Inspiring stories served up at Taste of Faith dinner

Fort Smith parishioners and others raise nearly $69,000 to directly pay for seminarians' tuition and expenses this fall

Published: June 30, 2012

By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent

Maryanne Meyerreicks

A musical combo of seminarians Joseph De Orbegozo, Martin Siebold, Paul Goergen, Patrick Friend and Stephen Elser perform at the Taste of Faith Dinner at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith June 15.

Maryanne Meyerreicks

FORT SMITH -- Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith offered the best menu in town at June 15's Taste of Faith dinner benefiting the Diocese of Little Rock's Seminarian Education Fund.

While guests feasted on wine, salad, chicken parmesan and cake, they enjoyed generous helpings of faith in the shared testimonies of Fort Smith seminarians.

Five of the diocese's 36 seminarians are from Fort Smith and Barling parishes -- Dr. Joseph Chan and Rick Hobbs from St. Boniface; Derron Martin and Jose Luis Quijada from Immaculate Conception; and Jack Sidler from Sacred Heart of Mary.

Chan, who was born in the Philippines, grew up knowing he must do everything for God. He began his life of service after graduating from medical school, eventually becoming the director of Mercy Hospice in Fort Smith. Although he was content, secure and relatively happy with this life of service, he felt called to do more. His work with the dying, encountering the face of Jesus in every patient, was a bridge to his vocation. He reflected on his life's purpose, and decided that "you must relinquish your possessions before they possess you." He felt a call to discipleship and total surrender and believes that "all is possible with God's hospitality. God gave up everything for us to live luminously. God has replenished and provided abundantly for me."

Chan expressed gratitude to his mentors -- vocations director Msgr. Scott Friend, Divine Word Missionaries, Jesuits, Franciscans, Sisters of Mercy and Benedictines -- and to the donors who make seminarian education possible.

"I am what I am and what I will become because of your prayers," he said.

Hobbs, who has just completed his third year of theology, is studying Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico, this summer. In August he begins his pastoral year at St. Raphael Church in Springdale and hopes to be ordained in May 2014.

"This is my third time in the seminary," Hobbs, 49, told the diners. "God has helped me to change. It is amazing what time does."

As a child, he developed a love of Church through frequent visits with his grandmother, to attend Mass or quietly pray and light candles. He received the first sign he might have a vocation at a New Hampshire adoration chapel in 1997, when he was working with an order of Irish sisters.

In 2009, Hobbs returned to Fort Smith after a 25-year absence to help his elderly parents. At St. Boniface Church, he was encouraged by the example of pastor Father Jon McDougal to apply to complete his seminary education through the Diocese of Little Rock.

"Life is very rich; it's up to us how we live it," Hobbs said. "I never thought I'd have this opportunity again. Bringing Christ to people is the greatest joy and gift God could ever give me."

Msgr. Friend gave diners an update on the diocesan vocation program. Calling Little Rock "God's favorite part of the vineyard," he said that the diocese ranks 12th in the nation per capita in seminarians. Three men were ordained in May and one more will be ordained in July. Because of prayers and the hard work of the vocations team, there are still 36 seminarians in training.

"Priests have a great love for the people in this diocese and a great love for souls," he said.

He recognized the Knights of Columbus Arkansas State Council for donating $184,000 toward establishing the House of Formation in Little Rock; the sponsors of the Fort Smith dinner; his office staff, including assistant vocation directors Msgr. Richard Oswald and Father Erik Pohlmeier; and "the people of the diocese, who never gave up on us."

Musical entertainment was provided by the seminarian combo of Joseph De Orbegozo, Steven Elser, Martin Siebold, Patrick Friend and Paul Goergen. Seminarian Juan Guido served as emcee for the event.

The dinner raised nearly $69,000 for the Seminarian Education Fund to pay tuition and expenses for current seminarians. For the past two years the vocations office has hosted Taste of Faith dinners in Little Rock and last year expanded the dinner to include one in Springdale.