Just as the new school year is getting under way for students of all ages, diocesan seminarians are going back to classes as well. According to Father Brian Alford, director of Vocations, 22 men are currently seminarians for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
The seminarians range in age from 20 to 59, and the majority of the men are in their 20s. They are attending school in one of five places: six are at Bishop Simon Bruté Seminary in Indianapolis; one is at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.; three are at St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind.; two are studying at the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City; and 10 are at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.
“The seminarians met with the bishop (in early August at Villa Maria Catholic Life Center on Lake Springfield) and now they are all heading to the seminaries for the school year,” said Father Alford.
“This fall we have three new seminarians,” said Father Alford. They are Quinn Hussey and Thomas Schniers, who are both from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Charleston, and Michael Berndt from St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy.
“In addition, early this year (in January) we also had two brothers join the seminary. They are Chris Trummer and Michael Trummer from St. Mary of the Assumption in Neoga,” said Father Alford.
Four of the seminarians at Mundelein are in their fourth year of theology and were ordained to the transitional diaconate this spring. “That means, God willing, with four deacons we’ll have four men ordained to the priesthood in 2015,” said Father Alford. Of course, two men were just ordained to the diocesan priesthood in May.
Father Alford says the number of seminarians is remaining steady. “We’re hovering above the 20 mark — and we have been for a few years now — which I think is a good thing.”
As director of vocations, Father Alford believes parish priests can and do play a major role in bringing men into the seminary. “I really attribute our vocations to the good work of priests in our parishes,” he said. “I think they are mostly responsible. If not for the initiative and openness of the priests in our parishes, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in now.”