DDC 2024-2025 RSVP Report on Seminarian Support

Dallas Diocese Chapter 2024-2025 RSVP Report on Seminarian Report

Worthy Officers, DDs, GKs, FNs, and Brothers (and Rev. Bishop Burns and Fathers Joseph, Mark, Zach, Vincent, Luca, Alan, and Michal):

Let me start by sharing some terrific news. On May 1, 2025, Matthew Biaggi will be ordained to the transitional diaconate! The ordination Mass will be held at Nuestra Sra. Del Pilar in Dallas, beginning at 5:30 PM.

Also, on May 24, 2025, Deacons Bryce Baumann, Allen-Michael Muench, David Piquer Sales and Peter Whitfield will be ordained to the priesthood! The ordination Mass will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Plano, beginning at 10:00 AM.

One bit of bad news – SK Dylan Caviness has discerned out of formation and left the seminary. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

In advance of our next DDC meeting (this Saturday), I am attaching my 5th set of RSVP reports for this fraternal year concerning our Diocesan RSVP Program for seminarian support.

1. As a reminder, our new and improved Diocesan goal is to provide each of our Diocesan seminarians with at least 4 sponsors of $500.00 each. We have 50 seminarians in formation for the Dallas Diocese this year (6 of them are new).
2. I’m happy to say we are very, very close to meeting our goal. Thus far, 44 Councils, 7 Assemblies and 1 Squire Circle have pledged 227.80 sponsorships, and have already funded 223.80 of those sponsorships (that’s $111,900). Two of the unfunded sponsorships will remain unfunded because they were pledged to a seminarian who has left formation.
    
   To meet our goal, we need to generate 9 more sponsorships to get the following seminarians to 4 sponsors:
    
   Emmanuel Hernandez, Holy Trinity
   Deacon Bryce Baumann, North American Pontifical College
   Luis G. Alves Fernandez, Redemptoris Mater
   Sebastian Cuevas (he needs 2 sponsors), Redemptoris Mater
   Carlos Jose Guevara (he needs 2 sponsors), Redemptoris Mater
   Uriel Ortega Martinez, Redemptoris Mater
   Alexis Restrepo Agudelo, Redemptoris Mater

   If your Council or Assembly is able, please consider pledging and funding a sponsorship for one of these men!

   We also need those who have pledged sponsorships to fund them. At present, we have two unfunded pledges – one from Council 3593 (District 116) and one from Squire Circle 5279.

3. There are two Councils that I have not yet heard from that typically participate in this program. I have listed them below, by District, along with the (number) of sponsorships each provided last year. If your Council is on this list, please let me hear from you (and I’d appreciate it if the respective DDs would give these Councils a nudge):
    
   District 106: 7438 (1)
   District 107: 11721 (2)
    
4. For the remainder of the fraternal year, we also need to focus on one critical item. If you have issued your RSVP checks, please get your Form 2863 completed and submitted as soon as possible. The waiting line to get RSVP requests processed at Supreme gets longer the closer we get to June 30!
5. The process of supporting a seminarian is simple:
    
   First, identify the seminarian(s) your Council or Assembly would like to support (and let me know which seminarians you plan to support).
    
   Second, issue checks in the amount of $500.00 to your seminarian(s). Mail the checks to:
    
   Father Zach Webb
   Director of Seminarians
   3725 Blackburn
   Dallas, Texas 75219
    
   Send me copies of the checks.
    
   Third, once the check has cleared your bank, complete Form 2863 (to which you must attach a copy of the canceled check, front and back) and submit it to Supreme.
    
   Fourth, collect your $100.00 refund for every check you write.
    
6. The first report attached to this email is the current list of Diocesan seminarians for this fraternal year. It also shows which Councils/Assemblies supported these men last year, and identifies our 6 new seminarians with the word NEW. It also includes the seminarians in formation outside of our Diocese that are supported (or were supported) by Councils or Assemblies this year or last year.
7. The second report attached to this email summarizes how we are doing as a Diocese. As noted above, our overall progress is very good – our goal for the fraternal year is within sight.
8. The third report attached to this email is organized by District (for Councils), Assemblies and Squire Circles. If you want to see how your particular Council, Assembly or Circle is doing, this is the place to look. It is also the place to check to be sure that your plans have been communicated to yours truly.
9. If anyone prefers to receive these reports in their native Excel form, send me an email and I’ll send them along.

Vivat Jesus!! Viva Cristo Rey!!

SK John J. Little, PGK
RSVP Chairman
Dallas Diocese Chapter

8150 N. Central Expressway, 10^th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 573-2307
(214) 394-8658 (cell)
john@johnjlittlelaw.com