‘Called to embody Jesus’ presence’

Diocesan seminarians share their summer experiences

By Gabrielle Nolan

During the fall and spring semesters of the academic year, diocesan seminarians are poring over philosophy and theology textbooks in classrooms, preparing to pass final exams.

But the learning does not stop over the summer season; it just looks a little different.

Seminarians experience a summer assignment where they are immersed in a pastoral setting, such as a parish or a hospital, to gain practical insight into the life of a priest. They trade textbooks for hands-on experiences, and instead of living in the seminary, they live in a parish rectory.

The five Diocese of Knoxville seminarians are sharing their experiences and how they are continuing their journey toward the priesthood.

Nicholas Hickman will begin his sixth year of priestly formation in August. He attends St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana. Mr. Hickman’s summer assignment is Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

“As part of my summer assignment, I’ve been serving as a chaplain intern at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, participating in a program accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE),” Mr. Hickman said.

He shared that CPE is recognized nationally as an opportunity that trains seminarians, clergy, and lay leaders to offer spiritual care with people in clinical settings.

“Chaplains at UT Medical Center are responsible for the emotional and spiritual well-being of patients, their families, and hospital staff,” Mr. Hickman said. “Our work includes being present to people in crisis, advocating for patients’ religious and spiritual needs, and supporting them in practicing their faith—whether Catholic, Protestant, of another religious tradition, or none at all.”

Some engagements with clinical patients include arranging sacraments, offering prayer, coordinating visits from other faith leaders, or simply being present during a time of need.

“In addition to ongoing rounds, chaplains are paged to respond to all traumas, code blues, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as referrals from staff or patients themselves. The pastoral-care team is ecumenical and interfaith, allowing for collaborative ministry that honors the dignity and beliefs of every person. Through this, I’ve grown in my ability to listen deeply, accompany others with empathy, and hold space for people’s stories—especially in moments of fear, suffering, grief, and even death. It has been a sacred privilege to walk with people through some of the most vulnerable thresholds of their lives,” Mr. Hickman remarked.

He said that each patient’s room he enters is “holy ground.”

“Sometimes there are tears—grieving spouses, parents saying goodbye, patients receiving difficult news. Other times, there is peace, laughter, or an unshakable sense of faith and hope. I often feel as though I am standing at the foot of the cross, and it is humbling to bring the heart of Christ into those rooms,” Mr. Hickman said.

Through his experiences as a summer chaplain, Mr. Hickman is continuing his journey toward becoming a diocesan priest.

“This assignment has helped me to more deeply internalize what it means to act in the person of Christ. As a future priest, I will be called to embody Jesus’ presence—especially in moments of suffering, fear, and grief,” he shared. “This summer has taught me how to walk into a room not with answers but with presence. To stand quietly, listen fully, and love generously. In many ways, I am learning that priesthood is less about what we say and more about who we are willing to be for others.”

“I have come to see that there is something sacred about simply being with someone in their pain—something deeply eucharistic about standing with others in their breaking and offering,” Mr. Hickman continued. “This experience has impressed upon me the responsibility, and the grace, of being a sign of Christ’s love for those who feel most alone. As St. John Paul II once said, ‘There is no cross, big or small, in our life which the Lord does not share with us.’ This summer, I have learned to trust that—especially when I am standing at the foot of someone else’s cross.”

Daniel Cooper just completed his fifth year in seminary with plans to graduate from St. Meinrad Seminary this December. His summer assignment is at All Saints Parish in Knoxville.

His responsibilities have included assisting with Masses as an acolyte, assisting office staff with various work, contributing to vacation Bible school, and interacting with parish groups.

“Every week I also work with a small men’s group who go through various Catholic and spiritual books and have discussions about the faith and the material read. This has been an interesting task because of the varied perspectives that the men each bring to the group and how they relate to the world through their faith,” Mr. Cooper said.

He commented that he has enjoyed helping in every capacity with the parish so far this summer.

“If there is anything challenging, it is dealing with the new Program for Priestly Formation and how it places the ordination to the diaconate into the fall/winter of the final year,” Mr. Cooper shared. “This has created quite a bit of friction at times when people have asked for a blessing, only for me to have to tell them that I am unable to do so. On the other hand, it also provides more appreciation for the ordained ministry and the fact that the people associate a man in a collar with Christ and His ability to bless their lives and endeavors.”

Recent staff changes at All Saints Parish have given Mr. Cooper the opportunity to “step up in some leadership capacity and self-starting ability.”

“We have been quite unsettled with the departure of a priest back to his home country and the absence of our pastor for health reasons,” he explained. “This is something that has caused all of the staff to grow closer and rely on each other more to continue the work of the Church and to continue to effectively minister to the people. This has provided a good insight into the ‘messiness’ that the priestly life can sometimes be and how we have to be flexible and rely wholeheartedly on God in order to be able to be sustained in the ministry.”

Abrahan da Silva is in his fifth year of seminary formation and is currently studying at St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto in Canada. His summer assignment is at Holy Rosary Parish in Toronto.

“Looking back, I never would have imagined that God would lead me down this path,” he said. “It’s not so much about what I am doing, but where I am doing it. However, my call to the priesthood didn’t come all at once—it was more like a seed that gradually grew over time through encounters with Jesus in the Eucharist, moments of prayer, and above all, through a deep desire to serve. Today, five years after giving that initial ‘yes’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, I can say that each stage has been different but always enriching. Seminary formation has prepared me not only through academic studies but also through community life, interior growth, and pastoral discernment.”

