Seton Hall Graduate Student to Lead Second Annual Parish Mission

Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST) will host Seton Hall’s second annual University Parish Mission from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, November 16, through Wednesday, November 18. Leading the Mission will be Freddy Garcia-Arequipa, a campus minister, ICSST graduate student and evangelization coordinator at St. Paul Inside the Walls, a center for discipleship, leadership and events in Madison, New Jersey.

The program, titled “Renewed Minds, Transformed Lives: Hospitality and Conversion of Hearts,” will be held in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. This event is sponsored by the Preaching as Hospitality Formation Program at ICSST and is open to the public free of charge.

Like missions held at Catholic parishes across the country, the University Parish Mission aims to inspire participants through the Word of God. The program will focus on defining Gospel hospitality, rooted in our Baptismal identity as priest, prophet and king.

Each evening will begin with Mass at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, followed by talks from our guest speakers.

Father Dominic Ciriaco, D.Min., Director of the Preaching Program, commented: “We are excited to present again our second annual University Parish Mission focused on our baptismal call as Christians to be transformed and hospitable to the mind and heart of Christ. Our four speakers are outstanding examples of what hospitable service is all about as they will challenge and lead us with reflections and stories.”

Freddy Garcia serves as a campus minister at Farleigh Dickenson University and Drew University. Along with being an evangelization coordinator, he also helps with social media at St. Paul Inside the Walls and cohosts The Paul Street Journal podcast. Freddy also holds a Certificate in Catholic Evangelization from ICSST and is a student in ICSST’s master’s program.

Joining Freddy Garcia will be Father Cesar D. Jaramillo, J.C.L., a priest for the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey and pastor of Holy Spirit Parish and School in Pequannock, New Jersey. Father Cesar also serves as the Defender of the Bond and Associate Judge at the Diocesan Tribunal. He is also an adjunct professor of Moral Theology at ICSST and serves in the Evangelization Certificate Program at St. Elizabeth University. Father Cesar will be speaking on Monday, November 16.

Sister Susan Rose Francois, C.S.J.P., will speak on Tuesday, November 17. Sister Susan serves as assistant congregation leader and treasurer of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. She has served in Congregation Leadership since 2015. Sister Susan has also written for Global Sisters Report and other publications on religious life and social justice.

Father Matthew Gonzalez, M.Div., M.A., will speak on Wednesday, November 18. Father Matthew is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey and holds a B.A. in Catholic Theology from Seton Hall University, as well as an M.Div. and an M.A. in Systematic Theology. He currently serves as rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey and as assistant director of the Office of Ongoing Formation for Clergy.

After the program, everyone is invited for a short reception and fellowship at Jubilee Hall.

Click here to register.

The Preaching as Hospitality Formation program of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology seeks to form seminarians, diaconal students and religious and lay graduate students of theology to be compelling preachers who will offer a hospitality of the heart as they break open the Word of God. The initiatives help to form preachers who will understand and embrace preaching as hospitality — a ministry of inviting, welcoming and offering compassion.

Categories: Faith and Service