St Francis Minor Seminary - Via Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

Page 48 text:

DIAMOND JUBILEE 1856 THE MOST REVEREND SEBASTIAN G. MESSMER, D.D.,D.C.L.,LL.D. CBishop of green CBay 1892-1903 ffourtb archbishop of Milwaukee 1903-1930 L'Died oAugth 4, 1930 i421

Page 47 text:

QED It was eight days later that he paid his iirst official visit to the Salesianum. The celebration occupied the entire morning. At eight oiclock, His Grace was introduced into the chapel with solemn ceremonies. He imparted his pontifical blessing and spoke a few words prior to his offering of the Holy Sacrifice. At ten oiclock, formal reception was tendered the newly enthroned Archbishop. The students and professors met in the Seminary hall, where two addresses were made, one in Latin by Mr. W. Kubale and the other in English by Mr. Thomas Pierce. A short theological disputation followed in which Messrs. F. Murphy and C. Hugo took the principal parts. 1904-1906 During the summer of 1904 two important events transpired. The St. Francis Alumni Association held its first reunion in the Seminary hall. The Archbishop, Bishop Fox of Green Bay, and many priests were present on this joyful occasion. It is recorded that at this first reunion four hundred priests declared their intention of joining the association. In July of the following year, a second reunion was held. It is especially of note because of its having given birth to an Alumni paper which came to be known as 9The Salesianumii. The ninth day of January, 1906, marks its first issue: its first editor was the Reverend D. J. O,Hearn, D. C. L. The joy of the first reunion was heightened much by the Archbishopis announcement to the assembly that the Rector of our beloved institution had been raised to the dignity of a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness. On the fourteenth of October, 1904, Mon- signor Rainer was honored by the student body. A program was given at ten dclock at which Messrs. A. Lofy and F. Murphy delivered addresses. SAINT FRANCIS SEMINARY The Right Reverend A. F. Schinner, whom we mention particularly here because he has the dis- tinction of being the first bishop who had taken his full course at the Salesianurn, was nominated and consecrated Bishop of Superior in the spring and early summer of 1905. During May of 1906 many repairs and additions were being made in preparation for the Golden Jubi- lee celebration, which was fast approaching. This will be treated at length in the following chapter. It would not be fair to the noble Rector, who spent so many years in the service of the Seminary and to whom this volume is dedicated, to conclude without speaking a word on his dearest hobby. Many, indeed, would not regard deep interest in the sick and troubled as a hobby, but we know that Monsignor Rainer did. Those who have known him remember well how untiringly, he went twice daily to visit the sick and to bring into the sick-room a ray of spiritual sunshine. His was a task of love. He re- garded those students who were sick and troubled as having the first claim upon his fatherly care. It can readily be imagined how deeply he was touched by the death of a student now and again in the long period of his Rectorship. This concern is evidenced by his frequent mention of profound grief at the death of some student or by the notation that he accompanied the studentis remains to his home and preached the funeral sermon. Many of his other remarkable traits may pass un- noticed when we look back through the Seminaryis history, but surely these acts of sympathetic love shall ever claim enduring tribute; they shall live on and shall ever cause his name to be profoundly treas- ured by all in the forming of whose priestly character Monsignor Rainer played no small part. EDWARD M. KINNEY, B. A.

Page 49 text:

QED OR a long time everyone connected with the Seminary as well as all the Alumni and friends had anx- iously looked forward to the cele- bration of the Golden Jubilee of St. Francis Seminary. The . students enthusiastically enjoyed . their celebration of this great i event on the fourth and fifth of T V June, 1906. The Right Reverend i. Rector, Monsignor Rainer, sang H ; i , ; a High Mass on the hrst day of i W M the student celebration and the Right Reverend A. F. Schinner, Bishop of Superior, preached the sermon. The afternoon was enjoyed with a program of songs, addresses and music. The second day a Solemn Requiem Mass was offered for the deceased former students of the Seminary. The celebration for the bishops and priests took place on June 26 and 27. His Grace, Archbishop Messmer, sang the Pontifical High Mass which opened the Jubilee celebration, and the sermon was delivered by the Right Reverend Thomas Lillis, Bishop of Leavenworth. On the same day a meeting of the St. Francis Seminary Alumni Association was held. Officers were elected and definite action was taken concerning the building fund for the con- struction of the Salzmann Library as a jubilee gift to the Seminary from the Alumni. The amount sub- scribed was to determine the size and features of the new building. On the second day of this great jubilee celebration a Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated for the deceased Alumni by the Right Reverend H. J Richter, Bishop of Grand Rapids, Mich. The sermon was preached by the Very Rev- erend P. M. Abbelen. Hundreds of priests, bishops and archbishops attended these festivities which commemorated the fifty years of existence and constant progress of this great ecclesiastical institution. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Heads had grown gray, bodies were bent with age, and voices no longer had that youth- ful vigor, yet, the welcome of the old Alma Mater was so cordial and all embracing that youth at least in spirit returned to many a one as he trod again the familiar paths and corridors and visited again the scenes of boyhood days of long a o. The religious celebrations in the Chapel brought back old memo- ries of beautiful services and cherished melodies. The meetings renewed acquaintances that had been inter- rupted in many cases by a long span of years. St. Francis de Sales and the venerable and beloved SAINT FRANCIS SBMINARY 1906-1907 After Fifty Years founders of this institution surely looked down upon this gathering and blessed it; and besought God to favor this Seminary with still greater benefits that when another cycle of years had passed and another jubilee celebrated St. Francis Seminary would be as vigorous, as intellectual, and as spiritual as in the past, and that even greater progress might be made for the Glory of God. The students returned to the Seminary after the summer vacation on September 4. The total enroll- ment for this school year listed 278 students. In the absence of the Right Reverend Rector, Monsignor Rainer, V. G., who was on indefinite leave of absence for his health in Europe, the Vice-Rector, Reverend Frederick Schulze, besought Godls blessing on the year,s work in a Solemn High Mass. The annual re- treat was given to the students by the Reverend Wm. Engelen, S. J., of Prairie du Chien. Reverend F. Knoernschild celebrated a Solemn High Mass on the Feast of St. Cecilia. On the same day the Albertus Society with Reverend Henry Ries as Moderator pre- sented iWWallensteinls Tod , a tragedy in five acts by Schiller. The play was ably presented by the students and thoroughly enjoyed by a large group of visiting priests. The Junior St. Stanislaus Literary and Debating Society was formed in 1906 for the Polish students in the classical department. Reverend Casimir Ols- zewski was the first moderator. The Seminary old in experience but young in vigor and vitality entered upon the year 1907 with the same zeal that characterized both students and faculty in the past. St. Francis Day was celebrated with the usual great solemnity and happy spirit. Monsignor Kremer preached an eloquent and in- spiring sermon. Bishop Fox of Green Bay sang the Pontifical High Mass at which the Most Reverend Archbishop Messmer and the Right Reverend Bishops Schwebach, His, and Schinner of the Milwaukee Province were in the sanctuary. At a meeting of the Board of Directors it was decided to raise the annual tuition to 185 dollars at the beginning of the next scholastic year so that the increasing expenses could be met. The Provincial board of Examiners assisted at the examination of candidates for Holy Orders at Passiontide. Tonsure, Minor Orders, Subdeaconship, and Deaconship were conferred at this time. A Hourishing society among the students at this time was the St. Francis Studentsl Total Abstinence Society. Twenty-four new members were admitted and became staunch supporters of the Society,s prin- i432!