The Year of the Priest

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Leaven Fall 2009, Volume 18, Number 1 300 Fraser Purchase Road Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650 Phone: 724-537-4592 Fax: 724-532-5052 www.saintvincentseminary.edu Publisher Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B. Rector Very Rev. Justin M. Matro, O.S.B. Vice Rector Dean of Human Formation Director of Pastoral Formation Rev. David T. Brzoska Academic Dean Dr. Michel Therrien Dean of Students Rev. Matthias Martinez, O.S.B. Director of Spiritual Formation Rev. Lester Knoll, O.F.M. Cap. Director of Seminary Development Paul R. Whiteside Director of Seminary Public Relations Kimberley A. Metzgar Public Relations Associate Elizabeth A. Cousins Director for Alumni Affairs Br. Elliott C. Maloney, O.S.B. Consultant for Alumni Affairs Rev. Gilbert J. Burke, O.S.B. Contributors to this issue: Jim Andrews Elizabeth Cousins Annette Hart Carly Marsh On the cover: Icon of Saint John Vianney, painted by Peter Pearson, 1997. Saint Vincent Seminary collection. Rector’s Column Dear Friends of Saint Vincent Seminary, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI declared that the Church would observe a year dedicated to the ministerial priesthood. This “Year of the Priest” began in Rev. Justin M. Matro, O.S.B. June of 2009 and Rector will end in June of 2010. What is more, the year also has a specific patron, Saint John Vianney (1886-1859). Also known as the Curé of Ars, Saint John Vianney was particularly renowned for his role as a confessor. Indeed, he commonly spent sixteen to eighteen hours in the confessional in a single day, and people traveled for miles to seek spiritual counseling from this simple and humble priest. Because of his example and sanctity of life, thousands of souls found their way back to a deep and personal love for the Lord and communion with the Church We too often think that problems facing the world today are insurmountable, but a simple glance at history can be very eye opening. Saint John was born on the eve of the French Revolution. When he was a child, the faith was outlawed in France. The churches were closed and priests and members of religious orders who did not renounce their vows and/or orders were either exiled or executed. Young John Vianney made his first commu- By Elizabeth Cousins In consultation with the Diocese of Greensburg, Saint Vincent Seminary has submitted a petition to the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) for a new Master degree in Ecclesial Ministry. The degree will provide the academic formation needed for ordination to the permanent diaconate as well as lay ministry in the Church. For those studying for ordination to the diaconate, the program will include training in homiletics and some field work, while most of the pastoral, spiritual, and human formation will be the responsibility of the Diocese, outside the context of the degree program. If The Year of the Priest 2 nion at a covert Mass in a farmhouse that was surrounded by ox carts to prohibit onlookers from peering into the windows and reporting the illegal liturgy. Had the small congregation been reported, they would have faced the guillotine. Succeeding years witnessed a profound loss of faith throughout France. However, God sent many spiritual comforts to this beleaguered nation, and the faith was restored. Surprisingly, one of the greatest signs of God’s mercy was revealed in the person of a frail and sickly man in an obscure village who made time to listen to peoples’ woes and assure them of God’s love. This man, Saint John Vianney, was not a scholar. In fact, his ordination was held up due to his difficulties with studies. He had few worldly gifts which usually accompany success. But in his lowliness he wholly offered God the only gifts he had: an ability to listen with loving patience and the capacity to absolve sins. The Gospel proclaims that it is the humble who shall be exalted, and in naming Saint John Vianney as the patron for the “Year of the Priest,” Pope Benedict endorses this theme. The model for priestly renewal is not the mighty hero, but a humble heart. It is the Lord himself who is our Shepherd. Despite personal weaknesses and limitations, if his priests trust humbly in him today, he will raise them up to be shepherds after his own heart. Indeed, it is only through priests such as these that he will lead us into a new spring time of faith. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Fr. Justin, O.S.B., Rector New M.A. Degree in Ecclesial Ministry approved by the Association of Theological Schools the degree would be the first Master degree of its kind for the permanent diaconate in our region. For those preparing for lay ministry in Catholic parishes, schools, and dioceses, the field work assignments will accommodate their future ministry goals. For both groups, the curriculum will consist of three major areas: systematic theology, sacred scripture, and pastoral studies. The admission requirements include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and a minimum of 18 credits in (Continued on Page 3)
