by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
One of the blessings at St. Gregory the Great Seminary is the opportunity to form seminarians from partner dioceses and archdioceses in the area and across the country. Not every diocese has its own seminary. Currently we have men from the dioceses of Fargo, Kansas City-St. Joseph, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Santa Rosa.
We are excited to announce that starting this fall we will begin a partnership with the Archdiocese of Omaha. It will be a chance for our future priests to build relationships while in the seminary that will last throughout their priesthood. It will also help the Catholic Church in Nebraska to share the Gospel and work together to serve the people of our state.
In addition to forming men for the priesthood, seminaries can help bishops and vocation directors to help promote vocations to the priesthood through “Come and See” weekends, campus visits, school groups and retreat opportunities. Young men studying at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward are closer to home, enabling family members to visit and trips home during free days easier. We have already begun hosting young men from the Archdiocese of Omaha who are interested in a closer look at discerning a call to the priesthood.
We’re looking forward to welcoming young men from the Archdiocese of Omaha and hope to continue partnering with other diocese in the area as the seminary grows.
We will be hosting our annual spring “Come and See” weekend March 14-16. Visit our website for more information: www.sggs.edu/events.
As we enter into the season of Lent, our seminarians have a chance to reflect on the graces of the year. Perhaps a few disciplines of formation may be a helpful part of your Lenten penances. I invited one of our new seminarians, Alec Langan, from St. Patrick Parish in McCook, to share what his experience has been this year:
In the fall of 2023, St. Gregory the Great Seminary joined many other seminaries across the world introducing the Propaedeutic Stage for first-year seminarians. Since I already had a bachelor’s degree, my eyes widened when I heard that they were adding another year to my college curriculum! The thought that I would not be ordained until I am 29 years old was overwhelming.
However, over the course of the propaedeutic stage this year, I slowly began to understand its importance. This stage of formation invites young men who are discerning the priesthood to “travel into the desert” with Our Blessed Lord.
Let’s face it, we are all busy. There is constant noise and activity all around us. In order to quiet the world around us, first year seminarians now volunteer to do a “technology fast.” By limiting our use of cellphones and media to a few hours each Saturday, we are able to hear the Lord’s voice more clearly. I had no idea how beautiful and serene the world is until I put my tablet away! The technology fast has opened my eyes to our beautiful universe. Most importantly, I have been able to focus on my prayer life and grow closer to Jesus!
Along with the technology fast, my classmates and I meet regularly with our spiritual director, and a human formation advisor. We also have other resources such as a counselor available to use. While I initially thought that this sounded like a lot of appointments, I soon discovered what a difference these people have made in my life. They truly are a gift from God. All three have helped me come alive in Christ. They have shown me the love of our Father. Experiencing the love God has for me has brought more joy and excitement to my life than I ever dreamt possible.
In addition to the trio of formators God has placed before me this year, he also introduced me to a little Carmelite named St. Thérèse of The Child Jesus. Ever since I was a child, I had heard about God’s merciful love, but I simply never believed it. This all changed when I discovered the words of St. Thérèse. She spoke to me in such a profound way. At this point, God stopped being the divine “taskmaster” and He became the loving father who longs to hold me in his arms. Since meeting St. Thérèse, I have developed a childlike heart, never afraid to call upon Him in any situation.
This relationship I am rediscovering with our Lord fills me with joy. It gives me a deep desire to share His love with everyone around me. I often find myself telling my friends that they should spend a year at St. Gregory the Great Seminary. The propaedeutic stage has allowed me the time and freedom to be with the Lord. It is such a wonderful, noncommittal way to discern God’s call.
Although I was initially hesitant to add an additional year to my formation and education, now that I am here, I can say that my propaedeutic year is going too quickly. My fellow seminarians and I have already done missionary work in Mexico City. In January, we attended the SEEK conference in Salt Lake City, and we just returned from a three-week “poverty immersion” where we worked with the poor across the United States. Father Holdren will share more about our experiences in a future column. This is the best year ever, and it has more than reconfirmed God’s call for my life.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. I am so grateful to all of the people in our diocese. St. Gregory the Great Seminary is a wonderful place. Thank you for making it possible. By God’s grace, I hope to be ordained in 2031 so that I can come to your parish and share the love of God with all of you!
