from the students. This year, 40 letters were divided amongst the eight seminarians of the Camden Diocese.
One such missive, addressed to Nicholas Esposito, was written by a student who wanted to know if the decision to study for the priesthood was “hard to tell your elders” and “challenging to do all the regulations and rules.” Nonetheless, the young scribe assured him the priesthood “is essential to the Catholic Church. … Everyone is proud of you and is grateful.”
“The seminarians really enjoy [the project],” Kohler said, “and we did get some responses back.”
Kohler noted the letter project’s goal to keep vocations at the forefront perfectly dovetails both with the messages broadcasted from the Assumption Regional School public address system and those heard from the pulpit on Sundays.
“Kids relate [to vocations] when they see a priest in church or hear the prayers,” the Knight said. “They get the idea it is important. There is a need for priests; their letter could make a difference.”
‘Courage, Strength and Dedication’
The K of C Saint Vincent de Paul Council #3451, based in Mays Landing, has been participating in the project for the past couple years, Financial Secretary Matthew Gagnon said. Earlier this year, Principal Linda Pirolli enlisted the talents of Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School eighth-grade students to compose 16 letters, two each intended for the seminarians.
One eighth-grade author sent “humble gratitude and encouragement” to seminarian Vincent Asselta, writing, “Not many Catholics have the courage, strength and dedication to take on the path of priesthood. However, you have chosen this sacred and blessed career, and we are forever thankful for that sacrifice.”
Gagnon asserted that the letter-writing campaign has value for the seminarians, students and Knights alike, saying, “It gives the seminarians encouragement and lets them know we are thinking about them and praying for them.” The Knight enclosed a letter of spiritual support to each seminarian on behalf of his council.
Support From Afar
The Knights of the North Cape May-based Saint John Neumann Council #3546 have been partnering with the parish’s religious education students in passing along prayerful support and well-wishes across the country for the past decade, trustee James Fath said. This year, in addition to the 71 letters to Camden Diocese seminarians from students in grades two through eight, other groups of religious were recipients of the students’ letters.
“[Immaculate Heart of Mary] Sister Kathleen Nuckols, Saint John Neumann Parish director of religious education, came up with the idea to add sisters-in-training to the campaign,” Fath said. “The children sent a total of 32 letters to seven [postulants] in training around the country.”
The final group of religious are close to Fath’s heart though they minister more than 4,300 miles from his shore community – the clergy of Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska. Their priest shortage is so severe, reports their diocesan website, that only five of their 46 parishes have full-time pastors.
“[My council] also sent a few letters to their director of vocations: my nephew, Father Robert Fath,” the Knight recounted. “That diocese covers an area about the size of Texas with 20 priests.”
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