St. Lawrence Seminary High School
Encyclopedia
St. Lawrence Seminary High School is a preparatory high school operated by the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order
at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin
. The school is within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
. Student enrollment is all male and comes from all over the United States
and outside of the country.
The high school was founded in 1860 as the Convent Latin School by two Capuchin friars, Francis Haas and Bonaventure Frey. The school's mission is to prepare its male students for vocations in the Roman Catholic Church. It is boarding school, with approximately 225 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12.
Over the years it has been called the Convent Latin School, the Little Seminary of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, St. Lawrence College, St. Lawrence Seminary, and St. Lawrence Seminary High School. St. Francis Brothers' School merged with St. Lawrence Seminary.
Celsitudo ex humilitate is the motto of St. Lawrence Seminary, which has been incorporated into the school seal. Used to describe St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Celsitudo ex humilitate can be translated literally as “To the heavens out of our humility” or more poetically as “To the heights, from the depths.” The seal depicts a cross on a hill with the motto and date of the school’s founding.
habit worn by the friars and the gold being the color that adorns the flag of the Catholic Church.
The two priests had left their native Switzerland in July of that year. They arrived in Milwaukee, where Bishop John Martin Henni
, a fellow countryman of theirs, welcomed them to work among the immigrants in the diocese. But the two priests had not come to work with immigrants; they had come to establish the Capuchin Order in the United States, even though they themselves were not yet Capuchins.
The two priests bought the property on Mount Calvary. The 29-year-old Haas returned to Europe to beg funds and to bring back a Capuchin to serve as novice master for him and Frey and any other candidates who joined them. The 25-year-old Father Frey began building the friary for the first Capuchin foundation in the United States.
When Haas returned from Switzerland with two Capuchin friars and three candidates, he found the friary burdened by debts, but not ready for occupancy by the seven men who would begin the Capuchin foundation. For the first of several times, the School Sisters of Notre Dame
, who had a small convent and school on the neighboring hill, came to the rescue. They gave the Capuchins the use of their convent. On December 2, 1857 Father Anthony Maria Gachet, a Capuchin who had come with Haas from Switzerland, invested him and Frey and the three other candidates with the Capuchin habit.
Even during their novitiate Father Francis and Father Bonaventure (as they were now known) had to make a begging trip to Canada, so great was the burden of debt on the new foundation. Their trip was successful, and the debts were paid. They made their first profession of vows on February 16, 1859.
Father Anthony Maria, the novice master, lost interest in the undertaking and began to work among the Menominee
people in Keshena, Wisconsin.
In 1864 a college wing was added to the friary. (In the mid-nineteenth century any formal educational institution beyond elementary was called a college.) The Convent Latin School merged with the college, making total enrollment 49 students.
The first year of the new college was difficult. The founders’ dreams were modified by their recognition of the need for priests in the Midwest. The college served to educate young men, some of whom the founders hoped would be drawn to join the new Capuchin foundation.
Friars who taught in the college also served nearby parishes. Their parish ministry financially supported the college. They also went on preaching and begging tours in the Midwest.
In 1867 the friary was enlarged again to make more room for the college students. It was now a quadrangle with a courtyard in the center. The following year saw 28 Capuchin friars and 42 students at the newly completed college. A great deal had been accomplished in the first 12 years.
Disaster struck the friary and college on Christmas night, 1868 when a fire started in the sacristy after everyone was asleep. The entire building, with the exception of part of the parish church, burned to the ground.
For a second time, the School Sisters of Notre Dame rescued the friars by allowing them the use of their convent. The sisters moved into a recently vacated farmhouse next to their property. All but six students at the college were sent home. The six students who remained decided they wanted to join the Capuchins.
Rebuilding began and, remarkably, the friary and college were ready for occupancy in August 1869. The college was known as the Little Seminary of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi.
The college students needed separate quarters. In 1872 Saint Joseph Hall was erected for their use. The number students continued to increase, and the Laurentianum (the present Main Building) was built in 1880. All student activity was now separate from the friary, with the exception of the dining room.
In 1886, at the urging of bishops in the Midwest, a commercial course was introduced into the college curriculum so that Catholic young men going into the business world would have a strong foundation in their Catholic faith.
The Minister General of the Capuchin Order visited the college in 1891 and encouraged the friars to spare no efforts in making Saint Lawrence College a first-class educational institution.
