California Catholic Daily Exclusive.
On Saturday, September 9, St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park hosted its 10th annual Four Pillars Gala. The event is the school’s primary yearly fundraiser. The seminary serves a number of dioceses, and this year is forming seminarians from the diocese of Agana, Guam (3); Honolulu Hawaii (7); Monterey (1), Oakland (1), Sacramento (8), San Francisco (14), Santa Rosa (3), California; and Spokane Washington (3).
This year, over 500 people gathered for Vespers in the seminary chapel, tours of the seminary, and dinner and a silent auction on the seminary’s lawn. In his welcoming remarks the seminary’s new rector, Fr. George Schultze, SJ, said the crowd was the largest in the 10 year history of the gala. The invocation was given by His Excellency Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco. His Excellency was joined by Bishop Michael Barber of the Diocese of Oakland, and Bishop Thomas Daly, of the Diocese of Spokane, and former interim rector of the seminary. Bishop Daly also acted as master of ceremonies.
This year, the seminary honored the Walk for Life West Coast, represented by the Walk’s co-chairs and co-founders, Dolores Meehan and Eva Muntean. As dinner was served, the Rev. Mr. Mario S. Rizzo, the student body president, spoke. Deacon Rizzo said, in part: “Before I entered St. Patrick’s Seminary I had never been to the Walk for Life in San Francisco. As I enter into my seventh year at St. Patrick’s I can say that for me, the Walk is one of the most nourishing events that takes place during the academic year…I remember my first experience walking down Market Street surrounded by a sea of people carrying banners of their churches, signs and images of Our Lady while singing and praying the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy…At one moment we feel encouraged…at the next, someone is berating us from the sidewalk…In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II aptly named the likes of this protest the ‘culture of death.’” But, he continued “…what are we being formed into but another Christ, an alter Christus, one who will lay down his life so that others may live.”
Following dinner, both women spoke. The differing styles may provide a clue to the fruitful working relationship that has so contributed to the Walk’s success. Both echoed themes of gratitude for those who have helped make the Walk possible, a determination to continue the fight, and a renewed pledge of fidelity and service to the Church. Ms. Muntean spoke first. After thanking the priests, parishes, and volunteers who make the Walk happen, she continued:
“…The Walk for Life became necessary because abortion was made legal. Abortion was made legal because our country turned away from God. That, and many other issues, will fall into their rightful place if and when our country turns back to God. We at the Walk know that no matter what we do, it must be in service of that final aim. And that’s why we are here tonight.
We are here celebrating one of the most important works of the Church: the forming of these wonderful young men who are giving their lives to Christ and His Church. And let’s not forget their professors who are entrusted with guiding these young men on their journey. As Archbishop Reardon said when he was initially looking to staff St. Patrick’s ‘the work of the priests is the work of the Apostles, and the work of their professors is the work of Jesus Christ because they train the Apostles’.
The presence of the seminarians at the Walk bring us one of our greatest joys. Each year, a majority of St. Patrick’s men attend the Walk. Their very presence builds the Church. The seminarians experience the supportive atmosphere of tens of thousands of people, and the tens of thousands of people are energized and heartened by the presence of these impressive young men of God.”
Dolores Meehan followed. Meehan generally speaks without notes and her speeches are often characterized by a succession of striking images rather than a methodical approach. In this case she shared her recollections of the genesis of the Walk. At one point, she recalled the tremendous opposition to the first Walk in 2005, ginned up by the likes of then-Mayor Gavin Newsom. She said that in thanking those responsible for the success of the Walk we should never forget to thank Newsom, whose efforts brought out such a violent opposition that “we could never have afforded that kind of publicity!” Her observation that Newsom plays the same part in the history of the Walk for Life West Coast that Pontius Pilate does in the Creed, brought laughter from the crowd. She also said that when she tells people she is from San Francisco, they often respond “Bummer!” But she said, as a fourth-generation San Franciscan, it is the place to be, and called the Walk for Lifers “the Navy Seals of the pro life movement!”
The evening closed, as always, with an introduction of the seminarians, who gathered on the wide stairs by the entrance to the seminary. The seminarians then gave a lovely rendition of the Salve Regina.
It is also great that Bp. Thomas Daly, formerly San Jose auxiliary, now trying to repair the damage to Spokane diocese’s vocational program of one Blaise Cupich (2010-2014), has 3 candidates for the major seminary curriculum.
Meanwhile, Cupich has gone on to halve the average numbers of priests ordained for Chicago archdiocese. Under the late Card. Francis George, the annual Chicago ordinations averaged about 12-14 new priests every year; now Cupich ordained 6 this year, a typical Cupich track record of declining vocations similar to Card. Bergoglio of Buenos Aires.)
Counting the figures in the first paragraph, one gets 40 total seminarians. Does that cover the retirements and other attrition of the existing clergy? What is the per seminarian cost of a year at the school?
Well, you are right. The numbers are few.
