Please welcome Arthur Bautista, our new Seminarian!

My name is Arthur Bautista. I am currently a second year theologian at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary). I am studying for the
Archdiocese of Chicago. I was born and raised in the Philippines. At the age of 16, I entered a diocesan seminary in the Philippines. After my third year in college
seminary, my family decided to move to the States. I worked for three years as a nursing assistant at a nursing home in Evanston Illinois. In 2014, I decided to go
back to the seminary. I went to Divine Word College Seminary in Epworth, Iowa. I graduated with a degree in Philosophy. In 2016, I joined the Archdiocese of Chicago
and entered Mundelein Seminary to earn my Masters in Divinity. This year is my 7th year in the seminary. If it is God's will, I will be ordain as a deacon in 2019 and
ordain as a priest in 2020. 

St. Josaphat parish is one of the chosen parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago to become a "Teaching Parish". Your parish is the extension of the seminary of forming future priests not only for the Archdiocese of Chicago, but also for other dioceses around the United States. In other words, St. Josaphat parish is our "training ground" in preparation for our future ministry as priests. 

Your parish is my assignment parish throughout my remaining years of seminary formation. This year I will be involved with our youth ministry in the parish. I will be joining their Sunday gatherings and different activities throughout the year. In February, I will be staying full-time at the parish for three months to do my pastoral internship. After a year with youth ministry, I will be doing some parish administration, marriage preparation, and baptismal preparation. Lastly, for my deacon year, I will be assisting as a deacon at Mass. Also as a deacon, I will celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Matrimony with delegation of the pastor.