A student chapel was added to the Laurentianum in 1893. Saint Thomas Hall was built in 1898 to serve as an auditorium and gymnasium. The grounds were beautified continually, and the course of studies was refined and broadened. The curriculum was now a six-year course, including philosophy. The college was accredited by the Association of Catholic Colleges.
In 1906 the Province elected Father Antonine Wilmer as Provincial Minister. He had been the Rector
of Saint Lawrence College prior to the decision that it serve exclusively Capuchin candidates. Immediately after his election as Provincial Minister, he held a conference with the faculty at Saint Lawrence. He outlined his idea for the college, which was to prepare the students, by a thorough high school and college course, either to enter any lay profession or to continue successfully their preparation for ministry.
Saint Francis Hall was built in 1917 as a residence for those students who intended to be Capuchins. These students took their classes with the rest of the student body, but wore the Third Order habit and lived in Saint Francis Hall. They also followed a schedule of prayer that was different from the other students.
In 1923 the General Minister of the Order visited the college and said Capuchin candidates should not be educated with diocesan seminarians and others in the same institution. He wanted the college closed to all but Capuchin candidates.
The friars at the college and many others in the Province were chagrinned at the decision of the General. When the General met with the Provincial Superiors, he said that the dual purpose could not continue, but he left it to the Provincial Superiors to resolve the matter. They resolved the matter by abolishing the separate course for the Capuchin candidates! The college would continue and Saint Francis Hall became available to the whole college.
Higher education in the United States developed during the 1920s, and the changes influenced Saint Lawrence College. The professors earned graduate degrees. The college was affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. In 1930 the high school course was accredited by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1933 Capuchin Father Alexis Gore was appointed the Rector. He realigned the curriculum and introduced the method of teaching required by the Regents of University of the State of New York
. The transition was completed smoothly in one year.
Father Gerald Walker was appointed Rector in 1943. The previous year’s enrollment had been 130 students. Father Gerald dreamed of a greater Laurentianum. Through massive amounts of correspondence with prospective students and benefactors, he led the school to great growth. A new college catalog was widely distributed, with the result that the 1943-44 school year began with an enrollment of 173 students.
By 1949 the school had reached its capacity of about 200 students. Many applicants were put on the waiting list. In 1951 ground breaking took place for the erection of Saint Mary’s Hall, a multipurpose building that included a dormitory, a dining room, study halls, and recreation rooms. The increased space was filled immediately. Enrollment jumped to 273 students. In 1953 the name of the school was officially changed from Saint Lawrence College to Saint Lawrence Seminary.
Father Gratian Zach succeeded Father Gerald as Rector in 1955. A new student chapel was built, as well as a new dormitory (St. Anthony Hall), and Saint Fidelis Activities Building. The serious work of academic growth took the form of preparing for accreditation of the two schools by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
.
1963 witnessed a record enrollment of 361 students. Saint Lawrence Seminary and Saint Francis Brothers’ School were accredited by North Central in 1966.
had already closed. In 1968 Father Rupert Dorn, the Provincial of the Capuchin Province wrote, 'We know that some minor seminaries have closed down. Others have become Christian leadership schools…Recently I was told by a seminary professor, “The minor seminary is a sinking ship and the sooner we get off it the better.” We cannot predict with any certainty that we will not have to make adjustments at the minor seminary in the future. However, for the present we will work with all our hearts to save the ship."
In that spirit the construction of a new friary and student chapel was undertaken. The former student chapel was converted into an auditorium, and the complex was dedicated in July, 1971.
Academic requirements in the United States in the late 1960s and the 1970s dictated the discontinuance of the junior college department at Saint Lawrence Seminary. A merger in 1971 between Saint Francis Brothers’ School and Saint Lawrence Seminary brought the Brothers’ School students to the Hill, leaving the former Brothers’ School campus to serve as a residence for the college students who took their courses at Marian College of Fond du Lac or at other colleges in the area.
Father Joseph O’Connor was appointed Rector in 1971. Enrollment was 295 students. That number stabilized at about 280 for the next few years. In 1975 opening day enrollment was 320.
With many minor seminaries closing, some people questioned the reason for the continued high enrollment of Saint Lawrence. Did the young men intend to be priests and brothers or not? The Board of Directors of the seminary discussed whether in 10 or 15 years the philosophy and mission of the seminary would be specifically to prepare candidates for the priesthood and brotherhood, or ministry in any form.
