To begin the Advent Season, the Seminary celebrated the 40 Hours Devotion, from Saturday evening until the Monday following the 1st Sunday of Advent. This Eucharistic devotion provided an opportunity for the entire Seminary community to begin the new Liturgical Year with a renewed emphasis upon Our Eucharistic Lord and His abiding Presence with us. It was also a fitting beginning as a preparation for Our Lord’s birth at Christmas.
One of the Seminary’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions is the playing of the Buckley Bowl football game. Named for Fr. James Buckley, a long time professor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, this intramural football game as been played each year for over 20 years. This year the snow began flying as the game began, and with a small dusting already on the ground, it had all the elements of a winter football classic. While a majority of the seminarians play in the game, more come to watch, drink hot apple cider, and enjoy the company of their confreres.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary rejoices on the occasion of 20 men being ordained to the Minor Orders of Porter, Lector, Exorcist, and Acolyte by His Excellency Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop Emeritus of Lincoln on November 23rd. 12 men were ordained to the Minor Orders of Porter and Lector and 8 to the Minor orders of Exorcist and Acolyte. These Minor Orders mark the first steps which the seminarians take towards the priesthood, in which they are given specific duties in service of the Church. More importantly however, they are also called to become the friends of Christ in a more profound way, as the words of the Bishop’s admonition repeatedly emphasize. One passage from the admonition to the men about to be ordained Lectors beautifully sums up this call to a deeper spiritual life:
Quod autem ore legitis, corde credatis, atque opere compleatis
“What you read with your lips, believe in your hearts and fulfill by your works”
Please continue to keep these men in your prayers as they continue their studies in preparation for the Sacred Priesthood.
Keeping All Souls Day at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary is marked by a special liturgical intensity. The day begins with a Sung Requiem Mass finishing with absolution over the catafalque. Then follows two Low Requiem Masses. All Souls Day is one of the two days throughout the liturgical year, the other being Christmas, on which a priest may have the privilege of celebrating three Masses.
At noon, the Seminarians take a very short walk to the Seminary’s own cemetery on the grounds, where they pray the hour of Sext from the Office of the Dead. Two Fraternity priests are currently buried in the cemetery: Fr. Kenneth Walker and Fr. Nicholas Zolnerowicz. This tradition is not only in keeping with the focus of this day but also serves as a poignant reminder to all of us of the fleetingness of this life and that our destiny lies in eternity.
Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine: et lux perpétua lúceat eis.
Requiéscant in pace. Amen.
The Seminary gives thanks to God for the conferral of First Clerical Tonsure upon eight men by His Excellency Robert Finn, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph on October 19th. In this ceremony, the new clerics receive the cassock, symbolizing their separation from the things of this world and their desire to imitate their crucified Lord. As the Bishop cuts the hair of each man, they recite together the fifth verse of Psalm 15, symbolizing their total consecration to God:
Dominus pars hereditatis meae et calicis mei,
Tu es qui restitues hereditatem meam mihi.
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.
These men also made their First Temporary Incorporation into the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter on the evening of October 18th, the 31st Anniversary of the foundation of the FSSP. Please keep these men in your prayers that they may be worthy symbols of Christ in this world, His faithful servants, and as they continue their studies for the Sacred Priesthood.
This year the seminarians of Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary again traveled to Missouri to face Seminary teams from across the Midwest in the annual Conception Abbey Soccer and Volleyball Tournament.
Although the soccer team was unable to repeat its victory of last year by taking the tournament trophy, it did win two of its three games. The volleyball team, although ending with a losing record, also played well.
The tournament is a great opportunity for our seminarians to meet seminarians from many dioceses. As the FSSP has many apostolates across the country, our seminarians may one day serve in the same dioceses with the same men they meet on the sports field. Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary is very thankful to Conception Abbey for this opportunity and for again hosting this tournament.
