Today's mail brought a letter from Bishop Clark.
It seems that with 6 men in various seminaries and another 6 about to enter Becket Hall the diocese is a bit strapped for cash.
According to the bishop it costs $36,000 per year to support each seminarian and each discerner, with the annual total for the 12 in excess of $400,000.
And so he's asking me - and, no doubt, thousands of others - to help defray these costs.
While the cost of preparing priests has skyrocketed over the past few years, we've been able to absorb the cost because we were educating so few. But, now that we are educating many, we're finding ourselves severely strapped.
This is a new problem for His Excellency. At first glance I'm inclined to give him a hand.
8 comments:
If he worked at bringing back lapsed catholics,he would have more possible donors...
We could sell the Cathedral organ and finance their education with that money.
~Dr. K
Mr. B & Dr. K.,
Both good points.
BTW, Dr. K., I think the bishop's letter pretty much confirms that Zach Enes is no longer a seminarian. I suspect it's the only "announcement" we'll receive.
I would contribute out of my squirrel treasury of nuts. I guess one of my contingencies would be which seminary is the individual seminarian studying at. I would not contribute to anyone studying at Christ the King in East Aurora or St. Mary's (the pink palace) in Baltimore. These seminaries haven't turned around so that they are orthodox. But, yes, in theory, I would ante up. That may be the priest that gives me Extreme Unction.
Mr. B. I agree in general with your statement about "lapsed Catholics". The major reservation I have is once they come back what are they coming back to? Certainly in most place it wouldn't be orthodox, not even close to that. They would come back to all the abuses we see listed on blogs like this and Cleansing Fire.
As sad as it is that we are bleeding Catholics, I think we have to wait for an orthodox Bishop to lead the crusade to get lapsed Catholics back into the one, true Church of Christ. That program "Catholics Come HOme" has worked wonders where the bishop is orthodox, Phoenix, etc.
This is lengthy. I apologize, but I feel as if it needs to be said.
"As sad as it is that we are bleeding Catholics, I think we have to wait for an orthodox Bishop to lead the crusade to get lapsed Catholics back into the one, true Church of Christ."
I'm not so sure. It comes down to how we see things.
Think of the serenity prayer. “The wisdom to know the difference…” There are many times that as I pray, I think of myself as God’s tool. I’m dirty, chipped, pitted, broken and altogether an unworthy tool. But in the hands of THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN, some things may be accomplished.
I’m a poor sinner. Needless to say, as such I have recourse to the Blessed Mother. I’ll have to face my life at the Time of Judgment, and will be found to be guilty of many sins. I don’t want to be found guilty of waiting.
There are many ways to bring back lapsed Catholics. I’m working on a few of them – slowly, patiently.
I was recently asked to become a part of an evangelization committee. I submitted the website “Catholics Come Home”. I don’t know if it will go anywhere, but I’m trying. If it goes nowhere, I’ll try again…and again…and again.
About 2 years ago, I started fasting on Thursdays for vocations.
I'm not claiming anything, many people sacrifice for the same goal. But look - positive growth – with Bishop Clark!
We’re called to fight for Christ. There are many saints who worked against a more stacked deck. We’re PRIVELEGED to be in a place where we can be a thorn in the side of our good Bishop. Maybe we can save him from himself.
Pray for him. Pray for me. Pray for us.
God Bless.
Good points, Mr. B.
As the angel Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin, "For with God nothing will be impossible." Paul said something quite similar in Philippians: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me."
No matter the circumstances we still have the obligation to do what we can, leaving the rest to God. Thanks for reminding me of that.
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