New seminarians 'prayerful and eager to learn,' says seminary rector

Published: 2007-09-20

SEWARD, Neb. (CNS) -- The 23 newcomers attending St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward this fall are "full of questions, obviously prayerful and eager to learn," said Father John Folda, seminary rector. "They're going to be a great group of seminarians, I have no doubt," he added. Among them are 19 young men who are in priestly formation for the Diocese of Lincoln. The other four new men are studying for the priesthood for either the Diocese of Rockford, Ill., or the Diocese of Madison, Wis. One student studying for Lincoln is from the Canadian province of Manitoba. Father Folda said it is the largest group to enter St. Gregory the Great all at once, but everything has gone smoothly in terms of course scheduling, housing, books and all the other particulars. The first-year class of seminarians is one of the largest in any diocese in the United States. "God smiled upon us," he said with a laugh. "He knew he was going to give us a lot of men this year."

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