Pope Francis, St. Matthew, St. Junipero Serra, and JPII Seminary

A great day for Saint John Paul II Seminary was September 23, 2015, as we had a unique visitor. Pope Francis, visiting the United States for the World Meeting of Families, came to Washington to greet the faithful and the lawmakers and to canonize Saint Junipero Serra. After the Canonization Mass at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis came to the entrance of our seminary to greet the students, faculty, and staff. 

On July 1, for the memorial of Saint Junipero Serra, we can reflect on his visit and his purpose in Washington concerning the work of seminary formation. Today in the Gospel for Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, we hear Jesus' call of St. Matthew. Pope Francis has reflected on the power of the call of Matthew in his own vocation. As a young student, he went to confession on the Feast of St. Matthew and had a profound experience of God's mercy. When chosen to be a bishop, he selected a phrase from a commentary by the Venerable Bede on Matthew's Call. Miserando atque eligendo. "Having seen with the eyes of mercy, he chooses him." Our seminarians come having experienced the merciful gaze of the Savior, who invites them to follow him more intimately. "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." Only because they have been treated with mercy, despite their failings, are they able to become ministers of mercy as priests in our world. 

St. Junipero Serra was a philosophy teacher in a Franciscan Seminary before hearing 'a call within the call' to become a missionary. Because of his fidelity to Christ, he worked tirelessly to serve the marginalized and bring faith to the native peoples. He is known as the "Apostle to California." Like Matthew and Pope Francis, he knew the gaze of Christ that showed him mercy. We hope all our seminarians know this gaze before entering the seminary or while in formation. Only then, knowing the Lord, will they be able to answer the call to holiness in pastoral ministry as St. Junipero did.

While today isn't the anniversary of the Canonization of St. Junipero or the Anniversary of Pope Francis' visit, today's Memorial celebration and the Gospel align quite well with the mission of our institution. We form shepherds after the heart of the Good Shepherd so that they might be able to care for the sheep with mercy and call them to follow their Lord. 

Saint Junipero Serra, pray for us!
Saint John Paul II, pray for us!


Saint Junipero Serra, pray for us!
Saint John Paul II, pray for us!