Father Bud blesses the five seminarians embarking on a pastoral year of ministry in their respective dioceses. From left: Peter Nguyen, Xavier Polisetty, and Nicholas Hoelscher (Fort Worth); Matthew Fichter (Washington); and Lane Tschirhart (Fort Worth).
The flurry of end-of-year events was marked by a sense of growth and purpose, beginning with the closing Mass and banquet on May 1, Memorial of St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. This memorial recognition was meaningful, as St. Athanasius is a prominent priestly mentor for our seminarians, himself being known as the “Father of Orthodoxy” for his role in defending the divinity of Jesus at the Council of Nicaea in 325 and throughout his life, during a time of great turbulence for the Church. The Gospel reading (Jn 14:1-6) also spoke directly to the hearts of the community present: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. …Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”
In recognition of these great works to which our men will be called, Father Bud Stevens praised the graduates and those leaving for pastoral year with great appreciation, blessing their paths ahead. He presented the two deacons to be ordained on May 23 – Stephen Parker (St. Augustine) and Blake Thompson (Ft. Worth) — with elegant Agnus Dei gold pixes in beautifully crafted Italian burses, to be used in their upcoming ministries. The book, Catechism of an Interior Life by Jean-Jacques Olier, was his thoughtful gift to the five third-year Basselin scholars: Nicholas Broussard (Lafayette), Christopher Hanrahan (New York), Liam Leonard (Lake Charles), Trenton Thieneman (Louisville), and Wheeler Wilson (Orlando). Further celebrating the rite of passage, the new Student Government Association officially began its tenure, with SGA president Stephen Parker turning the gavel over to the new president, Trent Barton (Fort Worth).
Toward the end of the week, the Ph.L graduates were also honored by a private Mass in the TC chapel with Fr. Bud and Fr. John McNerney, Director of Basselin Scholars, a few days prior to the Catholic University graduation. Providentially, former Basselin Monsignor James Shea (B ’98) was the Commencement speaker on Saturday, May 16.
After reminiscing fondly about his time here as a seminarian, Monsignor Shea gave a deeply inspiring address about the power of friendship, quoting John Senior: “Universities are not first places of research, but of friendship.” He emphasized, “A thread runs through education and friendship to the very heart of the greatness of the human soul.” According to Monsignor Shea, all the graduates have been equipped by this place, in friendship and study, to confront their own mediocrity in life. The only thing that can address this great problem, he said, is the gift received in friendship and study, which is stability, fidelity. “The glue of friendship is constancy.” Such perseverance is the ironclad principle of Christian life. The “superpower” of steadfast perseverance is a participation in the essence of God, who created us for some great purpose. So He gives us the courage to finish it. Our task in life, he explained, is to stay in communion with God and with each other day-by-day, constantly. Such constancy overwhelms our mediocrity and puts us on the road to sanctity. The present moment is the perfect time to start – as it is where God is with us. The former Basselin scholar concluded passionately, “May God drench your lives with love and true friendship and give you the constancy for perseverance and fidelity.”
