The first year of the new millennium was a tough one financially, and Wall Street wasn't the only place where finances suffered. Losses in personal economies meant losses everywhere else - including church ministries.

Not only are parishes and charitable organizations seeing fewer dollars, but the annual collection taken to support seminarians was down last year, according to Father Gregory Baxter, director of the Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

"At that time the economy was beginning to weaken a bit and people's budgets were stretched," he said. "But in spite of that, we still were able to realize a very generous collection from the people of the archdiocese."

That generosity translated into nearly $222,000 in support for the 34 men who are studying to serve the people of northeast Nebraska as priests in the coming years.

Despite continuing challenges to the economy, Father Baxter remains hopeful for this year's collection, which is scheduled to be taken Jan. 5-6 in parishes around the archdiocese. That's because parishioners understand the importance of the collection, he said.

"They know that their sacrifice and their support today will lead to quality priests for tomorrow," Father Baxter said.

"It is a sacrifice to give to the needs of our seminarians," he acknowledged. "But the return is going to be a wonderful return, a special return of good and loving priests for our archdiocese."

Among the seminarians are eight new students: J.P. Brunke, a junior at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo.; Mark Daeges, who is pursuing pre-theology studies at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Mo.; Andrew Finch, a freshman at Conception; Bret Van Gorp, who is in his first year of theology at Kenrick; Stephen Hoth, a sophomore at Conception; Andy Phan, a senior at Conception; Andrew Roza, a junior at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio; and Francis Valerio, who is in his first year of theology at Kenrick.

Father Baxter said these men have added a whole new dimension of life to the seminarian community.

"They come from all different walks of life, from the true college freshman to men who have been working for a number of years," he said.

One of them, Stephen Hoth, began his studies for the priesthood in the Sudan, but had to leave due to political pressure and persecution. Father Baxter cited his willingness to step forward and offer his gifts again - gifts that are very much needed at a time when the Sudanese community in northeast Nebraska is growing.

Father Baxter added that there is "a great spirit" among the new seminarians that renews and revitalizes the spirit of the current seminarians.

"They are a sign of hope for the seminarians who have been studying for awhile that others are continuing to answer the call.... That just encourages and inspires the older seminarians," he said. "It is certainly a great witness for those who are still looking at the possibility of the seminary - to see so many men continuing to enter inspires those who are still discerning."

While the events of Sept. 11 wouldn't seem to have any direct bearing on vocations ministry, Father Baxter said the terrorist attacks have made people reflective.

"I think I've seen an upturn in phone calls and inquiries about priesthood since Sept. 11," he told The Catholic Voice. "It's really refocused the minds and hearts of many people about what's important in this world.

"Young people, I've noticed, are much more open to talk about larger life issues and the direction of their own lives after the events of Sept. 11," Father Baxter said. "It's really caused people to pause, to think, to pray, to share their feelings with others about what happened and also regarding the meaning of their own life in the Church and in the world."

That means not just gaining the things of the world, which are temporary, he said.

"What's important is pausing and listening to God's will for us and then faithfully doing that will," Father Baxter said.