Admission to Candidacy

On the evening of 28 May 2011 I had the distinct privilege of attending the Admission to Candidacy for my friend Paul Solomon. This ceremony took place at the 6:30pm Anticipatory Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter at his home parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Naperville, Illinois. Bishop Siegel, “interim bishop” for the Diocese of Joliet, celebrated the Mass.

Paul and I studied in Rome together in the spring of 2010 and graduated 21 May 2011 from the University of Saint Thomas. He studied at UST for four years as a college seminarian through Saint John Vianney Seminary. This Admission to Candidacy begins his major formation for the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. The ceremony beautifully portrayed the innocence and trust of a man giving his life in the service of Jesus Christ. He came before the bishop publicly declaring his intent and received the Bishop's blessing as the Church formally welcomed him. The next four years will see Paul studying in Rome, Italy through the Pontifical North American College (PNAC). He will return in the spring of 2015 and be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. Please offer prayers for Mr. Solomon as he begins this new chapter of his journey. Pray also for all vocations, priestly and other religious. Their lifelong service is desperately needed in an often confused and broken world.