We Give Thanks to God!
A Word from our President, Msgr. Robert Nusca and our Rector, Fr. Edwin Gonsalves
We give thanks to God as we begin our new academic year. As the Seminary begins the celebration of its 110th anniversary, we welcome 13 new seminarians from three dioceses into our program of priestly formation. This new formation year is dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank my predecessor, Fr. Robert Barringer, C.S.B., for his outstanding work since assuming the duties of the office in 2020. The faculty, students, and staff of the Seminary are indebted to him for the wonderful work that he has done here, beginning with his work as Academic Dean from 2011-2014.
From left to right: Dr. Josephine Lombardi, Deacon Peter Lovrick, Fr. Bob Barringer
Along with our Academic Dean, Fr. John Abad, our Registrar and Academic Officer, Theresa Kelly, and our Coordinator of Assessment and Information Officer, Frank Kelly, Fr. Barringer played an important role in the successful completion of the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Program report. Throughout, Fr. Barringer has been a wonderful model for the formation of our future priests. In addition to being a brilliant professor, he has been for all of us a great example of what it is to be a wise and holy priest, a judicious mentor, and a spiritual guide.
Many events are being planned for the coming year. Many thanks to Chere McLean, our Events/Hospitality Coordinator and Faculty Administrative Assistant, for her wonderful work. The Seminary welcomed and celebrated our Alumni, especially our Jubilarians, at our annual “Alumni Day.”
Upcoming lay formation events this year will include a talk by our new faculty member Dr. Julia Palmieri. There will be an Advent Retreat by Rev. Andrew Summerson, as well as a talk for young adults on “The Cross at Work” by our Vice- Rector, Fr. Michael Corpus, in collaboration with the Office of Catholic Youth Spiritus Ministries.
Our annual Convocation will be held on November 7th, hopefully in person and live-streamed. “Come and See” weekends, hosted by the Office of Vocations, are scheduled to take place in November and March. A fundraising gala dinner is planned for January 28th.
Finally, in preparation for the inaugural year of our new Licentiate program in Patristics, beginning in 2023, we are organizing a series of talks on various Patristic themes during the 2022-2023 academic year. The talks will be open to the public and admission will be free.
As you can see there is much happening at the Seminary and for that we are grateful to Almighty God for all that is being accomplished in the service of the Gospel through the Seminary’s life and mission. I ask you to continue to pray for the Seminary and its mission and for the seminarians as they continue their journey of formation with the Lord. You can be assured of our ongoing prayers for you.
Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us!
St. Augustine’s prayer:
May the Lord Jesus Christ give you
A heart to love Him,
A will to choose him,
An understanding to know Him,
A spirit which may always be united to Him.
And may the God of love and mercy
love you forever. Amen.