ORLANDO   | Austin Adams and Josué Reyes Díaz arrived at Catholic Charities of Central Florida early on one cold morning. The line for food was already forming.

Both men are seminarians for the Diocese of Orlando. Adams is a parishioner from Corpus Christi in Celebration, and before entering seminary, Adams was an accountant. There he found little gratification, but at Catholic Charities it’s different.

“I’ve loved every single second of this – all the hours I’ve had to put in. It’s just wonderful getting the opportunity to serve the community,” he said.

The work at Catholic Charities is part of  the Poverty Immersion Program. Adams knew about the great food insecurity in Orlando, but had no idea Catholic Charities “fulfills the need in abundance.”

“If God wills, I become a priest. I become a priest for everyone,” he said. “That’s a need in and of itself, too. I’m so glad I gave God my yes.”

Reyes Díaz became a parishioner of All Souls in Sanford after he moved to Florida from Puerto Rico in 2007.  He remembers a similar organization helped his family when they arrived, so he easily related to the families as he carried groceries to their cars. It filled him with gratitude.

The Poverty Immersion Program helps seminarians gain a better understanding of all communities they will serve, and to walk with the less fortunate. The program also focuses on the importance of surrendering to God’s plan and relying on his divine providence.

This year the seminarians had their own cars, but limited funds. Reyes Díaz recalled on their first day they had planned to buy groceries. But, the next day they were overwhelmed by the gift waiting for them at the food pantry. Juan Vega, Catholic Charities Food Pantry director, provided everything they needed and more. Both seminarians recognized the blessing they have in Vega.

“He is a great leader,” Reyes Díaz said. “At the end of every day, he asks what we received that day. He helps us process the day and take deeper insights.”

Days later, when something else came to mind, Reyes Díaz decided to wait on the Lord instead of fulfilling the need himself. The Lord did not disappoint.

“This whole week has been a practice of recognizing the need, and rather than have my first thought be, how can I fulfill that need, I would think, how does God want to fulfill that need – and seeing how that translates to the spiritual life,” he said.

It helped Reyes Díaz see his work in a new way. “The reality that as we help these people, we’re helping more than just the people present here. There’s a whole family we’re going to feed,” he said. It is yet another grace on the journey.

The Poverty Immersion Program runs Jan. 5-28, and it is an addition to St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary’s propaedeutic year, a year of discernment. The “pre-seminary” year is meant to help the men better discern their vocation to the priesthood by helping them develop their interior life with Christ, emphasizing “less academics and more focus upon their interior life and their spirituality,” according to Father Dominic Buckley who teaches philosophy at the seminary and is Associate Dean of Propaedeutic and Discipleship Formation.

Within Catholic Charities, the seminarians will go on to serve in the Family Stability office, visit Pathways to Care, and do some work at Pathways to New Hope.

“The Corporal Works of Mercy are a natural expression of loving our neighbor as commanded by our Lord Jesus and included in Mt 25:31-42, and are, therefore, a critical ministry of each and every parish,” said Deacon Gary Tester, president of Catholic Charities of Central Florida. “We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to share with Austin and Josué the joy of ministering to the poor and vulnerable, a lesson that we pray remains with them for the rest of their lives. Our hope is that these young men will come to more deeply understand the impact we can have on those needing help.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic Staff, January 16, 2025