Leaven Fall 2009, Volume 18, Number 1 Pope Benedict XVI Declares Year of the Priest On June 19, Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated a “Year for Priests” in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the death of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus,” Saint John Vianney would often say. The Pope noted that the Cure of Ars “was quite humble, yet as a priest he was conscious of being an immense gift to his people: ‘A good shepherd, a pastor after God’s heart, is the greatest treasure which the Lord can grant to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy.” “The Church needs holy priests; ministers who can help the faithful to experience the merciful love of the Lord and who are his convinced witnesses,” the Holy Father said. “The objective of this Year for Priests, as I wrote Seminary Develops Strategic Plan By Kim Metzgar As the fourth oldest Roman Catholic Seminary in the United States, Saint Vincent has always embraced its history. Under the guidance of Rector Father Justin Matro and the Board of Regents, the long-term plans for the Seminary are being considered with the development of a comprehensive strategic plan. As part of the planning process, persons with an affiliation with the Seminary, such as Bishops who send seminarians here, alumni, and friends, were surveyed about the needs for future priests as well as for input about the strengths and weaknesses of the current program. The process has been a way for members of the Board of Regents to become more involved, Father Justin noted in a presentation on the plan to all staff members. “The process is a way for all of our constituents to better understand the specifics of the Seminary program. Input from the faculty and alumni was valuable as well, he said, and programming needs are in the process of being adjusted to perfect that input. For instance, Father Justin said, newly-ordained priests are being appointed as full-time pastors much sooner, and there is less time to work with a senior priest serving as a mentor. Thus, the Seminary needs to focus on providing more of the training that was typically provided “on the job” earlier in a seminarian’s program of studies and with more emphasis. “Overall our constituents praised us for the warm hospitality and the real Christian in the letter sent to priests for this occasion, is to support that struggle of every priest ‘toward spiritual perfection, on which the effectiveness of his ministry primarily depends.’” Pope Benedict XVI wrote that “Jesus speaks of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God as the true objectibe for his coming to the world, and his proclamation is not just a ‘discourse.’ It includes, at the same time, his actions ... even in this idea of the ‘primacy’ of proclamation, word and sign are inseparale. Christian proclamation does not proclaim ‘words,’ but the Word, and the proclamation coincides with the very person of Christ.” The Holy Father wrote that “now then, to be the ‘voice’ of the Word doesn’t constitute for the priest a merely functional element. On the contrary, it presupposes a substantial environment and prayer life,” he said. The Seminary’s retention rate for ordained graduates remaining in active priestly ministry is 95 percent over a 20-year period. “The importance of daily prayer and the integration of work and prayer” contribute to that retention rate, he added. “The lack of a prayer life is usually the beginning of the end of a vocation.” Other strengths, he said, include the longterm stability of the faculty. Its members have terminal degrees from many exceptional programs, some of the best universities in the world, he said. “We understand the strength of our history and the charism of our founder,” Father Justin noted. “We are imparting our culture and heritage to our students on a daily basis.” Challenges include preparing the increased number of foreign-born seminarians for ministry in our culture and for working in an increasingly technological world. While preparation of students for priesthood is critical, the strategic plan also looked at all aspects of the seminary operation, from staffing needs to the growth of the seminarian population, which is projected to outgrow available dormitory space in Leander and Roderick Halls in the next few years. Other areas of focus include recruitment, planning for a capital campaign to address future seminary needs, and increasing our efforts to train permanent deacons as well as increasing ongoing formation efforts for clergy and alumni. 3 ‘losing oneself’ in Christ, participating in his mystery of death and resurrection with all of oneself...” Saint John Vianney often said that “a good pastor, a pastor after the heart of God, is the greatest treasure that the good God can give to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy.” New M.A. Degree in Ecclesial Ministry (Continued from Page 2) Judeo-Christian theology. Students will be admitted into the program in cohorts every other year. In anticipation of ATS approval, five students have begun classes this fall in fulfillment of the program’s requirements. The next cohort will begin in the fall of 2011. In the future, the Seminary plans to make the program available to other nearby dioceses through teleconference technology.
Page 1: The Year of the Priest Saint Vincen
Page 5 and 6: Leaven Fall 2009, Volume 18, Number
Page 15 and 16: Fifth Annual Conference for Priests
Page 17 and 18: REGISTRATION FORM - Please type or

The Year of the Priest

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?