Posted on 12/15/2008 10:44:33 AM PST by GonzoII
Boston was the epicenter of the sexual abuse scandals that rocked the Church in the early part of this decade.
During the same period, the Archdiocese of Boston also wrestled with the contentious issue of church closings necessitated by diminishing numbers of Catholics in some parishes.
But there are unmistakable signs of renewal evident at the archdiocesan seminary in Brighton, Mass., as noted in this Dec. 14 Boston Globe article, headlined “Stunning Turnaround for St. John’s Seminary.”
Enrollment at St. John’s Seminary has doubled over the last two years, courtesy of a determined effort by Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston to rebuild attendance at the once-thriving seminary that was on the verge of closing its doors in the middle of this decade.
Reports the Globe, “The stone hall in Brighton, where two generations ago hundreds of young men prepared for the priesthood, is still strikingly quiet, but the pews of the Romanesque chapel are now about one-third full, as fresh-faced young men from around the world help to revive a 125-year-old institution that teetered on the brink of extinction just a few years ago.
“Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, who resisted calls from priests to close the Catholic seminary when he arrived as archbishop of Boston five years ago, has made preserving St. John’s a top priority for his administration, and has cajoled bishops from New England and beyond to send young men to Boston to prepare for the priesthood. This fall there are 87 men studying theology at St. John’s, up from 42 two years ago.”
— Tom McFeely
Wow.
Ping.
I pray also for revival!
I can’t recall seeing a priest in the stands at a BC football game for years. The Chaplains from my parish KOC can’t go because they are so busy.
BC is not Catholic. Ask any ND fan.
I have heard the seminaries which promote traditional Catholicism are overflowing with applicants.
“I have heard the seminaries which promote traditional Catholicism are overflowing with applicants.”
—
That’s what I’m hearing too.
Good news.
We go to a FSSP Church(Latin Mass), they’ve 60 or so seminarians at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska.
“Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska.”
—
And a bookstore to order from, online, I might add.
Yes, Fabian Bruskewitz runs that organization; they have a dedicated seminary.
May there sprout forth a springtime of authentic Catholicism in this benighted Commonwealth!
Catholic ping!
It forgets to mention that 42 years ago nearly everyone suddying Philosophy was studyin for Boston, now it’s 39%, more of the love affair with O’Malley by the Globe.
This fall there are 87 men studying theology at St. John’s,
What kind of theology are they studying? Catholic? Or something else, masquerading as Catholic?
I hope that people will realize: 2. The support that Cardinal O'Malley has from his friends such as Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver. 3. That progress will be made in steps and not quantum leaps in the Boston Archdiocese -- especially given the hostile nature of the TV/Media in Boston/New York that the Archbishop has to deal with. 1. The tremendous difficulties he faces in taking over the mess created by Cardinal Law.
I hope Freepers will not aid the enemy by attacking Cardinal O'Malley...
You mean that ND team that is 0 for the last 6 against the Eagles? /ducks
This is very true. It’s the Benedictine saying: “when pruned, it grows” Contribute only to traditional seminaries like the “Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter”
That’s the one. As I have said in the past the best Catholic football team in the US is BC followed by Holy Cross. Heck HC could have beaten Syracuse.
most recent at bottom
In Seminaries, New Ways for a New Generation
Seminary Springtime: Father Darrin Connall s Big Success
EVIDENCE GROWS OF DIRECT DISOBEDIENCE TO VATICAN IN MAJOR AMERICAN SEMINARIES
Pope to Church: Risky Seminarians Must Go
Priests Down, Seminarians Up
U.S. Priests and seminarians survey: more vocations in orthodox dioceses
Vatican Announces Surge in Seminaries during JPII Pontificate
Seminary Reform Needed in Wake of Sex Abuse Study ["the crisis in the Church is ... homosexuality"]
Homosexuals in seminaries? The latest.....
