Reverend John Robert Weber
Age: 27 Where Born: Milwaukee, Wisc.
Where Baptized: Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee
Parents/ Siblings: Robert and Regina; a sister, Cristin, 29
Home Parish: SS. Philip and James, Exton
Current Diaconate Assignment: Our Lady of Grace, Penndel

Grade School/Junior High: Shamona Creek Elementary School and Lionville Middle School of the Downingtown Area School District
High School/Year Graduated: Downingtown High School, 2000
College/Year Graduated/Degree: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary: 2004, bachelor of arts degree in philosophy; 2008, master of divinity degree in pastoral theology
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Entrance Date: August 2000
Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
My earliest memory of going to church was as a 5-year-old at St. Peter Church in Honey Brook. I remember almost all of the songs that were sung and holding my mom’s hand as I accompanied her in the Communion line.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the Seminary?
I wanted to be a priest ever since I was a little kid. In fact, I think it is truly the only thing I wanted to be. Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered, “a priest.” The deciding moment came during my senior year of high school. I went on a pilgrimage to Rome during the Jubilee Year 2000 and, after returning, I knew I was supposed to enter the Seminary that year.
Who inspired or influenced you the most in your decision to enter the seminary?
My family had the most influence. They taught me the faith and the great love that God has for each of us. One event that inspired me to think about the priesthood was when my father converted to Catholicism while I was in grade school. I was impressed by the dedication of my dad to learn the faith. I was also inspired by the faithfulness and holiness of our parish priest at the time, the late Father Francis Bielski [then the pastor of St. Peter in Honey Brook] who became a great friend of the family.
Were there any particularly moving or grace-filled events in those beginning days or years at the Seminary? This last year?
For me, the most grace-filled time at the seminary is the Forty Hours devotion that takes place each year.
A more recent grace-filled event was in April 2008 when the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, came to the United States. We went as a seminary community to be with him at St. Joseph Seminary in New York and attended the Papal Mass in Yankee Stadium. It was awesome to be so close to the Holy Father with so many other young people and to hear his great message of hope.
What has been your biggest challenge at St. Charles Seminary, and how have you met that challenge?
One challenge when entering the seminary was thinking about how long I had to wait until ordination — nine years — which then seemed like an eternity. However, looking back, the time flew by. I am grateful for all the experiences and everything I have learned here at the seminary.
What will you miss most about St. Charles Seminary?
I will miss the community life of the seminary, as well as the special celebrations here, particularly the Forty Hours devotion and the Midnight Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
What advice do you have for current underclassmen about their remaining years at St. Charles?
Be faithful to your prayer life, keep a good sense of humor and be able to laugh at yourself.
What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
Give all your fears and anxieties to Jesus and His Blessed Mother Mary and relax. They will be with you every step of the way and provide you with everything you will need.
What do you do for recreation?
I like to spend time with my family and friends, especially over a good meal. I spend most of my free time reading, going to the movies or traveling.
People would be surprised to know what about you?
While I always wanted to be a priest — and would even play priest at home as a little kid — I was never an altar server at my parish. The first time I served Mass was my first year in the seminary.
What are your favorite devotions and why?
Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, to Mary and the saints are my favorites. I was taught these devotions by my parents, who prayed with me. These devotions have always been a source of strength and comfort to me.
What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you and why?
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32). It shows that great love the Father has for each of us and, no matter how far we might stray from Him, He is there with open arms to welcome us back.
What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood is not something you do  — it is who you are. It means being Christ for the people, praying for them and with them, serving them and giving them the sacraments. It is a life of sacrifice and even greater joy.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
The extreme secularism and relativism that are running rampant in our culture, as well as the disregard for the sanctity of human life.
What is your greatest hope for the Church?
The young people who are starving for the truth and who refuse to be lied to.
What will you, as a priest, do to combat the negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
I hope to lead them by example and help them realize they can rise above and change the errors of the culture we live in.
Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you, as a priest, plan to do to bring others closer to Christ?
Prayer is the most important, especially the Mass. This is the first thing I plan to do to bring others closer to Christ, by celebrating the Eucharist.

Reverend Anthony Thomas Rossi
Age: 27
Where Born: Abington
Where Baptized: St. Luke the Evangelist Church,
Glenside
Parents/ Siblings: John N. Sr. and MaryLouise (McLoughlin) Rossi; a brother, J. Nicholas Rossi II, 34, and a sister, Alicia M. Magee-Skinner, 31
Home Parish: St. John of the Cross, Roslyn, 1983-1998; Corpus Christi Parish, Upper Gwynedd, 1999-present
Current Diaconate Assignment: Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Warminster

Grade School/Year Graduated: St. John of the Cross School, 1996
High School/Year Graduated: Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote, 2000
College/Year Graduated/Degree: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary: 2004, bachelor’s degree in philosophy; 2008, master of divinity degree and, anticipated for 2009, master’s degree in pastoral theology
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Entrance Date: 2000
Describe your earliest memory of going to church:
Going to St. John’s with my parents, siblings and grandparents.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the seminary?
I first felt the call to the priesthood at a young age. I was always in church with my parents.
During the first years of my elementary school, my mom worked in the rectory, cleaning and cooking. After school, I often waited for her in the rectory, watching TV on the first floor, sitting in the secretary’s office or visiting with the cook in the kitchen. I learned at an early age about “life in the rectory.”
I remember the time I saw one of the assistant pastors leaving the rectory to play golf with his friends. He was in “regular clothes,” not clerics. I later asked the pastor why the assistant pastor was not dressed “like a priest.” He explained to me in simple terms what it means to be a priest. This occurred when I was in kindergarten or first grade.
This early exposure to the priesthood allowed me to “see into” the vocation and led me to consider it at a young age.
From the summer after third grade through high school, I was an altar server. This allowed me to be active in the parish sacramentally  —  serving weddings, funerals and other special Masses — and assisted in my call early on.
Who inspired and/or influenced you the most in your decision to enter the seminary, and how?
The first were my parents because they instilled the Catholic faith and assisted me to become active in the parish, first as an altar server and later as a member of the parish pastoral council.
As I grew up, other influences included my pastors at St. John of the Cross Parish and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who taught me at St. John of the Cross School.
My first pastor, Msgr. Arthur Nugent (now pastor emeritus of St. John of the Cross) was faithful to the parish and worked very hard. In his free time, he mowed the lawn and parish football field  and worked in a garden he grew along the side of the rectory. His quiet example of fidelity to his vocation was a witness to me.
Msgr. Thomas Duane, my second pastor at St. John of the Cross (now pastor of Annunciation B.V.M. Parish in Brookline) was helpful in guiding me and allowing me to ask questions about the faith and the priesthood. He was an example of a happy and jovial man whose priesthood fulfilled his life.
My mom would also help the sisters in the convent, so I often “volunteered” to carry packages and shopping bags and to move furniture and paint rooms. The sisters lived the vows of religious life and demonstrated fidelity to their vocation.
What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
I will miss the fraternity that exists here at St. Charles. At any point during the day, I can knock on the doors of the other seminarians. The fraternity of St. Charles Seminary is probably the best aspect of formation of the nine years I have spent here. I will also miss the staff I have frequently seen throughout these nine years and the rigorous schedule that was usually easy to fulfill.
What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
If you are able, go on a retreat to center yourself on the voice and call of the Lord before you report to the seminary.
Pray frequently, speak with a trusted priest and prepare yourself academically and humanly for life here at St. Charles.
People would be surprised to know what about you?
I was a track and field athlete — I ran the 100-meter dash, the 200 and the 400 and threw the shot put — from seventh grade through my sophomore year of high school.
