New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan has recently offered a Mass of the Holy Spirit following the opening of the academic year of Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers.
The Mass was held on Sept. 7.
The cardinal invited everyone to offer prayers of the seminaries as they entered a priestly formation.
Accordingly, the seminarians will engage in a four-fold journey, including human, intellectual, pastoral, and spiritual formation.
Along with Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan, he reportedly said that they are blessed to have the presence of those young seminarians in the area.
He also described them as ‘his heroes’ for hearing the calling of the Lord and following Him, as reported.
The seminarians reportedly resemble the people of God in the Diocese of Brooklyn, coming from different backgrounds, careers, and parishes in the world.
Saint Joseph’s Seminary
In an article from the Tablet, the Saint Joseph’s Seminary is reportedly the major seminary for the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Rockville Center.
The seminary is led by the ‘Borromeo Council,’ which includes Cardinal Dolan, Bishop John Barres, and Bishop Robert Brennan.
The church was also commonly known as ‘Dunwoodie.’
Moreover, the seminary also offers theological education for people who want to serve as a deacon for the Archdiocese of New York and the dioceses of Brooklyn, Bridgeport, and Rockville Center.
Furthermore, it has graduate studies, specifically in Theology for laymen, laywomen, and other student priests.
The Diocese of Brooklyn is reportedly blessed to have the Cathedral Seminary House of Formation in Douglaston for college-level and philosophy studies.
As mentioned, the diocese also provides three full-time professors in the seminary, including Fr. Charles Caccavale, Fr. John Cush, and Fr. Michael Bruno.
History of Saint Joseph’s Seminary
According to its website, the Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College were established in 1896 to serve the Catholic Church by forming men in the priesthood.
The seminary reportedly welcomes seminarians from different archdioceses, epochs, dioceses, and other religious congregations.
Accordingly, it was the 5th educational institution of the Archdiocese of New York to form Catholic priests.
Before the establishment of the Saint John’s seminary, the archdiocese had also established the following institutions Nyack in 1833, Lafargeville in 1838, Fordham in 1840, and Troy in 1864.
On Sept. 21, 1896, the first academic year of the seminary began with 96 seminarians, which was led by the priests of the Society of San Sulpice.
The St. John’s Seminary was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1961 and the Association of Theological Schools in 1973, as reported.
The Board of Regents of the State of New York reportedly granted the seminary to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908.
They also offered a Bachelor of Divinity in 1965, and a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in 1921.
Also, in 1971, the New York State Education Department granted St. Joseph to offer the Master of Divinity Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Theology in 1987.
In addition, the seminary was reportedly associated with the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
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