CHARLOTTE — Cassock Day at St. Joseph College Seminary is a lot like Christmas Day. There is anticipation and joy as the college seminarians line up in the refectory waiting to receive a gift – their college seminary cassocks.
There are smiles and sounds of delight as the young seminarians receive these gifts – new black cassocks with burgundy piping and a green fascia, freshly blessed by their loving spiritual father, their bishop.
There is also a bit of happy confusion as each man learns how to button all the hidden buttons and affix the fascia just so, in order to be able to breathe comfortably. Thankfully, the nine men of the "Bravo class" at St. Joseph College Seminary had their elder seminarian brothers of the "Alpha class" to assist them.
Bishop Peter Jugis observed the seminarians’ delight Aug. 13, Cassock Day, with a smile. He seemed to enjoy performing the blessing and he watched them like a proud father as they switched from their black suit jackets and black ties into their newly blessed cassocks before he celebrated Mass for the 16 men now enrolled at St. Joseph College Seminary.
Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the seminary, and Father Matthew Buettner, who provides spiritual assistance to the seminarians, were also present. Father Jason Barone, promoter of vocations for the Diocese of Charlotte; Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, who has two parishioners at the seminary; and the Sisters of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, who provide spiritual support and practical assistance to the seminarians, were also on hand for the festivities.
Once the men were all in their new official college cassocks, they happily donned surplices and processed into the chapel for Mass. The increase of the number of seminarians this year makes for tight quarters in the little seminary chapel, but it is a good problem to have.
The hope is to have a new college seminary built in the coming years on land recently acquired in Mount Holly near Belmont Abbey College to accommodate the rise in vocations to the priesthood in the diocese.
During his homily at Mass, Bishop Jugis focused on the Scripture readings of the day.
“There are several lessons that we might take from today’s Scripture readings which are certainly very applicable for you young men who are seminarians,” Bishop Jugis said. “Starting with the Gospel today, a line which comes from the letter to the Hebrews, ‘Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.’
“It is the lesson that St. Peter here had to learn as he was invited by Jesus to walk across the water. When Peter suddenly took his attention or his focus off of Jesus as he was walking on the water, he began to sink. If only he had kept his attention on Jesus the whole time or his focus on Him the whole time, who knows what might have been possible?"
“It was a good lesson for him to learn in humility and faithfulness to Jesus,” Bishop Jugis explained.
He then reminded the seminarians that they are beginning a very important journey.
“The Lord Jesus is calling you, beckoning you to come follow Him. It is important to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus – not to be distracted or become discouraged if you feel some obstacles have suddenly arisen along the way – but to work through the obstacles and to continue to listen to Him call you with that simple word, ‘Come.’"
Bishop Jugis also noted that walking on water is humanly impossible, but there is another lesson (in the Gospel): “With Jesus, even what we consider humanly impossible is possible.”
He shared with the men that there are people in the world who would criticize their desire to be priests.
“Only with God’s grace (is it possible) because it is God who calls. It is God who equips you and trains you and forms you for that vocation. And with Jesus, it is possible!
“It is a beautiful vocation, service to Christ and service to the Church. (Taking) on those awesome responsibilities of the priesthood is not humanly possible by human effort alone, just gritting your teeth…no, it is Jesus. So walking on water, yes, it is possible with Jesus!”
Bishop Jugis acknowledged that there are other people in their lives who are probably in awe of their decision to enter college seminary. “They may think that you already walk on water,” he joked, eliciting much laughter from the young seminarians.
“They may think you are great and that you are heaven sent, and you probably are, but don’t let it go to your head. What it should actually do to you is to make you more humble and give you a servant heart because that is what the priesthood is all about.”
In jest, he cautioned them about not trying to replicate the event of walking on the water that afternoon up at Lake Norman. “Unless you are certain that the Lord has truly, physically has appeared to you, saying, ‘Come to me,’” he joked.
On a more serious note, Bishop Jugis reminded the men that the seminary is the opportunity to put aside all the noise that is present out in the world in order to create a space where Jesus can speak with them in order to discern the call to the priesthood.
“Prayer and study requires quiet time of reflection, contemplation, review and opening your heart to the Lord… Seek quiet time with the Lord. Do not be afraid. The Lord who loves you and has called you this far is there waiting for you.”
He encouraged them to constant conversion to Christ. “Reforming your life, conversion to Jesus, is a constant daily effort. Always be growing closer to the Lord in your partnership with Him, in your relationship with Him.”
At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Jugis joined the men for lunch at the new residence building on Hillside Ave. adjacent to St. Ann Church.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
