On Oct. 31, seminarians Patrick DePew (Holy Infant of Prague) and Max Gallegos (Our Lady of the Valley, Ft. Payne) were admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders by our own Bishop Steven J. Raica at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Ohio.

The Rite of Admission to Candidacy is a pivotal step in the journey to the ordained priesthood. It is celebrated when a seminarian has reached a maturity of purpose in his formation and has demonstrated the necessary qualifications for ordination. In the presence of the bishop, he publicly expresses his intention to complete his preparation for holy orders and his resolve to fully invest himself to that end, so that he will serve Christ and the Church faithfully.