Archbishop Visits Seminarians in California

From January 30 to 31, Archbishop Alexander Sample visited St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, where eight seminarians from the Archdiocese of Portland are currently studying. During his time there, the Archbishop shared meals with the men, celebrated a private Mass with them, and met individually with each seminarian.

Each academic year, Archbishop Sample makes a point of visiting the seminaries where Portland seminarians are in formation. These visits are more than formal check-ins. They are moments of genuine pastoral presence and fraternity. They offer seminarians the opportunity to spend time with their bishop, to be known by him, and to deepen a relationship that is essential to their vocational journey. A seminarian’s formation is never abstract or isolated. It unfolds within the concrete relationship between a man and the bishop who is accompanying him in his discernment of the priesthood.

For Mr. Ramón Camacho, this visit renewed his deep appreciation for the seminarian-bishop relationship experienced by our seminarians in western Oregon. Reflecting on the Archbishop’s presence at the seminary, he shared, “Archbishop Sample often reminds us that the Holy Spirit is doing something in western Oregon. The Holy Spirit is on the move. As we seminarians continue to discern our vocations with the Church, it is important that we always keep in mind the end goal, which is to be on mission with our spiritual father for the salvation of souls. In western Oregon, we have a great gift in Archbishop Sample. I am grateful to have a relationship with him that is marked by spiritual fatherhood, trust, obedience, and shared mission.”

In his homily, Archbishop Sample reflected on the centrality of God’s mercy in the Christian life and in priestly formation. “Brothers,” he said, “always trust in the mercy of God for each one of us. In our weakness, yes, in our sinfulness, Jesus is there with us. And he asks us, ‘Why are you afraid? Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’ We need not be afraid, because he is with us.”

He went on to acknowledge the real fears and struggles that arise during formation. “As you continue your journey of discernment and formation,” he said, “there will be moments when you are struck by your weakness, when you are afraid. In those moments, remember that God is more powerful than all of it. Entrust yourself to him.” He reminded the men that Christ has both the power and the desire to calm the storms they face, whether those storms come from personal weakness, sin, or the ordinary challenges of formation and daily life. “Know that Christ is with you. He loves you. You are precious to him, and he wants the very best for you. You only need to turn to him.”

As the second semester of academic formation continues for our seminarians, we ask the faithful of the Archdiocese of Portland to please keep them in your prayers. May the Lord, who has begun a good work in them, bring it to completion according to his will.