Bishop George J. Lucas visits with Steve Arisman, Daniel Friedel and other seminarians from the Springfield diocese, at a gathering at Villa Maria Catholic Life Conference and Retreat Center during the Christmas holidays.

Nine seminarians from the Springfield diocese joined Bishop George J. Lucas for a visit Dec. 29 and 30 at Villa Maria Catholic Life Conference and Retreat Center on Lake Springfield. The annual holiday gathering is an opportunity for the seminarians not only to spend time with the bishop, but also to spend time with each other, as they are studying at different seminaries and colleges, said Father Christopher House, vocation director.

Priests joined the bishop and seminarians for dinner on Dec. 29, as did parish life coordinators, permanent deacons and their wives, and deacon candidates and their wives.

The seminarians spent the night at Villa Maria, concluding their visit with a Holy Hour the next day.

Two seminarians from the diocese missed the celebration, as they were on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land.

Seminarians currently studying for the diocesan priesthood, listed by their seminaries, are: Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein - Paul Kala, Stephen Thompson, Hyland Smith, Seth Brown and David Curtin; Conception Seminary College, Conception, Mo. - Steve Arisman, Daniel Friedel and Braden Maher; Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis - Brian Alford and Zachary Edgar; and Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wis. - Albert Allen.