Diocese of Palm Beach Letter

Office of THE BISHOP February 27, 2026 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Next weekend, March 7/8, parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach will take up the annual second collection for education of seminarians and formation of priests. The funds raised in this collection are used to cover the cost of tuition, housing, education and pastoral training of our eight seminarians. Those expenses are significant and rising all the time. The yearly cost of tuition for one seminarian is now about $25,000, and the yearly room and board for one seminarian is $15,000. Thanks to your assistance, our seminarians are able to journey in faith without being financially burdened and can devote themselves fully to priestly formation. Since the last collection, we celebrated the ordinations of Father Jude Okeke in May 2025 and Father Jedidiah Preble in January 2026. St. Paul said, "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil 1:6). May the excellent work of forming our seminarians, along with your fervent prayers, pay abundant dividends with an increase in vocations for many years to come. With gratitude for your continued generosity and every prayerful wish, I am Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez Bishop of Palm Beach