My First Nephew

The newest member of the Church Militant, Paul Gerard Johnson, was born on September 24, 2009.  He will be baptized in November according to the 1962 Rituale Romanum.  He is my first nephew.

The father (my brother) reports that Paul often holds his canonical digits (thumbs and forefingers) together, so he is obviously destined to become a Catholic priest!  Please pray for him and his family!

New Diocese of Raleigh Seminarian Poster

This year's theme is St. John Vianney for the "Year For Priests" named by Pope Benedict XVI:

Seminary Photos

Classes are off to a good start at St. Charles.  Our rooms are pretty simple, with a bed, desk, and dresser:

My relics of Fr. Price, St. Maria Goretti, St. Gemma Galgani, St. Gabriel Possenti, and St. Paul of the Cross:

A long corridor leads to the Saint Martin Chapel - the "lower side" chapel for College and Pre-Theology seminarians:

Saint Martin Chapel's high altar:

...and frescoed dome:

Behind the sanctuary is a series of side altars:

The Marian side altar in the main part of the chapel:

Monastic-style choir stalls so that the seminarians face each other in two choirs for common prayer:

Part of the seminary grounds:

The front of the chapel and bell tower:

Silent Retreat

Please pray for the seminarians at St. Charles as we begin our 4-day silent retreat:

"Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more." - St. Ignatius Loyola

On Monday, August 31, His Eminence Cardinal Justin Rigali visited the seminary to declare Saint John Vianney the 4th secondary patron of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He declared:

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, on the 19th day of June 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, opened the Year of the Priest, during which we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Saint John Mary Vianney. During this Year of the Priest, the Holy Father will name the Curé d’Ars as the patron of all priests.

In this Year of the Priest then, I, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, proclaim:

Whereas, Saint John Vianney continues to be an inspiring example for seminarians to grow in holiness, and;

Whereas Saint John Vianney serves as a model of priestly zeal for the teaching of God’s Word and the celebration of the Sacraments, and;

Whereas Saint John Vianney is a timeless herald of the victory of God’s mercy in the struggle to overcome temptation and evil, and;

Whereas Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has a long standing devotion to Saint John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars and patron of parish priests, and;

Whereas Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary wishes to emphasize the intercessory role of this heavenly patron in the formation of future priests, and;

Whereas Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has a tradition of secondary patrons that include Saint Joseph, Saint Patrick and Saint Thomas Aquinas;

Therefore, on this 31st day of August, in the Year of Our Lord 2009, I declare Saint John Mary Vianney as a secondary patron of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

2009-2010 Seminarians of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

Cardinal Rigali visited yesterday to receive the faculty's oath of fidelity to the Magisterium, and we took our annual seminary photo: