The Gift of Blood
Supporting the gift of life is important
to the seminarians, and not only the life
of the unborn (see page 18). So is giving back to the community. This is why
for the past decade the undergraduate
men have been holding a blood drive
each spring. They work closely with the
American Red Cross to carry out the
drive, held this year on March 24.
Twenty-nine people donated one unit of
lifesaving blood each. According to the Red
Cross, these twenty-nine pints of blood
gave as many as eighty-two hospital patients
a chance to enjoy good health again.
Frank Hurmoz, a seminarian for the
Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the
Apostle, coordinated the drive. “Our
community imitated Christ by donating
blood so brothers and sisters can have
physical life. Even though some donors
did not like needles, they put aside their
fears. Figuratively and literally, they ‘gave of
themselves’ so that others might live.”
Totally Yours, Mary
Five seminarians gathered in a Marian
side chapel on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and pledged their
“total consecration” to Jesus through
the Blessed Virgin. Bardy Jaddou, Bryan
Kassa, Adam Maher, Patrick Setto, and
Nick Bolda were joined after the December 8 liturgy by Fr. Mathias Thelen, the
new resident spiritual formator.
Total Consecration to Jesus through
Mary is based upon a set of prayers by St.
Louis de Montfort (1673-1716), the French
priest and Mariologist. Thirty-three days
of prayer and meditation prepared the
men to make their act of devotion.
Archbishop Vigneron blesses the
newly installed Sacred Heart statue.
Mary Immaculate: Patroness of Seminary
It has be