By the grace of God, the Diocese of Lansing has been blessed in recent years by a significant increase in the number of young men pursuing the priesthood. That includes seminarian Jon Bokuniewicz, pictured, whose formation at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit is being funded by your generous giving to the Diocesan Services Appeal.
“If we didn’t have the support of the DSA, it would put more strain on the diocese,” says Jon in the latest edition of FAITH Magazine, the official publication of the Diocese of Lansing.
“It’s a blessing we have the support we do and we can continue to fund the fruit of our labor through the work we’re doing. Now, in a concrete way, we can put our vocations into action with the support of the DSA.”
23-year-old Jon grew up in Fenton. His home parish in Saint Augustine in Howell. He is one of 31 seminarians for the Diocese of Lansing and is due to be ordained, Deo volente, in 2025.
He says it is a “huge blessing” that his studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary are funded through the Diocesan Services Appeal including tuition costs and help towards retreats and trips as part of his formation.
“From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you,” Jon says. “This time in seminary has given me a gift that is priceless. I’m so grateful for it. It is an opportunity to go deeper into prayer and have a personal relationship with the Lord. We are so blessed to have this opportunity to not just be formed as priests, but as men who are formed for Christ.”
“It’s a gift we get to share with the other people in our lives. Our lives are completely transformed by Christ and we get to share with others what he’s done for us. In a sense, giving to the DSA benefits the whole Church. The benefit is the holiness of priests and sanctification of men.” To read Jon’s interview in full click here.
• To give to the 2022 Diocesan Services Appeal go to: https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/appeal