I also ran the 4 x 100 in the high school division of the Penn Relays my freshman year at Bishop McDevitt.
What are your favorite devotions and why?
My favorite Marian devotion is the Miraculous Medal Novena.
My favorite personal devotions include the prayers of St. Anthony of Padua, the Lorica of St. Patrick and the prayers composed by the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman.
What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood is being at the service of the people of God. Celebrating Mass worthily and well is what I hope will be the greatest service I can provide to those to whom I am called to serve, wherever I am assigned during my priesthood.
The priesthood is being connected to Christ the High Priest. When, as a priest, I celebrate the Mass, hear confessions, anoint the sick, minister to the dying, I will be a conduit of Christ. My hands will be His hands, my words His words, my eyes His sight. It will not be me who forgives, heals and raises up — it will be Christ.
I am reminded of St. John Vianney’s quote, “When you see the priest, you see into the heart of Christ.”
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
I believe it is faith — a true understanding and acceptance of the demands of the Christian life — and a deep fear of what lies beyond our mortal life.
Many people go to Mass somewhat unwillingly because they feel they are obligated. Many go to confession infrequently and participate very little in the life of the Church. They may never have learned in school or in the home what faith is — the desire to obey God’s laws not because we have to but because we love God and desire to please Him.
If we obey God’s commandments, go to church, participate in the life of the Church and live a life of holiness, then we please God and seek to be one with Him. We pray God may see us face to face in eternity.
Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you, as a priest, plan to do to bring others closer to Christ?
Celebrate the Mass faithfully.
Preach catechetically — draw the people I am sent to serve into the heart of Christ.

Reverend Jeffrey Mark Rott
Age: 30
Where Born: Auburn, N.Y.
Where Baptized: St. Mary’s Church, Auburn, N.Y.,
Diocese of Rochester
Parents/ Siblings: Mark and Rachele Rott; two brothers: Daniel, 24, and Mark, 17
Home Parish: St. Eleanor, Collegeville
Current Diaconate Assignment: St. Anastasia Parish, Newtown Square

Graduated: Soule Road Elementary, Liverpool, N.Y., 1992
High School/Year Graduated: Attended Liverpool High School in Liverpool, N.Y., as a freshman and sophomore; graduated from Perkiomen Valley High School, Collegeville, in 1996
College/Year Graduated/Major/Degree:
Bloomsburg University, Diocese of Harrisburg, 2000: major — accounting and management information systems; degree — bachelor of science in business administration
Employment before entering St. Charles Seminary: certified public accountant
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Entrance Date: August 2003
Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
One of my earliest memories of church was Christmas Eve Mass when I was in fourth grade. Before my mother could notice, I put on a pair of jeans that had holes in the left knee and wore them to church. My mother was not too pleased with me and corrected me, as a good mother should. My response to her was that I was being “holy.”
Years earlier, I frequently spent the Sunday Mass in the church’s cry room because I made a lot of noise. As a priest, I will be the one who is the most vocal when I celebrate Mass. Everything comes full circle.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the seminary?
I started thinking about the priesthood during my college years. I decided to enter the seminary because I thought the Lord may have been calling me, and I saw the importance of spreading the faith as a priest. I didn’t know for sure that God was calling me to be a priest until I was actually in the seminary.
Did anything humorous happen to you in your beginning days or years at the seminary or in this last year?
One of the funniest moments at the Seminary occurred during the opening of Forty Hours, Nov. 1, 2007. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Harrisburg was about to incense the gifts at the altar at Mass. The only problem was that the chemicals the seminarians used to clean the thurible had not been wiped away. Incense inside the thurible sparked and caught fire. We had to proceed with the Mass without the incense.
Were there any particular moving or grace-filled events in those beginning days or years at the seminary or this last year?
Studying and praying with more than 150 men from around the country reinforced to me that I was not alone as a seminarian in discerning if the Lord was calling me to be a priest. Also, the entire faculty — both the priest faculty and the lay faculty — were very supportive from my first day at the seminary.
