Supporters from across the Diocese of Saginaw joined Bishop Robert Gruss at the annual Bishop’s Charity Golf Classic and Banquet to support seminarians and future vocations on Sept. 13 and 14 at the Swan Valley Golf Course in Thomas Township and DoubleTree by Hilton in Bay City.

The golf classic included 176 golfers in two flights, and almost 300 guests joined the banquet and silent auction. All proceeds from the events support seminarian education and vocations. As the approximate average expenses for the 2023-24 academic year are $53,150 per seminarian, each participant played a valuable role in supporting our future priests.

The Office of Vocations was pleased to announce two new seminarians for the Diocese of Saginaw, who started their studies this fall.

Carter Filhart is a high school graduate from Shepherd, Michigan. He and his family attend St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Beal City. Carter is attending St. John Vianney Seminary, which is located on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Michael Kuehne is a native of Auburn, Michigan. His home parish is Our Lady of Częstochowa in Bay City. He recently graduated from Norwich University in Connecticut. He is attending Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He is being co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of the Military Services through the United States Air Force.

In addition to Carter and Michael, the Diocese of Saginaw’s other seminarians are: Daniel Christe, studying at Sacred Heart Seminary in Wisconsin and Charles Warner, studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Highlights of the banquet included a message from Bishop Robert Gruss and musical entertainment by The Sunset Trio – Bill Federspiel and Ron and Marissa Short.

Fourteen diocesan priests also provided unique hospitality as waiters wearing aprons customized with a Scripture verse or religious quote. While some were serious or spiritual, others were humorous, such as Father Christopher Coman’s “From man’s sweat and God’s love, beer came into the world.” (St. Arnold of Metz). Auctioneer Mike Furlo added energy with a live auction of the priests’ aprons.

Participating priest waiters (as shown left-to-right in their customized aprons) were: Father Bill Rutkowski, Father Matthew Gembrowski, Father Adam Maher, Father Andy Booms, Father Jose´ Cabrera, Father Marc Hopps, Father Rick Filary, Father Nate Harburg, Father Andy LaFramboise, Father Pete Gaspeny, Father Christopher Coman, Father Marcel Portelli, Father Stephen Blaxton and Father David Jenuwine.