Posted on 10/12/2014 6:10:54 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
So many men are eager to prepare for the priesthood at Heiligenkreuz Abbey in Lower Austria that they are having to be housed in temporary blue container units in the garden.
With the theological college bursting at the seams it has installed 12 of the containers, which are small and not very attractive but are reportedly quite comfortable.
The number of applicants wishing to take a theology diploma has quadrupled in 15 years, from 62 to 242.
Currently the abbey is home to 37 seminarians, many of whom are "late bloomers" for the priesthood, with backgrounds as psychologists, teachers, civil servants, nurses, craftsmen and even a former Swiss Guard, according to the Archdiocese of Vienna.
The majority are from German-speaking countries, with nine coming from India, Nigeria, Ukraine and Vietnam. They are between 20 and 52-years-old.
The abbey only has 28 student rooms and no immediate plans to expand.
"The new students have become accustomed to their special housing," rector Father Karl Wallner said. The containers have been blessed by the abbot.
Heiligenkreuz Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the southern part of the Vienna woods, and is home to over 80 monks.
“I haven’t heard much about Roman Catholic seminaries bursting at the seams.”
There are many. Just google the phrase “Catholic seminary bursting at the seams”:
http://thecatholicbeat.sacredheartradio.com/2014/09/03/seminary-bursting-at-seams/
http://members4.boardhost.com/acnaus/msg/1252384319.html
http://www.catholicvote.org/st-paul-seminary-bursting-at-the-seems/comment-page-3/
http://ncronline.org/news/catholic-seminary-enrollment
http://www.xt3.com/library/view.php?id=3613
Even more turned to atheism.
I wonder if their texts are written in Latin or Austrian.
Austrian according to our Dear Leader.
Austrian according to our Dear Leader.
No gay story here? Last time I saw a convention of priests in a hotel for a weekend, my gaydar was chirping like a fire alarm.
We shall see, won't we?
"Austrian"?? That would be GERMAN.
Our “Dear Leader” is a MORON.
I don't believe the latter statement. Perhaps you have some believable proof of that. The Germans and Austrians aren't any different than anyone else.
You can't say that "a lot of..." and, in the same sentence, "even more..." That is contradictory.
I found PACKED churches in Austria. In Germany the churches were just like the ones here, full of old women. Hey, that's ME. :o)
However, I didn't LIVE in Germany or Austria. I've only visited there a dozen or more times. Frankfurt is THE port of entry for European travel.
The empty churches are in Scandinavia. We've had a friend over there for almost 40 years...watched her grow up and older over the years. She became a doctor. The empty churches are what she has reported over the decades. She says that it's very sad, being in those beautiful but empty churches. Many of their carvings and paintings (on the walls) are very old...from the Viking days.
She also says that "VIKINGS" is pronounced vEEkings, not the way we pronounce it. VEEKINGS? Tsk! That sounds wimpy!
Hmmm. Interesting that you are so aware of hot men.
Instructive comments for sure. I`’ve never been to or lived in either Germany or Austria. My comments are based on observations from nationals of both countries with whom I`’ve done business over the years. Their outlook is almost universally nihilistic and negative.
OTOH, how would they know the churches are mostly empty if they never attend, eh?
FWIW, I rejoice when I read news of Christianity moving forward regardless of denomination.
Catholics training more clergy, Protestants building more megachurches, Mormons building more temples and in-home Bible studies classes growing are all good news to my ears which show progress in countering the Progressive Religon of Agnosticism and their erstwhile Allies in the Religion of Beheadings.
Increase in Catholic Seminarians in Austria. I guess the Holy Spirit found men willing to listen and respond.
Sounds like a bit of good news.
Yep.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.