What has been your biggest challenge at St. Charles Seminary, and how have you met that challenge?
The biggest challenge at the seminary is to discern the Lord’s call to the priesthood. While I have discerned that the Lord has called me to the priesthood — and the Church has agreed — this is just the beginning.
When I first entered the seminary, I was very nervous — nervous about giving up my career, nervous about discerning a call to the priesthood and nervous about the promise to celibacy and obedience to the bishop. While I recognize that the priesthood is a challenge, I am at peace with what the Lord has asked me to do.
What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
The thing that I will miss the most about the seminary is living with more than 100 seminarians studying for the priesthood.
What advice do you have for the current underclassmen about their remaining year(s) at St. Charles?
Jesus needs you.
What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
Jesus needs you.
What do you do for recreation?
I like to jog, lift weights and play golf and volleyball. In addition, I like to watch sports, especially baseball.
What would people would be surprised to know about you?
I enjoy going to an occasional Broadway show.
What are your favorite devotions?
My favorite devotion is to meditate on Sacred Scripture because it is the Word of God and a constant reminder of the kingdom of God.
Regarding Marian devotions, I like to pray the rosary.
I also enjoy the Liturgy of the Hours — the prayers I promise to pray when I am ordained.
How and when do you pray?
I pray throughout the day and usually spend time in silence before or after Mass.
What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you, and why?
The Scripture passage that is the most meaningful to me is Luke 5:1-11, “The Call of Simon the Fisherman.” The passage allows me to meditate on how Jesus is the One who calls and how it is His work — not our own — that is completed.
What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood makes the Person of Jesus present in the lives of His people, most importantly through the Mass and through the sacrament of reconciliation in the forgiveness of sins.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
The biggest challenge facing the Church is a crisis of faith. This is the same crisis that has been with the world forever. God has a plan for creating, redeeming and fulfilling our lives. Many people do not know or have not internalized this.
What is your greatest hope for the Church?
My greatest hope for the Church is the fact that we are loved by God. This is expressed in the Good News — Jesus Himself. No other hope is needed.
What will you, as a priest, do to combat negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
As a priest, the first thing that I must do to bring others closer to Christ is to listen to them. It will be the people themselves who will let me know how I can effectively minister to them.

Reverend Michael George Speziale
Age: 25
Where Born: Philadelphia
Where Baptized: Our Lady of Consolation Church in the Tacony section of Philadelphia
Parents/ Siblings: Frank and Linda Speziale; a brother, Joseph, 21; and a sister, Mary, 13
Home Parish: St. David, Willow Grove
Current Diaconate Assignment: Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish, North Wales

Grade School/ Year Graduated: Our Lady of Consolation School, Philadelphia, 1989-1995; St. David School, Willow Grove, 1995-1997
High School/Year Graduated: Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia, 2001
College/Year Graduated/Degree: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary: 2005, bachelor’s degree in philosophy; 2008, master of divinity degree
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Entrance Date: August 2001
Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
I remember at age 4 or 5 going to church every Sunday with my family at Our Lady of Consolation. I recall good, happy, joyful priests there like Father Charles Sangermano [then a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Consolation, now pastor of Holy Saviour Parish in Norristown] and the late Father Louis Ciaudelli [then the pastor of Our Lady of Consolation] who helped inspire me by their love for God, the priesthood and the people.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the seminary?
I felt called to be a priest almost all my life, but in my junior year of high school, after many doubts, questions and excuses, I knew I had to give the seminary a shot and discern the call to the priesthood.
Who inspired or influenced you the most in your decision to enter the seminary?
Throughout my life, it was the influence from parish priests and high school priests and good, faithful people in the parishes who helped me get to this point. The example and mentoring of the late Father Francis Bielski [then a parochial vicar at St. David Parish in Willow Grove] during my high school years were life changing and the reason why I was finally able to answer the call.
