Priests- Next Generation II

Joining a Fraternity of Faith, Dwindling but Resolute

But several of the incoming students, including Mr. Hacker, have already experienced a measure of confirmation in their first weeks. Jason Espinal, 22, who attended community college before enrolling in the seminary, was overcome while genuflecting before the Eucharist in the seminary’s chapel on a recent Sunday. He went down on one knee, but then prostrated himself completely.

“I found myself in tears,” he said.

Like the other students, Mr. Espinal has endured plenty of questions about his decision to pursue the priesthood. Lawyers at a firm where he was working told him it would squelch his personality. A friend told him he thought it was disgusting that he would be living with other priests.