Thursday, October 6, 2016

MY SAINT MEINRAD SEMINARY EXPERIENCE - THE EARLY DAYS


FROM THE ARCHIVES
MEMORIES FOR MY DAYS AS A SEMINARIAN

Brace Yourselves!

Before he died several months ago, Father Tony Olges (seminary classmate for twelve years) gave me a CD of old college pictures. I was amazed at how much we had all changed, how many made it and didn't make it and, yes, how many have already died!

The one thing that stands out for me is how much fun we had and how, in some ways, it was not too different from any college of the time.


It's a soft drink! Yes, that's me!



That tie was a little short, don't you think? But, oh, to be that thin again!



I played sports - sort of! Softball says it all!



I studied - sort of!



Partying at the lake with David Dutschke and Denny West of Louisville. That's me in the middle!



A break between classes. That's me again on the left!




Parties! Lots of parties with cheap wine. That's my hand on the left with a white shirt and a wine glass.



Passing the birthday cake, right in front of my face,  without an "excuse me!"  Those Pittsburgh guys!



Another party - more cheap wine! That's classmate, Paul Bleuel of Louisville,  at the top of the table on the right with white shirt elbow on the table.



The musicians warm up for an evening of music. That's a beer mug on the keyboard over "VOX!"



A friendly game of poker?



When drinking became legal for seminarians, we spent a lot of time at the Arts Center Tavern in Fulda - about three miles away. Notice the red flashlight! He must be planning on walking home after dark?



We did a lot of walking. Notice the pants cuffs! We didn't have a lot of money for clothes. When we out grew them, we wore them! That's Pat Abell from Lebanon, Kentucky, in the long black coat.



One of the first steps to priesthood - Tonsure! Yes, the Bishop of Indianapolis actually cut snippets out of our hair as a sign we were getting serious about going on to priesthood. They don't do that any more! I am on the right with my candle in hand. In front of me are two Passionists (Newburg Road) who studied with us for a few years before moving to Chicago. Yes, we wore cassocks in those days.
Here we are preparing to process into Church for the first of seven steps to the priesthood: tonsure, acolyte, porter, lector, exorcist and subdeacon - called "the Minor Orders." (Yes, I am indeed an ordained exorcist!) Deacon and priest were "the major Orders" of Holy Orders.



That's classmate James Greenwell from Louisville in the foreground and (Father) Nick Rice of Louisville in the background. Stan Esterle of Louisville is in the middle. 

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