The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-10-14
AIM is TO PROMOTE vocATIoNs
FOR THE PRIESTHOOD.
To the Clergy and the Laity of the
Diocese of Lead:

Diocese of Lead:
Dear Brethren: The annual collec-
ton in aid of the Seminary Fund will
be taken up in all the churches, mis-
sions and stations Of the Diocese on
Sunday, October 29th, or as soon
thereafter as pastors may deem prac-
ticable.
The object of the Seminary Fund IS
to, aid in educating our ecclesiastical
students who later as priests will de.
vote their lives to the spiritual we'll
being of the faithful. Money is need
ed in order that the Diocese may be
able to afford Seminarians the
thorough and extensive training re-
quired for the honor and efficiency of
their calling. Let it be remarked at
the outset that the cost of a clerical
education is not small item. Now
we are down at the root of one phase
of the difficulty If the church per-
mitted anyone and everyone to assume
the duties and responsibilities of the
sacerdotal state regardless of the
warning of St. Paul; Neither doth
any man take the honor to himself,
but he that is called by God as Aaron
was"; if we picked up men from field
and workshop and ordained them
without preparation of twelve years
of study, the ranks of our clergy
would soon be Overcrowded. If such
were the case there would be no occa-
sion for an appeal to your generosity
toward the Seminary Fund. I am
aware that now and then people are
found who affect surprise that the par
ents Of candidates for the ministry
do not defray the whole cost of edu-
eating their sons. There are parents
who are able and willing to do SO,
while others are unable, or if. able,
unwilling Their unwillingness is not
unreasonable. After all even such
parents do more j., than their share
The gift of a son to the service OF
the altar is in itself no small offering
to the Lord. besides they make the
sacrifice of supplying the means for
six or eight years of college life
Catholics generally who are the bene
ficiaries of priestly zeal and devoted
ness have no just reason for complaint
because they are asked to pay the eX
penses of the remaining four or six
years of seminary training. AS the
nation for it's own defense educates
it's military officers, so should Catho
lies consult their own spiritual inter
ests by bearing part of the burden
of preparing leaders for the sacred
militia of Christ
Lack of Prests-Decay of Faith.
Do you realize the pressing need Of
priests in our Diocese? Are you aware
that there are districts in which the
faith is languishing and dying in the
souls of some of our brethren because
they must live in want of priestly
ministrations? 1t is sad but too true
that because of the lack of laborers
there are neglected corners in the
vineyard. Owing to the absence Of
spiritual care and instruction many
in their ignorance of things Catholic
| become Indifferent, while some fall
away entirely from the faith of theil
| forefathers. What else is to be ex
pected wherever the priest is not al
hand to offer up day by day the Ador
able Sacrifice, to be the custodian Of
the Divine Tenant of the Tabernacle
to break the Bread of Life to hungry
souls, to SOW the seeds of truth and
virtue in the hearts of childhood and
youth, to dispense the word of God
to exercise the ministry Of reconcilia
ton for the victims of sin, to speak
religions words of comfort in trial
and bereavement, to unite in holy
wedlock hearts that beat together as
one, to bless the cradle, to chant q
requiem for the departed? If there be
no shepherd to go before the flock
how can they follow him?
More Resident Pastors-More Intense
Parish Life.
AS I deem the building up of the
priesthood one of the most important
works Of my episcopate it will be my
constant aim to enrich our Diocese
Il
in order that souls may not perish
from spiritual restitution. After hav
| ing gone over the situation thoroughly
both by personal investigation and by
consultation with priests and laymer
acquainted with existing conditions
my inevitable conclusion is that if oul
Diocese is ever to get beyond the
| missionary stage, if its congregations
are to grow and become self-support
ing, more parishes with resident pas
| tors must be established. The time
has come for fostering parish life
with it's daily Mass, it's devotions, it,
societies, it's manifold incentives tc
growth and progress in the concerns
| of the SOUL AS the number o.
churches in which Mass is celebrated
| every Sunday increases, the number
of missions and stations which are
attended monthly or less frequently
diminish.
Occasional Ministrations Not Stuff.
cient.
/ Though occasional visits may keeI
the spark of faith from being extin
guished completely they do not make
it blaze intos "a living flame. Fol
| many years jealous priests have beer
travelling through this country max
/ ing circuits Of from one hundred e
six hundred miles, visiting small
groups of Catholics here and there