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

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DIAMOND mefiisfalhnuc ively. However, foremost in the events was the cele- bration of Monsignor Raineis 80th birthday, Feb- ruary 10. The aged Monsignor sang a Pontifical High Mass in the morning and was a guest at the presentation of Cardinal Wisemanis iiI-Iidcien Gem , staged by the classics, under the direction of Father Eilers. Monsignor Rainer himself had taken a leading role in this play in his youthful school days. At the yearly registration for the fall school term 328 students reported. Besides this number 60 appli- cations could not be accepted because of lack of room. With the growth of the Church in the central part of the country vocations to the priesthood have steadily increased. The re-organization of Pio Nono College as a High School made accommodation pos- sible to many aspirants to the priestly state who now receive their preparatory education at that institution. On September 27, the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the elevation of the Diocese of Milwaukee to a Metropolitan See, the Reverend Deacons were permitted to assist at the services held in St. Johns Cathedral. In the afternoon all students took part in the reception in honor of his Eminence, Cardinal Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago, held in the Marquette Stadium. A Pontifical Requiem High Mass was celebrated in the Seminary Chapel by Archbishop Messmer on October 29, for the repose of the soul of the late Ernest G. Miller, of Milwaukee, who had favored the Seminary with a most generous bequest. Shortly after 8 a. m. on November 5, fire was discovered in the bowling alleys. The Fire department of the Town of Lake responded to the alarm, and with the aid of the students succeeded in extinguish- ing the fire although the building was almost totally destroyed. The destruction of the bowling alleys meant the passing away at least for the time being of the Seminary departmentis main attraction during the winter months. The Most Reverend J B. Cieplak, D. D., Arch- bishop of Vilna, Poland, honored the Seminary with a visit on December 12. He was accompanied by Archbishop Messmer and several preiates. After a hearty reception by the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society the visitor spoke to the student body in Latin and in Polish. Archbishop Ciepiak, a confessor and martyr for the faith, had been a prisoner in Russia. He had been arraigned and brought to court by the agents of the infidel Soviet government, and senten- ced to die for instructing children. A number of governments interfered, and the Archbishop was set free, though his Vicar General, who was condemned with him, was executed. The year 1926 began and progressed as previous JUBILEE zgsk years. St. Francis Day was observed and the academic degrees were distributed; the annual ordinations to the priesthood took place; the yearly Egan eIocution and oratorical contests were held; and the plays iiThe Black Arrow and the uUpper Roomh, both directed by Father Eilers, were enacted by the St. James Liter- ary Society and the High School department respec- tively. The Holy Week services were not con- ducted at the Seminary this year. In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic which was prevalent at this time the students were sent to their respective homes the week before Easter Sunday. 1925-1926 On June 3, the feast of Corpus Christi was sol- emnly observed, as it always is whenever the date falls during the scholastic year. The long procession of priests, seminarists, nuns, school children, and lay people wound its way from the Seminary to Pio Nono High School, thence to the Chapel of the Woods and to St. Aemiiianis Orphan Asylum. From here the march proceeded to the St. Francis Assisi Convent and then back to the Seminary. The Bene- diction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was given at three of these places. The yearly commencement exercises of the High School Department were held on June 10. The students of this department published an annual this year. Though the prime aim of the publication was to serve as a souvenir of the theme work of the High School Seniors yet it carried the usual features of a high school annual, photographs of faculty members, class groups, buildings and scenes, as well as an ac- count of the life in general about the Seminary. The Rev. Henry Riordan was faculty adviser for the new publication. A signal honor came to the Seminary and Alumni Association on June 16, when the honorary degree of the Doctor of Letters was conferred upon Rector Emeritus, Monsignor Rainer, by Marquette Univer- sity. The degree was given, as Monsignor Rainetis citation read, 9. . . by virtue of his important work of training many of the priests for the Archdiocese over so long a period, of his contribution to Catholic jour- nals and magazines, of his personal achievements in at least eight languages, and his literary contribution in three. During the summer vacation the Seminary was visited by His Eminence Gustave Frederic Cardinal Piffi and by the class of 1916. In September the school session opened with a capacity crowd. The Rev. William Bronner, S. T. D., was added to the faculty as professor of languages and Moral Theology. On September 12, the Most Rev. Anselm Kenealy, O. M. Cap., Archbishop of Simla, India, spoke to 1:721

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IQEH: . m . R JOSEPH SCHULTH S SAINT FRANCIS SBMINARY Former Faculty Members ONY ROETT 1876 1878 x MR. JOHN SINGENBLLRG 1874-1876 18753 877 i711

