And Yet Another . . .

I know! 

I know!

It has been a while but, well, sometimes that inspirational muse just takes a little time off and in such times it is better to be silent than to just dish out verbiage.

Or whatever!

Anyhow, while it has been a while, I think I have some words to put together for you now.

So let's get right to it!

And as I get right to it, notice again how I have titled this musing. I am calling this "And Yet Another . . . "

And that "Other" would be SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary on the beautiful grounds of Orchard Lake here in Michigan.

This seminary is a part of my story, my history.

In 1956 I was sent, as was the policy back then, for my college studies to St. Mary's College on the Orchard Lake Campus. After two yers of liberal arts college, in Junior Year, I entered the study of philosophy, the first two years of actual seminary study. Those two years of philosophy would be followed by four years of theology studies but, for me, those four would happen in Plymouth, Michigan in what was back then our major seminary, St. John's.

However, I would live and study for my four college years at Orchard Lake and the seminary program there became a part of my history.

Some years later, ordained, working in a parish, I was also chosen to work on a new degree, this time in Liturgical Theology. Something known as Vatican II had happened and changes were in the wind and it was evident that there was a need for those who could provide resources and insights and education to help parishes, priests, laity and candidates for various ministries to adjust in a hopefully healthy manner to the changes.

I earned my degree from the prestigious University of Notre Dame and almost immediately I was recruited to be an adjunct faculty member in that seminary at Orchard Lake.

Once again SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary became a part of my personal history and it remained so for a number of years. I continued as adjunct faculty into the 1980's and was called back into service several times after that.

And now this piece of my personal story is about to go away.

The announcement has been made and the decision is rather final - SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan will be closing its doors - permanently.

And that means that yet another part of my history disappears.

I say "Another" because it has been a number of years now since St. John's Seminary closed its doors. That was my home for my original theology studies. From its halls I emerged to be ordained for my years of ministry.

Closed . . . gone.

And I look at the parishes in which I ministered . . . 

St. Cunegunda - still around but a shadow, a mere skeleton of its former self.

St. Bartholomew - gone . . . another piece of that history no longer to be found.

And there was that gem of a parish right in the City of Detroit - Precious Blood, certainly one of the most beautiful of buildings housing some of the most beautiful People of God . . . it evolved into St. Peter Claver nd then . . . well, another void, yet another.

And my roots  . . . that part of my history that set the very foundation of my growth? Well, that would be SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish and School.

Also now gone . . .

Oh, true, there continues to be a SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, now located in Sterling Heights, Michigan. And this new entity houses some artifacts from the original church, my home parish. Yet, truth be told, this is not the Home I knew growing up. St. Cyril was more than the place we worshipped and went to school. It was our community, our very identity.

And that St. Cyril is now but a memory.

And the Sisters who ministered in that original St. Cyril? Dominicans, originally the Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lime, also known as the Oxford Dominicans.

I led a number of retreats on the Oxford Dominican Campus and as a youngster, took part in any number of visits, pilgrimages and festivals there. In retirement I was driving out to Oxford to serve as part--time chaplain for the good Sisters weekly for some time.

I was there when they became the Dominican Sisters of Pece and I was there when . . . they became yet another!

Gone!

And now I am looking back at all so many parts of my life, my formation, my story and realizing that they live now, not as they once did, but they live only within me.

I am SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish and School and I am the Oxford Dominicans and I am SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary and I am St. John's Seminary and I am St.. Bartholomew Parish and the Church of the Precious Blood.

The institutions are no more but their work, their beauty, their worth continues . . . in me and in folks like me.

Isn't that true of any of our stories, especially as the years roll on by?

The forces that formed us fade away but the work they have done lives on . . .

in us!

Meantime, 

Keep Praying

 . . . and Stay Safe!

Oh! And get your shot!