Summer 2008 “Forming men for the The priesthood for over Herald 100 years.” A Newsletter for the Alumni and Friends of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Mission Statement Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is a community of faith, formation, Fourteen Ordained to Priesthood and learning, located in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, pre- Nine for St. Louis Most in Over 20 Years paring men for the Roman Catholic priesthood of Jesus On Saturday, May 24, Archbishop Ray- nine men, as well as priests, deacons, and Christ. mond Burke ordained to the Order of Priest- men and women religious of the Archdio- Under the guidance of the hood nine Kenrick-Glennon cese of St. Louis. Holy Spirit and to the praise of seminarians for the Arch- Seminarians were God the Father, we cultivate the diocese of St. Louis, the also in attendance at human, spiritual, intellectual, largest ordination class for the ceremony. and pastoral gifts of candidates the Archdiocese since 1987: Last year, Fathers for the diocesan ministry. Rev. Matthew Barnard, Tim Bannes, Rodger To this end, we commit our- Rev. Patrick Driscoll, Rev. Fleming, John selves to a responsible and ef- Brian Hecktor, Rev. Mi- O’Brien, and Joseph fective stewardship of resources, chael Houser, Rev. Eric Post were ordained carrying on our recognized tra- dition of service to the Church. Kunz, Rev. Edward to the priesthood for Nemeth, Rev. Kevin The nine newly-ordained priests for the the Archdiocese of Schroeder, Rev. James Archdiocese of St. Louis with Archbishop St. Louis. Next year, Highlights in This Theby, and Rev. Noah Raymond Burke following the Ordination God-willing, the Issue: Waldman. Mass of May 24 at the Cathedral Basilica. seminary’s ten new In attendance at the (Jeff Geerling) transitional deacons Pictures from Spring 2008: standing-room only Cathe- will be ordained to Seminarians in Action 2 dral Basilica were family and friends of the (Ordinations, cont. on pg. 6) A Fond Farewell to Fr. Michael Monshau, O.P., Professor of Homiletics 2 Archbishop Burke Announces Campaign for Seminary Fr. Tom Kirchhoefer: A Priestly Ministry in Iraq 3 On Wednesday, May 28, at a campaign, as the parish Faculty News and Notes 4 meeting of the priests of the phase will be conducted in Archdiocese of St. Louis at the fall of 2009. In total, the Kenrick Theologian Published 4 Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, campaign for the seminary Seminarian Spotlight: Archbishop Raymond Burke will seek $65,280,000. In his Sacred Places 5 stated that the Archdiocese is talk, he called the campaign Coming Events 6 preparing for a major cam- a “happy challenge” for the paign to provide for the capi- Archdiocese to meet the Fr. Kapaun’s Cause for Saint- hood Officially Opened 7 tal needs of the seminary and critical needs of the semi- bring its endowment to an ef- nary, now and for the future. Seminary Alumnus Elected Abbot at Gethsemani 7 fective level. In addition to addressing The Archbishop, in his needed updating and renova- The construction of the semi- The Seminary Says Farewell prepared remarks, asked for nary’s current facilities was tion of the building infra- to Archbishop Burke 8 the priests’ support of this begun in 1929. (Campaign, cont. on pg. 4) Page 2 The Herald Pictures from Spring 2008: Seminarians in Action Kenrick-Glennon Days, June 7-14 (Clockwise, from left) Kenrick-Glennon Days Camp Director Brian Fallon (Theology I) ad- dresses some of 283 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders who attended the camp; a pair of junior camp counselors pose with St. Louis seminarian Patrick Fletcher (Senior, Class of 2009); campers at Mass in the seminary’s Chapel of St. Joseph; Archbishop Raymond Burke pre- sents the Archbishop’s Cup to a winning team of campers. (Conor Sullivan) The mission of Kenrick-Glennon Days is to have young men get more acquainted with the seminary and the seminarians, to grow in their Catholic faith and holiness, and to be open to a vocation to the priesthood. 2008 Pilgrimage to New York and Papal Visit, April 19-20 St. Louis seminar- ian Jeff Geerling (left, Theology II) captures a group picture of excited Prophets Day, April 9 Kenrick-Glennon seminarians— (From left) Theology III seminarians Tim Noelker (St. battling the heat with their heads covered with ball caps and Louis) and Barry Clayton (Kansas City in Kansas) towels—awaiting an appearance from Benedict XVI (inset) teach a visiting group of St. Clement of Rome grade during a youth rally with the Holy Father. (Jeff Geerling) schoolers about the prophets. A Fond Farewell to Fr. Michael Monshau, O.P., Professor of Homiletics Fr. Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P., Master of this honor as we express our gratitude to him on the con- the Order (Superior General) of the Do- tributions that he has made in our seminary community. minicans has appointed Fr. Michael Mon- While his presence here will be greatly missed, we wish shau, O.P., to serve as Professor of Homi- him well as he assumes his new responsibilities.” letics at the Angelicum in Rome, effective Since he began his service to the seminary in the fall Fall 2008. of 2006, Fr. Monshau has made significant contributions Seminary President-Rector Msgr. Ted to the seminary community, in the classroom as Professor Wojcicki reflected on Fr. Monshau’s two years of service of Homiletics, with his committee work, and with his to Kenrick-Glennon: “We congratulate Fr. Monshau on overall dedication to the mission of the seminary. Summer 2008 Page 3 Fr. Tom Kirchhoefer: A Priestly Ministry in Iraq Fr. Tom Kirchhoefer has a calling within a calling. Ten Some twenty Catholic priests now serve as chaplains years a priest, Fr. Kirchhoefer has served as a chaplain in Iraq. That with the United States Army for nearly half of his priestly breaks down to ministry. about one Well into his second three-year commitment with the priest for every military, and currently serving 4,000 people, in Iraq, Fr. Kirchhoefer’s first Catholic and tour included a stint from July non-Catholic. 2004 to April 2005 in Afghani- Fr. Kirchhoe- stan. Fr. Kirchhoefer joined the fer credits his Army Reserves in 1995 and was seminary train- ordained in 1998 from Kenrick- ing as he Glennon Seminary. When then- serves such a U.S. Army chaplain Fr. Tom Kirchhoefer Archbishop Justin Rigali called diverse field of celebrates Mass with troops outside a main- upon priests to consider becom- people in spiri- tenance tent in Iraq. ing full-time chaplains, Fr. tual need. U.S. Army Chaplain Fr. Tom Kirchhoefer. (left) Kirchhoefer prayed about it, “Kenrick-Glennon Seminary did a great job of pre- spoke to his spiritual director, paring me for the priesthood,” said Fr. Kirchhoefer. “Of and decided to apply for the position. course, my formation and education gave me an excellent “The Army is desperate for Catholic chaplains,” said understanding of the Catholic Faith so that I can minister Fr. Kirchhoefer. “These soldiers are seeking to find faith to the Faithful on the front lines and also dialogue with and, hopefully, I’ll be able to help them on their journey those of other faiths, be they Christian, Jewish, or Mus- there and speak those words to them. I want to help them lim. The seminary definitely strengthened my grasp of to come closer to the Lord even as interreligious studies and they serve their country.” ecumenical dialogue plays Many soldiers seek a chaplain a large part in my ministry during basic training. They may ex- as an Army chaplain. In press worries about home or question some ways, I like to think if they are up to the Army’s task. that I am called to play a Some want to quit or even commit part in the New Evangeli- suicide. In addition to crediting the zation so well articulated military’s counseling training in help- by John Paul II. I know I’m ing to address these situations, Fr. here to represent the Kirchhoefer praised the pastoral Church to Catholics and counseling training he received at the non-Catholics alike, to seminary. minister to anyone in spiri- “I have to credit Dr. Susanne tual need. This is what God Harvath in particular and her course “The soldiers make it when they can, but is calling me to do at this in Pastoral Counseling,” said Fr. point in my ministry as a Kirchhoefer. “What I learned in her they often have work to do, even on Sun- Catholic priest.” class has been vital to my ministry days. A lot of times I’m only able to here. The Army devotes some train- make it out to places in the middle of the (Portions of this story pro- ing to Pastoral Counseling, but not week. So when I’m able to gather with vided by Jean Schildz, Re- much. It’s Dr. Harvath’s class mate- them, it becomes our worship day.”—Fr. view staff writer, from her rial that has been the greatest benefit articles in the April 4, 2003 to the counseling work that I do in Tom Kirchhoefer, U.S. Army Chaplain, and November 9, 2007 is- my ministry to the fighting men and on celebrating Mass in Iraq. sues of the St. Louis Re- women I serve.” view .) Page 4 The Herald that is taking place at Saint Louis Uni- versity from July 25-26. Faculty News and Notes An article by Associate Pro- fessor of Church History Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, the Persistent Vegetative State.” Dr. Daniel G. Van Slyke Associate Professor of In- Dr. Susanne Harvath , Pro- has appeared in Antiphon: A tercultural Studies, spent fessor of Pastoral Counsel- Journal for Liturgical Re- the last two weeks of May ing, continues to provide newal .