Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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A record number of new seminarians

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It is great to have some good news to report these days and a record number of 19 new seminarians is certainly good news. Not only is the number of new seminarians up from the 11 we had last year, but it is also a record year for the diocese.

Fifteen of the men come from our own parishes. Indeed the Holy Spirit has been working through parents, priests and our vocations staff to bring about this blessing for our diocese. The prayers of many have been answered.

Twelve of the new seminarians will be attending Holy Trinity Seminary, two will be going to St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, two to Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and two will be attending a seminary in Mexico City and one to Pope John XXIII Seminary.

Returning seminarians plus the new men bring our total number of seminarians for the diocese to 70, a significant increase over the 56 in 2010.

Finally, there is even more good news. Next year we will be ordaining five new priests to serve the Diocese of Dallas.

Please continue to pray and to work for vocations to the priesthood.

Three Priestly Ordinations

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Climbing Mount Carmel has long been a metaphor for spiritual growth as we journey toward God, so it is very appropriate that our three ordinands to the priesthood will reach that significant milestone in their journey on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Nothing gives a bishop greater joy than ordaining men to the presbyterate, welcoming them as co-workers in the Lord’s Vineyard. The three transitional deacons to be ordained on July 16, Alan Paul McDonald, Arthur Okwuchukwu Unachukwu and James Hideo Yamauchi, have spent years preparing for this moment.

Representative of the true catholicity or universality of the Church, each of the ordinands represents a different culture, Asian, African and European.

Deacon Unachukwu attended Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving, and St. Mary Seminary Houston. Following ordination he will be assigned as parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in McKinney.

Deacon Yamauchi attended Holy Trinity Seminary and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Following ordination he will return to Rome where he will continue studies in Canon Law at Gregorian University.

Deacon McDonald attended Redemptoris Mater Misssionary and Diocesan Seminary for Westminster Diocese, London, England and the Redemptoris Mater Missionary and Diocesan Seminary in Dallas, from which he is the first student to be ordained to the priesthood. Following ordination he will serve as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Dallas.

Priestly vocations are the result of God’s call nurtured by parents. I especilly want to acknowledge the parents of our ordinands whose love and support have made these happy events possible: Sir Emmanuel and Lady Rose Unachukwu of Nigeria, Brent and Jackie Yamauchi of Sachse, Texas, and Alan and Jean McDonald of England.

Please keep these three ordinands in your prayers as they continue their ascent of Mount Carmel as servant leaders of the Church.