August 2009 - News and Prospects

We would like to invite you to join in our thanksgiving for the wonderful days of June 19th and 20th, when thirteen new priests received the priestly unction from H.E. Bishop Tissier de Mallerais and celebrated, for the first time, the sacred Mysteries. As explained in the enclosed "Verbum", these two days mark a milestone, not only in the life of the Seminary, but also in the history of the development of our work in this country. Our Good Lord allowed everything to come together for making these days an exceptional event.

Dear Friends and Benefactors,

We would like to invite you to join in our thanksgiving for the wonderful days of June 19th and 20th, when thirteen new priests received the priestly unction from H.E. Bishop Tissier de Mallerais and celebrated, for the first time, the sacred Mysteries. As explained in the enclosed "Verbum", these two days mark a milestone, not only in the life of the Seminary, but also in the history of the development of our work in this country. Our Good Lord allowed everything to come together for making these days an exceptional event.

We were honored by the presence of our General Superior, H.E. Bishop Fellay, and of Rev. Fr. Niklaus Pfluger, the First Assistant, who had just preached the retreat of preparation for the ordination. We united ourselves to the great joy of Rev. Fr. Cyprian OSB, who, at the head of a group of his Benedictine monks, assisted at the first ordinations of his sons. Let us note that the Dominicans of Avrille were also here to assist at the ordination of their first American priest. We had a record attendance, not only of priests (84 were present), but also of around 3,000 faithful (giving our courageous cook - assisted as usual by a group of generous parishioners - the occasion to serve 2200 meals in the record time of 45 minutes!). The banquet offered to the families of the new priests was held, for the first time, under a tent instead of the refectory, where the space is limited, thus making it possible for the Seminary to offer a meal to 300 guests. The following day, the families of the new priests offered lunch to more than 600 people in the same tent.

Days such as these are very important for us all, as they help us to keep at our daily tasks with a renewed fervor and strength. They are a source of graces and a beneficial respite in our long journey amidst the present-day ruins. We hope that those visitors who came this year will come back next year, bringing with them other faithful. Although days as these are occasion of much work for the Seminary, we encourage you to reserve the date of June 18, 2010 to be again among us to attend the next priestly ordinations, which - Deo volente! - should be also numerous.

The week following the ordinations, when calm returned to the Seminary, we hosted the traditional meeting of the Principals of the SSPX schools in the U.S. District, under the presidency of Rev. Fr. Arnaud Rostand. The Principals found them selves once more behind the school desks and studiously took notes during the conferences organized by Rev. Fr. Beck. Meanwhile, forty seminarians flew to Italy, to learn and experience first-hand the love of Rome that must burn in the heart of every Catholic priest.

The seminarians took advantage of this trip to visit and pray at the tomb of our Founder, Archbishop Lefebvre, in Econe, Switzerland. Some of the seminarians remained in Europe for some more days, visiting different priories, while others returned to the US in order to participate in the summer camps organized for the children of our parishes.

At the Seminary, three groups often seminarians of the years of Humanities and Spirituality, taking turns in month-long shifts, give their material aid this summer during the retreats for priests and faithful. They also help with the harvest of vegetables, the maintenance of the buildings and the build-up of the wood stockpile necessary to supply our boiler next winter!

After the vain agitation raised by the media at the time of the ordinations, we haven't received from Rome any news or bolts of lightning, as predicted by the most malevolent omens. Although it is true that, as the Romans say, during August in Rome there only remain "the dogs and the tourists", and the choking heat of Rome calms down even the most quarrelsome...

For the first Saturday of October we are expecting more than 20 new seminarians, a fact that obliges us to solve to our problem of lack of room, as our building is not expandable at will... We are now working on a project that should enable us to solve this happy problem, perhaps moving towards the solution already implemented in our seminaries of Flavigny and Econe and which has given excellent results: the division of the Seminary into two. We entrust this important project to your prayers and we will keep you informed about this subject.

Lastly, we thank you for your generosity towards us, which, far from failing in these times of economic crisis, made itself more evident and allowed us to cope with the heavy financial burden of the ordinations. We would particularly like to thank you for your many letters that accompany your donations, telling us of your support and giving us the assurance of your critically necessary prayers.

May the Good God bless you and keep you brave in the daily combat for the honor of Christ and of His Church.

In Christo Sacerdote et Maria.

Fr. Yves le Roux