The Most Reverend Daniel Cardinal Dinardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston celebrated the Rite of Admission of Candidates for Holy Orders for the third year theology class at St. Mary’s seminary.
On the first day of classes, August 22nd, the seminary community gathered for Solemn Vespers of the Queenship of Mary. To mark the beginning of the academic year they were joined by the Academic Faculty of the graduate school of theology at of the University of St. Thomas in full academic regalia. After vespers, all gathered for refreshments in the refectory.
Friday, March 18, about 15 seminarians, priests and men discerning walked the 8 miles from St. Mary's to Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral while praying the Stations of the Cross.
The seminarians who are preparing for ordination to the diaconate must make a profession of faith and oath of fidelity prior to ordination. Today they each placed their right hand on the book of the Gospels opened to the Passion from the Gospel of Mark as their made this solemn oath.
Bishop Nicholas Gallagher founded St. Mary's Seminary in the wake of the 1900 Galveston storm. In this second annual celebration, seminarians and faculty remembered his legacy and the founding of St. Mary's Seminary.
Fifteen seminarians received the ministry of Lector from Bishop Brendan Cahill. This is the first of several steps before ordination to priesthood so it was a significant day for them, their families, their dioceses, and the entire seminary.