Did anything humorous happen to you in your beginning days or years at the seminary, or this last year?
The old man-new man shows at the seminary, where seminarians impersonate priests on the faculty at St. Charles.
What has been your biggest challenge at St. Charles Seminary, and how have you met that challenge?
The toughest adjustment was the structure of the seminary schedule and learning how to balance my time for prayer, academics and socializing. As I look back, it helped me realize the importance of being organized.
What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
Certainly, the fraternity and friendships that are so essential to living in a community. It has been a blessing to meet so many good people with different backgrounds and personalities who feel called to the same goal — the priesthood.
What advice do you have for current underclassmen about their remaining years at St. Charles?
Always remember why you are here and who and what has helped you get here. Never lose sight or forget what brought you to the seminary and stay focused on the reason you are here — the priesthood.
What would you tell seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
Don’t be afraid. Allow God and His Spirit to make you better people and form you into His good, holy and faithful priests.
What do you do for recreation?
I like to exercise and play sports, especially baseball and basketball; watch all Philly sports and go out with friends from inside and outside the seminary.
People would be surprised to know what about you?
I helped coach a CYO high school boys basketball team this year at my diaconate assignment.
What are your favorite devotions and why?
Marian devotions, particularly Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Miraculous Medal. I often visit the Miraculous Medal Shrine with other seminarians on Mondays. There, in addition to personal prayer, I pray the Miraculous Medal novena.
What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you and why?
Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” This is a reminder to never quit and to stay strong through the tough times.
What does the priesthood mean to you?
To help bring Christ to the world by word, example and through the sacraments; to lead souls to learn more about God and help unite them to Him.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
There is a lack of understanding that evil and suffering have meaning. The cross has meaning and leads to the resurrection. So should our crosses.
What is your greatest hope for the Church?
That the people of God, young and old, can see through stereotypes and illusions that our culture and world promote and be able to see the Truth and the Way that God and the Church teach.
What will you, as a priest, do to combat the negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
Give them the truth of ­Jesus Christ; be there with and for them.
Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you, as a priest, plan to do to bring others closer to Christ?
Be approachable and available to God’s people if there are questions or crises of faith, hope or love.

Reverend Richard J. Smith
Age: 26
Where Born: U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan
Where Baptized: St. Matthias Church, Bala Cynwyd
Parents/Siblings: James J. and Susan R. Smith; a sister, Emily O. Smith, 24; and a brother, Jacob B. Smith, 22
Home Parish: St. John the Baptist, Philadelphia
Current Diaconate Assignment:
Mother of Divine Providence Parish, King of Prussia

Grade School/ Year Graduated: St. Matthias School, Bala Cynwyd, 1997
High School/Year Graduated: Roman Catholic High School for Boys, Philadelphia, 2001
College/Year Graduated/Degree: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary: 2004, bachelor’s degree in philosophy and, in 2008, a master of divinity degree in systematic theology
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Entrance Date: August 2001
Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
I remember being taken to Mass at St. John the Baptist by my parents and being amazed at how big the church was. I would spend a good deal of time staring at the windows, especially the rose window of the Coronation of the Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven and Earth.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the seminary?
It was in grade school that I started to feel a pull toward the priesthood. There was an attraction to what was happening on the altar. I didn’t fully understand what was going on, and I wanted to know who this man was that I called Father and what he was doing up there.
This feeling continued to grow throughout high school. In my senior year, I went on the Kairos retreat. During those four days, away from the distractions of the world, I came to realize I was being called by God to the priesthood.
Who inspired or influenced you the most in your decision to enter the seminary?
The list of people who have had an impact on my decision to enter the priesthood would fill this entire paper. One in particular is Father Ronald Jakows, who at Roman Catholic taught my Church history and Christian morals classes. [Father Jakows is now the president of SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in South Philadelphia.]
