by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
Last week, St. Gregory the Great Seminary hosted a birthday celebration to mark Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz’s 90th birthday and an important part of his vision — the founding of the seminary in Seward in 1998.
For more than 25 years, St. Gregory’s has been a place of prayer, learning and formation, preparing young men for the priesthood within our diocese and beyond. Bishop Bruskewitz’s decision to establish a seminary has borne fruit in the lives of many men.
The Second Vatican Council document on priestly formation, Optatam Totius, says, “All priests are to look on the seminary as the heart of the diocese.” Bishop Bruskewitz is fond of quoting this exhortation when he speaks about St. Gregory the Great Seminary. Having our own seminary ensures that seminarians grow in close communion with their bishop, clergy and people.
Pope St. John Paul II explained, “The seminary should nourish the meaning of communion between the candidates and their bishop and presbyterate.” At St. Gregory’s, seminarians are formed not only academically and spiritually, but also pastorally—immersed in parish life, schools, and the communities they will one day shepherd.
When Bishop Bruskewitz founded the seminary, he ensured that the Diocese of Lincoln would never lack a place for our diocese—as well as others that do not have their own seminaries—to form future priests. The seminary also assists men who ultimately discern they are not called to the priesthood to grow in deeper intimacy with Jesus as they prepare for the vocation of marriage. In the late 1990s, college seminaries in the United States were struggling with decreasing enrollments, which led some to close their doors. Bishop Bruskewitz’s courage and foresight created a lasting institution that continues to give life to the Church.
Now, as he marks his 90th year, the diocese honors not only his personal milestone, but also the enduring gift of St. Gregory the Great Seminary.
The seminary remains a source of hope for the future. In a world often marked by confusion and searching, it continues to form men who will bring Christ to the altar, to the confessional, and into people’s daily lives.
St. Gregory’s is more than a building or a campus; it is the heartbeat of the Diocese of Lincoln, preparing shepherds who will guide the faithful for generations to come. We continue to benefit from the generosity of the people of the Diocese of Lincoln and across the United States. Please consider making a gift to the seminary on our website (www.sggs.edu) and including the seminary in your estate planning. Both of these methods of support will help ensure that St. Gregory the Great Seminary will endure for many more years as the “heart of the diocese.”
Please join us for these upcoming events:
Visitor Sundays
Visitor Sundays will be held Nov. 9; Feb. 22 and April 12, 2026. Join us for Mass at 10 a.m., followed by seminary tours, and Evening Prayer at 5:15 p.m.
Come and See
“Come and See” weekends will be held for high school juniors and seniors and college students (visit our website for more information and to register): Sept. 27-28 and March 6-8, 2026.
Advent Vespers and Carols
The annual Advent Vespers and Carols will be held Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.
Benefit dinner
The Table of St. Gregory benefit dinner will be held Sunday, April 19, 2026.
