Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin (USA), OFFICE OF VOCATIONS

It’s a full house (of formation)

By Joseph O’Brien

Staff Writer

LA CROSSE – The Diocese of La Crosse is booming with early interest in vocations as this year both the Holy Cross Seminary House of Formation and the Mater Redemptoris Convent and House of Formation are playing with full houses.

According to Father Samuel Martin, Holy Cross director, nine seminarians are attending the House of Formation and Aquinas High School this year, tying a record for the largest class ever.

Among seminarians, those returning from last year include senior Matthew Grady of Pleasant Mount, Penn., juniors Joseph Lang of St. Louis, Ill. and George McGraw of Manitowish Waters, Wis. and sophomores Matthew Marshall of Hewitt, and Christopher Grahn of Colby.

New faces at the seminary are junior Zachary Burud of Verona, Wis. and freshmen Jacob Alford of La Crosse, Joseph Goodman of Wonewoc, and Joseph Grady, Matthew’s brother, also of Mount Pleasant, Penn.

For Father Martin, the surge in numbers is a sign of hope for the priesthood and the Church – and a sign of contradiction for the world.

"Ironically, in the midst of so much despair caused by the deplorable things done by priests recently, there’s more and more of a thirst for true sanctity," he said. "In the midst of what would be a downward turn for the Church, young men are saying, ‘Yes, there’s something wrong with the Church today, but I want to be part of the solution.’ It’s ‘go time’ in the Catholic Church in America, and young men are standing up to be a part of it."

He sees this year’s students as "good young men who come from families that still believe that Church is the eternal Bride of Christ, and, as such, worthy of our fidelity and trust."

The purpose of Holy Cross Seminary House of Formation is to predispose young men to hear the will of God in their lives, Father Martin related.

"Whether or not each of these young men becomes a priest, he will be a Catholic gentleman by the time he’s done here," Father Martin stated. "And if he does become a priest, we work to insure he becomes a faithful and holy priest with no warm fuzzies attached."

The staff of Holy Cross Seminary House of Formation also welcomes Omar Gutiérrez as its new prefect (see article on page 3).

Likewise, director Sister M. Stephania Newell of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George (FSGM) is pleased to report a record-setting surge in the number of aspirants at the three-year old Mater Redemptoris House of Formation. The result is a full house of nuns and aspirants for this school year.

"The number joining us is a sign that there are young women seeking to do God’s will," she said. "It’s encouraging for us and for the Church that they desire to know what God wants them to do – and we’re happy as long as they find out what God’s will is for them, whether in marriage or the religious life."

Sister Stephania pointed out that both Houses of Formation are keeping things in the family as returning aspirant and senior Ana Goodman of Wonewoc and new aspirant and senior Elizabeth Grahn of Colby have brothers attending the Holy Cross Seminary House of Formation.

Along with Goodman, other aspirants returning this year include seniors Mary Beth Brooks of Brooksville, Ohio and Hannah Ploessl of Sun Prairie, Wis., and juniors Jean Lyon of Bayfield, Wis. and Theresa Klinkhammer of Wisconsin Rapids.

Along with Grahn, other new aspirants at Mater Redemptoris are junior Racheal King of Beaver Dam, Wis. and freshman Kylie Gajdosik of Wrightstown, Wis.

Mater Redemptoris Convent has also received additional nuns from the FSGM motherhouse in Alton, Ill., to help guide the young aspirants in their discernment and spiritual development, Sister M. Theresia and novice Sister M. Liguoria.

According to Sister Stephania, part of the credit for the increase in aspirant numbers is due to the aspirants already attending Mater Redemptoris.

"The Lord is blessing us with more aspirants this year," she said. "Every day the girls pray a decade for more aspirants, so, it’s really the fruit of their prayer and all our prayer and sacrifices."

These same prayers are seeing further fruits as aspirant Brooks has declared her intention to enter the Carmelite Monastery in Denmark, Wis., after graduation this year.

Both Houses of Formation will be benefiting from the generosity of parishioners around the Diocese as well, as the Bishop’s Annual Appeal will be contributing $90,000 to both Houses this year.

According to Matthew Brasmer, Director of Stewardship and Development, a planned gift such as a charitable gift annuity from a few of the faithful of our diocese could significantly benefit the mission of the two Houses of Formation.

On Aug. 31, Bishop Raymond L. Burke welcomed Houses of Formation staff, students and the students’ parents at a special Mass to open officially their school year. In his homily he reminded those present of the importance he places in the Houses of Formation – and in the discernment of God’s will in their own lives.

"Holy Cross Seminary House of Formation and Mater Redemptoris House of Formation exist, most of all, to foster holiness of life in young men and women who are considering whether God is calling them to the priesthood or consecrated life," Bishop Burke said in his homily. "They provide important helps for growing in the life of prayer and in the knowledge, love and service of Christ."

Bishop Burke encouraged the young people present to strive for excellence in the coming school year – not only academically but also spiritually.

"Today, we pray that our young seminarians and aspirants will grow, this year, in holiness of life, will become more Christ-like, and therefore, will know and do God’s will more perfectly in their lives," he stated. "Especially, we pray that they will come to understand more perfectly their vocation, God’s plan for them."

2002-2004. Office of Vocations, Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin (USA). Questions and Comments? Contact The Administrator.