How I spent my “summer vacation”
Formation candidates don’t have a summer vacation between semesters. Instead, summer assignments provide opportunities for growth and discernment, says Fr. Vince Wirtner, formation director. For those in initial formation, such as Tim Truster and Stephen Leik, the focus is on experiencing parish ministry and community life firsthand through living in a rectory, participating in ministry, and engaging with Missionaries and Companions. These extended placements help them discern their vocation and whether they are called to life in the community.
For candidates in advanced formation, including Newton Lih, Joely Kasmiry, and Nestory Damian, assignments are more specialized. Tailored experiences in areas such as pastoral ministry, clinical pastoral education, or cross-cultural ministry help them develop skills, explore future ministry interests, and prepare for life as priests or brothers.
Tim Truster spent the summer at St. James the Less Parish in Columbus, Ohio, under the direction of Fr. Steve Dos Santos. One of his primary goals was to improve his Spanish-speaking and conversational skills. Through participation in Spanish-language liturgies, cultural activities, and regular interaction with parishioners, he gained confidence in the language and was especially proud to serve as a lector at a weekday Mass in Spanish near the end of the summer. He was grateful for the warm welcome he received from both the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking members of the parish, and he enjoyed helping out with Vacation Bible School and serving at the St. Vincent de Paul ministry.
A transformative experience of the summer happened while attending the Encounter Ministries conference. The conference exposed him to forms of spirituality outside his usual comfort zone, and Tim appreciated the opportunity to grow in openness to the work of the Holy Spirit. An especially significant moment was receiving partial healing of his hearing during a prayer session, a manifestation of God’s love for him that allowed him to remove his hearing aids.
Joely Kasmiry spent the summer in Dayton, Ohio, living in community with several Missionaries of the Precious Blood and serving the six parishes in the area, under the guidance of Fr. Seraphine Lesiriam. Throughout the summer, Joely assisted with a variety of parish activities. He served at weekday Masses as an acolyte, learning the flow of the liturgy and the responsibilities involved in preparing the altar and assisting during worship. He accompanied priests on hospital visits and visits to parishioners, giving him firsthand exposure to pastoral care and ministry to the sick.
Perhaps the most valuable part of the summer was the opportunity to experience community life and encounter parishioners in a new cultural setting. Joely appreciated the hospitality, fraternity, and generosity shown by the priests and parish staff, as well as the chance to see different approaches to ministry and parish leadership. Participation in shared meals, community prayer, workouts, and walks are part of community life, as are recreational activities such as watching the World Cup and movies, and attending Dragons baseball games and chores and errands, such as gardening and grocery shopping. These moments helped Joely to understand priestly fraternity and daily parish life.
Nestory Damian spent the summer at St. John the Baptist Parish in Glandorf, Ohio, under the direction of Fr. Matt Keller. Nestory especially enjoyed working with different groups in the parish and appreciated the variety of opportunities that helped him experience both pastoral ministry and community life in a new cultural setting. One of the highlights of the summer was his work with children in the parish’s summer programs. He helped lead Bible-based activities for groups of elementary-age students, combining Scripture lessons with games, crafts, and team-building exercises. In exchange, they taught him to play baseball. He also assisted high school students with service projects, accompanied parish staff in marriage preparation ministry, and regularly participated in pastoral outreach to parishioners.
An especially meaningful ministry for Nestory was weekly visits to a local nursing home. Every Thursday, he arrived early to spend time talking with residents before services. He valued the relationships he built and learned the importance of simply being present to people, especially during difficult times. In addition to ministry, Nestory threw himself into experiencing the full northwest Ohio summer lifestyle, including fishing, golfing, visiting farms and driving a tractor, and attending community events.
Stephen Leik spent the summer at St. Francis Xavier Parish in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he lived in the rectory with Fr. John Kishore and Fr. Mark Yates. One of his regular responsibilities was serving at the Saturday evening Mass and helping ensure everything ran smoothly. Stephen found it meaningful to experience ministry from a new perspective. A particular highlight was joining the priests after Mass to greet parishioners, which allowed him to experience the welcoming side of pastoral ministry.
In addition to serving at Mass, Stephen volunteered at the parish’s food pantry, the House of Bread, where he helped pack grocery bags for those seeking assistance. He also accompanied Father John to celebrate Mass at retirement homes, witnessing firsthand how the Church ministers to those who are unable to attend parish services. Another unexpected opportunity came through the parish’s prison ministry. Although he only participated twice, once for Mass and once for a Bible study, the experience gave him valuable insight into a ministry he had never encountered before.
Community life was another important aspect of Stephen’s summer. Daily prayer, shared meals, and the hospitality of parishioners helped him feel at home in the parish. He appreciated the generosity of community members, who frequently prepared meals for the priests and celebrated his birthday while he was away from home. The parish also entrusted him with writing a reflection for the Sunday bulletin, giving him an opportunity to share his faith and perspective with the parish community.
Newton Lih spent the summer in Colombia, dividing his time between Bogotá and San Carlos de Guaroa. Living among seminarians and priests from several Latin American countries, he immersed himself in the life of the Latin American Province while experiencing the region’s religious, cultural, and community traditions. His visit coincided with several important feasts and community events, giving him a broad view of both parish and community life.
One of Newton’s most meaningful experiences came early in the summer while accompanying a priest in Bogotá. After Mass, he helped carry the Blessed Sacrament from one parish to another through the hillside neighborhoods while assisting an elderly man down a steep road. The experience became a powerful image of missionary service for him, blending reverence for Christ’s presence with care for those in need. He was surprised that in such a short time, he was able to build such strong relationships with fellow formation candidates and priests.
Newton also spent time in parish ministry, where he witnessed the vibrant faith of local families and young people. He was particularly struck by the large groups of altar servers and the enthusiasm of children eager to learn about him and his culture. As one of the first Asian people many parishioners had ever met, he found himself serving as an unexpected ambassador across cultures. Newton’s summer experience deepened his appreciation for the international character of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and strengthened his desire to build relationships across the worldwide community.