News

February 05, 2010

On January 23^rd, Seminarians from the west (Saint John, Camarillo, Saint John Vianney, Denver, Mount Angel, St. Benedict, Oregon, and  Saint Patrick’s, Menlo Park) marched together for the Walk for Life West Coast.  Together with a dedicated group from St. Patrick’s, we were able to host the guest seminarians. The guests arrived on Friday evening and after receiving a warm welcome from our president and rector, Fr. James McKearney, S.S., the seminarians joined together for dinner and Evening Prayer.  It was a powerful experience for all of us that resulted in fellowship, fraternity and a renewed committment to the Church's stance on the dignity of the human person. Saturday morning began with Mass at the cathedral with the Archbishop. The photograph of the group above was taken moments after the Mass.

January 07, 2010

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI
PROCLAIMING A YEAR FOR PRIESTS
ON THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE "DIES NATALIS"
OF THE CURÉ OF ARS

Dear Brother Priests,

On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 – a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy –, I have decided to inaugurate a “Year for Priests” in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the “dies natalis” of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide.[1] This Year, meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world, will conclude on the same Solemnity in 2010. "The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”, the saintly Curé of Ars would often say. This touching expression makes us reflect, first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the immense gift which priests represent, not only for the Church, but also for humanity itself. I think of all those priests who quietly present Christ’s words and actions each day to the faithful and to the whole world, striving to be one with the Lord in their thoughts and their will, their sentiments and their style of life. How can I not pay tribute to their apostolic labours, their tireless and hidden service, their universal charity? And how can I not praise the courageous fidelity of so many priests who, even amid difficulties and incomprehension, remain faithful to their vocation as “friends of Christ”, whom he has called by name, chosen and sent?

January 05, 2010

Many thanks go out to all the men who came to the discernment retreat 2010. Hopefully, you were moved in some way to further consider your call to the priesthood sparked by the guidance of Sister Kathleen Bryant, RSC our retreat director, the encouraging words of Archbishop Niederauer  and also with the words of the many speakers and panelists. Many, many thanks go out to Andrew Spyrow, our seminarian coordinator from the Archdiocese of San Francisco and to all of his brother seminarians who contributed in various ways with hospitality, tours and one-on-one conversations with individual retreatants. Thanks also to Fr. Vincent Bui the Dean of Students of the Seminary for the coordination of the retreat and for his presence throughout the weekend. In this Year for Priests may Jesus, the High Priest, grant us all the grace to be faithful to follow him wherever he leads. (Revelation 14:4; John 12:26)

December 19, 2009