Welcome

As Saint John’s Seminary opened this academic year, we welcomed the largest group of new men the seminary has seen in many a decade. With now just over 100 men studying here for the priesthood of Christ Jesus, we continue to seek excellence in all areas of their formation. The growth in priestly vocations that we are seeing is attributable to the prayer and support of many people, and we ask that the prayers and support continue unceasingly. This is a time of great blessing, and we thank God for all that He has sent to us through His good people.

In our current issue of Saint John’s Magazine online, you will read about the Spiritual Pillar of Formation, and our goal of fostering in all SJS seminarians a deep relationship with God that will nourish their continuing growth in holiness, wisdom and love for Christ and for His people. This is such an essential element in priestly formation, and indeed should be in the lives of all people, regardless of vocation. We certainly see the value of Spiritual Direction for our Lay Formation students, and hope that they will continue with this discipline long after their coursework is complete.

Over the past months, we have enjoyed many wonderful moments here at the seminary. Our Masters of Arts in Ministry celebrated its 10th anniversary with a beautiful Mass and luncheon in March; we hosted the Borromeo String Quartet in concert in April; and members of the Class of 2010 were ordained priests in May and June.

In September, we returned to another kind of ordination, one I could never have anticipated until it was told to me in June – my own ordination as a bishop. Among the many blessings of this time has been the awareness that the one who has been so occupied preparing others for ordination to the priesthood, has himself been called to his own ordination. To take the same oaths, to prostrate myself before my Archbishop, and to reaffirm my commitment to my vocation, and to the local church, all provided a resonance with what our seminarians work toward each day.

In October, we hosted a conference on Blessed John Henry Newman, with talks from both Newman’s acclaimed biographer, Rev. Ian Ker, and Deacon Paul Sullivan, the man whose healing was the basis for Cardinal Newman’s beatification by the Holy Father. It was gratifying to see such a large turnout of the lay faithful for Father Ker’s talk, and to follow that with the remarkable witness of Deacon Sullivan. The conference concluded with the Newman Solemn Pontifical Mass. Our gratitude goes to Father Michael Barber, SJ, our Director of Spiritual Formation, who was instrumental in planning the conference.

In November we have welcomed our alumni to the annual Holy Hour and Alumni Dinner, an evening of warm reunion for about 150 priests. This is our opportunity to “bring home” priests from Boston and many other dioceses to a collegial evening hosted and served by our seminarians. It also provides an important opportunity for our Fourth Theologians to look back at their formation, and to look forward to the brotherhood of priests.

On December 4, Saint John’s will award the annual Archbishop John J. Williams Award to the Knights of Columbus. Both the seminary and individual seminarians owe a deep gratitude to the Knights for their generous and persistence support of vocations through scholarships, grants and especially through their culture of support for the priesthood. The award will be presented at our Gala Lessons & Carols Concert and Dinner, a delightful evening that is truly festive.

Please be assured of the prayers of the Saint John’s Community for all our friends. We offer our deepest gratitude for your prayers, and for your gifts, that help us in this important work of formation.

Most Rev. Arthur L. Kennedy, Rector