His daily tasks at Holy Rosary Parish include participating in the celebration of the Eucharist, assisting the pastor with sacraments, visiting the sick or lonely, and collaborating with various parish ministries.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to spend time with young people, visit the parish school, help organize liturgical activities, and promote devotions to the Virgin Mary and various saints. Moreover, I’ve been present to speak with, listen to, and accompany those who come to the parish seeking faith or comfort amid this vibrant city,” Mr. da Silva remarked.

He commented that being in the midst of Canada’s most populous city has allowed him “to experience firsthand what pastoral ministry means in an urban context.”

“The parish is situated among tall buildings and serves a diverse community of people from various cultures, ages, and spiritual backgrounds. This human richness requires constant attention, active listening, and an open willingness to serve wherever needed,” he said.

Mr. da Silva said that what has moved him the most is seeing “how people fight to keep their faith alive.”

“There is a special strength in those who, despite their wounds, exhaustion, and doubts, still come to church with humility,” he continued. “People who live through very difficult situations but who continue to believe, pray, and hope. I am deeply touched to see how the Gospel comes alive in them. Sharing faith with them is not only about giving—it’s also about receiving. Their questions, their testimonies, their tears … all of it teaches me more than many books ever could. It has reminded me that being a priest is not about always having all the answers but about walking with the people, even through many forms of uncertainty.”

Mr. da Silva’s summer assignment also has included challenges.

“One of the most significant difficulties has been facing questions that don’t always have a clear or immediate answer, especially with people who are facing long-term illnesses in the hospital,” he said. “People ask why they suffer, why their children have drifted away from the faith, and why God seems absent at times. In those moments, the only thing I can offer is presence, prayerful silence, and a sincere desire to accompany them. To me, it’s a school of humility. I’ve learned that it’s not necessary to ‘solve’ everything, but rather to be a sign of hope, consolation, and active faith. That is when one discovers the importance of personal prayer because without being united to Christ we cannot give anything significant to others.”

Overall, Mr. da Silva feels that this summer “has truly been a gift.”

“It has drawn me closer to the concrete life of a parish, deepened my devotion to the Virgin Mary, and helped me grow as a Christian who, despite the difficulties of our time, wants to live his faith in Jesus Christ. These past months have encouraged me in my vocational discernment and reminded me that behind every face is a story that deserves to be welcomed with love,” he shared.

Eli Holt has been in seminary formation for two years and currently attends Conception Seminary College in Missouri. His summer assignment is at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

“I am going into my senior year of philosophy. Philosophy is typically a four-year degree, but I did two years of college to get my associate’s degree before I entered the seminary. Some of those credits were able to transfer for my philosophy degree, so I will be in minor seminary for a total of three years,” he explained.

During his summer assignment, Mr. Holt is assigned to live at the rectory, and his responsibilities include assisting the priests at liturgies, going on hospital visits, helping with retreats and altar-server trainings, working in the parish office, and visiting with parishioners.

“The most challenging part of this summer assignment is that there hasn’t been much of a chance to really get to know the parishioners,” Mr. Holt remarked. “The youth and young-adult programs are closed down for the summer, and I really thrive in those environments. There is also limited parking at the basilica, so people can’t stay too long after Sunday Mass because they need to make room for people coming to the next Mass. I appreciate it when I have the chance to have good conversations with people. I love visiting parishioners’ homes, and that gives me the chance to spend time with them and get to know them better.”

He commented that this summer has helped him prepare for the priesthood “in many small ways.”

“One specific way it has challenged me to grow is keeping discipline in prayer outside of the seminary,” he said. “While in the seminary, we are kept accountable in making sure that we are attending communal prayer. While that is still the case here at the basilica to some extent, there is more flexibility. So, it can be easier to let it slip. This helps me to take more responsibility over my prayer life.”

Gerald Stults has been in seminary formation for two years and also attends Conception Seminary College. His summer assignment is at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge.

His responsibilities include altar serving at daily Mass, shadowing the priests as they anoint the sick and bless homes, participating in parish activities, being present to the community, and assisting the parish staff with various tasks.

“Fundamentally, my overall responsibility over this summer is to get a much better sense of what the priesthood looks like, and living at a parish while seeing how a priest handles different pastoral situations like offering a funeral, consoling a person in grief, baptizing a child, etc., grants me an opportunity to better reflect on how I would want to conduct my priestly ministry in the future,” Mr. Stults shared.

The most enjoyable aspect of his summer assignment has been visiting parishioners.

“Throughout my life, community has been one of the most crucial elements for the well-being of my faith, and visiting parishioners allows me to grow closer to the local community, as well as to the greater community of the Church, Christ’s body. To put it simply, it’s an amazing privilege to get to know so many great people and to know that you are loved and cared about by those people,” Mr. Stults said.

He reflected that this summer has helped him develop by offering many opportunities “to grow in pastoral charity, overall responsibility, and trust in God’s providence.”

“I’ve learned how to be more of a pastoral person by witnessing how the priests at my assignment handle people’s emotions; moreover, I’ve gotten opportunities to visit the sick and have a conversation with those who are angry with the Church,” Mr. Stults shared. “During my assignment, I’m given a lot of free rein over what I would like to do with my schedule. Therefore, it is largely up to me to use that time responsibly via volunteering to help with parish events, the food pantry, etc. I also grow in trust of God’s providence because, sometimes, my day can become very busy and chaotic, and the only way to get a grip on things is by retreating to God in prayer.”