ORLANDO | Every summer, seminarians are assigned new ways to explore practical priesthood, from working in a parish and ministering to individuals with disabilities or completing language immersion programs and 30-day discernment retreats. These experiences expose them to the diverse roles and people they will serve.

Deacon Chuan Trinh, from the Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach, spent part of his summer at St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

“Vocational synthesis is the final stage of preparing a man before he becomes a priest,” the transitional deacon said, adding it gives seminarians the opportunity to serve in ministry full-time as a deacon and “(be) fully immersed into the life of a parish.”

“He assisted in the celebration of Mass, baptized children and visited the sick. “It’s just a wonderful experience for me to journey with people, especially in the hospital, when they are going through some difficulties in their life, and it’s just beautiful for me to bring Jesus in the Eucharist to them so He can strengthen them, nurture them, and give them comfort in communion,” Trinh said noting the practical application of seminary lessons. “It’s an incredible place for me to be, listening to their stories and listening to their struggles… I just love that.”

Patrick Bridges, of St. James Cathedral, is serving at Magnify’s Bishop Grady Villas, a residential community that serves individuals with disabilities. He is studying theology at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, which is a seminary for later vocations. At Bishop Grady Villas he is learning to work with residents “within a community setting to further their ability to care for themselves, to have proper social interactions, and to function at the highest level they’re able to achieve.” For Bridges, this summer assignment has been one of gentle presence and reflection on the meaning of human dignity and love.

“My past pastoral assignment was at a prison, so this year I’m seeing a different aspect of the human person. And I think one of the most beautiful things about this assignment is that I’ve been able to see the Christ within each of the people that are members,” Bridges said. “Although they come from varying backgrounds with varying different conditions, each of them within their human person and their soul is so beautiful.”

Bridges is grateful to find divinity within each person and experience Christ in them. “Each person, regardless of their condition or status in life, is uniquely and wonderfully made by God.”

Peter Kay is a seminarian from Holy Family Parish in Orlando, serving at Catholic Charities of Central Florida along with several fellow seminarians. He spends time at various locations such as Pathways to Care, a transitional facility assisting mostly homeless veterans during their recovery after medical treatment. He sees Catholic Charities as a place to live out the corporal works of mercy and truly discover the needs of those living in poverty.

“What has impacted me the most is realizing that we are the hands and feet of Christ, especially at Catholic Charities, tending to the sick, feeding the homeless, giving hope to those in need of love.”

For Theodore Kanczurzewski, this is his first summer assignment. He said the St. Gabriel Call Center at Catholic Charities left a lasting impression.

“Although I cannot see them face to face or look them in the eyes, I can hear their voices, and I can hear that they are in desperate need,” he said. At Pathways to Care, he felt moved to pray the rosary for residents and staff. At the food pantry, he made a point of chatting with clients while walking groceries to their cars, “just allowing them to feel loved.”

These are just a few of the 17 seminarians on assignment throughout the diocese. As Kay pointed out, the assignments help “you get to know more of the people in your diocese. When you go to a parish, you’re not going to pick and choose who you want to be with. God is going to put the people that need to be there at that point of time.”

Watch more about our seminarian assignments here.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, July 30, 2026