Of course, San Jose diocese pulled their people, but they only now number 6 major seminary candidates for all 4 years (3 fourth-year, two 3rd year, 1 in second-year); and DSJ has only one, that’s right ONE collegiate (“pre-theology”) seminarian in the upcoming pipeline. Well done, PJ McGrath! The Cupich-Bergoglio vocational plan.
Are the seminarian numbers accurate? Only 40 seminarians at St. Pat’s? Word on the clerical street is that the archbishop has the ability financially to subsidize the seminary 5 years. The self-sustainable level is reputed to be 75.
Would the clerical street be “Sacramento Street” or “Allemeny Boulevard”? ;)
Eva and Dolo are so deserving of this honor! God bless you both!
The archbishop and those working with him continue to make this a better and better seminary. Thanks be to God.
Such Irony – Former Frisco ( aka Sodom by the Sea) Mayor and now Gov. Lt. Gravid Nuisance, is running for Governor
Gravid Nuisance got a free pass from the bought and paid for ‘free press’ – when it came out he was having an affair with a Female Subordinate on His Staff (reportedly with a “substance Abuse problem”)
– Who at the time was Also Married to his Campaign Manager, and Nuisance still got elected – because of his SSAD pandering pogrom
AIDE QUITS AS NEWSOM’S AFFAIR WITH HIS WIFE IS REVEALED / Campaign manager confronts mayor, who is ‘in shock’
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/AIDE-QUITS-AS-NEWSOM-S-AFFAIR-WITH-HIS-WIFE-IS-2652745.php ;
An Alinsky-trained Jesuit SJW running the seminary farm. What’s to celebrate?
Hymie you cannot ‘lump’ all Jesuits into the same category!! Apparently you do not know Father. And I do………
Father George is a ‘REAL DEAL’ Jesuit of the ilk of Father Fessio, Father Spitzer and especially of the Jesuits founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola!!!
Schultze trained with Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), Saul Alinsky’s network (Obama worked for them.). He’s a big fan of faith-based organizing.
No quote from the Archbishop in the entire article?
The count of seminarians isn’t accurate as listed; Oakland has around 10. The exact count of current seminarians is 53, with 3 on their pastoral year. God bless you all for your support.
Thank you for the “fraternal correction.”
I thought “Bp. Mike”, aka Lt. Commander Barber, USNR (really), would turn the USS Oakland around! A+ man there.
St Patrick’s is in good hands! Fr. Schultze will guide the ship in the right direction, no need to worry.
What we should be asking ourselves is ” How can we as Catholics help promote vocations to the priesthood?”
When it comes to helping our children and the youth in our communities discern their future, we all have responsibility.
Current Seminarian, thanks for the update! Those are more encouraging numbers. Should have realized that the listed Oakland number– 1 — was a mistake.
Agaña, Guam – 3
Fresno – 1
Honolulu – 7
Monterey – 1
Oakland – 11
Sacramento – 8
San Francisco – 14
Santa Rosa – 3
Spokane – 2
Stockton – 1
Suwon, South Korea – 2
Potemkin Village — 1 (Rector)
Knock it off Hymie! Do you know Fr. Schultze personally? Can you cite some Alinskyite ideas he’s put forth? Or are all Jesuits bad news even the good ones? C’mon–try and convince us!
I’ve already put up for a previous article. But okay, once again, in his own words:
See final section Pg 10, “Workers are Already Integrating Work and Worship”.
https://www.stthomas.edu/media/catholicstudies/center/ryan/conferences/pdf/GeorgeE.Schultze.pdf
I don’t know Alinsky personally either.
“Having attended the IAF’s ten day national training and having studied some of its organizing efforts, I can attest to seeing holy moments occur in the lives of the participants. Leaders emotionally and spiritually confront the hurt and pain that they have experienced in their lives, relate it to the wider social injustices in their communities, and then return to their homes and work lives as faith-based change agents. The IAF has numerous faith traditions in its network, ecumenical services at times occur, and for the Catholics involved in trainings and meetings, the celebration of the Eucharist is a normal practice.” — George E. Schultze, SJ
Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF):
https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/printgroupProfile.asp?grpid=7493
“For those interested in re-invigorating the labor movement, Fr. Schultze provides a blueprint for mobilizing the rapidly expanding population of Hispanic workers. He follows a long and noble tradition of hard-working and sometimes heroic Catholic priests who have supported workers in their legitimate desire for a living wage and decent working conditions. Strangers presents a concise history of the labor movement in the U.S. and the Catholic Church’s role in it. While recognizing the decline in membership of organized labor, Fr. Schultze does more than lament the problem: he proposes a viable solution. This book could be a turning point if it is heeded.”
— Joseph Fessio S.J., Provost of Ave Maria University; Editor at Ignatius Press
Schultze trained with Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), Saul Alinsky’s network (Obama worked for them.). He’s a big fan of faith-based organizing.