Last weekend was our seminarian Matthew DeForest’s
final weekend on assignment at St. Catherine of Siena.
Matthew hit the ground running when on his first full day
here. I had to go to the Reston Hospital Emergency Room
early in the morning and he was left to do a Communion
Service in place of the day’s Mass. He proved to be more
than equal to the task, and he relished the opportunity to
preach. As an acolyte he can give Communion at Mass
but is not allowed to preach at Mass. However, he can
preach at a Communion Service. He received so many
compliments that I assigned him regularly to the
Wednesday Holy Hour for reflection talks.
Matthew took a great deal of work off my shoulders this
summer, helping to set up for liturgical functions,
overseeing the altar boys and even closing up the Church
late at night.
He has all the qualities needed for a good priest: he is
prayerful, industrious, cheerful and friendly with a
boundless amount of energy. He will be sorely missed, not
only by myself, but especially by Gregory for whom he
always had time to throw a ball or Frisbee, as well as the
many parishioners who came to know him.
Matthew now starts his third year of theology at Mount St.
Mary’s in Emmitsburg. By the Grace of God he will be
ordained a deacon in June 2008 and a priest in 2009, and
our diocese will be the richer for it.
Please keep Matthew in your prayers as he continues
his studies, as well as Mick Kelly, our seminarian from last
year. Both would be more than happy to receive some
encouraging words and you can write to them at:
Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary
16000 Old Emmitsburg Road
Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727-7797