How do seminarians deepen their relationship and foster fraternity this summer?
Jared Kleinwaechter: On Thursday nights, groups of seminarians get together throughout the Archdiocese to pray together, have dinner together, and grow in our brotherhood. Good food naturally leads to fun and deep conversations. Each group organizes where they’ll meet and what fun activity they’ll do together. These fraternity nights are an awesome way to build strong friendships with our brother seminarians now so we’ll be able to support each other in our future ministry as brother priests.
What have some of these fraternity nights looked like?
Jared Kleinwaechter: There are a number of us living at our seminarian house in Sandy Springs this summer, so we’ve hosted fraternity nights at our house every Thursday. We take turns cooking dinner for the whole group, and I’ve been impressed by how good our cooking skills have been. One night we hosted the three transitional deacons (Paul, Miller, and Cristian) before they were ordained to the priesthood. We had Adoration and Mass together before dinner, and then we hung out and chatted for over an hour after dinner. For those who stuck around even longer, we played various different card games.
Steven Couch: Fraternity nights have been a great way to get together with my brother seminarians to grow in our faith and fellowship. Our first fraternity night was at Saint Joseph’s in Marietta and our second was at Saint Peter Chanel in Roswell. I have thoroughly enjoyed the times that we have been able to gather together because while this is a crazy time in our world due to covid-19, we have been able to keep each other grounded in the faith and focused on the Lord. This has also been a fantastic means to meet Priests of the Archdiocese as well as a way to experience new parishes and towns.
Kelello Descher: Although fraternity nights have been limited this summer, I have been able to attend the few my group has had so far. One evening, seven of the seminarians in my area got together for Mass at Our Lady of the Americas and then ate at a local restaurant for dinner. The second time we met up at the family lake house of one of the seminarians, grilled some burgers and prayed Evening Prayer together. These evenings spent together have been very joyful and spending time with the Atlanta guys from my seminary as well as the other seminaries is one of the things I appreciate most about the summer.
Note: Atlanta seminarian fraternity nights have observed healthy coronavirus practices including COVID tests, gathering in small groups, social distancing, wearing face masks, and washing hands.
Jared Kleinwaechter will study Theology II at Mundelein Seminary (IL). Jared enjoys academic classes, plays every sport imaginable, and studied chemical engineering at Georgia Tech. His favorite superhero is Wolverine. Read more about Jared Kleinwaechter.
Steven Couch will continue his third year of college seminary at St. Joseph College Seminary (LA) this fall. The middle of three children, Steven is a black belt in Taekwondo, plays guitar, loves country music, and can do a fantastic bird call. Read more about Steven Couch.
Kelello Descher will also continue his third year of college seminary at St. Joseph College Seminary (LA) this fall. Steven’s neighbor at seminary, Kelello loves soccer, Atlanta United, films, and hikes. Kelello has the best hairstyle of the Atlanta seminarians. Read more about Kelello Descher.