Spring Appeal

Moving Days

+JMJ+

Dear Friends in Christ,

Praised be Jesus Christ! After two years of intensive planning, moving day has finally arrived! Or more precisely – moving days. You don’t transfer the contents of 80 bedrooms, dozens of offices, classrooms, and a commercial  kitchen, plus priceless liturgical items and historic pieces of art, in one day!

We are vacating Henni Hall for about 18 months so that the renovation, restoration, and expansion of our main building can take place. We will reside at the Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center just down the street.

These are uncharted waters! We have never undertaken such a massive project before! It is a lot of work for the seminarians who are moving their own bedroom furniture and belongings as soon as exams are done. So how do the men feel about the move? One after another, they all answer the same: “Excited!”

The seminarians are completely onboard with the upheaval! Jacob Bruns (Milwaukee) said, “Moving will be fun. We will blast some music, pile everything into trucks, and make hundreds of trips back and forth!” Olivier Ndorimana (Green Bay) agreed, “It will be awesome to be part of such a big deal.”

Our temporary home is an unused wing of the archdiocesan center. Built in 1963, it was originally De Sales Preparatory Minor Seminary, which offers us a special connection to our past. The rooms are small and spartan, with only four showers per floor, but the men see this as an excellent opportunity to embrace a more profound simplicity.

You see, our seminarians are joyful and resilient! They have strong bonds of brotherhood and fraternity. They consider this move an adventure they are embarking upon together. The seminarians are also aware of how blessed they are to be here, at Saint Francis de Sales, during this historical era. While other seminaries face declining enrollment, we need to expand the Salesianum to accommodate all the men the Lord is sending here!

Our community life will keep the same routine in the new setting. Prayer will remain our priority. Our seminarians will begin each day with a 5:45 a.m. holy hour, followed by morning prayer and the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Nothing is more important than our relationship with God! For our men to become holy priests who can lead others to Christ, they must first love Him completely themselves.

Continuing our prayer life and the sacraments without interruption will help us to handle all the other adjustments with peaceful hearts. As with all big changes, there will be unexpected difficulties and uncertainties. The men are ready for it! As Jacob explained, “We will be part of an exiled group living in the Seminary’s new halcyon days.” Olivier finished, “And after our exile, we will return to our magnificently restored home.”

These are indeed halcyon days for the Seminary. Thank you for your generosity which has allowed us to become the fastest growing seminary in the country! We are grateful for your support and humbly ask that you prayerfully consider a gift today to help us form more priests. Your sacrificial gift makes a difference. Because of you, we will ordain 11 priests this spring for a total of 35 new priests in just three years!

Thank you for everything you do for the Salesianum. Be assured of our continued prayers, and please pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Luke N. Strand
Rector

The Seminary community is moving out!

Seminarians move the furniture out of their lounge.

Be At Peace

Do not look forward in fear
to the changes in life;
rather, look to them with full hope
that as they arise, God,
whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same understanding Father
who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all
anxious thoughts and imaginations.

St. Francis de Sales