St. John Fisher Seminary Residence
Encyclopedia
St. John Fisher Seminary Residence is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut
. Men between the ages of eighteen to forty live at the Seminary while studying subjects based on a liberal arts curriculum -- especially philosophy and classical languages -- in preparation for graduate theological studies outside of the Diocese. St. John Fisher seminarians are formed to be faithful, perceptive, and well-balanced men. The formation experience at the Seminary is meant to leave an imprint on conscience, character, and manners; it is meant to develop style and to nourish action.
The Seminary opened in 1989 and has been in existence for twenty-two years. During the intervening years, the last two bishops of the Diocese of Bridgeport have appointed the four rectors who have served the seminary community.
The average time spent at St. John Fisher Seminary depends on the academic status of the seminarian. This can be anywhere from a year to five years.
After Msgr. DiGiovanni (currently appointed pastor of Basilica of St. John the Evangelist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_John_the_Evangelist]] in Stamford
), Msgr. Kevin Royal was appointed rector. The third rector was the late Fr. Joseph Linck, followed by Fr. Samuel V. Scott. As of June 1, 2011 Fr. Robert M. Kinnally was appointed rector.
, Connecticut. It is located on the campus of Trinity Catholic High School
.
The residence was originally located in Trumbull
, Connecticut until the current larger building became available.
Alumni of St. John Fisher Seminary are currently in formation at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State; and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In addition, there are a significant number of graduates who went on to study at the following institutions: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pa.; Theological College of the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Conn., and Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston Mass.
Because St. John Fisher Seminary is a house of formation, growth in every aspect of a candidate's human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation is at the core of the program. Seminary formators assist the seminarian in these various aspects of seminary life.
. The rest of the day is spent working on academics, or working in their assigned pastoral assignments. Vespers
is always said in community and the same goes for dinner.
Seminarians are expected to keep up their academic studies, while maintaining their spiritual lives. They are also encouraged to be well-rounded and civilized men. Seminarians are also expected to pray the Liturgy of the Hours
and spend time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
. The cultural formation of the seminarians is nurtured here, as well. Concerts of classical musicians in Connecticut and New York City are part of the program. A number of the men are themselves musicians and take piano, voice, and organ lessons at Sacred Heart University. The Seminary has a Boston grand piano in the Chapel of the Holy Cross and a Steinway vertical piano in the music practice room.
of the seminary.
St. John Fisher Seminary is staffed by three priests: the rector, vocation director, and spiritual director.
The diocesan vocation director is Fr. Bob Kinnally. As of June 1, 2011 Fr. Bob Kinnally was also appointed rector of St. John Fisher. He is now the 5th rector to be at the seminary.
The spiritual director is Fr. Pawel M. Hrebenko.
The seminary is also able to use a variety of lay people and priests outside of the residence to provide instruction to the seminarians.
Other faculty members include:
Mons. Alan F. Detscher, S.L.D., Professor of Liturgy
Dr. Edward Duffy, Professor of New Testament Greek, Hartford Seminary
Dr. Roger Duncan, Professor of Philosophy, Holy Apostles Seminary
Dr. R. James Long
, Professor of Philosophy, Fairfield University
Mons. Laurence R. Bronkiewicz, S.T.D., Professor of Dogmatic Theology
Dr. Diane Traflet, Professor of Theology, Seton Hall University
Fr. Paul Check, Instructor of Moral Theology
Mr. David Harvey, Instructor of Ecclesiastical Latin
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Men between the ages of eighteen to forty live at the Seminary while studying subjects based on a liberal arts curriculum -- especially philosophy and classical languages -- in preparation for graduate theological studies outside of the Diocese. St. John Fisher seminarians are formed to be faithful, perceptive, and well-balanced men. The formation experience at the Seminary is meant to leave an imprint on conscience, character, and manners; it is meant to develop style and to nourish action.
The Seminary opened in 1989 and has been in existence for twenty-two years. During the intervening years, the last two bishops of the Diocese of Bridgeport have appointed the four rectors who have served the seminary community.
The average time spent at St. John Fisher Seminary depends on the academic status of the seminarian. This can be anywhere from a year to five years.
