Meet the seminarians• Alvan Amadi, American College, Louvain • Brandon Barlow, St. Mary, Appleton; Mundelein Seminary • Eric Brandt, Holy Family, Brillion; St. John Vianney College Seminary • Bill Brunner, St. Thomas the Apostle, Newton; North American College, Rome • José Castañeda, St. Philip, Green Bay; Sacred Heart School of Theology Matthew Christman, St. Pius X, Appleton; Conception College Seminary • Luke Ferris, St. Anne, Coleman; St. Meinrad School of Theology • Jason Hawman, Ss. Peter & Paul, Green Bay; St. Meinrad School of Theology • Tom Holschuh, St. Mary, Greenville; St. John Vianney College Seminary • Ryan Krueger, St. Mary, Menasha; Mundelein Seminary • Patrick LaPacz, St. Agnes, Green Bay; Conception Seminary College • Edward Looney, Holy Trinity, Oconto; Conception Seminary College • Matt Rappl, St. Gabriel, Neenah; St. John Vianney College Seminary • Brian Romportl, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Green Bay; North American College, Rome • Ryan Starks, St. Mary, Marion; St. John Vianney College Seminary • Chris Thelen, St. Mary, Menasha; American College, Louvain • Scott Valentyn, St. John Nepomucene, Little Chute; St. John Vianney College Seminary • BJ Van Dynhoven, St. John Nepomucene, Little Chute; Mundelein Seminary • Deacon Dan Viertel, St. Mark, Redgranite; St. Meinrad School of Theology • Vincent Wagner, St. Augustine, Wausaukee; St. John Vianney College Seminary • Michael Warden, Ss. Peter & Paul, Green Bay; Mundelein Seminary • Brian Wideman, St. Margaret Mary, Neenah; St.Meinrad School of Theology |
After growing up in Minnesota and Arizona, Chris moved to the Diocese of Green Bay in July 2003. “I fell in love with the people of Green Bay because they have a beautiful faith and hold strong moral and traditional family values,” Thelen said. His involvement with the Knights of Columbus in Menasha, where Chris previously lived, made a significant impact on his faith, he said.
During the past two years, Chris has lived with a number of other men at Xavier House. Chris served as the unofficial chef of the house, as he enjoys sharing his love of cooking with others. At Xavier House, he met another new seminarian for the diocese, Alvan Amadi, who will join Chris in studying in Belgium this fall.
Chris and Alvan are among 10 young men who are entering the seminary for the Diocese of Green Bay, bringing the number of seminarians to 22.
This month, Bishop David Ricken is asking all the parishes of the diocese to invite the faithful to support these young men through the annual Seminarian Collection.
This coming academic year, the diocese anticipates costs of close to $700,000 for the education and formation of seminarians. This collection is vital to their formation.
More information about the seminarians, as well as the Seminiarian Collection, can be found at this link.
