Formation for the Future: Help Renovate Our Seminary

In 1845, Father Joseph Salzmann founded Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee. It is currently the third oldest Roman Catholic Seminary in continuous operation in the United States and the oldest seminary still located on its original site. Its main building, Henni Hall, was built in 1856. To put it in context, this was before the start of the Civil War. During these years, more than 4,200 Catholic priests have received their formation and education here.

At this time there are 90 men in formation at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. This is a 165% increase over the last sixteen years. The Diocese of Superior presently has three men studying, being formed, and living here. Our three newest priests, Fathers Dan Tracy, Julian Druffner, and Isaiah Schick, are all products of Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. Blessed Father Solanus Casey was also a seminarian there, prior to being ordained a priest. 

The main building, where the seminarians live, eat, study, and pray, was last renovated more than forty years ago. Most of us live in a house that was either built in the last forty years or has undergone some renovation, such as new carpeting, bathroom fixtures, furnace, appliances, or drapes. It is time for Saint Francis de Sales Seminary to be similarly updated. 

Updating a building that is more than one hundred years old is difficult and thus expensive. It is also a building where more than one hundred priests and seminarians live, work, eat, study, receive formation, and pray. Saint Francis de Sales Seminary is conducting its first capital campaign to pay for the upgrades that are needed on its campus. It is an ambitious project, but one that is vital for the future of the Church to have the priests needed to serve our Diocese and others. The campaign goal is to raise over $70 million from pledges made that can be paid over the next five years. To date, the campaign has raised over $62 million. 

To complete the capital campaign, Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, with the permission of the Bishop of each diocese, is appealing to the people of each diocese that sends men to the seminary for preparation for ordination as priests to consider making a pledge or one time gift to support the capital campaign that is raising funds to support the much needed renovations at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. All of the funds donated will be used to support this project and for no other purpose. 

This weekend, there will be envelopes in the pews that you can use to make either a pledge or a one time donation. To provide more information about the seminary, the renovations, and capital campaign, five minutes after the end of each Mass, a video will be shown in the church. Father Dan and I encourage you to take time to watch this video and then prayerfully consider supporting this capital campaign if you are able. 

Father Dan and I like to set goals and put forth challenges. Our Diocese could potentially have seven seminarians at various stages of discernment and formation for the priesthood. Using the number seven, our suggestion is, if you are having trouble deciding on a gift or pledge, use the number “seven.” It could be seven dollars, $70, $77, $700, or $777. You likely get the idea. And for our kids, we are challenging you to offer a gift of 70 cents or 7 dollars. The seminary you are supporting today will provide our diocese with priests for tomorrow.

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