Keeping Faith Appeal 2010

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

St. Luke

Chapter 14

 Greetings from Mundelein Seminary!

This past May, Cardinal Francis George ordained 14 men from Mundelein Seminary to the presbyterate of the Archdiocese of Chicago.  These 14 men I know to be very capable and compassionate as they begin to serve Christ and His people.  I walked with them through my first years as rector and could attest to Cardinal George that they are worthy of ordination.  Then the moment came for the most important day of their lives and

 Holy Name Cathedral was filled to capacity and I wasn’t there!

Unfortunately, because of illness, I was not able to attend the ordination. 

God has a way of putting our lives into perspective.  I extend my gratefulness to Cardinal George and my colleagues at the seminary because the ordination went on without a rector and without a hitch.  It was very humbling indeed to realize that God’s work goes on and doesn’t always depend on our presence but rather depends on our prayers.  As I laid in that hospital bed on ordination morning, I sent my prayers and good wishes to these fine young men who now join me in the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

It occurred to me in that moment of prayer while in the hospital that most people these new priests will serve were not at Holy Name Cathedral that ordination morning but rather in parishes throughout the Archdiocese waiting for these men to enter their lives and parish communities – all in God’s time and plan.

Most of you, though probably also not present at the ordination ceremonies, were truly a part of this great moment through your ongoing prayers and financial support of our seminarians.

As we begin a new school year, welcoming nearly 165 seminarians studying for the Archdiocese of Chicago and 30 other dioceses nationally and internationally, I have two requests of you.

First, please continue to pray that as these men embrace the call of Jesus to the priesthood, that they will have the passion for their vocation which so many of our priests still exhibit decades after their ordinations.  Jesus has captured their hearts and they, in turn, will touch the hearts of all they serve in their priesthood.

Secondly, please consider continuing your financial support to Mundelein Seminary this year.  I am grateful for your past generosity and ask the Lord to bless you for your kindness.

This year in particular we have some very significant projects to complete, including replacing the roof on our auditorium, adding much-needed new bathrooms and renovating the faculty/guest dining room in our refectory, where our seminarians and over 16,000 conference center guests eat annually.

We could not operate the seminary without your ongoing prayers and financial support.  The seminarians we prepare for ordination each year reach out to the faithful throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago and the 30 other dioceses we serve.  Our newly ordained priests and our priest alumni bring Christ to millions of people around the country and the world everyday.

With God’s goodness and your intercessory prayers, we continue to be blessed with good and compassionate priests who are educated and formed at Mundelein Seminary through your sacrifices.  They join the ranks of countless good and compassionate priests who serve the spiritual needs of the faithful each day.

I trust in God’s providence and am confident of your prayers and financial support.  The Church is, and will be, blessed with good and faithful priests in God’s time and plan.

As our priests bring the love of Jesus to the poor and forgotten each day of their priesthood, I pray that you may experience Christ’s loving presence and bring His love to all you encounter each day.

Holy Name Cathedral was packed on ordination morning and I truly believe you and I were there in spirit and prayer thanking a gracious God for the gift of life and the gift of priesthood.  Please keep me in your prayers as I assure you of my prayers.  I have a whole new awareness and affiliation with those whose lives have been impacted by illness.  Be assured I especially remember you each day in prayer.

God bless you!

Gratefully yours in Christ,

Very Reverend Dennis J. Lyle

Rector/President

P.S.      Please continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood, religious life, diaconate and lay ministries of our Church as I thank you once again for your prayers and financial support of Mundelein Seminary.