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As the already large number of seminarians from the United States continues to steadily increase, the celebration of American Thanksgiving at our International Seminary in Gricigliano, Italy, becomes grander with each passing year.
During the candlelight dinner which is served in the refectory, Monsignor Wach and Reverend Canon Mora, Rector of the seminary, carve the large turkeys. The American seminarians bake over a dozen pumpkin pies for everyone. American flags are proudly displayed on each side of a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States. Traditional American music completes the festive atmosphere. Institute seminarians from around the world thus come to know and appreciate the American spirit which has inspired this traditional observance of giving thanks to God for His many blessings.
After an opening spiritual retreat preached by Monsignor Wach, our Founder and Prior General, fourteen young men from several countries, including two from Great Britain and four from the United States, have entered our seminary in Gricigliano to begin the first year of their priestly formation. Thirteen of the newcomers are shown in the photo below. Please pray for these young men, who so much rely upon your support today in order to be your priests of tomorrow!
On Monday, June 30, 2008, first-year seminarians received their cassock from Monsignor Gilles Wach; they were tonsured the following day by the Most Rev. Basil Meeking, Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand. Bishop Meeking also conferred minor orders the same day and ordained the Institute's subdeacons and deacons on Wednesday, July 2. On Thursday, July 3, the Most Rev. Raymond L. Burke, newly appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, ordained two priests of the Institute of Christ the King at the magnificent Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano in Florence. Following the ordinations was Solemn Benediction with the singing of the Te Deum at the seminary, presided over by His Eminence Silvano Cardinal Piovanelli, Archbishop Emeritus of Florence, who first welcomed the Institute in the Archdiocese of Florence eighteen years ago, in 1990.
In the Photo Gallery . . .
On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, Mr. Chad Templin and Mr. Alexander Barga received their cassocks from the Prior General of the Institute, Msgr. Gilles Wach, in the presence of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Joseph Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, and Msgr. Michael Schmitz, Vicar General of the Institute.
The ceremony took place at the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago.
On Friday, June 30 was the "Vestition," that is when first year seminarians receive their cassock; on Saturday, July 1 was the conferring of the tonsure by His Excellency Bishop Joseph N. Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago; on Sunday, July 2, was the conferring of minor orders by His Excellency Bishop Mathieu Madega, of Port-Gentil, Gabon; on Monday, July 3, at 4:30 PM was the ordination of deacons and subdeacons by His Excellency Bishop Luciano Giovanetti, Bishop of Fiesole, Italy; and on Tuesday, July 4 at 4:30 PM, priestly ordination was conferred by His Grace Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis. On Wednesday, July 5 the solemn hymn Te Deum was sung in thanksgiving.
View Images: Tonsure | Minor Orders | Diaconate and Subdiaconate | Priesthood.
On the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, 2005, the Most Rev. Raymond Burke, Archbishop of St. Louis, ordained three priests of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, at our International Seminary in Gricigliano, Italy. Ordained were Fathers Florent Guimbretière, Gilles Guitard, and Vincent Thomas.
View Images of: Ordinations | First Masses