Seminarian Appeal supports formation of future priests

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Parishioners in the Diocese of Sioux City once again have the opportunity to support shepherds of the 21^st century through the 2025 Seminarian Appeal.

Father Travis Crotty, diocesan vocations director, expressed gratitude to the faithful Catholics of the diocese who have generously supported this effort since it was initiated eight years ago.

“When you think about the different things that are important in our lives, the future of our church is one of the most important things. Priests are what will enable us to keep receiving the sacraments, for the Gospel to continue to be proclaimed in northwest Iowa and for conversions to continue to happen,” he stressed.

Father CrottyThe Catholic Church is able to continue its sacramental ministry due to the availability and generosity of priests, said Father Crotty, adding “and we want to create a space where men feel free to discern (a priestly vocation) without any pressures or financial burden and that enables men to respond to God’s call generously.”

According to Lexa Hawkins, manager of donor relations for the diocese, parishioners and past donors to this effort recently received a brochure outlining details of the appeal.

“The first annual Seminarian Appeal was mailed in the summer of 2017,” she explained. At the time, the average cost to educate a seminarian was $40,000 annually, so the St. Joseph Education Society – which provides funds for the formation of priests and deacons before and after ordination – “proposed inviting parishioners to help support the formation of future shepherds.”

Since that time, the Seminarian Appeal has been held on an annual basis. Proceeds help cover the costs of education and formation for diocesan as well as the work and programs of the Office of Vocations such as The Quest trip and Quo Vadis retreat that nurture vocations discernment.

“All of the special events, seminary visits, all of the miles I put on my car is all coming from the generous support of the people of the diocese,” said the vocation director, who also benefited from this appeal having been ordained in 2020.

Father Crotty explained that seminarians in the earlier stages of formation – the propaedeutic and discipleship phases in traditional college years - are asked to share in a small portion of the costs of education.

“For all of the men in theology, which is called the configuration phase of formation, all of it is free of charge,” said the vocation director. “The funding for the formation to become priests in the diocese is supported by the people of the diocese.”

Funding for the seminarians, Father Crotty noted, comes from a few different avenues. In addition to the Seminarian Appeal, he cited two large family estate gifts – the Wernimont Fund and Duhigg Memorial Trust – that provide ongoing support.

KollaschThomas Kollasch, a diocesan seminarian from Bancroft studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, has benefited from the appeal for several years as this will be his final year of formation before being ordained a priest on June 27, 2026, at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. On Oct. 2 he will be ordained a transitional deacon at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome with his classmates.

“The Seminarian Appeal has benefited me in many ways,” he said. “Firstly, I am always encouraged by the support of the parishioners in and outside of the Diocese of Sioux City; it gives me strength to continue the journey. Secondly, the financial generosity of so many people has provided me in countless ways. To all who have given in the past, thank you so much.”

After his priestly ordination, Kollasch will spend another year in Rome as he is just starting a two-year program for a Sacred Theology License in Biblical Theology.

“To all who are considering giving, thank you for considering,” stressed the seminarian. “Let your first gift to us seminarians be a prayer uttered on our behalf; and if you are so moved, we are grateful for your monetary gift. God bless you.”

Kollasch is one of 11 seminarians the diocese will be supporting this year.

Bishop John E. Keehner and the Office of Vocations recently announced the acceptance of three new seminarians: Joseph Masching of St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll and Avery Fetrow of St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake are entering the propaedeutic year and William Kahle of Divine Mercy Parish in Algona will be in the discipleship stage of formation.

The three new seminarians will join Zach Steffens of Spirit Lake, Brian Schmit of Hospers, Jack Jensen of Sioux City and Anthony Sibbel of Carroll at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota. In addition to Kollasch, the three other men in major seminary are Anthony Vera of Le Mars who is at PNAC in Rome as well as James Fitzsimmons of Sioux City and Garrett Hugeback of Wall Lake, who both attend Kenrick-
Glennon Seminary, St. Louis.

HawkinsThe cost of educating the seminarians increases each year, Hawkins said, noting that when the appeal was initiated the average annual cost per seminarian was $40,000 and today it is $48,000.“We are extremely grateful for the generous financial support we receive,” she said, adding there are several ways donors can support the appeal. “Those who receive the mailer can return the enclosed pledge card by mail. Donations can also be made online at scdiocese.org/seminarian-appeal.”

Additional giving options to this appeal include gifts of grain or stock, a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA), Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA or through a donor-advised fund.

Father Crotty said he has been surprised by how generous parishioners of the diocese are in their support of seminarians.

“It shows the faithfulness of the people of our diocese,” he said. “As I see these generous donations come in, it’s so beautiful to see names represented from all of the parishes, every corner of the diocese.”

During a somewhat difficult time to be Catholic, be it the secularization of society or changes in parish/church status within the diocese, Father Crotty assured parishioners that priests and seminarians will support the faithful as they continue to promote the kingdom of God in northwest Iowa.

Both Father Crotty and Hawkins expressed appreciation not only for the monetary support for seminarians but also prayers.

“The spiritual and financial support allows them to focus fully on their journey knowing the entire Diocese of Sioux City stands behind them,” said Hawkins.