With just one seminarian currently studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the Diocese of Steubenville makes up a small portion of the student population. But Peter Stetson, a first-year theology student for Steubenville, represents a long history with the Ohio diocese.
Diocese of Steubenville Bishop, Jeffrey M. Monforton, graduated from Sacred Heart with his B.A. in Philosophy in 1989. He served as a member of the seminary faculty from 2002-2012, and as the Rector for six years during that time. Bishop Monforton was the first to send seminarians to Detroit after he was appointed bishop for the Diocese of Steubenville in 2012.
“The Diocese of Steubenville and I are grateful for the exemplary Formation Program at Sacred Heart Major Seminary as the seminary prepares our men for the evangelization of souls,” Bishop Monforton shared in a statement to Mosaic. “Having the honor to be a fellow alumnus of the seminary, as well as the privilege to serve as its Rector, I have experienced firsthand the excellence that is promoted by the Seminary Formation Program as it forms men after the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
Steubenville seminarian Stetson was tentative about coming to Sacred Heart without other men from his diocese, but has found students and staff to be welcoming.
“The guys with other dioceses have invited me to some of their activities. The Lansing seminarians have pretty much adopted me, and it’s been great to hang out with them,” said Stetson.
Two seminarians for the Diocese of Toledo are also studying at Sacred Heart. They and Stetson meet for “Ohio fraternity” weekly.
Stetson appreciates the formation he’s receiving at Sacred Heart, which he describes as “sound and orthodox”, with a strong spiritual dimension.
“God is present and at work in this place. That’s undeniable,” said Stetson. “Sacred Heart has a solid team of priests and formators. They are all priests I look up to – intelligent, holy men who set a good example.”
In addition to the well-rounded academic foundation, Stetson values the emphasis on spirituality at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He and his classmates are encouraged to pray about what they’re learning in the classroom.
“The teachers are real believers and that shines through,” Stetson said. “They want what we’re learning to preface not only our intellectual formation, but our spiritual formation and our time in the chapel. You give from what you have, so it’s important to put in time with God. You want that relationship to be the wellspring from which you give.”
Fr. Josh Erickson, Diocese of Steubenville Vocations Director, is also a Sacred Heart alumni, class of 2018. Now, as he oversees the formation of future priests for the diocese, he appreciates all the more the way the seminary helps men to be proactive in their own formation by setting goals, addressing weaknesses, and working in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to move forward in formation.
In the fall, Stetson and other seminarians visited neighborhoods in Detroit, knocking on doors and inviting people back to Mass. This semester, he’s working with St. Paul Street Evangelization on the campus of Wayne State University. Stetson knows he’ll need these pastoral skills as a priest ministering to people with a variety of viewpoints and experiences.
“We talk with people and try to bring them the Gospel message. We invite them to church or to FOCUS, a Catholic group on campus,” said Stetson. “It’s a good and beautiful challenge to start to formulate how I’ll encounter these people, and how I might help them to see Christ and share my own encounter with the living God.”
Fr. Erickson recalls working with St. Paul Street Evangelization when he was a student as well and sees the experience as a valuable tool.
“You have to set yourself aside and focus on the needs of the person in front of you. You have to ask, ‘How can I bring Christ to them through love or friendship or whatever they might need at that moment?’” Fr. Erickson explained. “You have to be willing to go where you’re not comfortable. And that’s what formation is supposed to be – it’s meant to stretch you. It’s meant for growth.”
Bishop Monforton summed up why the Diocese of Steubenville sends its seminarians to Sacred Heart.
“The Seminary Formation Program possesses a harmony among faculty, staff, and students as they coordinate and cooperate with one another with the prime objective being salvation of souls,” Bishop Monforton shared. “Our priests live in a polarized world, as we all do, and we need priests to confront the disharmony that divides us and to share the Body and Blood of Christ that unites us.”
He continues, “The faithful in Southeast Ohio deserve nothing less than a mature priest grounded in prayer replete with love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, Sacred Heart intellectually prepares our men to defend and to teach the faith all the while exemplifying the pastoral care with the compassion and mercy of Jesus Christ. To put it bluntly, we all can use more Christ-like men in the presbyterate.”
Another seminarian for the diocese, Joseph Hahn, is also enrolled in the theology program at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and is currently taking a pastoral year. He is scheduled to return to Detroit with Stetson in the fall to study.
