By Megan Erbacher
The Message editor
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated Mass May 30 at St. Joseph Parish in Jasper, during which Diocese of Evansville seminarian Nicholas Freyberger was admitted as a candidate for Holy Orders.
Bishop Siegel delivers his homily during the May 30 Candidacy Mass.
Freyberger is a member of the Class of 2030. A son of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper, Freyberger currently studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Missouri. In the fall, he will continue his priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Four priests of the diocese concelebrated with Bishop Siegel. They included Father John Brosmer, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper and dean of the East Deanery; Benedictine Father Christian Raab, parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper; Father Homero Rodriguez, part-time parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper and St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg; and Father Keith Hart, parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper.
The Mass served as the Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel spoke about the sign of the cross. He said we use it to begin our prayers in Mass or at home, to bless ourselves coming into church and we use it as a sign of protection. Because it is such a common practice, bishop noted, it’s sometimes easy to do it without thinking, or even in a disrespectful way, forgetting what it means – who and what we invoke when we make this gesture.
On this Trinity Sunday, Bishop Siegel said, may we take a moment to reflect on this most powerful sign, which is fundamentally a profession of faith, as we call upon our Triune God: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. With the sign of the cross, he said that we proclaim the reality of the Trinity is alive and active in our lives and in our world, not just some theological concept.
In our private and public lives, the bishop said, we are to be witnesses of God’s presence and activity in our own hearts and in the hearts of all people. This is our God-given mission, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, no matter who we are with.
Bishop continued his homily and said it is wonderfully appropriate that as we celebrate this great feast, with us at this Mass is a son of this parish, who has heard and responded to the call to serve the Most Holy Trinity as a priest. Joining those who, by the grace of Holy Orders, bring Christ to the world through the sacraments, through preaching, teaching, service and leadership of God’s people.
Bishop Siegel told Freyberger that even if he’s already been in formation for a couple of years, he knows there is still much more to learn spiritually, academically, personally and pastorally in the coming years … a seminary training that will one day conclude at the altar as a priest.
Bishop Siegel warned him not to fall into the trap as seeing seminary formation as a series of hoops to pass through. The time that lies ahead is very privileged, very precious, the bishop said, in which Freyberger is urged to grow in the virtues necessary to become a good and holy priest.
Father Brosmer presented Freyberger to Bishop Siegel for admission to candidacy for Holy Orders.
During the ceremony, Freyberger resolved to complete his preparation so that in due course, he would be ready to undertake the ministry of the Church through Holy Orders. He also resolved to form his mind and heart in such a way that he will be able to faithfully serve Christ, the Lord and his body, the Church. Bishop Siegel said the church received his resolve with joy. He continued and said, may God, who has begun this good work in him, bring it to fulfillment.
Bishop Siegel noted that none of this would be possible without Freyberger’s parents, who gave him the gift of life, and began his pilgrimage of faith when they presented him for baptism. The bishop thanked Freyberger’s parents, Doug and Pam Freyberger, and his entire family for the love and support they have shown and continue to show him as he continues his formation for the priesthood.
Bishop Siegel also thanked Freyberger’s parish family for supporting him, and asked the diocese to pray for him in a more intense way over the next few years. He then thanked everyone across the diocese for their prayers, encouraging them to continue to pray for all our seminarians and for an increase in vocations across our 12 counties.
In closing, Bishop Siegel thanked Freyberger for responding to God’s call to embrace his vocation.
A celebration reception followed Mass in the parish center.