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A TIME TO PLANT
1976 - 1986
The US Bishop's Program for Priestly Formation states that the purpose of a seminary is to "...afford a sequential program which encourages and fosters spiritual and emotional maturity, intellectual and cultural growth, and provides opportunities for apostolic zeal, so that a man may respond maturely to the priestly vocation and, in turn, be judged suitable for it...', St. Henry's Seminary has been filling this role for 50 years. We are proud of its accomplishments and those of its alumni - priests, religious, and laymen.
In celebrating an anniversary, it is easy to congratulate ourselves for past performance, indulge in some nostalgia, and then go on about our business. But to have real meaning, an anniversary should also be a time of looking to the future, a time of planning, a time of hoping - A TIME TO PLANT. We cannot foretell the future, but we know its seeds are here in the present - that the future will grow naturally from the things we are doing today.
The Oblates are committed to the realization that the High School Seminary has a place in the Church of today. Purified and strengthened by the crises of the past decade, today's High School Seminary is well equipped to prepare young men spiritually and academically for the Priesthood. The Bishop's Program for Priestly Formation points out that "Especially because of their built-in dynamic of peer group reinforcement, seminary programs at the high school level provide a unique opportunity for young persons to grow more effectively into men of the Church. Such programs are an important leaven in a diocese or religious community and contribute in a significant way to a strong priesthood."
As times and people change, so too programs and methods at St. Henry's have changed to meet the new needs which have arisen, but the goal has remained the same - a well-rounded preparation for the ministerial priesthood, commensurate with the age and development of. the individual. Enrollments have slipped from the highs of the early sixties, but our present enrollment compares favorably with the average enrollment over the past 50 years. That does not give us cause to be complacent. The Church and St. Henry's needs vocations, and we all share a responsibility in doing what we can to find them.
We at St. Henry's are convinced that good Christian families are needed to produce vocations, and strong encouragement and example from priests and religious are necessary for them to mature. We feel that there are many young men who are able to accept the challenge of vocation, but only if they see the value of that challenge reflected in the daily lives of their parents, their teachers, and their priests. We have the task of providing the spark that will set them aflame with enthusiasm for Christ.
As we begin our Sixth Decade, we commit ourselves to preserving the worthwhile traditions of the past as we work for the Church of the future. God has done many good things for St. Henry's, and we are confident that He will continue to bless our efforts. We ask you to join us in our gratitude, our commitment, and our confidence in the future.
Rev. Joseph Hitpas, OMI Rector
