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SAN ANTONIO • Assumption Seminary celebrated its 90th birthday Nov. 20 as a bilingual and multicultural community of priestly formation. Events included an outdoor program on the seminary grounds at Woodlawn and Germania and a performance by the Assumption Schola, followed by a Mass celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez and reception in the Student Union Building.
In 1915, after being faced with a severe shortage of priests to minister to San Antonio’s Catholic community, Bishop John W. Shaw opened a seminary in his residence. Five years later, the school was given the name of St. John’s Seminary and was relocated to a site adjacent to Mission Concepción. In 1928, two years after San Antonio was elevated to an archdiocese, a Theology Department was added. During World War II, Archbishop Robert E. Lucey purchased the former Trinity University facility on Woodlawn Avenue, which in 1952 became known as Assumption Seminary.
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Today, Assumption Seminary reflects the growing Hispanic population locally and across the United States. The seminary is dedicated to the education and training of the next generation of priests who are bilingual and culturally aware and prepared to minister in diverse faith communities for generations to come.
In an effort to prepare for continued growth, Assumption Seminary announced its $13 million expansion campaign in 2004, which includes the construction of the Flores Residence Hall named in honor of Archbishop Emeritus Patrick F. Flores.
The new facility will house 80 seminarians and four faculty members, in addition to community gathering spaces and a Eucharistic chapel.
Responding to the continuing increases in enrollment with 62 seminarians enrolled this year, the new hall will provide much-needed space for all resident seminarians and for the anticipated increase in enrollment expected over the next 15 years. To date, the Campaign Steering Committee has raised more than $8.7 million toward the $13 million campaign goal.
The 90th anniversary program began with a history of the seminary from Msgr. Lawrence J. Stuebben, archdiocesan vicar general, followed by an overview of the new seminary college program by Father Arturo Cepeda, archdiocesan vocation director.
“It is with great joy and hearts filled with hope that we are now ready to begin a new college seminary program,” Father Cepeda said. “Moved by the Spirit, we know we have been blessed here in San Antonio.”
The new college program will begin in the fall of 2006 for college age and high school students and will offer candidates discernment opportunities with experienced formators. It is also believed by seminary officials that this effort may reduce the academic preparation of future priests by one year.
“I have no doubt as we launch this program that it will bring us a lot of blessings,” said Father Cepeda. “We welcome our brothers in discernment with open arms, and we encourage our young men to give their lives in service to God in the church.”
He closed by saying, “With God’s help, and with your support, Assumption Seminary is here to stay.”
The vocation director was followed by Father Jim Tucker, SS, vice rector of Assumption Seminary, who highlighted future planning at the institution.
The Sulpician cleric began by exclaiming, “The job of a priest is very difficult. It takes a lot of preparation to make a good priest.”
He discussed a new program, a spirituality year, which Assumption will be implementing. “It will offer intense preparation in the area of spirituality, and seminarians will study theology, understanding the magisterium, and experiencing the rich spirituality of priestly formation,” said Father Tucker.
The vice rector continued, “The vision of Bishop Shaw to prepare bilingual priests was visionary for its time. It was an attempt to give the church holy priests. These prelimary plans are exciting because we see Bishop Shaw’s vision fulfilled under Archbishop Gomez.”
Archbishop Gomez then came forward to accept building plans for the Archbishop Flores Residence Hall from Robert Morkovsky, architect.
After thanking benefactors, the archbishop said, “The most important place in the archdiocese is the seminary. Without it we wouldn’t have priests and without priests we wouldn’t have Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s the first priority of my ministry in San Antonio. It’s an extraordinary treasure.”
He then celebrated a Mass on the steps of the Student Union Building, with concelebrants including Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI, of the Diocese of San Angelo, retired Auxiliary Bishop Bernard Popp and Archbishop Emeritus Flores.
In his homily, Archbishop Gomez highlighted the solemnity of Christ the King. “Christ the King knows us, cares for us, loves us, because he is the Good Shepherd. He wants us to have a wonderful life and he’s committed to accompanying us in our journey of faith and love.”
But, the archbishop cautioned, Jesus’ kingdom has some enemies. “It has been the history of the church and it is still the reality of our times. There are so many people that do not want Christ to reign in their lives. We know that it is not just something of the past. We have experienced it in our times too.”
The first enemy is sin, said Archbishop Gomez. “We can see the consequences of sin in our lives and our society. There is war and terrorism; lack of justice and violence. The culture of death is still present in many ways. The dignity of the human person is not the basis for the common good. There is also our own personal weaknesses and sins.”
In celebrating the feast of Christ the King, continued the archbishop, we must tell Jesus that we want him to reign in our own lives. “He must reign in our minds and for that we must believe in him. In our will, then we must obey him — the laws and precepts of God. In our actions, so we must act as children of God. Then the kingdom of God will be a reality in our society: a kingdom of truth and life, kingdom of holiness and grace, kingdom of justice, love and peace.”
In discussing Jesus’ requirements for his kingdom to be a reality in our lives and in our society, Archbishop Gomez said it is not a big and sophisticated plan.
“It has the simplicity of the things of God. It is charity. Love of God and love of others. Deeds of charity! We are not even asked to do things perfectly or in a heroic way, but to try to do simple things in a charitable way: Things that we all can do in our ordinary life,” he said. “All we need is to become sensitive to the needs of those whom God has sent into our lives. This is the real challenge of our own personal life and of our society.”
In closing, the archbishop asked those gathered to renew their commitment to make the kingdom of God a reality in their lives and in society. “Let’s affirm with our words and deeds that we want Christ to reign in our life and that with his help we will collaborate in spreading his kingdom on earth: a kingdom of truth and life … holiness and grace … justice, love and peace,” he concluded.
Following the liturgy a reception and showing of a seminary video was held.
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