Seven new seminarians accepted for priestly studies
Six other countries represented among diocesan group
Published: August 25, 2007
Arkansas Catholic
By Malea Hargett Editor
The Diocese of Little Rock has accepted seven new seminarians, including three who were born in other countries, vocation director Msgr. Scott Friend announced.
German Alegria, a member of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, is studying at Seminario de Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Alegria, 28, is the son of Celina A. Alegria of Pedro Nonualco, El Salvador.
Joseph Archibong, a native of Nigeria, will attend St. Meinrad Seminary. Archibong, 27, is the son of Silas and Martha Archibong.
Toni Bui, 25, son of Chung Bui and Jennifer Nguyen. A member of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith, he is attending St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, La.
Enrique Castro, a member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock, will attend St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana this fall. Castro, 26, is the son of Enrique Castro and Victoriana Palos of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Daniel Ketcher, 20, son of Kyle Ketcher and Janeth Gabetsberger. A member of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville, he is attending St. Meinrad Seminary.
Bradley S. Oglevie, 18, son of Norman Oglevie and Veronica Lane. A member of St. Michael Church in Van Buren, he is attending Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas.
Martin Siebold, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Sibold. A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Marche, he is attending St. Joseph Seminary.
The diocese now has 23 seminarians. Nearly half of them represent other cultures, including Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Vietnam.
Returning seminarians include:
Eddie D'Almeida, son of Mr. and Mrs. Manuel D'Almeida. He is attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He is a member of St. Joseph Church in Conway.
James Melnick, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Melnick. A member of St. Jude Church in Jacksonville, he also in attending the North American College.
Jason Sharbaugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sharbaugh. He is a member of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and is attending St. Mary Seminary in Houston.
Josh Stengel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Stengel. Stengel, a member of St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, attends the North American College.
Tony Robbins, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Robbins. He is a member of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock and is attending St. Meinrad Seminary.
Victor Ruben Quinteros, son of Bianca Cristina Carrizo. A member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock, he is attending St. Mary Seminary.
Juan Manjarrez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Isidoro Manjarrez. Manjarrez is a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and is attending St. Joseph Seminary.
Alejandro Puello, son of Ricardo Jose Puello and Yngrid Blonda. A member of St. Mary Church in Paragould, he is attending St. Joseph Seminary.
Andrew Hart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hart, is a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock. He is attending St. Meinrad Seminary.
Mauricio Carrasco, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ausencio Carrasco, is a member of St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He is attending St. Meinrad Seminary.
Thaihoa Tran, son of Jung The Tran and Lan Thi Tran. A former resident of San Francisco, he is attending St. Mary Seminary.
Juan Guido, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Guido, is a member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock. He is attending St. Joseph Seminary.
Payden Blevins, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Blevins. A member of St. Mary Church in Paragould, he is attending Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas.
Robert Cigainero, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cigainero. A member of St. Edward Church in Texarkana, he is attending St. Joseph Seminary.
Shaun Klatt, son of Eileen Klatt. A member of St. Jude Church in Clinton, he is attending Holy Trinity Seminary.
Raul Garduno, son of Juana Narvaez Garduno. A member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock, he is attending Seminario de Monterrey in Mexico.
With the launch of the diocesan Web site, www.dolr.org, in September 2006, Msgr. Friend said he is getting more interest from outside of Arkansas from men who want to become diocesan priests.
"They come to know the diocese through the Web site and e-mail," he said. "By seeing the Web site, that is how they get to know the diocese. They like that we are a missionary diocese and they like the spirituality of our diocese. We certainly hope God has something to do with it. The Church here is a hopeful place. That is attractive to our guys."
Reflecting a trend around the United States, the Diocese of Little Rock is also seeing a large influx in seminarians from other countries. According to the U.S. bishops' office, one-third of the priests ordained this year were born in another country, primarily Vietnam, Mexico, Poland and the Philippines.
While the number of foreign-born seminarians has increased, Msgr. Friend said his recruitment will continue to be with local men.
"Native vocations from the diocese, that is our focus," he said. "But through the Web we will have come to know (other men)."
Eight of the men are Hispanic, the most in the history of the diocese. While some of them were not born in the United States, "most of them have grown up here," Msgr. Friend emphasizes.
He credits the work the diocese started in the 1980s to welcome Hispanic immigrants into the Church as the foundation for these Spanish-speaking seminarians. He said the seeds planted then are bearing fruit.
"The reason is 20 to 25 years ago we began to invest in Hispanic ministry," he said. "They are the sons of the first immigrants here. ... That is what is making it successful."
German Alegria, a member of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, is studying at Seminario de Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Alegria, 28, is the son of Celina A. Alegria of Pedro Nonualco, El Salvador.