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Qis the students on the customs and life of the Hindu people among whom he had labored for many years. Incidently, Archbishop Kenealy was a personal friend of the poet Francis Thompson. 1 926-1928 On December 8, Monsignor Rainer pontificatecl for the last time in the Seminary Chapel. In the evening he received 54 new members into the Blessed Virgin Sodality-the 4lst annual reception under his direction as moderator of the sodality. On this day he resigned his office. Two days later he took to his sick bed after having given up his duties as pro- fessor. The aged Monsignoris end was drawing near and on December 13, he was fortified with the Last Sacraments in the presence of the 13 Reverend Dea- cons. The end finally came. On January 12, 1927, the Monsignor peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. His last days were characterized by great resignation in the heavy ainction which he was called upon to bear. Under God Monsignor Rainer loved St. Francis Seminary with a supreme love; he died in the Semi- nary; and his body lies where he chose it should, in the Cemetery in the Woods. Born at Kalten, Austria, on February 10, 1845, Monsignor Rainer studied at his native place and at the University of Innsbruck. He came to America in 1866, completed his studies at St. Francis and was at once appointed professor. In 1887 he was made Rector of the institution, a position he held for over 35 years. Sixteen hundred priests were ordained during his lengthy Rectorship, and he preached 130 first Mass sermons for newly or- dained priests. In 1904 he was honored with the title of Monsignor, and in 1908, Protonotary Apostolic. His Golden Sacerdotal Jubilee was celebrated in 1917. As we look back over the Monsignoris long life, many leading characteristics are recognized. In the first place lIMonsignor Rainer was a man of deep, intelli- gent faith. He was above all things a priest. He loved the Liturgy of the Church, he loved the Missions, and next to God he loved the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monsignor Rainer was a profound scholar. His characteristic humility and childlike simplicity hid his scholarship from popular clamor and applause, but those who knew him intimately attest the treas- ures of his mind. Monsignor Rainer,s relations to the Seminary were neyer coldly official; his was the service of love. He was a father to the seminarists; he lived their life with them; he carried them in his heart; he followed them with love and prayer into the post of service; he never forgot them . Such is the rich legacy of character which this priest has be- queathed to future ministers in Christls service. February 2, 1927, will always remain a memorable date in the history of St. Francis Seminary. The new gymnasium erected for the students of the philoso- phical and theological departments was dedicated by His Grace Archbishop Messmer. The new building SAINT FRANCIS SEMINARY was made possible through the princely bequest of the late Ernest G. Miller of Milwaukee. The pre- dominant style of the building is Colonial combined with a few features of the Romanesque. The entire exterior is of buff colored brick trimmed with cut stone. The cost, when equipped, was approximately $110,000. The basement provides the following sani- tary and recreational features: four bowling alleys, a large room, 32 x 75, for handball, a smoking and card room, twelve showers and a lavatory. The first Hoot provides a large gymnasium 60 x 90 feet, and a spectatoris gallery. To the front of the main fioor are two large rooms, one is used as a billiard room and the other as a visiting room. The second Hoor is arranged to provide living quarters for two pro- fessors. The gymnasium is an ideal building and compares favorably with the gymnasium of any semi- na'ry in the country. On February 24, another alumnus of the Semi- nary was elevated to the Episcopacy. The Right Rev. Monsignor Charles D. White, D. D., Rector of St. Josephis Preparatory Seminary, Grand Rapids, Mich, was consecrated Bishop of Spokane. Monsignor White was a student of St. Francis Seminary during the scholastic years of 1903-1904-1905. The Sales- ianum oerrecl its congratulations to Bishop White and prayed that he might be spared for many years in his new field of work. On June 9, the report of the death of the Right Rev. Daniel Gorman, D. D., Bishop of Boise, Idaho, was received at the Seminary. Bishop Gorman, an alumnus of St. Francis Seminary, and a native of Janes County, Iowa, was born on April 12, 1861. He re- ceived his early education in local schools. After studying at St. Joseph,s College at Dubuque he entered St. Francis and was ordained in 1893. After a few years of pastoral work Bishop Gorman became a professor at St. Josephis College and was its rector in 1904. In 1918 he was consecrated Bishop of Boise and during his episcopacy distinguished himself by his profound learning and scholarship. The Very Rev. Frederick Schulze, D. D., pro- fessor of moral theology celebrated his Golden Sacer- dotal Jubilee on the 27th of October. Father Schulze had been a professor at the Seminary since 1886. A program befitting the occasion was given by the students in the Seminary hall. The polyphonic choir from Rome, which was at the time touring the country under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus, favored the Seminary on December 13, with a number of soul stirring selec- tions. The year 1928 brought with it no new major changes or events. The Patron Feast Day on which the Right Rev. Bishop Reverman of Superior sang a 1731