September 14, 2006

By Tom Jozwik, Special to your Catholic Herald

HALES CORNERS — Charged with selecting a theme for the 2006-07 school year, during which seminarians for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee would move to Sacred Heart School of Theology for their academic formation, the Sacred Heart rector’s cabinet chose “Companions on the Journey.”

That phrase probably will be readily recognized as the title of Carey Landry’s spirited hymn, with lyrics inspired by the evangelist Mark and the prophet Micah:

We are companions on the journey,

Breaking bread and sharing life;

And in the love we bear is the hope we share

For we believe in the love of our God ...

The 25 archdiocesan seminarians are commuting to Sacred Heart in Hales Corners — a 15-mile, 25-minute trip — while residing at Saint Francis Seminary in St. Francis, where aspiring Milwaukee priests in their latter years of study have lived and studied for 150 years.

“We’re doing one pillar,” Sacred Heart Fr. Tom Cassidy, president-rector of the Hales Corners seminary, said regarding the formation his institution is now providing for archdiocesan seminarians.

Fr. Cassidy explained that seminaries in the United States “all follow the Plan for Priestly Formation, the PPF,” established by the country’s bishops. Besides academics, the PPF calls for spiritual, human and pastoral formation; Saint Francis Seminary continues to provide would-be archdiocesan priests with those last three “pillars.”

Both Fr. Cassidy and Saint Francis Seminary rector Fr. Mike Witczak seem cautiously optimistic, with emphasis on the word “optimistic,” about the transition archdiocesan seminarians are undergoing.

“I think it’s gone very well,” Fr. Cassidy said during an interview in his Sacred Heart office. “It’s been a smooth transition.” In a subsequent e-mail, Fr. Witczak expanded a time-honored axiom. “‘Well-begun is half-done’ and we’re well on the way,” he said. “All in all, the beginnings have gone as well as one could hope. We will monitor our progress and be ready to make adjustments as needed during the course of the year.”

According to Fr. Cassidy, who sensed anticipation at Sacred Heart for the academic year to begin, “The students will be our best critics (at year’s end).”

Collaboration by the rectors and the schools they lead has been a topic of discussion between the two institutions since the start of the calendar year.

“It was a pleasure,” Fr. Cassidy said, calling counterpart Fr. Witczak and Saint Francis Seminary vice rector, Fr. Mel Michalski “very easy people to deal with.”

Both of those archdiocesan priests are teaching classes at Sacred Heart this year, as is another Saint Francis faculty member, Franciscan Fr. Stephen Malkiewicz. Also teaching a course at Sacred Heart is Bishop Richard J. Sklba.

“The administration, faculty, staff and students of Sacred Heart School of Theology have been extremely generous and hospitable,” according to Fr. Witczak. “The orientation program for new students the week of Aug. 21 was both informative and fun. (The Brewers game and tailgate party was a highlight). Course work has gone well.”

No longer strangers to each other;

No longer strangers in God’s house;

We are fed and we are nourished

By the strength of those who care...

This school year’s degree recipients — the archdiocesan seminarians who will complete their education at the end of the second semester — will receive diplomas indicating Saint Francis Seminary as the degree-granting institution. Future archdiocesan students will get diplomas from Sacred Heart. Will such a change make a difference to prospective archdiocesan seminarians?

“As I work with men considering application to the seminary, most of the questions that I deal with relate to discernment,” Fr. James Lobacz, director of the archdiocesan vocations office, told your Catholic Herald. “At this point, these men are not deeply interested in the machinations of the academic formation as much as the spiritual and personal lifestyle changes that will come with becoming a seminarian. Since this new relationship between Sacred Heart School of Theology and Saint Francis Seminary entrusts the academic formation to a new location and (some) new faculty, there is an impact.”

As Saint Francis’ degree-granting capacity is phased out, some laypersons who were studying at Saint Francis have transferred to Sacred Heart or to Cardinal Stritch University in Fox Point, Fr. Cassidy said. Diaconal training and certificate programs for lay ministers will continue to operate out of Saint Francis, at least for the time being.

Sacred Heart, whose current campus dates to 1968, is the largest U.S. seminary that specializes in preparing second-career priesthood candidates. Fr. Cassidy said he does not envision this mission changing with the addition of the Milwaukee seminarians, although he expects their addition to shift Sacred Heart’s “focus” to some extent. Sacred Heart has enrolled students representing more than 100 dioceses and religious orders over the years. More than 30 dioceses and orders are sponsoring students this semester.

Most years, approximately 20 new students enroll at Sacred Heart; this year, the number is closer to 40. This year’s average student is about 40 years old, according to Fr. Cassidy, down from about 47 last year. The students from Saint Francis range in age from 23-43, Fr. Cassidy said, while Sacred Heart’s student body, as a whole, runs from 23-71. Fr. Cassidy sees the diversity in ages as beneficial.

The student body numbers 110, a circumstance that — since there are 120 private student rooms — has allowed each Saint Francis commuter to be assigned such a room for study and “quiet space” while on the road. Sacred Heart’s dining hall can accommodate 350 individuals; its main chapel about 500, and its classroom facilities apparently are not being severely taxed by the new arrivals.

“I haven’t heard anyone scream ‘Help!’” Fr. Cassidy said.

We are made for the glory of our God,

For service in the name of Jesus;

To walk side by side with hope in our hearts,

For we believe in the love of our God...