Shepherd’s Cup golf tourney helps provide seminarians with invaluable opportunities, support
Priests-in-training anticipate sportsmanship, camaraderie at Sept. 29 event

By JONAH DYCUS
Herald Staff Writer

KINGWOOD – During the Shepherd’s Cup Charity Golf Classic at the Clubs of Kingwood, shepherds-in-training may be spotted hitting the links, volunteering in the clubhouse and welcoming guests for the day of fun.
Proceeds from the much-anticipated Sept. 29 celebration benefit St. Mary’s Seminary, along with Catholic education and faith formation. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza are collaborating to host the tournament, which is being presented by the Knights of Columbus Charities. The day’s title sponsors are Sean Patrick and Kari O’Brian Tracey.
Besides providing an ideal venue to swing the clubs, the big event will give participants a unique opportunity to interact with archdiocesan seminarians studying for the priesthood.
Funds raised from the fall tournament will help St. Mary’s Seminary students with tuition, room and board, and facility operations. Such donations also supply opportunities for archdiocesan seminarians to take part in invaluable programs around the world as they continue their priestly formation.
“We provide all of our seminarians with the best programs available, something many dioceses don’t always have the opportunity to do,” said Father Brendan Cahill, St. Mary’s Seminary rector. “If there is a strong program out there, we are able to send them.”
Father Cahill is particularly excited about the Knights of Columbus’ generous involvement in the Charity Golf Classic. “The Knights of Columbus have been a constant supporter of the seminary, and as part of their mission, they support the seminarians in many different ways. We have always appreciated that,” he said. “We are honored that the Knights of Columbus are willing to continue their work and support for this golf tournament. It is a fun event, but it is an event that benefits the Church greatly.”
Another individual humbled by the Knights of Columbus’ continuous support of the seminary is Deacon Pat Garrett, who will be ordained a priest next year. During his first year in the seminary, Deacon Garrett joined the charitable fraternity and is now a Third Degree Knight of Columbus (St. Maximilian Kolbe, Council #10720).
“Since I have come to the seminary, I have been truly amazed at the amount of support we get from the Knights, and from a number of other organizations and individuals,” he said.
Just recently, contributions from the Knights of Columbus allowed many of the seminarians to travel north to witness Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York this past April.
“That’s why it is always so great to go to gatherings like this upcoming golf tournament – we get to see so many people there, and have them tell us that they are praying for us and supporting us,” Deacon Garrett said. “When you are in the challenge of studying, when things get tough during the semester, it is always good to know that you have all of that support behind you and you have all of those people helping you…That’s why I look forward to the golf tournament – to be able to visibly see all of those people who are supporting us in so many different ways.”
Thanks to the generosity of donors, Deacon Garrett will be traveling to Jerusalem this July to take part in a program that will include Bible study, theology, ecumenical dialogue and cultural education.
In addition, proceeds like those from the Shepherd’s Cup allow all of the Galveston-Houston seminarians to attend other vital formation sessions during the summer. These experiences include visits to a Jesuit-operated spirituality institute at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and a program in Mexico to refine their Spanish-speaking abilities. Offerings through the tournament also enable seminarians to study at the North American College in Rome.
One priest-to-be eager to tee off in Kingwood is Deacon T.J. Dolce, who guesstimates he is roughly an 18-20 handicap. “I think I have been studying too much, because my (handicap) should be lower. Maybe in the next semester, I won’t study as much so my golf game can improve,” he joked.
Deacon Dolce said  he looks forward to being teamed up with other golfers who support St. Mary’s Seminary and Catholic education. “It is a great opportunity for me to talk with people of God who are so generous and praying for us,” he said. “It makes all of the difference in the world to know there are people out there encouraging us, who would like to see us become priests. They want our ministry, for us to bring them the sacraments, the presence of God and service.”
Another deacon a year away from priestly ordination, Reggie Samuels, considers the golf tournament a “wonderful opportunity for people to get to know the future leaders of the Church. It is a casual atmosphere to have fellowship and fun with people who share a common goal to build the Kingdom of God.
“It is also a great chance for them to get to know the people they are supporting,” Deacon Samuels said. “They can see the many great young men who are dedicating their lives to the service of the Church, and see how God is working in their lives.
“We don’t always have a chance to actually spend time with the folks praying and supporting us, and opening all of these doors for us…It is very heartwarming to know that people of God are very supportive of seminarians and we love to listen to their stories,” he added.
Steady chatter near the tee box and inside the carts is common on the courses, and Deacon Dolce considers that aspect to be an added bonus of the tournament. “I find there is an in-depth discussion at an event like this, which is pretty incredible. People ask me about my vocations, my journey, and I make sure I ask them about their journey as well,” he said. “They ask me about my studying to become a priest and they tell me how God has worked in their lives, too. A lot of times, I listen to people’s life stories, their struggles, what they are dealing with – it can be a very therapeutic experience for people I end up playing golf with.”
While he appreciates prayerful support and encouragement, Deacon Dolce also said he is thankful for the monetary donations he and his brother seminarians receive for their education. “I know it costs a lot of money to educate seminarians and any help that we can get is great. We study all of the time, and we don’t have a chance to make money – it is like being a poor college student all over again when you are a seminarian,” he laughed. “The help that we will get from the golf tournament and the Knights of Columbus – it helps us to do things we would not be able to do on our own.”
Still, he said he very much looks forward to seeing his fellow golfers out at The Clubs in late September. “It is so cool for me to be in an event like the Shepherd’s Cup Golf Tournament where you see so many people of God fired up and excited about their faith,” Deacon Dolce said. “They are excited for us, too, being the guys who are the shepherds of the future.’”
Shepherd’s Cup will feature a lunch, range balls, shared cart, dinner and awards. A putting contest is scheduled for the morning.
The first, second and third place teams of the four-player handicap scramble will earn awards. Gifts will also be offered to the longest drive, closest to the pin and hole-in-one. In addition, door prizes will be distributed. The tournament is open to all golfers.
For more information about the Shepherd’s Cup Charity Golf Classic, contact Jim Collins at (281) 491-7018, call the archdiocesan Office of Development at (713) 659-5461 or visit www.archgh.org.