Enrollment began to decline in the 1980s. In 1980 there were 276 students and by 1984 there were 203.
In 1985 a study of the seminary was commissioned asking: What can Saint Lawrence Seminary do? What can’t it do? What, if anything, can it do with excellence? Is there anyone interested in what Saint Lawrence can do? If so, how might it reach those people?
The results of the study showed that one thing Saint Lawrence Seminary could do with excellence was to provide a foundation for a life of ministry in the Church. Priests, brothers, deacons, and lay alumni indicated that the personal relationship with God which they developed during their days at Saint Lawrence inspired the lives they lived as adults.
The Roman Catholic Church had rearticulated its understanding of ministry and who was called to ministry. It said that ministry was the prerogative of all baptized Catholics. Saint Lawrence Seminary modified its philosophy and mission to include young men who wanted to lay a foundation for a life of ministry in the Church.
The study indicated that for an increase in enrollment the school needed to be more selective in the students it accepted. The school became more selective; but the enrollment continued to decline. However, a turn-around began to take place in 1989. The enrollment rose from 149 on opening day in 1989 to 234 in 1994.
Throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century Saint Lawrence Seminary has become an increasingly multicultural institution dedicated to preparing young men for a life of ministry within the Catholic Church. St. Lawrence continues to function as a college preparatory school, partnering with parents and providing for ministry and leadership in the Roman Catholic Church.
At present, the school enrolls between 200 and 220 students. While all of the students must be Roman Catholic and male, the student body is predominantly Hispanic and Asian. The school participates in forensics as a member of the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association and the Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association. The students publish a yearbook, The Laurentian, annually and a school newspaper, Hilltopics. Each spring the students present either a musical or dramatic play. In addition to performing a Christmas concert and a spring concert, students in the choir and band participate in the solo and ensemble competitions sponsored by the Wisconsin School Music Association. The school participates in a variety of sports and belongs to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
and the Wisconsin Flyway Conference
.
The St. Lawrence Seminary Alumni Association provides opportunities for alumni of the school to come together to reinforce their ties with the school and each other. The Provincial Minister and Provincial Councilors of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph
serve as the trustees of the school. A Ministry Council, appointed by the Provincial Council, advises the administration and trustees on the seminary’s policies and procedures. Members of this council include lay and ordained alumni, educators, Capuchins and the wife and mother of alumni.
Fr. Benedict Mueller "The rector loved to see his students enjoy themselves to the full in the proper time in place. On field days he was meticulously attentive, leaving nothing to chance, personally supervising the making of sandwiches, the purchase of ice cream, soda, and the other trimmings. In 1907 he introduced the custom of holding the annual Field Day on the college grounds. Previously, field day had been just that, a day spent some miles away from home grounds in the field of some friendly farmer. A sudden storm sometimes meant a drenching for the crowd of shelterless students and a ruined day. Besides, with the field day at home there was a much beter opportunity for a variety of athletic events."
In 1972, the Student Council began choosing a word for the theme of the day. The custom is to choose a word that begins with the letter "E". Students use the theme to hold a contest for the best T-shirt
design.
Students compete in the fraternity that they chose at the beginning of the school year. Students compete in a variety of events, especially track. The morning traditionally ends with a "Don't be late for Chapel" event, a relay race from the bottom of the hill to the top. The 2007 event revived the longstanding "greased pole" event which ended in the late 1970s. The winner made it to the top and retrieved a $20 bill. A highlight of the afternoon is the customary faculty-student softball game. The afternoon ends with the traditional "Tower Shower" where seniors toss water balloons (some containing money) off the top of the four story tower.
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
at Mount Calvary, Wisconsin
Mount Calvary, Wisconsin
Mount Calvary is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 956 at the 2000 census, up from 558 residents from the 1990 census.-Holyland:...
. The school is within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
. Student enrollment is all male and comes from all over the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and outside of the country.
The high school was founded in 1860 as the Convent Latin School by two Capuchin friars, Francis Haas and Bonaventure Frey. The school's mission is to prepare its male students for vocations in the Roman Catholic Church. It is boarding school, with approximately 225 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12.
Over the years it has been called the Convent Latin School, the Little Seminary of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, St. Lawrence College, St. Lawrence Seminary, and St. Lawrence Seminary High School. St. Francis Brothers' School merged with St. Lawrence Seminary.
