Candidate for Ordination experienced ‘the spark that lit the flame’

By Deacon Patrick Cline Correspondent

The Rite of Candidacy is one of three steps men aspiring to the diaconate or priesthood must go through prior to ordination.

On July 6, 2023, Seminarian Bruce Cargill was accepted by Bishop James F. Checchio as a candidate for Ordination at a Mass in St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Bridgewater. Bishop Checchio was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Father Jonathan Toborowski, vicar general; Msgr. John Fell, director, Office of Priest Personnel, and Father Jose Lim, newly ordained priest of the diocese, along with a number of pastors and priests of the diocese concelebrated.

The Bishop asked the aspirant for candidacy, “Do you resolve to complete your preparation … to undertake ministry in the Church through Holy Orders?” And, “Do you resolve to form your mind and heart in such a way to serve Christ the Lord and his Body the Church?” After the reply “I do” to both questions, Bishop Checchio added, “The Church accepts your resolve with joy. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”

Cargill completed his pre-theology studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University and will continue his formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This seminary, located on Janiculum Hill overlooking Vatican City, prepares men primarily from the United States for the priesthood, but seminarians from other countries also attend.

In his homily, Bishop Checchio spoke directly to the new candidate. Noting that the day was the Feast of St. Maria Goretti, the Bishop recalled, when he was Rector of North American College, his visits to her tomb in Nettuno south of Rome as occasions for prayer and reflection. He stressed that Cargill would have other opportunities to experience and to discover the many places that Rome offers for quiet time and contemplation.

The Bishop also encouraged Cargill and all the men in formation to make use of all the resources and opportunities available to them during their years of formation as they journey forward to where they believe the Lord has called them.

Bishop Checchio explained that, initially, candidacy was the final step before Ordination to the Diaconate or Presbyterate, after receiving the ordered ministries of Lector and Acolyte. But Pope St. John Paul II felt that candidacy should be first and changed the order in which the ministries are received.

In addition to the Rite of Candidacy, the Mass was an occasion for all of the seminarians of the Diocese, and men in discernment, to come together with their families and friends to celebrate Mass and support the new candidate and each other in their progress towards priesthood.

The Cargill family are parishioners in Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale. And it was at a Mass in that parish that he first felt the call to the priesthood or as he said, “the spark that lit the flame.” He discussed the experience with a priest friend, Father Richard Carton, pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Stirling, who replied, “So what we are really talking about here is your vocation to the priesthood!” That was not the response he expected, but “it turned the spark, into a blazing fire!”

Cargill has two sisters, one older and one younger. Maureen Cargill, his mother said that as thrilled as she is for this opportunity for her son, “there were some tears, also, with him going away to Rome.” His father, also Bruce Cargill, said that his son’s vocation was not a shock. He feels, “It was supposed to happen and it occurred organically and was therefore not a surprise to me.”

Msgr. Fell thanked Bishop Checchio and all those at the Mass for their participation and asked for continued prayers for all the priests and seminarians and for an increase in vocations.

Following the Mass there was a reception in the parish cafeteria of St. Bernard of Clairvaux for all the participants. Before offering grace, the Bishop added his thanks to all present for attending and assured them of his continued prayers for them and requested their prayers for him.