Seven new seminarians joining the diocese this month

As new school year commences, diocesan seminarian headcount exceeds 40 men

Published: August 21, 2014

The seminarian count continues to climb for the Diocese of Little Rock.

With seven new seminarians, the diocese now has 44 seminarians.

The new seminarians are:

Daniel Velasco Perez, 40, a member of St. James Church in Searcy. He is the son of Ismael and Maria del Carmen Velasco and will attend St. Meinrad Seminary.

Isidro Negrete, 18, a member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock. He will study at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is the son of Miguel and Manuela Negrete.

José Jaime Nieto Bautista, 25, a member of St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He will study at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is the son of María del Carmen Nieto Bautista and Jaime Ramírez González.

Vince Kozlowski, 21, a member of St. Jude Church in Jacksonville. He will study at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is the son of Vincent and Julie Kozlowski.

Daniel Wendel, 18, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock. He will study at Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas. He is the son of Dr. Paul and Kathleen Wendel.

Chandler Donaldson, 18, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock. The son of Greg and Christie Donaldson will study at Holy Trinity Seminary.

Nelson Rubio, 33, of Maracaibo, Venezuela. He will study at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is the son of Nelson Rubio and Carmen Villalobos.

Joining the seminarians in January was Ben Riley, 20, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock who has been studying at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is the son of Dr. Richard and Melanie Riley.

Returning seminarians are:

Deacon Jack Sidler of Barling, who will be ordained a priest Dec. 20 at Subiaco Abbey.

Luis Miguel Pacheco, Mario Jacobo, Taryn Whittington, Stephen Hart, Patrick Friend, Joseph de Orbegozo, Stephen Elser, Jeff Hebert, Martin Amaro, Jonathan “Jon” Miskin, Emmanuel Torres, Joseph Friend, Alex Booth, Brian Cundall and Steven Kelley of Little Rock