Priests 'In Orgy' at Seminary
Bishop urges gay ban in clergy; presses for overhaul in screening priests
A New Breed of Priest
AUSTRIAN SEMINARY SHUT DOWN FOR PROBE
Seminarians Show Support For Celibacy
556 Reasons for Hope [Seminarians Support Celibacy]
No Shortage of Vocations From Conservative Parishes
Oakland seminary housing sex offender priests
Phoenix bishop to helm Priestly Formation Committee [of USCCB]
Vatican Firms up Plans for U.S. Seminary Visitation in 2005
SIBLING VOCATIONS - Early calls led two sisters to same religious order
On the admission of homosexuals to seminaries
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
New Start For Austrian Seminary
Disciples of Pope John Paul (Faculty of Gregorian University Gripe About Piety of New Seminarians)
New Priests in U.S.: Older, and More >From Abroad (Survey Tracks Trends Since 1998)
U.S. seminarians welcome Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican review of seminaries to raise issue of gay priests
Some Decry Retirement Despite Priest Shortage
The Priesthood Ordination Class of 2005 “People would be surprised to know that I…”
(Catholic) Seminarians Double In 25 Years
Pope's death inspires would-be priests
Changes Add Up for Priesthood
Irish Bishops Apologize to Seminary Whistle-Blower
SIGNAL CALLING - UB quarterback foregoes family and career to train for priesthood in Rome
Pop Culture Heros Help Recruit Priests
Small Bible-belt (Catholic) diocese sees increase in seminarians
Dashing young priests turn heads at Youth Day br> Vatican to Start U.S. Seminary Evaluations
Apostolic Seminary Visitation To Begin This Fall
U.S. Bishops to Begin Inspecting Seminaries
Prelate Says Gays Shouldn't Be Ordained
American overseeing Vatican evaluation of US seminaries says gays should not be ordained
Vatican to Check U.S. Seminaries on Gay Presence
POPE APPROVES BARRING GAY SEMINARIANS
Pope bans homosexuals from ordination as priests
Questions Arise Over Seminary Inspections
New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests
New Vatican Rule Said to Bar Gays as New Priests (ABOUT TIME)
VATICAN: HOMOSEXUALS ARE NOT TO BE ORDAINED AS CATHOLIC PRIESTS
Homosexuals in the seminary; A Global Church in a Globalized World
Gay Men Ponder Impact of (Anti-Gay Clergy)Proposal by Vatican(Barf Alert)
Aquinas Seminary is First for Scrutiny
Vatican Begins Inspections At St. Louis Seminary (Rector: No homosexuality-pedophilia link)
The Sins of the Seminaries
Notre Dame Experts React to Potential Seminary Rules
Seminary Reviews Not Just About Homosexuality, Says Prelate
Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays
Jesuit Official Rips Expected Ban on Gays
Jesuit official protesting expected Vatican ban on gay priests
A Catholic Moment of Truth
Gay Catholics Angry Over Seminary Searches
New Rules Affirm Pope Benedict's Stance Against Gays
New Report on Vatican Gay Priests Document Said to be Gay Lobby “Rumor Mill”
Gay men can be priests if celibate
Gay men can be Catholic priests if celibate-paper
No ban on gays expected in Vatican document; will advise 'prudential judgement'
African Cardinal Views the Vocation Shortage - With Full Seminaries, Ghana Shares Its Wealth
Keep the Ban
Today's seminarians: The Vatican survey
Lincoln diocese boasts highest number of priests to Catholics
Vatican Document on homosexuals in seminaries will be published tomorrow
Married Priests Aren’t the Answer (a seminarian states his view)
Vatican document restricts gays in priesthood: paper
Barring gays from priesthood not discrimination, say Italian bishops
Roman Women are Converts to Convents
Heads Up!! Zero Hour is 9am on December 29
Why I Thank God I Couldn’t Be A Priest
A look inside the Denver seminaries
Ordination Challenges: Out of the Seminary, Into the Fire
Vatican teams checking seminary effectiveness (in all, 229 US seminaries to be reviewed)
Seminaries Are Overflowing in Socialist Vietnam
Seminaries Full in Southern India (despite new anti-conversion law)
Ordination Class of 2006 - New Catholic Priests include twins, converts and some surprises
Twin ordinands, youngest of 13, credit parents for priestly vocations
Eleven new priests for Denver, largest ordination class in 40 years
Religious vocations can come from anyplace
Coordinator of U.S. seminary visitations expects report this fall
Continued growth for Australian seminaries
Journey of faith runs through R.I. (young Polish immigrant ordained to priesthood)
A leaf of Faith (Catholic convert enters religious life)
More twins (enter priesthood)
These twins are doubly blessed - Identical brothers from Erie to become priests today
New, stricter Priestly Formation Program issued for U.S. Catholic seminaries
O Father, Where Art Thou? (US catholics coping with shrinking priesthood)
Pope Tells of Key to Awaken Vocations (address to religious and seminarians at Vespers)
U.S. Catholic Seminary Probe Sent to Vatican
Homosems, A Year On
Vocations Are Up at English-Speaking Seminaries
Vocations Surge - The Priest Shortage Isn’t Over, But Seminaries Are Filling Up
To Know, To Love, To Lead (Pope Benedict XVI ordains 22 new priests)
God delivers (IL) mail carrier to the priesthood
No shortage of priests in Atlanta, more than 50 seminarians
Not so much catechism as conviction (Thomas Aquinas College Produces a Harvest of Priests)
Archdiocese of San Antonio dedicates new seminary dorm to meet vocational demands
Filled to overflowing (MN seminary at an all time high)
The Priesthood of Jesus Christ - Body and Blood (Confessional ... Consecration ... and Calvary)
Interest in the priesthood is on the upswing, says Baltimore archdiocesan vocations director
Chase Hilgenbrinck, from the pitch to the priesthood
Vatican finishes work on psychological testing of seminary candidates [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic Caucus: Seminary Revival in Boston ( Good News for Mass )
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.