The Irish standard., 1916-10-14
Collection in Aid
Of Seminary Fund
LETTER OF THE RIGHT REvER-
END BISHOP LAWYER, LEAD,
SOUTH DAKOTA.

To the Clergy and the Laity Of the
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 10th, or as soon there
after as pastors may deem practicable.
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 he
able to afford Seminarians the thor
ough and extensive training required
for the honor and efficiency of their
calling. Let it be remarked at the
outset that the cost of a clerical edit
cation is not small item. Now we
are down at the root of one phase Of
the difficulty. If the church permitted
anyone and everyone to assume the
duties and responsibilities Of the sac
erdotal state regardless of the warn
ing of st. Paul; Neither doth any
man take the honor to himself, but he
that is called by God as Aaron vas;
II we picked up men from field and
workshop and ordained them without
a preparation Of twelve years Of study.
the ranks of our clergy would soon be
overcrowded. If such were the case
there would be no occasion for an ap-
peal to your generosity toward the
Seminary Fund. I am aware that now
and then people are found who affect
surprise that the parents of candidates
for the ministry do not defray the
whole cost of educating their sons.
There are parents who are able ana
willing to do so, while others are un-
able, or If able, unwilling. Their I'm.
willingness is not unreasonable. After
all even such parents do more than
their share. The gift of 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
beneficiaries of priestly zeal and de-
votedness have no just reason for
complaint because they are asked to
pay the expenses of the remaining
four or six years of seminary training
AS the nation for it's own defense edu-
Gates it's military officers, so should
Catholics consult their own spiritual
interests by bearing a part of the bur
den Of preparing leaders for the sa-
cred militia of Christ,
Lack Of Priests-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 mill
istrations? It 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 igno.
rance of things Catholic become indif-
ferent while some fall away entirely
from the faith Of their forefathers.
What else is to be expected wherever
the priest is not at hand to offer up
day by day the Adorable Sacrifice, til
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
istry of reconciliation 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 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
with a numerous and efficient clergy
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 laymen
acquainted with existing conditions,
my inevitable conclusion is that If our
Diocese is ever to get beyond the mis-
sionary stage, if its congregations are
to grow and become self-supporting,
more parishes with resident pastors
must be established. The time has
come for fostering parish life with its
daily mass, it's devotions, its societies,
Its manifold incentives to growth and
progress in the concerns of the soul.
AS the number of churches in which
mass is celebrated every Sunday in.
creases, the number of missions and
stations which are attended monthly
or less frequently diminish.
Occasional Ministrations Not Suffl-