New Diocesan Seminarians from same parish in Rostraver

By The Catholic Accent

ROSTRAVER – Two men who attend the same parish have been accepted by Bishop Larry J. Kulick  into the Priestly Formation Program for the Diocese of Greensburg. 

Joseph Kudla and Andrew Kurta, both parishioners of Saint Anne Parish, Rostraver, will enter the Propaedeutic Stage of formation in the fall at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Ambler. 
Bishop Kulick instituted the Propaedeutic Stage for those considering a vocation to the priesthood to allow human and spiritual development, fostering growth in prayer, trust in God, and understanding of the Catholic Church and its teachings.

Kudla said he is feeling a pull in his life that is God’s call to the priesthood, and he believes the Propaedeutic Stage will help him.

“I am hoping to learn a lot and begin being formed into a holy priest,” Kudla said.

He credits his parish family and their encouragement of his vocation. 

“It’s the parish life and the pastors we’ve had that have been good, holy pastors who have set a real example for us,” he said.

For Kurta, an announcement for the Melchizedek Project in the parish bulletin led him on the path to discernment.  Kurta thought it would be a one-time informational meeting. However, he was invited back and the thought of seminary never left his mind.

“I had a lot of people in the parish come up to me and ask me, “Have you ever thought of being a priest?’ and when I tell them that I an discerning, they get excited,” he said. “I have many lovely people in my parish praying for me.”

Kudla and Kurta join fellow parishioner Mario Porreca in the seminarian formation program. Porreca will continue his theological studies at Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, this fall.