By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached this homily during the Mass and graduation ceremony for students at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, celebrated May 7, 2025.
At this morning’s Mass in St. Peter’s Square before the Cardinals entered the Conclave to elect a new Pope: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said in his homily: “Today's world expects much from the Church regarding the safeguarding of those fundamental human and spiritual values without which human coexistence will not be better, nor bring good to future generations.” He prayed that the Holy Spirit would give us a new Pope “according to God’s heart for the good of the Church and of humanity”.
It does seem, at times, that the world does not think that it even needs the Church. But the fact that not only Catholics but also that everyone else awaits anxiously to see “white smoke” emerge from the roof of the Sistine Chapel shows that the world does expect much from the Church and her shepherds. For the good of the Church and of humanity, we do need a new Pope according to God’s heart, and we need, the Church needs, the world needs priests “according to God’s heart” as well.
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear how “those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus, Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.”
The martyrdom of Stephen was followed by a savage persecution, thus the “scattering” of those first Christians. Those early Christians could be driven out of Jerusalem, but they could not be driven away from Christ, and so they “went about preaching the word.”
A commencement - which brings to conclusion the academic year and the conferral of degrees on those who graduate from this college seminary - might be seen by some as a scattering – albeit not one like the scattering that led the deacon Philip to the city of Samaria. Our graduates leave on a happier note than Philip left Jerusalem. At least, we hope so. If Philip survived the persecution in Jerusalem, you have survived wrestling with the perennial questions of philosophy.
During your years here at St. John Vianney, you have been exposed to a classic “liberal arts” education; you have reflected with the great minds of history on the reality of what is, and you have asked why what is is. Philosophy has been called many things – not all complimentary to be sure. But hopefully your courses have given you insight into the “lived wisdom” of the ages and have equipped you now to engage the Wisdom that spoke through the prophets and through the Word Incarnate in your future studies in theology.
However, even as tonight we recognize your academic achievement, we do well to remember that your being here at St. John Vianney was not solely about academics. Certainly, as you have heard many times, your formation is built on four pillars: intellectual, human, spiritual and pastoral. And while scholarship is certainly demanded here, St. John Vianney is not simply about producing scholars but rather, to borrow from a favorite theme of the late Pope Francis, St. John Vianney Seminary is about forming you into “missionary disciples.” And hopefully, your years at St. John Vianney have done just that, formed you as better “disciples and missionaries of Christ so that our people will have life in Him (discípulos y misioneros de Jesucristo para que nuestros pueblos en él tengan vida).”
To be a missionary to the people of our times - as the deacon Philip was to the city of Samaria - requires rigorous preparation in any number of disciplines. We need to grow in our understanding of the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the people of our times; we need to acquire competencies and skills to engage the world of today in dialogue. But more importantly, if we are to be effective missionaries of the Word of God, if our witness is to be convincing, then we must also be committed disciples. And, whether or not all of you will continue in your discernment for the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, we pray that your days here at St. John Vianney - with the integration of the four pillars of priestly formation into your own lives - have helped you grow in your relationship to Christ. Only to the extent that we are committed disciples can we be effective missionaries and witnesses of the Lord.
For this reason, today I commend all of you to the priestly intercession of this seminary’s patron saint, St. John Marie Vianney, the Cure d’Ars. He often gave this advice to those who sought his counsel: Do only what can be offered to the Lord.
The life of this humble parish priest continues to inspire priests and future priests. This saint, at a time of great religious indifference in post-revolutionary France, single-handedly initiated a spiritual revival in his country. Up until the day of his death, thousands of pilgrims would arrive daily at the rural outpost of Ars so that they could confess their sins to him.
He moved sinners to conversion not through sophisticated schemes or eloquent words. (He was a rather dull student and was not thought of as being very intelligent). Nor did he win people over by his good looks (the old sepia photos of him reveal a rather homely man).
What won people over was his holiness - people knew he was the real thing. You know the story well: When he had first set out for Ars - on foot - to take up his assignment, he quickly realized he was lost and asked a young boy whom he encountered on his path if he knew the way to Ars. When the youngster said yes, Père Jean Marie Vianney told him: “You show me the way to Ars, and I’ll show you the way to heaven.” And when he arrived in Ars, he set about doing just that.
On the day of your ordinations, God willing, your names will be called and when called you will answer “present”. In this way you express your willingness to put yourself at the disposal of the Lord who “died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him...” (cf. IV Eucharistic Prayer, II Cor. 5: 15) But until then, your continued formation helps prepare for that day - and for your generous response of saying, “Adsum” present “for the good of the Church and of humanity.”
