Introducing our Diocese’s New Seminarians

October 2024 – Vocations column by Father Durkee

Introducing our Diocese’s new seminarians

The young men entering seminary are a blessing to our diocese. With a growing number of our devoted priests nearing retirement age, the call to encourage and support new vocations to the priesthood in our diocese is an urgent one. In the spring of 2025, our diocese will not ordain a new priest for the first time in several years. I believe God desires to call more men to the priesthood, and part of fulfilling this need involves all of us petitioning God through prayer.

With this urgent need in mind, I invite you to pray more intentionally for vocations to the priesthood. We can foster this type of culture by praying regularly for vocations during Mass, in families, and through parish prayer groups. Bishop Walkowiak’s vocations prayer that parishes throughout the diocese are praying at the end of Masses, is the perfect way for individuals to intentionally include this need in their daily prayer.

The good news is God has been moving hearts in our diocese! Five new seminarians – Matthew Critchell, Anthony Duong, Mark Musgrave, Luke Norton and Payton Russman entered formation this fall, which means this coming year we  have 24 men studying for the priesthood. Learn more about the men below:

MATTHEW D. C R I TCHELL

Parish: Our Lady of Consolation, Rockford

Parents: David and Christina Critchell

Siblings: Madeline, Samuel, Michael, Lucille, Emily, Thomas, & Miriam

Education: Seton Home Study School

Hobbies: Playing cards and fishing

ANTHONY H. DUONG

Parish: Our Lady of La-Vang, Wyoming

Parents: Huy Duong and Trang Nguyen

Sibling: Ashley

Education: Grand Valley State University and Kelloggsville High School

Hobbies: Playing volleyball, camping and reading new books

MARK A. MUSGRAVE, III

Parish: Basilica of St. Adalbert, Grand Rapids

Parents: Mark II and Maria Musgrave

Siblings: Joie and Sam

Education: Aquinas College and Wayland Public Schools

Hobbies: Playing wiffleball, listening to the Hillbilly Thomists and serving as a cantor at the basilica. He also enjoys watching “Fueling Up with Father” on the diocesan YouTube channel.

LUKE P. NORTON

Parish: Our Lady of Consolation, Rockford

Parents: Paul and Laura Norton

Siblings: Gabrielle, Sophia, Felicity, Mary, Frank, Justin, Austin and Peter

Education: Seton Home Study School

Hobbies: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, fishing and card games

PAYTON T. RUSSMAN

Parish: St. Patrick, Portland

Parents: Pat and Stacy Russman

Siblings: Bella, Joesie and Summer

Education: Aquinas College; St. Patrick Catholic School, Portland

Hobbies: Exercising, reading and hanging out with friends

I want to emphasize the importance of discernment and continuing to encourage young men to listen to God’s call in their lives. For some young people, all it may take is one person saying, “Hey, have you thought about a religious vocation?”

When there is a need, we need to ask, and trust that God will send us faithful shepherds to minister the sacraments and care for the poor. Please continue to pray for vocations in our diocese and for the men currently in formation. To see more detailed biographies for all our seminarians, visit grvocations.org/our-seminarians/.