His priestly example was very influential in my decision to enter the priesthood. It was Father Jakows who I first told about my desire to be a priest. His support wasn’t overbearing but more of a gentle push in the right direction. He has been and still is a good friend in my journey to the priesthood.
Did anything humorous happen to you in your beginning days or years at the seminary, or this last year?
My classmate, Michael Speziale, attended Cardinal Dougherty High School while I attended Roman Catholic High School. We have always argued over which school was better. One year, our basketball teams were going to face one another in the first round of the playoffs. We got tickets and went to the game. Before we went, we made a gentleman’s wager. The loser had to wear the other school’s colors the following day. Naturally, Roman won the game and went on to win the championship the following week. The next day, I had a purple shirt with “Roman Catholic” in gold lettering neatly folded on Mike’s desk. Everyone knew about the bet and thought it was hysterical that Mike had to wear the shirt. I have never allowed him to forget about it.
Were there any particular moving or grace-filled events in those beginning days or years at the seminary, or this last year?
After my first year in the seminary, I attended World Youth Day in Toronto. It was an amazing experience to be in the presence of Pope John Paul II. I had the opportunity to be an extraordinary minister of holy Communion for the closing Mass. I can still remember how nervous I was serving that Mass even though I was far away from the altar.
This year as a deacon, I have had several grace-filled moments. This past summer, a group of youth at my diaconate assignment, Mother of Divine Providence in King of Prussia, took part in the local World Youth Day at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown. It was a great two days to be there to serve as a deacon. The youth I accompanied were really engaged in the retreat — far beyond what I could have hoped for.
What will you miss most about the seminary?
There is a certain type of humor that can only be found at a seminary. The jokes and the humor center around the atmosphere of the place which can only be understood by those who have been there.
What advice do you have for current underclassmen about their remaining years at St. Charles?
Remember that you have been called to serve God and His Church. That means working with people from all different backgrounds, education levels and opinions. You should strive to be able to bring the mercy of God to those in all walks of life and make it meaningful for them where you find them.
What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
You are about to begin a journey where you do not know where you are going. Have faith in yourself and in God who has given you everything you need to see the journey through. Know that you are never alone on this journey. Your brother seminarians and priests are there alongside you.
What do you do for recreation?
I spend time with my classmates and family. I also enjoy watching the Phillies and golfing whenever I can.
People would be surprised to know what about you?
I was born overseas in Japan.
What are your favorite devotions and why?
Our Lady, in various images, has become a foundation in my prayer life. In particular, the Miraculous Medal devotion and Our Lady of Perpetual Help are very dear to me.
How and when do you pray?
I pray often and in many different ways. Sometimes I meditate on Scripture, other times I pray the rosary. There are also times where I just sit in the chapel in silence.
What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you and why?
My favorite passage has to be the Good Thief narrative in Luke’s Gospel (Lk. 23:39-43). Here is a man who didn’t lead a great life, yet acknowledged Christ in his last hour. It shows that it is never too late to turn to God and ask for His forgiveness and mercy.
What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood is a great responsibility to help people come closer to God. As a priest, I can accomplish this not just through the sacraments, which is primary, but also through my priestly example and being present to the people. Every time a person meets a priest, it is an opportunity to meet Christ.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
Our greatest challenge is not to allow the sins of the past to hinder us from fulfilling the mission of Christ we have been called to fulfill.
What is your greatest hope for the Church?
My hope is that the Church will be rejuvenated through a zeal for the mission of Christ.
What will you, as a priest, do to combat the negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
I will confront those secular views that are contrary to the teachings of the Church and teach others how to do the same. My goal is to show people how the teachings, mercy and love of Christ are still needed in our world today — just as they were 2,000 years ago.
Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you, as a priest, plan to do to bring others closer to Christ?
I plan to be wherever the people are. The pulpit is not the only place where I can help bring people closer to Christ.