Founding
The founding of St. John Fisher Seminary was entrusted to Msgr. Stephen DiGiovanni, H.E.D. by then Bridgeport Diocese Bishop Edward Egan (now retired archbishop of New York, Edward Cardinal Egan). The seminary succeeded the St. John Fisher House of Formation, and was created to serve as a house of formation in philosophy and pre-Theologate requirements for men considering and being considered for the diocesan priesthood. Msgr. DiGiovanni served as first rector and continued as vocation director.After Msgr. DiGiovanni (currently appointed pastor of Basilica of St. John the Evangelist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_John_the_Evangelist]] in Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
), Msgr. Kevin Royal was appointed rector. The third rector was the late Fr. Joseph Linck, followed by Fr. Samuel V. Scott. As of June 1, 2011 Fr. Robert M. Kinnally was appointed rector.
Location
St. John Fisher is located on Newfield Avenue in StamfordStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, Connecticut. It is located on the campus of Trinity Catholic High School
Trinity Catholic High School (Connecticut)
Trinity Catholic High School is a regional, coeducational Catholic school for grades 9-12 located in Stamford, Connecticut. It serves parts of Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. The school is a member of the FCIAC athletic conference. Trinity Catholic is accredited by...
.
The residence was originally located in Trumbull
Trumbull
Trumbull can refer to* Trumbull County, Ohio** Trumbull Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio* Trumbull, Connecticut* Trumbull, Nebraska* Trumbull College, a residential college of Yale University* Fort Trumbull, Connecticut...
, Connecticut until the current larger building became available.
Academic Process
The time spent at St. John Fisher varies on the status of the individual seminarian. Men who do not hold a college degree reside at the Seminary until they receive their undergraduate degree in philosophy at Sacred Heart University or Fordham University. Men who have earned their undergraduate degrees elsewhere are given a course of study which is in compliance with the USCCB's Program of Priestly Formation and includes 33 credits of philosophy to prepare them for graduate courses in theology at a major seminary. Pre-theologians usually spend 2-3 years at St. John Fisher Seminary.Alumni of St. John Fisher Seminary are currently in formation at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State; and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In addition, there are a significant number of graduates who went on to study at the following institutions: St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pa.; Theological College of the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Conn., and Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston Mass.
Because St. John Fisher Seminary is a house of formation, growth in every aspect of a candidate's human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation is at the core of the program. Seminary formators assist the seminarian in these various aspects of seminary life.
Life at the seminary
Living in a seminary is very demanding. Seminarians are expected to be in chapel by 7:00 a.m. for lectio divina, or spiritual reading. Following this, is Mass and LaudsLauds
Lauds is a divine office that takes place in the early morning hours and is one of the two major hours in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, it forms part of the Office of Matins...
. The rest of the day is spent working on academics, or working in their assigned pastoral assignments. Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
is always said in community and the same goes for dinner.
Seminarians are expected to keep up their academic studies, while maintaining their spiritual lives. They are also encouraged to be well-rounded and civilized men. Seminarians are also expected to pray the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
and spend time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
. The cultural formation of the seminarians is nurtured here, as well. Concerts of classical musicians in Connecticut and New York City are part of the program. A number of the men are themselves musicians and take piano, voice, and organ lessons at Sacred Heart University. The Seminary has a Boston grand piano in the Chapel of the Holy Cross and a Steinway vertical piano in the music practice room.
Faculty
His Excellency, William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, is the presiding bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the seminary.
St. John Fisher Seminary is staffed by three priests: the rector, vocation director, and spiritual director.
The diocesan vocation director is Fr. Bob Kinnally. As of June 1, 2011 Fr. Bob Kinnally was also appointed rector of St. John Fisher. He is now the 5th rector to be at the seminary.
The spiritual director is Fr. Pawel M. Hrebenko.
The seminary is also able to use a variety of lay people and priests outside of the residence to provide instruction to the seminarians.
Other faculty members include:
Mons. Alan F. Detscher, S.L.D., Professor of Liturgy
Dr. Edward Duffy, Professor of New Testament Greek, Hartford Seminary
Dr. Roger Duncan, Professor of Philosophy, Holy Apostles Seminary
Dr. R. James Long
R. James Long
Raymond James Long, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is also faculty member at St. John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford, Connecticut. Long was the president of the Society for Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy...
, Professor of Philosophy, Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
Mons. Laurence R. Bronkiewicz, S.T.D., Professor of Dogmatic Theology
Dr. Diane Traflet, Professor of Theology, Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
Fr. Paul Check, Instructor of Moral Theology
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
Mr. David Harvey, Instructor of Ecclesiastical Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...