Nearly three dozen future priests and permanent deacons from Philadelphia and other parts of America experienced the end of a major stage of their life as they graduated from academic programs of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary on Wednesday, May 14.
“Congratulations, brother” readily came out of the mouths of the graduates who took part in the 188th Concursus ceremony of the seminary held at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church in North Wales, Montgomery County. It was the first Concursus held since the opening of the new seminary campus last fall in Ambler.
“It incorporates the graduation exercises, but it’s more than just getting a diploma,” said Auxiliary Bishop Keith Chylinski, the seminary’s rector.
“It really is a ceremony that sends them forth toward the next step these men have in their journey, those who are being sent forth to preach, to teach. It’s a comprehensive celebration of all those who’ve attended here, regardless of their vocational journey.”
The walk across the stage to receive diplomas from Bishop Chylinski and Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez looked like a graduation. The smiles and tears on parents’ faces, the awards given for special recognition, and the song “Pomp and Circumstance” all mirrored graduation.
Concursus, however, goes much deeper. It marks a significant step toward a commitment of service to the Body of Christ, the Church.
“What’s different about a seminary and the education of a seminary … is that you did it because of mission, not to obtain a profession. You did it because you were called by God,” said Archbishop Pérez.
“The man who is a priest is a changed man. His life has been taken up by God to be given back to his fellow human beings,” said guest speaker Archbishop Edward Adams, who attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1970.
He went on to serve the Holy See in diplomatic postings around the world until his retirement in 2020 in the Philadelphia area.
“Something like what happens at the Mass, when the bread on the altar is presented to God only to be given back to us, but changed as the Holy Eucharist,” said Archbishop Adams. (The priest’s) life has been transformed with the power of God, God’s Spirit. As a changed man, the priest lives for God and for others.”
Bishop Chylinski explained that unlike the individual missions that high school or college graduates experience as they move forward in their lives, the communal aspect of young men journeying together in their vocational discernment becomes readily apparent.
“They’re doing it together,” he said. “That’s the beautiful thing. They’re doing it as brother priests. This isn’t an individual endeavor, but the Lord has called all of them and he’s sending all of them out to different places, but sharing in that one priesthood, his priesthood.”
Those places this year include Philadelphia; the Allentown and Harrisburg dioceses in Pennsylvania; and the dioceses of Arlington, Virginia; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
For Bishop Chylinski, Wednesday’s Concursus brought back memories of his own pathway to the priesthood.
“It was surreal because you’re working so hard, and you’re so focused. When you enter the ceremony, all of a sudden you’re done,” he said.
“This was really the official conclusion of your time here, the conclusion of my formal seminary work, my engagement. It marked the end of something, but it also really marked a new beginning because it was reminding me why I did this. ‘Why did I enter into this program?’ It was not to stay here, but it was really to be sent out. The goal is not to stay here.”
Those words bring extra meaning in 2025 for Bishop Chylinski, as he moves into a new role overseeing the Office for Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
“My time as rector and my tenure at St. Charles comes to a close. I wish to thank God for this privileged opportunity to help form the Church’s next leaders and educators. I rejoice in him for any good that is accomplished, and I repent for any weaknesses or failures. Please forgive me,” he said with emotion in his voice.
“Through it all, it has been a very blessed 11 years. I truly love this seminary.”
Graduations and moving forward to new callings are part of the rhythm of life to which most people can relate.
“We all have a vocation, we all have a purpose,” said Bishop Chylinski. “The whole experience of faith is really like this. We love because God loved us first. Our faith is a gift that we’ve received. Then we go out and share that with others. Everyone has that call.”
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