The Diocese of Broken Bay has celebrated its recent vocations boon, with a gala dinner on Friday night raising money to support their ongoing formation and education.
Answering the Call, the annual Seminarians’ Benefit Gala Dinner, was held on Friday, with hundreds in attendance to support and celebrate the large number of men discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
Fr David Ranson, Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay, called the evening a “wonderful expression of our support for our students”.
He also announced there would likely be 11 seminarians studying for the Diocese at the beginning of 2027.
“As many of us would appreciate, the Diocese of Broken Bay has been especially blessed in these last years with many vocations,” he said.
“This is in no small way due to the remarkable ministry of our Director of Vocations, Fr Joey Frez.”
The evening was not only an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievement of so many young men entering the seminary, it also raised money to support the education of those seminarians.
Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, who was Apostolic Nuncio to Australia from 2015 to 2021, was among the honoured guests in attendance.
Fr Joey Frez thanked everyone gathered for their ongoing support, both through material means and through their prayers.
“We are grateful to God for his abundant blessing of vocations to our Diocese,” said Fr Joey.
“Please continue to support our seminarians.”
In the past five years, the Diocese of Broken Bay has ordained eight men to the priesthood, including three earlier this year. There are also several men in Joseph House, the house of discernment for young men in the Diocese.
First-year seminarian Bryce Gonlin spoke candidly about discerning his own vocation and encouraged all those gathered in the room to continue to build up the Dioceses’ vocational culture.
He said it was important parishes and families talked to the young people about vocation and guide them in discerning where God was calling them.
The night concluded with a dance performance from the current seminarians, after which the dance floor remained open and busy well into the night.
You can support the ongoing formation of seminarians and those discerning here.
