Letter from the Rector
Consolidation of the SSPX
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
After the dramatic events of the spring within the Northern District and Seminary of the Society of St. Pius X in the United States, the latest news is that both are consolidating, like the International Society as a whole.
The Society throughout the world is consolidating by the succession of Rev. Fr. Franz Schmidberger to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as Superior General of the Society. This does not mean that the Archbishop is quitting the Society, or ceasing to administer world-wide the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders to followers and seminarians of the Society, it merely means that he is handing over to Fr. Schmidberger the arduous day-to-day task of administering and governing the ever-growing Society. Thus he is resigning as Superior General but not as Bishop, and he will still be readily available to give advice to Fr. Schmidberger whenever needed.
The Society's North-Eastern District is consolidating by the re-starting of Missions on Long Island, in Philadelphia, Detroit and Minneapolis, which in addition to the major centers in Armada and Chicago, and several other smaller centers, are enough to fully stretch the Society's three priests in the North! Fr. Schmidberger will be visiting in person Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis on July 11, 12, 13, and 15 respectively, so that Catholics will have a chance to meet in person the new Superior of the Society to whom they may be entrusting their spiritual welfare.
The Society's Seminary in Connecticut is consolidating by the tranquility restored amongst the 21 seminarians and the priests remaining after the departure of one third of the seminarians and three out of five Professors, including the former Rector, Fr. Sanborn, to whose five and a half years in office the Seminary and seminarians owe so much. The Seminary's academic year closed out, on schedule, at the end of June, and the Seminarians are taking a well-earned rest until the Seminary re-opens in September, with the prospect of around a dozen vocations, several fine young men, entering. Thus the long-term future of the Society and its American Seminary are not in doubt, but in the short term we must live, and we need your help. Our special thanks go to those who have faithfully continued contributing to the "St. Aloysius Gonzaga Fund" despite all the contradictions. Please continue – the Seminary must not go bankrupt for the beginning of the new school year!
May God bless you, and Our Lady protect you, and St. Joseph reward you!
Fr. Richard Williamson
Consolidation of the SSPX
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
After the dramatic events of the spring within the Northern District and Seminary of the Society of St. Pius X in the United States, the latest news is that both are consolidating, like the International Society as a whole.
The Society throughout the world is consolidating by the succession of Rev. Fr. Franz Schmidberger to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as Superior General of the Society. This does not mean that the Archbishop is quitting the Society, or ceasing to administer world-wide the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders to followers and seminarians of the Society, it merely means that he is handing over to Fr. Schmidberger the arduous day-to-day task of administering and governing the ever-growing Society. Thus he is resigning as Superior General but not as Bishop, and he will still be readily available to give advice to Fr. Schmidberger whenever needed.
The Society's North-Eastern District is consolidating by the re-starting of Missions on Long Island, in Philadelphia, Detroit and Minneapolis, which in addition to the major centers in Armada and Chicago, and several other smaller centers, are enough to fully stretch the Society's three priests in the North! Fr. Schmidberger will be visiting in person Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis on July 11, 12, 13, and 15 respectively, so that Catholics will have a chance to meet in person the new Superior of the Society to whom they may be entrusting their spiritual welfare.
The Society's Seminary in Connecticut is consolidating by the tranquility restored amongst the 21 seminarians and the priests remaining after the departure of one third of the seminarians and three out of five Professors, including the former Rector, Fr. Sanborn, to whose five and a half years in office the Seminary and seminarians owe so much. The Seminary's academic year closed out, on schedule, at the end of June, and the Seminarians are taking a well-earned rest until the Seminary re-opens in September, with the prospect of around a dozen vocations, several fine young men, entering. Thus the long-term future of the Society and its American Seminary are not in doubt, but in the short term we must live, and we need your help. Our special thanks go to those who have faithfully continued contributing to the "St. Aloysius Gonzaga Fund" despite all the contradictions. Please continue – the Seminary must not go bankrupt for the beginning of the new school year!
May God bless you, and Our Lady protect you, and St. Joseph reward you!
Fr. Richard Williamson
