Seminarians for diocese inspired by handwritten letters from children

Walt Whitman once wrote, “The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.” The 19th century poet might well have enjoyed the simplicity and glorious expression, not to mention strong faith, emanating from the hearts of youth in the diocese as they engage in the annual Seminarian Letter Project.
 

The project, instituted in 2000 by the New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus, encourages students in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs to send letters and cards to men studying for the priesthood. Created by Knight John Tirado of the Diocese of Camden, the project both nurtures vocations in the young and provides men journeying to the priesthood prayerful support from their future flock.
 

Knights of Columbus Councils statewide have adopted the practice and have mailed thousands of child-generated inspirational, heartfelt and even humorous letters to men studying throughout the country. One such council in the Diocese of Metuchen is the Father James Russell Council 11409, which serves both the parishes of Our Lady of the Mount, Warren, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Bridgewater.
 

“It helps the children to relate to the seminarians,” explained John Java, Past Grand Knight of the Council. Each year since 2007, Java has teamed with the parishes’ religious education programs, supplying the students with holiday cards intended for men studying for the priesthood in the Metuchen Diocese. Once the personal messages and promises of prayers were composed, the Knights bundle up the cards and send them in a large envelope to the seminarians.
 

The seminarians chosen this year by the Council were familiar to the students, as they had served summer assignments at the parishes, and the young authors’ letters reflected that relationship. “The letters provide the men with encouragement in their studies, and wish them success on their journey,” said Java.
 

Despite the pandemic, nearly 200 handwritten letters made their way to the five seminarians. Students at Our Lady of the Mount Parish directed their cards to Larrydom Magdasoc, Peter Pham and Jerome Ocampo, all students at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, South Orange; letters from St. Bernard of Clairvaux were intended for Ronal Vega at Immaculate Conception and Jose Lim, who is studying in the Pontifical North American College, Rome.
 

Our Lady of the Mount catechetical leader Emma Deborja keeps photographs of their three seminarian letter recipients on the classroom bulletin boards, and many students had met the trio previously at a party for their pastor, Father Sean Kenney. Grades one through eight were eager to write to their new pen pals, she reported, and generated 82 letters and cards. The innocent, sincere messages tugged the heartstrings of the seminarians, who emailed Deborja in gratitude.
 

Magdasoc wrote, “I was so surprised and happy when I saw these cards of encouragement… It really made my day, and I just can’t stop thanking them and keeping them in my heart. Please know of my prayers and support for these children.”
 

Phan echoed those sentiments, writing, “When I opened each of the cards of the wishing and praying that are for me, I could not hold back my tears… This wishing and praying are inspirations for me in the way I am walking right now.”
 

“It gives them exposure to vocations,” Deborja said, “and they have a face. [Before the Seminarian Letter Project,] a lot of students didn’t know about vocations to the priesthood or religious life. It gives them a model for the possibility of what there could be for them out there. Hopefully [this] will plant the seeds, and help the Holy Spirit work in them.”
 

Fellow parish catechetical leader, Gretchen D’Angelo of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, described the words of encouragement in the 79 letters her students wrote. “things like ‘I will pray for you. Will you pray for me?’ The kids loved writing in the cards,” she said. “They share their interests, favorite sports, and other things.”
 

In one such card, young Valentina informed Vega that she is a dancer and loves to learn about history before adding, “We are all so grateful for your faith in God and studying to become a priest.” Seventh- grader Joe, who enjoys sports and loves writing, told Lim, “We at St. Bernard’s are so grateful for your faith and helping further our journey in the Catholic Church.”
 

“They are genuinely interested in who the seminarians are and their vocation,” D’Angelo said. “This is the foundation to understand what it takes to be a priest.”
 

Vega’s return letter shows how the youngsters’ missives impacted him. In an email to D’Angelo, he expressed his gratitude for the large number of cards, saying, “It was a wonderful experience reading all their best wishes. I came to know that I have a couple compatriots from Colombia and many children that love soccer as much as I do.”
 

D’Angelo noted that the Seminarian Letter Project dovetails nicely with the parish’s whole family model of faith formation and is a favorite among the student service projects. “They want to do it,” D’Angelo concluded. “They want to walk in the footsteps of Christ.”