Reverend Jonathan James Dalin
Age: 36
Where Born: Philadelphia
Where Baptized: St. Philip Neri, South Philadelphia
Parents/Siblings: Thomas and Christine (nee Cieplinski) Dalin; one sister, Colleen Marie Dalin, 26
Home Parish: St. Charles Borromeo,
Washington Township, N.J.
Current Diaconate Assignment:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Morton

Grade School/Year Graduated: St. Philip Neri School, South Philadelphia, 1986
High School/Year Graduated: St. John Neumann High School for Boys, Philadelphia, 1990
College/Year Graduated/Major/Degree:   Holy Family University, Philadelphia, 1995: bachelor’s degree in criminal justice; Religious Studies Division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, 2003: master of arts degree in Catholic morality; and, Theology Division: 2007, master of divinity degree in pastoral theology.
Field of study and/or employment before entering St. Charles: I taught English and theology at Lansdale Catholic High School in Lansdale, St. John Neumann High School for Boys and SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia.
I also served as administrator of the archdiocesan Department for Pro-Life Activities.
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary entrance date: I entered St. Charles the first time in August 1995, departed in March 1999 and returned in August 2006.
Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
As a 3-year-old, I walked around St. Philip Neri Church with the parish sexton, the late Joseph Burke, a family friend, helping him empty the shrine boxes and poor boxes and prepare the church for the next Mass.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what was the deciding moment that led you to enter the seminary?
I was always attracted to the priesthood because for me, Church was a fun family activity. When I went to high school, I did not think about the priesthood much, but in college I knew I had to give it a try or I would regret it.
Who inspired and/or influenced you the most in your decision to enter the seminary, and how?
My father, Thomas, because he is always a model of self-sacrifice. He lives for his family. My mother, Christine, because she is always taking time for the Lord in prayer. The examples of numerous priests also inspired me and influenced my decision.
Did anything humorous happen to you in your beginning days or years at the seminary, or this last year?
When I re-entered the seminary, I realized that some of my new classmates had pastors and priests assigned to their parish who were my classmates in the seminary the first time. I was frequently asked for a funny story about their pastor.
Were there any particular moving or grace-filled eventsduring your years in the seminary?
Last year at my diaconate ordination, I was very nervous and wanted to calm down but could not. Then, as I turned to process into the chapel, I very quickly felt tremendous peace. It was a blessing from God.
What has been your biggest challenge at St. Charles Seminary, and how have you met that challenge?
Readjusting to seminary life as a man in his 30s. But my class was great and made the transition easy.
What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
The ability to knock on a door 10 feet away and talk to a brother. The men at St. Charles are the best. I know I can count on all of them.
What advice do you have for the current underclassmen about their remaining years at St. Charles?
Enjoy your time because it moves at a fast pace, even if it does seem the opposite at times.
What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles for the first time this fall?
Give the Lord your trust and allow Him time to work in your life. The seminary is not an overnight experience. You need to give it time to strengthen you.
What do you do for recreation?
Reading, movies, hiking and fishing.
People would be surprised to know what about you?
I love opera and classical music.
What are your favorite devotions?
Rosary, spiritual reading, the Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Perpetual Help novena and praying to the English martyrs and to St. John of the Cross.
What passage from Scripture is most meaningful to you, and why?
The Gospel of John 4:5-42, the account of Jesus meeting a woman of Samaria. It shows that the power of truth can break through any barrier.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the Church today?
The lack of faith and morals that is killing our society. At least the evil is not hidden, but it will be a difficult fight.
What is your greatest hope for the Church?
That she — soon — gets an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
What will you, as a priest, do to combat negative secular influences that attempt to divert people’s attention from Christ?
Attempt to be an example of faith. Always be present to the people and pray and sacrifice on their behalf.
Besides prayer and your example, what is the first thing you, as a priest, plan to do to bring others closer to Christ?
Be present to them and not hide in a church or rectory.

—Compiled by CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine