St. Vincent de Paul Seminary celebrates 60 years

By Linda Reeves - The Florida Catholic Palm Beach

• See related story: What's new at Florida's 'unique' seminary

BOYNTON BEACH | Since 1968, more than 600 men have walked the walk, answered the call, and committed to serve in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Their moments of pastoral work in the Lord’s vineyard began after graduation from the seminary nestled in Boynton Beach — St. Vincent de Paul.

And to think, it all started with a vision, a cow pasture in the middle of nowhere and two churchmen who put time and effort into making their foresight a reality.

This year, the regional seminary is commemorating its 60th anniversary. Festivities began with an anniversary Mass Sept. 27, 2023, with a Friends of the Seminary Gala planned for Oct. 20. More than 300 “friends” — those whose support keeps the seminary going — are scheduled to attend.

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, an alumnus and seminary chancellor, celebrated the anniversary Mass on the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, the institute’s patron and a pioneer seminary educator. During his welcome, the archbishop expressed his delight to see so many familiar faces in the pews.

“It is good to see a goodly number of alumni here. Perhaps, for a few of you, this is your first time back since ordination,” the archbishop said.

Boynton Beach was a rural outpost when Archbishop Joseph Hurley of St. Augustine purchased the property in the early 1950s. At the time, all of Florida belonged to the Diocese of St. Augustine. When the Diocese of Miami was formed in 1958, its first shepherd — Bishop Coleman Carroll — made plans to turn that rural property into a seminary entrusted to a staff of Vincentian Fathers.

“These two great churchmen had great vision and foresight,” Archbishop Wenski said. “They laid the foundations for the growth of the Catholic Church here in Florida. When the Vincentian Fathers withdrew in 1972, Archbishop Carroll, in the face of no little opposition and skepticism, insisted that this seminary remain open and that it be also a bilingual institution.”

 

UNIQUE ARRANGEMENT

Since the early 1980s, the seminary has been jointly owned by Florida’s seven dioceses. Through this unique relationship, each diocese/archdiocese has representation among the clergy, and the diocesan bishops and archbishop serve on its board. The seminary staff includes priests who represent the different dioceses and the resources and duties of running the seminary are shared by the presbyterate of the whole state.

Archbishop Wenski described the seminary as a great blessing with profound impact on Florida and beyond. Currently, it has an enrollment of 125; 18 men are in their pastoral year experiencing parish life, an important step along the final stages of their journey to the priesthood. Over the past decade, 196 priests have been formed, ordained deacons and gone on to the priesthood.

“The history of any institution made up of human beings will have its shadows as well as its lights,” Archbishop Wenski said. “But today, who can say that these 60 years have not been years of great grace — and that the Church in Florida (and in the Southeast) is stronger and her future brighter because of this bilingual, multicultural center of priestly formation which for 60 years has formed priests for the state of Florida and beyond.”

 

LOCALLY, SPIRITUALLY GROWN

Father Alfredo Hernandez, a priest of the Diocese of Palm Beach, is very familiar with the seminary’s hallowed halls. Before becoming rector and president in 2020, he served for a long time as a faculty member. But his first experience with the seminary happened decades earlier. He was born in Miami and grew up in West Palm Beach, and recalled visiting the seminary when he was only 9 years old, as a Cub Scout.

“It was in the middle of nowhere back then. For many in the Catholic community in the Southeast, it remains a hidden secret. We need to let the secret out,” he said.

He followed his heart back to St. Vincent de Paul as a young man. Celebrating more than 30 years in the priesthood, he was ordained May 8, 1992, for the Diocese of Palm Beach. He said when he considers the seminary’s milestone anniversary, he marvels “at the work of God’s providence.”

“There were several times of great struggle, but the bishops of Florida and the faculty of the seminary kept on trusting that God had great things in mind for this seminary,” Father Hernandez said, adding that enrollment has increased by more than 40% in the past decade. “Its most important growth, though, has not been in the number of seminarians but in the quality of the work that we are doing in helping them prepare to spend their lives for Christ, and in the support of a growing number of dioceses.”

Today, Florida is not the only location entrusting its seminarians to St. Vincent de Paul. Students come from across the southeastern United States, and the board of trustees includes Scalabrinian Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, of Charleston, South Carolina; Bishop Stephen Parkes of Savannah, Georgia; Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Capuchin Franciscan Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer of Atlanta.

“We have truly become a regional seminary as we celebrate our 60th anniversary,” Father Hernandez said.

 

SEMINARY FRIENDS

Mary Blum, a parishioner of St. Mark in Boynton Beach, is a longtime financial and prayerful supporter of the seminary. Blum and her late husband, Peter, a businessman and philanthropist, were frequent visitors to the grounds. They attended events and the public Mass on Wednesdays. She is a firm promoter of the seminary and has continued to spread the word to people she knows and meets.

“Everyone should support the seminary,” she said. “The seminary is very important. We need more priests for our Church. A lot of people have never heard of St. Vincent de Paul and the work that it does. We have to pray for and support the seminary and the seminarians. I can’t say that enough.”

Pat Mikus, a parishioner of St. Vincent Ferrer in Delray Beach, has faithfully supported the seminary for almost 30 years. She enjoys attending the Wednesday Mass at the seminary chapel, which is open to the public. The seminarians, faculty members and the entire seminary community attend, giving glory to God in a beautiful celebration with singing by the seminary choir.

“One of the things people who visit us are surprised about is that our seminarians are normal guys,” Father Hernandez said. “That is something that may sound odd, but it gives us great joy. God uses ordinary men who have experienced all the same challenges that other young men have had, and he touches them in amazing ways.”

Mikus said she feels blessed the seminary is in her town, giving her the opportunity to visit “the holy grounds” and pray. She encourages everyone to visit and to continue to pray for vocations.

“Why would we not support the seminary and the seminarians?” she asked. “The priests support us. We need priests.”

FIND OUT MORE

• Anyone who wants to find out more about St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary is encouraged to visit the grounds at 10701 S. Military Trail in Boynton Beach. The seminary offers a public Mass Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m.
• All are asked to continue to pray for seminarians and for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, religious life and diaconate.
• Those who wish to assist the seminary financially can become a “Friend.” For information, visit www.svdp.edu/friends2023 or call 561-732-4424 or email [email protected].