Opinion

In the halls of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary there is a small memorial dedicated to the late Sister Zoe Glenski, a Daughter of Charity who, alongside many confreres from the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians), taught men from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and other dioceses in their journey toward the priesthood.

Sister Zoe, a professor of Church history at the seminary for 35 years, stands out in the recent history of the seminary as a representative of the faith of the people of the archdiocese who believed in the future of the Church and the future of the priesthood. If one had asked Sister Zoe what she taught at the seminary, she would say, “I teach men through the vehicle of history.”

Her faith in God and her love for the priesthood truly represent the gifts that have sustained Kenrick-Glennon Seminary the past two centuries and made it what is today. Our seminary, now under the administration of the archdiocese, needs our financial support in order to continue its mission.

The capital campaign for Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Faith for the Future, with its $50 million goal coming at a time of economic struggle, could give cause to ponder the timing. But consider that, unlike most seminaries, ours is growing. And as the number of seminarians increases, so do the needs of the seminary. The building is aged and technology must be updated. The faculty, among the best in the nation, must be paid just wages. An adequate endowment must be maintained to provide priests — both now and in the future.

The goal is, in reality, a modest amount for an educational institution of its kind.

Formation for the priesthood, a complicated task, is a vital dimension of the salvation of souls, for which Jesus Christ became incarnate, was crucified and rose from the dead. When a man enters Kenrick-Glennon Seminary with the hope of becoming a priest, a tiny but significant piece of Jesus’ plan for the Church becomes visible. In every case, the foundation is laid for a man’s vocational discernment that cannot be quantified in any brand of financial currency.

Priestly formation is connected to every other dimension of Christian formation, beginning with grace in the family and extending to the ways the faithful become involved in encouraging and supporting priestly vocations. This vital support for priestly vocations is what is at stake in the seminary campaign. 

The financial resources needed to prepare a man for priesthood are substantial. On paper, the actual costs probably amount to more than $40,000 per year. There is a wide distribution of costs for  housing, administration of an academic institution, the variety of academic courses for specialization in the sacred sciences and the broad range of spiritual, human and pastoral experiences needed.

Great works in the Church are wrought by sacrifice and desire to give glory to God. As Sister Zoe would say, “Everything depends on mercy.”

The financial gift to the seminary campaign is a vehicle for our greatest work of mercy. As in all of the authentic accomplishments of the Christian people, it is the uniting of our sacrifices and works with the merits of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints that matter most. In the end, we all receive blessings from the hands of the priests we prepare.

Our seminary is a vital educational institution. It is staffed by qualified, dedicated educators who do everything from maintaining the facilities to researching academic questions. Without persons taking responsibility for these necessary tasks, the seminary would suffer. Our financial support is needed.

In the depths of our hearts, we recognize that for us, like Sister Zoe, the Vincentians and all who support the seminary, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is a work of mercy, a living testament of faith — Faith for the Future.