Candidacy Mass

Submitted photo

As a step in their journey toward Holy Orders (priestly ordination), each seminarian presents himself for 'Candidacy' to the diocesan bishop. It is the first, formal recognition by the Church that a diocese is looking at seminarians as potential priests. Bishop Joseph M. Siegel recently received the promises of six seminarians at St. Peter Parish in Montgomery, the home parish of seminarian Keith Hart. At the Candidacy Mass, the classmates promised to continue their discernment and formation. Following candidacy, seminarians are permitted to begun wearing a clerical collar and clothing. Shown in the photo are seminarians Bradley Gehlhausen, left, a son of St. Mary Parish, Ireland; Keith Hart; Nicholas Sellers, a son of Holy Cross Parish, Fort Branch; Bishop Siegel; Christopher Wickman, a son of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Washington; Tyler Underhill, a son of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Washington; and Caleb Scherzinger, a son of St. Isidore Parish, Celestine.