Seminarian admitted to candidacy for ordination

By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer

Third-year seminary student Juan Alberto Abreu of the diocese took another step closer to becoming a priest Nov. 14 in Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md.

Abreu, whose home parish is Holy Trinity in Perth Amboy, was among 12 seminarians admitted to candidacy for ordination as deacons and priests during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Kenneth Angell of Burlington, Vt.

The rite of admission to candidacy is celebrated when the candidates have reached a maturity of purpose and are shown to have the necessary qualifications, said Kate Charuhas, a spokeswoman for the seminary. During the ceremony, the seminarians are asked about their resolve to complete their preparation for ordination and to prepare themselves in mind and spirit for faithful service to Christ and the Church.

Abreu said the next step in the process is being ordained a transitional deacon, which is done by Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski if the seminary recommends it.

Abreu, 35, whose family emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. when he was 18, said his desire to become a priest began as a boy.

"There were some priests I grew up with and wanted to be like them," he said. "When I was 13 years old, I was in a discernment group — boys who wanted to be priests and wanted to know what it was about. I did that until I was about 16."

When his family moved to Perth Amboy from the Dominican Republic, Abreu said he had to learn to speak English. He attended Middlesex County College for a year, then Seton Hall University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and psychiatry.

"By the time I was 27, I went to a discernment retreat the diocese runs every summer," he said. "It answered a lot of my questions and helped me decide. A year later I began the application process."

Abreu, who wants to be a priest in the diocese, said a source of strength for him comes from Jesus’ words: "Be not afraid."

"It’s the one thing that helped me through many things. I faced many difficulties in life," he said. "And to start this, which I had no idea how things were going to turn out, I needed this spiritual insight. It has helped me through all the years."