Mission
St. Lawrence has existed, since its founding in 1860, as a school for Catholic high school and college youth interested in pursuing a vocation to ministry in the Catholic Church, primarily in the priesthood. As the understanding of ministry has grown within the Church, the school has historically adjusted its purpose to respond to the various ministerial needs of the Church and society. Underlying the school’s philosophy is the conviction that the primary obligation of all Christians is to witness to gospel values in that vocation to which God calls them. Combined with this belief is the additional conviction that such values are not only the path to eternal salvation and union with God for each individual but also the only real remedy for the ills of the human community. Therefore, the staff of St. Lawrence attempts to promote and foster these values in themselves and in the adolescents who enter into and participate in the life of the community. The overriding purpose for St. Lawrence’s existence is to promote, foster, and live principles and values announced in the gospel of Jesus Christ and articulated in the Catholic Church.The school seal and motto
Mascot and school colors
St. Lawrence Seminary’s sports teams are known as “The Hilltoppers”, inspired by the Swiss origins of the school's founders and the beautiful hill of Mount Calvary on which St. Lawrence is located. Brown and gold are the school colors, the brown taken from the color of the Capuchin FranciscanOrder of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
habit worn by the friars and the gold being the color that adorns the flag of the Catholic Church.
Founding
On October 15, 1856 two Swiss diocesan priests, Father Gregory Haas and Father John Frey, arrived by horseback on the hill called Mount Calvary in east central Wisconsin. The little log church of Saint Nicholas was the only building on the hill. They decided that October day, “Here we will build our first little cloister.”The two priests had left their native Switzerland in July of that year. They arrived in Milwaukee, where Bishop John Martin Henni
John Henni
John Martin Henni was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Archbishop of Milwaukee, serving from 1843 until his death in 1881.-Early life and education:...
, a fellow countryman of theirs, welcomed them to work among the immigrants in the diocese. But the two priests had not come to work with immigrants; they had come to establish the Capuchin Order in the United States, even though they themselves were not yet Capuchins.
The two priests bought the property on Mount Calvary. The 29-year-old Haas returned to Europe to beg funds and to bring back a Capuchin to serve as novice master for him and Frey and any other candidates who joined them. The 25-year-old Father Frey began building the friary for the first Capuchin foundation in the United States.
When Haas returned from Switzerland with two Capuchin friars and three candidates, he found the friary burdened by debts, but not ready for occupancy by the seven men who would begin the Capuchin foundation. For the first of several times, the School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry...
, who had a small convent and school on the neighboring hill, came to the rescue. They gave the Capuchins the use of their convent. On December 2, 1857 Father Anthony Maria Gachet, a Capuchin who had come with Haas from Switzerland, invested him and Frey and the three other candidates with the Capuchin habit.
Even during their novitiate Father Francis and Father Bonaventure (as they were now known) had to make a begging trip to Canada, so great was the burden of debt on the new foundation. Their trip was successful, and the debts were paid. They made their first profession of vows on February 16, 1859.
Father Anthony Maria, the novice master, lost interest in the undertaking and began to work among the Menominee
Menominee
Some placenames use other spellings, see also Menomonee and Menomonie.The Menominee are a nation of Native Americans living in Wisconsin. The Menominee, along with the Ho-Chunk, are the only tribes that are indigenous to what is now Wisconsin...
people in Keshena, Wisconsin.
Convent Latin School
In 1860 Father Francis and Father Bonaventure opened the Convent Latin School to educate boys so they could join the Capuchin Order. Four boys enrolled. The tuition was $10.00 a year. This marked the beginning of Saint Lawrence Seminary. In the fall of 1862 15 students enrolled, and 20 began the following year.In 1864 a college wing was added to the friary. (In the mid-nineteenth century any formal educational institution beyond elementary was called a college.) The Convent Latin School merged with the college, making total enrollment 49 students.
The first year of the new college was difficult. The founders’ dreams were modified by their recognition of the need for priests in the Midwest. The college served to educate young men, some of whom the founders hoped would be drawn to join the new Capuchin foundation.
Friars who taught in the college also served nearby parishes. Their parish ministry financially supported the college. They also went on preaching and begging tours in the Midwest.
In 1867 the friary was enlarged again to make more room for the college students. It was now a quadrangle with a courtyard in the center. The following year saw 28 Capuchin friars and 42 students at the newly completed college. A great deal had been accomplished in the first 12 years.
