ST. JOHN NEWMAN UNIVERSITY PARISH – JONESBORO: Hartnedy wants to emulate his patron saint, Pope JPII

St. John Newman University Parish – Jonesboro issued the following announcement on June 2.

Seminarian to serve in Jonesboro before final year at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio

John Paul Hartnedy had a few still moments at the end of his diaconate ordination Mass to reflect on what God had given him. He stood at the bottom of the steps, holding the ciborium. As he waited to distribute Communion to the choir, he wiped a tear from his cheek.

“The Mass wasn’t rushed, but it was so packed full of beautiful moments,” he told Arkansas Catholic. “I had three or four minutes to think and pray and let it wash over me again and realized the beauty of the moment, the gift God was giving me. From my theology studies, I know I am changed. My soul is forever changed and given the grace to serve as he calls, but in a real way, I am the same man as I was before. Without his gift to me, I could not do what he is asking me to do. But with him and with what just happened, I can say yes, and I can be faithful. In that moment, holding the Lord in my hands, it struck me profoundly.”

Original source can be found  here.

Source: St. John Newman University Parish – Jonesboro