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. 

ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND PRIEST RETREAT - PART 4

DOING MY THING IN PORTLAND
Presentation Day Two

I would say things went very well! The Archbishop was well pleased and priests of all ages ages and nationalities were very affirming.



Spent the night last night at the Portland Airport Sheraton since the priests continued their meeting three hours south of Portland. After my presentations ended on Tuesday, they stayed for diocesan business meetings till Thursday.



The Portland, Oregon, Airport



The airport runway was right outside my hotel window.



My feelings of leadiing a successful priest convocation was just validated - a rainbow right outside my hotel window.

ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND PRIEST RETREAT - PART 3

THINGS GOT UNDERWAY ALMOST ON TIME

The priests began to gather for the first session.

I had an afternoon session and an evening session, with two more sessions tomorrow morning. 

Half of the group gathered in the photo for dinner. Th other half of the group is off camera to the left. 

After forty-six years, I ran into a classmate from St. Meinrad. When we graduated from St. Meinrad, he was a monks of Mount Michael Abbey in Elkhorn, Nebraska. His religious name was Father Guy O'Donovan, OSB. He left the monastery and became a priest of Portland, Oregon. He is now known as Msgr. Dennis O'Donovan. So good to run into him after all these years. 

ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND PRIEST RETREAT - PART 2

I GOT HERE WITHOUT A GLITCH

I  was met at the Portland Airport

by the chairman of the Priest Convocation Committee

Father Cary Reniva 

Let the Convocation Begin


Woke up this morning to a misty, cool, Oregon coast outside my window. 


The Best Western on Aggate Beach in Newport, Oregon



Rachel Hansen was the woman who organized all this for us. 



All is ready! Come to the feast!

ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND PRIEST RETREAT - PART 1

I AM GOING BACK TO OREGON
AFTER FORTY-EIGHT YEARS



CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK



CRATER LAKE LODGE

In 1968, when I was in my third year of theology at St. Meinrad Seminary, I signed up for a United Church of Christ summer program called A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. I was the first Catholic seminarian to sign up for that program that placed seminarians of various denominations as campgound ministers in the national parks. I was assigned to Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. Besides being a campground minister on the weekends, I was desk clerk, bartender, wine steward and garbage truck driver. I was the Master of Ceremonies for the Miss Crater Lake Beauty Contest.  I also served at the weekend Catholic Masses. (Yes, the lake really looks that blue!)

THIS TIME

ARCHDIOCESE OF PORTLAND, OREGON

ANNUAL PRIEST RETREAT

October 3-7, 2016

The City of Portland, Oregon

We will be meeting at the Best Western Hotel on Agate Beach, Newport, Oregon 

Agate Beach, Newport, Oregon

Archbishop Alexander Sample, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon



An Ordination in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon




St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Portland, Oregon