Disaster and rebuilding
For a second time, the School Sisters of Notre Dame rescued the friars by allowing them the use of their convent. The sisters moved into a recently vacated farmhouse next to their property. All but six students at the college were sent home. The six students who remained decided they wanted to join the Capuchins.
Rebuilding began and, remarkably, the friary and college were ready for occupancy in August 1869. The college was known as the Little Seminary of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi.
The college students needed separate quarters. In 1872 Saint Joseph Hall was erected for their use. The number students continued to increase, and the Laurentianum (the present Main Building) was built in 1880. All student activity was now separate from the friary, with the exception of the dining room.
In 1886, at the urging of bishops in the Midwest, a commercial course was introduced into the college curriculum so that Catholic young men going into the business world would have a strong foundation in their Catholic faith.
The Minister General of the Capuchin Order visited the college in 1891 and encouraged the friars to spare no efforts in making Saint Lawrence College a first-class educational institution.
A student chapel was added to the Laurentianum in 1893. Saint Thomas Hall was built in 1898 to serve as an auditorium and gymnasium. The grounds were beautified continually, and the course of studies was refined and broadened. The curriculum was now a six-year course, including philosophy. The college was accredited by the Association of Catholic Colleges.
Debates over the school’s purpose
In 1903 the Capuchin Province decided that Saint Lawrence College would serve the exclusive purpose of preparing candidates for the Capuchin Order. The commercial course and the philosophy curriculum were discontinued. The decision decreased the enrollment from 130 students in the 1902-03 academic year to 75 the following year.In 1906 the Province elected Father Antonine Wilmer as Provincial Minister. He had been the Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Saint Lawrence College prior to the decision that it serve exclusively Capuchin candidates. Immediately after his election as Provincial Minister, he held a conference with the faculty at Saint Lawrence. He outlined his idea for the college, which was to prepare the students, by a thorough high school and college course, either to enter any lay profession or to continue successfully their preparation for ministry.
Saint Francis Hall was built in 1917 as a residence for those students who intended to be Capuchins. These students took their classes with the rest of the student body, but wore the Third Order habit and lived in Saint Francis Hall. They also followed a schedule of prayer that was different from the other students.
In 1923 the General Minister of the Order visited the college and said Capuchin candidates should not be educated with diocesan seminarians and others in the same institution. He wanted the college closed to all but Capuchin candidates.
The friars at the college and many others in the Province were chagrinned at the decision of the General. When the General met with the Provincial Superiors, he said that the dual purpose could not continue, but he left it to the Provincial Superiors to resolve the matter. They resolved the matter by abolishing the separate course for the Capuchin candidates! The college would continue and Saint Francis Hall became available to the whole college.
Further development
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. In 1930 the high school course was accredited by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1933 Capuchin Father Alexis Gore was appointed the Rector. He realigned the curriculum and introduced the method of teaching required by the Regents of University of the State of New York
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
. The transition was completed smoothly in one year.
Father Gerald Walker was appointed Rector in 1943. The previous year’s enrollment had been 130 students. Father Gerald dreamed of a greater Laurentianum. Through massive amounts of correspondence with prospective students and benefactors, he led the school to great growth. A new college catalog was widely distributed, with the result that the 1943-44 school year began with an enrollment of 173 students.
By 1949 the school had reached its capacity of about 200 students. Many applicants were put on the waiting list. In 1951 ground breaking took place for the erection of Saint Mary’s Hall, a multipurpose building that included a dormitory, a dining room, study halls, and recreation rooms. The increased space was filled immediately. Enrollment jumped to 273 students. In 1953 the name of the school was officially changed from Saint Lawrence College to Saint Lawrence Seminary.
St. Francis Brothers’ School and North Central Accreditation
That same year property two miles distant from the seminary was purchased to provide a campus for Saint Francis Brothers’ School, which opened with 11 students in 1954.Father Gratian Zach succeeded Father Gerald as Rector in 1955. A new student chapel was built, as well as a new dormitory (St. Anthony Hall), and Saint Fidelis Activities Building. The serious work of academic growth took the form of preparing for accreditation of the two schools by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
.
1963 witnessed a record enrollment of 361 students. Saint Lawrence Seminary and Saint Francis Brothers’ School were accredited by North Central in 1966.
