ARCHPASTORAL APPEAL OF ARCHBISHOP DANIEL
2025 ANNUAL SUPPORT OUR SEMINARIANS (SOS) APPEAL
September 2025
Beloved in Christ,
The first Great Feast of the new liturgical year is the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, two days from now. Whenever we honor our Sovereign Lady the Theotokos, especially when we celebrate her feasts, we immediately think of the role she plays in the history of Salvation. We reflect upon her role in the life of her Son and in the life of the Church and recognize her as the first and most faithful Disciple of Her Divine Son. We also turn to her in prayer, asking her prayers for ourselves, our loved ones, and all who are dear to us. As I write this, I have in mind our diocesan seminarians—those who are preparing themselves, God willing, for eventual ordination or for other roles of service in the Church, and whom I entrust to the prayers and protection of the Mother of God.
Our diocesan seminarians recently gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, for our third annual seminarians’ retreat. Among those participating were those who are just now beginning their seminary career and those who are returning to continue or to complete their theological studies, four of them having already been ordained to the Holy Diaconate. This now-annual gathering offers the opportunity for our seminarians to spend time together in fellowship, to pray together, and to strengthen the bonds they share as seminarians of the Diocese of the Midwest. They also have the chance to hear from diocesan leadership and to spend more time with me personally. Having met each of them as part of the diocesan admissions process, I am happy to say that I have great confidence in their abilities and great hope for their future service in the Church, whatever form that service might eventually take.
These men and, and in most cases, their families, have taken a great leap of faith as they uproot themselves from their usual lives, leave their employment and main sources of income, their social and family support structures, sometimes sell their homes, and move to the seminary. Such sacrifices indicate their deep trust in us, the Church which they hope to someday serve.
I call upon all of you, as clergy, faithful, parish communities, and missions and chapels of the Diocese of the Midwest, to respond to this trust by helping and supporting our seminarians and their families throughout their time at the seminary. Of course, I ask you to pray for them. Pray that the Lord will bless and strengthen them throughout their days at the seminary. Ask the Most Pure Mother of God, the Protectress of our Diocese, invoked in her Tikhvin icon, to guard and protect them.
As the name of this annual Support our Seminarians (SOS) appeal implies, I also ask you to support them financially. The annual budget of the Diocese of the Midwest contains a line item to provide financial assistance. However, these funds remain insufficient to realistically provide for tuition, books, and other school-related expenses, let alone food and housing for seminarian families. Our seminarians do not complain, even though in most cases they need to make use foods stamps and often go into debt. Quite the opposite, in place of grumbling about the sacrifices required of them, they willingly embrace these challenges and discomforts so that they can serve the Church.
I ask that you reflect thoughtfully and deeply upon your support of our seminarians. Kindly open your hearts to them, pray for them, and financially support their education through this annual appeal. Parishes are asked to respond generously, whether by having special collections or fundraisers or, like our Diocese, by placing a line item in their annual budgets. Think of this as an investment- and investment for the future of our parishes and an investment for our families and those who will follow us. Most especially, as an investment in the preaching of the Gospel and the work of the Church—for many years to come.
In advance, I thank you for your thoughtful and generous support. May Christ the Eternal High Priest and Shepherd of our Souls continue to bless you. May His Most Pure Mother continue to guard and protect you and your loved ones. Be assured of my continuing prayers for you all.
+DANIEL
Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest
