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Atlantis rises: US seminaries are changing
Fr. Z's Blog ^ | 30 November 2011 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted on 11/30/2011 8:10:29 AM PST by GonzoII

Atlantis rises: US seminaries are changing

Posted on by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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It isn’t rocket science.

The theological and moral bizzaro-world into which US seminaries sank Atlantis-like over the decades of the 60s to the 80s is over. They didn’t sink in a day, and they won’t be raised in a day either.

But they are rising.

The reason has been, in part, bishops who made changes, and in larger part students who would no long put up with the weirdness. Men wanted Catholic formation and virile liturgy and they didn’t want to be… how to say it… hit on. Seminarians themselves began to revolt against the faculty and tell their bishops what was going on and changes were implemented. Once the shift in the episcopate Pope John Paul II worked patiently to achieve began to re-leaven the country, reform started gain momentum.

A reader sent a link to the following with the subject line: “Could it be…. Orrrthodoxy?”

From CNS with my cuts [...], emphases and comments.

Catholic seminary enrollment up, but numbers seen as only part of story

By Nancy Frazier O’Brien
Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — In his first months as rector of Theological College in Washington, Father Phillip J. Brown has been confronting a problem that the national diocesan seminary for the U.S. Catholic Church “has not had for a long time” — it is bursting at the seams.

Enrollment is maxed out for the 2011-12 academic year at 90 seminarians. Five of those seminarians are back in their dioceses this year gaining pastoral experience, but a Sulpician seminarian and five priests from other countries also live there, bringing the total number of residents to 91 plus faculty members.

“If I had to start with a problem, that’s the problem I’d like to have,” Father Brown told Catholic News Service. “It’s a very healthy sign, a positive sign for Theological College and for the U.S. priesthood.”

The trend of rising seminary enrollment is being duplicated around the country:

– At the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, 40 new seminarians arrived this year, bringing total enrollment to 186, the highest level since the 1970s.

– St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity [SPS... the den-of-horrors I went to in the 80s.] at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., welcomed 30 new graduate-level seminarians, making its class of 100 seminarians the largest since 1980. The influx forced 24 seminarians and two priests off campus into leased space at a former convent. [Anecdote: A couple years ago when I was visiting John H at Leaflet Missal (church goods) in St. Paul, he said he was super busy getting the clerical clothing in a sorted for the orders from all the seminarians at SPS. I didn't, at first, grasp what he was saying. Then he told me that the decision had been made that all the major seminarians were to wear clerical dress. I, incredulous, nearly passed-out.]

[...]But Theological College’s Father Brown said a rise in enrollment is only part of the story.

“It’s not just the numbers but the quality and spirit of the men who are coming,” he told CNS.

“I’m tremendously impressed with the quality of the candidates, their zeal,” he added. “We’re seeing a real renewal of the priesthood.”

[...]



TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; priesthood; seminaries; seminary
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 Who is like unto God?........ Lk:10:18:
 And he said to them: I saw Satan like lightning falling from heaven.

The power of prayer...

1 posted on 11/30/2011 8:10:35 AM PST by GonzoII
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To: Mrs. Don-o; Salvation; NYer; narses

Ping.


2 posted on 11/30/2011 8:13:10 AM PST by GonzoII (Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea...Quare tristis es anima mea?)
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To: GonzoII

Worth the wait. Deo Gratias.


3 posted on 11/30/2011 8:18:16 AM PST by sayuncledave (et Verbum caro factum est (And the Word was made flesh))
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To: sayuncledave

If the RC will clean the sodomites out of their orders and seminaries it will be an enormous gift to Christendom. We would all gain from a reinvigorated, healthy Catholicism.


4 posted on 11/30/2011 8:20:49 AM PST by achilles2000 ("I'll agree to save the whales as long as we can deport the liberals")
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To: GonzoII

Exactly! A humble suggestion for all of us:

We could commit to pray DAILY the prayer for priests (if you think about it this can include seminarians and deacons too) which can be found at post #11 on the Catholic Caucus thread done each day by Salvation:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2813887/posts


5 posted on 11/30/2011 8:42:51 AM PST by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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To: GonzoII

I am a seminarian at St. Meinrad in southern Indiana. We also started the school year at capacity. It’s a good problem to have.


6 posted on 11/30/2011 9:32:23 AM PST by Seraphicaviary (St. Michael is gearing up. The angels are on the ready line.)
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To: Seraphicaviary
With problems like that we don't need solutions. ;0)
7 posted on 11/30/2011 9:38:19 AM PST by GonzoII (Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea...Quare tristis es anima mea?)
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To: achilles2000

Spoken like a true brother.


8 posted on 11/30/2011 10:24:55 AM PST by RBIEL2
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To: achilles2000
If the RC will clean the sodomites out of their orders and seminaries

Read the article. That's precisely what we're doing, and the result is unsurprising.

9 posted on 11/30/2011 10:30:38 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: GonzoII; Seraphicaviary

Seems to me that our friends in the construction trades can provide a solution to Seraphicaviary’s little “problem”.


10 posted on 11/30/2011 10:33:07 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: ArrogantBustard

Building new classrooms and dorms was done at Mount Angel in Oregon.........and they are still bursting at the seams.


11 posted on 11/30/2011 12:58:48 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: achilles2000; RBIEL2
Are you the only ones who have not kept up with the news? Aren't you aware that Pope Benedict sent teams to all the seminaries and that they have been cleaned up and strict guidelines for admission put in place? Please read the evidence in these links................PLEASE, and then do you think you can stop broadcasting untruths about Catholic seminaries?

Atlantis rises: US seminaries are changing
VIETNAM-More Than 1500 Seminarians and 80,000 Young Catechists: The Church's Future Looks Bright
The Logos in Seminary Formation and Teaching [Catholic Caucus]
Boom Time for Westminster Seminaries [UK]
Young Catholics Hear Call to Serve
US Dominican Province Welcomes Its Biggest Class of Novices in Decades
Of priests and possible priests to be
More twins (enter priesthood)

Cardinal Arinze - "Youth will embrace religious life with right role models"
Today's seminarians reflect growing trend
Number of Seminarians Increases - Please Decipher This!!!!
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

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

12 posted on 11/30/2011 1:04:44 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

The world has not run out of architects, builders, and building materials.


13 posted on 11/30/2011 2:25:31 PM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Salvation; Religion Moderator

Religion Moderator:
This person Salvation is purposely trying to be annoying by pinging me on stories that I am not involved with. I know you two are sympatico. You deleted a post of mine 2 days ago in reference to Salvation that I made, when I protested that Salvation took me unfairly to you some time ago. So I want to bring this childish behavior to light in the that hope this is the end of it.


14 posted on 11/30/2011 3:05:21 PM PST by RBIEL2
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To: ArrogantBustard

I am wondering if indeed the world has run out of real Christians who are familiar with”turning the other cheek” or taking the “log out of their eye”

We are in the process of designing a new church, and the architect did not catechizing on what a Catholic Church needed to look like at all. Just put up his favorites and a very complex processional/cruciform design.

When I asked him to explain “trancepts” his reply to me was, and I quote, “I hate transcepts and I don’t like to build them.”

Now an architect that is setting ideas before a parish should be willing to explain trancepts without dissing the questioner, right?

If you want to see what he came up with (and our parishioners followed along because they knew no better, do a google for Akron plan and amphitheatres. Ugh.


15 posted on 11/30/2011 3:22:30 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

I wasn’t spreading any untruths about the RC church. I was applauding the effort.


16 posted on 11/30/2011 5:19:05 PM PST by achilles2000 ("I'll agree to save the whales as long as we can deport the liberals")
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To: Salvation

FYI: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2814421/posts

The housecleaning isn’t yet complete, and this is serious.


17 posted on 12/01/2011 11:44:51 AM PST by achilles2000 ("I'll agree to save the whales as long as we can deport the liberals")
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To: Seraphicaviary

Awesome news! I grew up in Indiana, and my Catholic school 8th grade class took a trip down to St. Meinrad from Indianapolis. It is beautiful down there (but then I think Southern Indiana in general is really pretty).

I now live in southeast Ohio (Diocese of Steubenville) and we have a very small but vibrant parish. My son (age 9) will be serving his first Mass on the 18th. He’s excited! Who knows, maybe he’ll be Father Steven someday ;)

Prayers for a very fruitful course of study for you and for your fellow seminarians!


18 posted on 12/01/2011 11:57:27 AM PST by Hoosier Catholic Momma (How long till my Arkansas drawl fades into the twang of southeast Ohio?)
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To: achilles2000


19 posted on 12/01/2011 7:09:41 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: RBIEL2; Salvation

Simply let Salvation know if you do not want to be on his/her ping list. And/or if you receive an unwanted ping, ignore it.


20 posted on 12/01/2011 7:54:18 PM PST by Religion Moderator
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