"The opportunities that our seminarians have to be with one another and with the priests of our diocese are special times."

So said Father Brian Alford when asked for a takeaway from the winter gathering of seminarians, held each year between Christmas and New Year's while they are on break from their studies. Except for two studying in Rome, more than 20 seminarians attended the gathering Dec. 29-30, 2015.

As espoused by Father Alford, fellowship and conversation with priests of the diocese is always an important element of the gathering. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki reserves the last morning of the gathering to preside at morning prayer and then meet with the group for questions and answers before sharing lunch and adjournment.

Much of the discussion centered on the bishop's second pastoral letter, Ars crescendi in Dei gratia. He told them that he will be using the letter during upcoming visits around the diocese as an aid to encourage parishes to move from a "maintenance" mentality to one of evangulization and growth, or "intentional discipleship."

"The whole point of growth and the whole point of the church even is how do we get closer to Christ and to his kingdom," said Bishop Paprocki.

Looking to the future, Bishop Paprocki said that he has set a goal of 40 seminarians by 2020 and 50 by 2025 and challenged the 23 present-day seminarians to help him and Father Alford attain the goal.

Deacon Paul Bonk of St. Mary and St. Mark Parish in Madison faces a busy spring as he wraps his studies at Sacred Heart Seminary at Hales Corners, Wis.

"I'm looking forward to getting the most out of the last few classes I'll be taking at Sacred Heart. I'll have practicums, which is the practice of the liturgies," said Deacon Bonk. "I was trying to arange my schedule so that it would be lighter so that I would have more time."

When asked if he succeeded in doing that, Deacon Bonk replied, "Kinda, sorta." He will be ordained a priest on May 28 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception along with Deacon Braden Maher of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Effingham.