St. Gregory the Great Seminary
 The coat of arms of the seminary | |
| Motto | Pastores Dabo Vobis |
|---|---|
Motto in English | I Will Give You Shepherds |
| Type | College seminary |
| Established | 1998 |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln |
| Rector | Brian Kane |
| Address | 800 Fletcher Road , , , 68434-8145 40°52′26″N 97°06′11″W / 40.874°N 97.103°W |
| Campus | Rural |
| Website | www |
St. Gregory the Great Seminary is a Roman Catholic diocesan college seminary in Seward, Nebraska. It opened in 1998 and is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln.
History
[edit]Prior to the establishment of St. Gregory the Great Seminary, seminarians for the Diocese of Lincoln were sent to seminaries all around the United States, including Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Maryland and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. In 1996, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz established a task force to examine the idea of creating a seminary in the diocese. In 1997, the diocese purchased the former Rivendell Psychiatric Hospital for Juveniles in Seward, Nebraska for $1.35 million ($2.56 million in 2023); following the purchase, more than $1 million in renovations were done to convert the property.[1][2]
The seminary opened in August of 1998, with 21 seminarians from the Diocese of Lincoln.[3] It was formally dedicated on August 27, 1998 in a ceremony attended by 1,200 people.[1][2] Fr. John Rooney was the first rector. Initially, non-religious academic classes were taken at Concordia University Nebraska, a Lutheran university five minutes from the seminary.[1]
During the Pope John Paul II's visit to the United States in 1999, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz drove with the cornerstone of the seminary chapel in the trunk of his car to St. Louis, Missouri to have the pontiff bless it after a Mass at the TWA Dome.[3] Monsignor John Folda became rector of the seminary in 1999, a position he would hold until his appointment as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo in 2013.[4] Renovations completed in 2000 added a Romanesque chapel seating 250 people and a library able to hold 85,000 volumes.[5] The seminary was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 2010.[6][7]
Rev. Jeffery Eickhoff, who had been serving as a professor and academic dean at the seminary since 2002, was appointed rector of the seminary in 2013.[6]
The seminary underwent a major expansion in 2017, adding fourteen dorm rooms, two classrooms, and a science laboratory.[6][8]The new wing was blessed by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States on April 22, 2018.[8]
Rev. Brian Kane became the fourth rector of the institution on June 14, 2021.[6]
Academics
[edit]St. Gregory is a college seminary, providing four years of undergraduate philosophical education to those entering seminary directly out of high school, or two years of pre-theology philosophy for those who already have bachelor's degrees.[1]
Rectors
[edit]- Fr. John Rooney (1998–1999)
- Msgr. John Folda (1999–2013)
- Fr. Jeffrey R. Eickhoff (2013–2021)
- Fr. Brian P. Kane (2021–present)
Sponsoring dioceses
[edit]As of 2021, the following dioceses and orders send seminarians to St. Gregory:[6]
- Carmelites of Holy Hill
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–Saint Joseph
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Rosman, Veronica (22 August 1998). "Nebraska's Own Seminary". Omaha World-Herald. pp. 65, 66. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b Hovey, Art (18 April 1999). "Answering the Call". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. 1K, 3K. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Lincoln bishop takes stone for pope's blessing". Star-Herald. AP. 26 January 1999.
- ^ O'Connor, Michael (4 June 2013). "Monsignor's time to Move Up". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Focht, Holli (2 July 2000). "St. Gregory the Great seminary a work in progress". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. 1K, 2K. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Father Kane named rector of St. Gregory the Great". Southern Nebraska Register. Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Saint Gregory the Great Seminary". The Higher Learning Commission. Higher Learning Commission. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ a b Freeman, Betsie (21 April 2018). "Pope's ambassador to U.S. will visit Lincoln Diocese, lead Mass". Omaha World-Herald. p. 2E. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
