We welcome our Seminarian, Jonathan for the Summer:

             My name is Jonathan Dickson and I am 34 years old.  I am a seminarian studying for this diocese and am originally from Altoona.  My home parish is St. Therese in Altoona.   I entered    Seminary three years ago where I began my formation in pre-theology at St. Mark’s Seminary in Erie.  After completing pre-theology at St. Mark’s in Erie, I entered St. Mary’s in Baltimore where I completed my first year of theology this past May. 

Prior to entering seminary, I was in sales for almost seven years.  I had been away from the Church for a long time and came back when I was looking for some guidance, which I found through a priest.  It was the encounter with this priest and his subsequent direction that brought me back to the Church and helped foster in me a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I had been lost for many years and coming back to the Church brought meaning to my life that I thought I would never find.  Little did I know that my journey back to the Church would also lead me to the seminary, but after much prayer, discernment, and spiritual direction, I    decided to enter seminary, more so (and I know  this is a double negative) because I was at a point where I knew that I couldn’t not go.

This is my second parish assignment since entering seminary, and so far I have had a great experience at Our Lady of Victory.   I know that this experience will continue to be fruitful, and I look forward to getting to know more of you as my assignment continues.  There is no substitute for pastoral/parish experience and I feel very blessed that Bishop Mark has assigned me to Our Lady of Victory.  I appreciate you receiving me for the summer, as this is an important part of my formation, while I continue to prepare to (God willing) one day serve the diocese as a priest.

God Bless,

Jonathan Dickson