The Diocese of Dallas just announced a record number of 19 new seminarians, according to the CNA. How awesome is that?
The Diocese of Dallas has a record number of 19 new seminarians, Bishop Kevin Farrell announced recently.
“Indeed the Holy Spirit has been working through parents, priests and our vocations staff to bring about this blessing for our diocese. The prayers of many have been answered,” the Bishop of Dallas said on his blog Aug. 19.
The number is an increase from last year, when 11 men entered seminary. Fifteen of the new seminarians come from the Diocese of Dallas.
“It is great to have some good news to report these days and a record number of 19 new seminarians is certainly good news,” Bishop Farrell said.
Keep praying for vocations.
August 27, 2011 at 3:24 am
Dallas is the epicenter of a huge influx of illiterate Hispanic people, desperately poor, largely superstitious and uneducated in their faith, with an unquestioning, clericalist bent. They push young men without much discernment into the priesthood, and the Church, needing warm bodies to manage the Hispanic populace, will take all comers. Worse yet, I've known of quality guys, deeply conservative and orthodox, who were turned away from Holy Trinity Seminary for ridiculous reasons and told they didn't have vocations.
I know Bishop Farrell is a new guy in town, but so far, he has not made this scandal-rocked Diocese a bastion of orthodoxy. He has been front and center, leading agitation for illegal immigration, has led a march in support of such (beginning at his own Cathedral), and backs the buffoonish U of D President, Thomas Keefe, who has threatened conservative students who fear heterodox changes in the theology program (via edicts coming straight from Bishop Farrell):
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/University-of-Dallas-presidents-punch–117838503.html
Here's an exposition of the kind of changes taking place on Bishop Farrell's watch:
http://www.thecatholicthing.org/in_the_news/commentary/trouble-at-the-university-of-dallas.html
Will Dallas be fortunate to have men formed in the image and likeness of Bishop Farrell and his "School of Ministry?" I would rather have one, solid, orthodox guy than 19 more liberal drones. The good Bishop has already verified that his new bounty is surely the work of the Holy Spirit. I prefer to wait and see.
Pray for GOOD vocations.
August 27, 2011 at 3:52 am
"Dallas is the epicenter of a huge influx of illiterate Hispanic people"
That is a RACIST comment!
August 27, 2011 at 5:10 am
How is this statement of fact a racist comment? Please tell me.
August 27, 2011 at 5:24 am
Blackrep, I will assume you are from Dallas, and know the young men who have entered or in the seminary already and are able to personally vouch for their 'merely warm body status' and possible liberal-drone-to-be kind of priests that they will be. That kind of inside knowledge is invaluable. Otherwise it could be seen as stereotyping these young men and painting with a rather wide brush the quality of these young men. That would be less than charitable. As for the Bishop in question, I do not know him. I do know conservative UD students who do not feel the least bit threatened by the school. Maybe there are. I will trust you are telling the truth. Nonetheless, that these young men are willing to consider serving God, serving His Church, and being the way that Christ can be brought to His flock through the Blessed Sacrament is a good thing and purity of intent is to be presumed till otherwise shown.
August 27, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Funny— all these people turned away for NO GOOD REASON when they're just after warm bodies….
Did they try to go to seminary in any other dioceses? Did they get in there? Or did they perhaps try religious life?
Because generally, if a man actually is called to be a priest and doesn't get along with the PTB in once diocese, he can find another who'll take him.
If your friends were rejected from MULTIPLE dioceses, it probably wasn't the diocese that was at fault…..
August 27, 2011 at 4:58 pm
" illiterate Hispanic people" As a LATINO MAN i see it as a racist!
I ask:
Why do u think that they r illiterate? Most of the latinos that i know, r very educated just like myself.
August 29, 2011 at 7:15 pm
I agree with the original point of the column. This is good news for Dallas and the Church. Last year 2 excellent men were ordained for the Diocese of Dallas. This year 3 excellent men. Next year 5 excellent men. That's right. Not just "good" but excellent. I don't work for the Vocations Office but the Priest who does has done exceptionally well. He was appointed to the post by Bp. Farrell. The Bishop is not perfect but then none of us are. In vocations he is leading, trending in the right direction. One of the men who just entered the seminary grew up in this parish. He is solid. He went to UD and got his BA when he finished high school. He is now in his 30's. I've been a Priest of the Diocese of Dallas 22 years and I have been waiting for the "New Springtime" which JPII prophesied. In the end, listen to St. Pio of Pietrelcina: "Pray! Hope! Dont' worry!"
Father Paul Weinberger, Pastor, St. William, Greenville, TX
August 29, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Father Paul!!!
Wonderful to hear you out there. I wish they had picked you for the formation director. I loved going to your parish downtown. I left Dallas the same time you went to G'ville. I agree with your comments. There are some really good seminarians from the few I have met on visits to Dallas. Holy Trinity has vastly improved from what it was in the early 80's so some perspective is needed.
Having graduated from UD with a theology degree. I can attest to the orthodoxy of the Department. the new School of Ministry has always had a loose grasp though and I fear that will strain the reputation of the theology Department, who, by the way I believe is teaching some of the more important sections of that degree such as moral theology and the like. that is what I have heard but I am not sure of the final course listings.
God Bless all,
Mike
August 30, 2011 at 3:42 am
It's called an 8% unemployment rate.