Post-Vatican II
There was one final building project yet to be completed. The friary on the hill, which had been built after the fire of 1868, needed to be replaced. By 1967 some minor seminariesMinor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
had already closed. In 1968 Father Rupert Dorn, the Provincial of the Capuchin Province wrote, 'We know that some minor seminaries have closed down. Others have become Christian leadership schools…Recently I was told by a seminary professor, “The minor seminary is a sinking ship and the sooner we get off it the better.” We cannot predict with any certainty that we will not have to make adjustments at the minor seminary in the future. However, for the present we will work with all our hearts to save the ship."
In that spirit the construction of a new friary and student chapel was undertaken. The former student chapel was converted into an auditorium, and the complex was dedicated in July, 1971.
Academic requirements in the United States in the late 1960s and the 1970s dictated the discontinuance of the junior college department at Saint Lawrence Seminary. A merger in 1971 between Saint Francis Brothers’ School and Saint Lawrence Seminary brought the Brothers’ School students to the Hill, leaving the former Brothers’ School campus to serve as a residence for the college students who took their courses at Marian College of Fond du Lac or at other colleges in the area.
Father Joseph O’Connor was appointed Rector in 1971. Enrollment was 295 students. That number stabilized at about 280 for the next few years. In 1975 opening day enrollment was 320.
With many minor seminaries closing, some people questioned the reason for the continued high enrollment of Saint Lawrence. Did the young men intend to be priests and brothers or not? The Board of Directors of the seminary discussed whether in 10 or 15 years the philosophy and mission of the seminary would be specifically to prepare candidates for the priesthood and brotherhood, or ministry in any form.
Enrollment began to decline in the 1980s. In 1980 there were 276 students and by 1984 there were 203.
In 1985 a study of the seminary was commissioned asking: What can Saint Lawrence Seminary do? What can’t it do? What, if anything, can it do with excellence? Is there anyone interested in what Saint Lawrence can do? If so, how might it reach those people?
The results of the study showed that one thing Saint Lawrence Seminary could do with excellence was to provide a foundation for a life of ministry in the Church. Priests, brothers, deacons, and lay alumni indicated that the personal relationship with God which they developed during their days at Saint Lawrence inspired the lives they lived as adults.
The Roman Catholic Church had rearticulated its understanding of ministry and who was called to ministry. It said that ministry was the prerogative of all baptized Catholics. Saint Lawrence Seminary modified its philosophy and mission to include young men who wanted to lay a foundation for a life of ministry in the Church.
The study indicated that for an increase in enrollment the school needed to be more selective in the students it accepted. The school became more selective; but the enrollment continued to decline. However, a turn-around began to take place in 1989. The enrollment rose from 149 on opening day in 1989 to 234 in 1994.
Sexual abuse allegations
In 1992 the Milwaukee Journal published a series of articles alleging the sexual abuse of students by members of the Capuchin Order. In response, the Capuchins commissioned an independent investigation that concluded that nine priests had committed sexual misconduct at the seminary. A civil lawsuit was also filed against the order.The seminary today
At present, the school enrolls between 200 and 220 students. While all of the students must be Roman Catholic and male, the student body is predominantly Hispanic and Asian. The school participates in forensics as a member of the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association and the Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association. The students publish a yearbook, The Laurentian, annually and a school newspaper, Hilltopics. Each spring the students present either a musical or dramatic play. In addition to performing a Christmas concert and a spring concert, students in the choir and band participate in the solo and ensemble competitions sponsored by the Wisconsin School Music Association. The school participates in a variety of sports and belongs to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association is the regulatory body for all high school sports in Wisconsin. Its history dates to 1895, making it the first high school athletic organization in the country...
and the Wisconsin Flyway Conference
Wisconsin Flyway Conference
The Wisconsin Flyway Conference is a high school athletic conference in East Central Wisconsin. It has existed in many forms over the years being known as the East Central Flyway Conference and was split in to two divisions in the early to mid 2000s...
.
The St. Lawrence Seminary Alumni Association provides opportunities for alumni of the school to come together to reinforce their ties with the school and each other. The Provincial Minister and Provincial Councilors of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
serve as the trustees of the school. A Ministry Council, appointed by the Provincial Council, advises the administration and trustees on the seminary’s policies and procedures. Members of this council include lay and ordained alumni, educators, Capuchins and the wife and mother of alumni.
Field day
One of the long-held traditions of St. Lawrence is Field Day. The tradition began in 1907. According to the biography of rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
Fr. Benedict Mueller "The rector loved to see his students enjoy themselves to the full in the proper time in place. On field days he was meticulously attentive, leaving nothing to chance, personally supervising the making of sandwiches, the purchase of ice cream, soda, and the other trimmings. In 1907 he introduced the custom of holding the annual Field Day on the college grounds. Previously, field day had been just that, a day spent some miles away from home grounds in the field of some friendly farmer. A sudden storm sometimes meant a drenching for the crowd of shelterless students and a ruined day. Besides, with the field day at home there was a much beter opportunity for a variety of athletic events."
In 1972, the Student Council began choosing a word for the theme of the day. The custom is to choose a word that begins with the letter "E". Students use the theme to hold a contest for the best T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
design.
Students compete in the fraternity that they chose at the beginning of the school year. Students compete in a variety of events, especially track. The morning traditionally ends with a "Don't be late for Chapel" event, a relay race from the bottom of the hill to the top. The 2007 event revived the longstanding "greased pole" event which ended in the late 1970s. The winner made it to the top and retrieved a $20 bill. A highlight of the afternoon is the customary faculty-student softball game. The afternoon ends with the traditional "Tower Shower" where seniors toss water balloons (some containing money) off the top of the four story tower.
Notable alumni
Since 1860 there have been over 5,000 alumni of the Convent Latin School, St. Lawrence College, St. Francis Brothers' School, and St. Lawrence Seminary. Over 1,500 have been priests. The 3,500 lay alumni have entered a great variety of professions, many have been in involved in active ministry in the Catholic Church.- + Bishop Apollinaris W. Baumgartner O.F.M. Cap. (Apostolic Vicar or Agana , Guam) - William Baumgartner – 1916-19
- + Bishop Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg, O.F.M. Cap. (Apostolic Vicar of Bluefields, Nicaragua) – 1938
- + Fr. Celestine Bittle, O.F.M. Cap. – Nicholas Bittle – 1897-1902; noted author and philosopher, military chaplain, and first principal of Messmer High School in Milwaukee
- + Msgr. Terence Brady (Bishop-Elect of Baker City, OR) – 1891-95
- Bishop Fabian Wendelin BruskewitzFabian BruskewitzFabian Wendelin Bruskewitz is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska.-Early life and ministry:...
(Bishop of Lincoln, NE) – 1949-53 - Bishop Octavio Cisneros (Auxiliary of Brooklyn, NY) – 1962-65
- + Mathias Durbin – 1862-67, first student whose name was recorded
- Bishop Raphael Michael Fliss (Ordinary of Superior, WI) – 1944-45
- + Fr. Clement Neubauer O.F.M. Cap. (Capuchin Minister General) - William Neubaur - 1908-10
- + Archbishop John F. Noll (Ordinary of Ft. Wayne, IN) – 1888-93
- Bishop Joseph Nathaniel PerryJoseph Perry (bishop)Joseph Nathaniel Perry is a Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Chicago.-Education:A native of Chicago, Illinois, Joseph Perry attended various Catholic elementary schools in Chicago between 1954 and 1962. For one year, in 1962, he attended Carver High School, moving on to St...
(Auxiliary Chicago, IL) – 1963-66 - + Archbishop Henry P. Rohlman (Ordinary of Dubuque, IA) – 1892-96
- + George N. Shuster - 1907-11, noted author, professor at University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, president of Hunter CollegeHunter CollegeHunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized... - Bishop David Albin Zywiec Sidor, O.F.M. Cap. (Auxiliary of Bluefields, Nicaragua) – David Zywiec – 1961-65
- Bishop Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, O.F.M. Cap. (Ordinary of Bluefields, Nicaragua) – Paul Schmitz – 1958-62
- + Fr. Lawrence Vorwerk, O.F.M. Cap. – Dietrich A. Vorwerk – 1862-64, earliest student to become a Capuchin
- + Fr. Antonine Wilmer, O.F.M. Cap. – Henry Wilmer – 1872-77, served as Rector of St. Lawrence, Provincial Minister, Definitor General, and Rector of the College in Rome
Articles about St. Lawrence Seminary
- Education Week
- Superior Catholic Herald (1)
- Superior Catholic Herald (2)
- Milwaukee Catholic Herald (1)
- Milwaukee Catholic Herald (2)
- Be Attitude Online
- Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
- Small Business Times
- Snips Magazine
- Hilltopics
- NCEA's Seminary Journal
- a video about St. Lawrence