Author Topic: Changes at the SSPX seminary in Winona (Read 9280 times)

Matthew · « **on:** May 20, 2015, 10:43:52 AM »

1. Fr. Peek made the decision to switch from Ecclesiastical Latin to Classical Latin (!?)
2. No more Latin spoken at table on Fridays
3. Cell phones are turned in, and the authorities check the call log/phone book on each cell phone to see if any "Resistance" personae have been contacted.
4. They no longer "ring the bell" (to correct mistakes) on the readers during mealtimes -- it's now considered too "humiliating".
5. The heat is turned on as soon as Fall begins, as opposed to the old "make a man out of you" Bishop Williamson rules for turning on the heat.
6. The professors. The rector/vice-rector are French. Then there are 3 older priests (Frs. Iscara, Peek, and Dean) and then FOUR brand-new priests. And Fr. Dean is new to the seminary. Only Frs. Iscara and Peek have been posted there longer than 12 years!

saintalice · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2015, 10:53:04 AM »

Is it true that Fr. Themann is going to be the rector of the seminary in Australia? Have you heard anything about that? This was mentioned on another forum and someone from Australia confirmed it to be so.

PG · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2015, 11:06:00 AM »

How does +Williamson's "man making" rule differ from the new one?

Matthew · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2015, 11:15:54 AM »

Quote from: + PG +

How does +Williamson's "man making" rule differ from the new one?

He made us wait NOTICEABLY for the heat. The heat coming on each year was something that we involuntarily celebrated. Everyone was happy that day.

I don't remember the exact rule, but it was something like "when the chapel dips to 48 degrees" and/or "when the main building dips to 58 degrees for 3 days".

The rule served several purposes. It was frugal, and it kept the seminarians in touch with reality. It also gave us opportunities for mortification and penance every Fall -- a chance to lose some of that modern American, middle class "softness".

A real man should be able to tolerate temperatures below 68 degrees, or temperatures over 80 degrees.

The Winona facility was in a land-locked area with temperature extremes. But the building didn't have air conditioning. Temperatures in the 80's and 90's were not uncommon during the Summer.

Jaynek · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2015, 11:30:53 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

1. Fr. Peek made the decision to switch from Ecclesiastical Latin to Classical Latin (!?)
2. No more Latin spoken at table on Fridays

Was there any reason given for these two decisions?

Matthew · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2015, 11:51:58 AM »

Quote from: Jaynek

Quote from: Matthew
1. Fr. Peek made the decision to switch from Ecclesiastical Latin to Classical Latin (!?)
2. No more Latin spoken at table on Fridays

Was there any reason given for these two decisions?

No, any reason for this would be conjecture. It has me baffled as well.

I mean, how can you teach PRIESTS Classical Latin?

Are they going to go up to the foot of the altar, and say, "DOE - MEE - NOOSE WOAH - BIS - COOM"

Or start the Marian hymn for Paschaltide:

REH - GHEE - NA KY - LEE

A lot more than just ex-seminarians are going to notice something like that!

I just don't understand.

curioustrad · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2015, 12:14:14 PM »

To say nothing of: vicissim ! Although I knew a priest who did use classical Latin pronunciation as an adjunct to the sspx - it was quite odd to hear it even though at one time ecclesiastical Latin sounded just as strange to me.

Fr Dean it should be remembered was orginally posted to Winona in 1990 and went until 1996. He too was straight from Econe. I don't find "young priests" susrprising for the SSPX. That's not to say it didn't happen before the Council because it did.

Matthew · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2015, 12:28:26 PM »

Quote from: saintalice

Is it true that Fr. Themann is going to be the rector of the seminary in Australia? Have you heard anything about that? This was mentioned on another forum and someone from Australia confirmed it to be so.

I heard that as well.

Gail · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2015, 08:03:25 AM »

Quote from: saintalice

Is it true that Fr. Themann is going to be the rector of the seminary in Australia? Have you heard anything about that? This was mentioned on another forum and someone from Australia confirmed it to be so.

Definitely true - Fr. Themann will take over in August.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2015, 08:52:33 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

Quote from: + PG +
How does +Williamson's "man making" rule differ from the new one?

He made us wait NOTICEABLY for the heat. The heat coming on each year was something that we involuntarily celebrated. Everyone was happy that day.

There were years when we could see our breath in the classrooms. You almost had to wear gloves because your hands were shaking too much to be able to hold a pen and take notes.

This change is most likely due to Father Iscara (I believe he hailed from Mexico). He would barricade himself in his room with a space heater and refuse to come out until they had turned on the heat; he made seminarians bring meals to his room.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2015, 09:10:22 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

2. No more Latin spoken at table on Fridays

No loss there. What was spoken at table for the most part only made people's Latin worse rather than better.

Quote

3. Cell phones are turned in, and the authorities check the call log/phone book on each cell phone to see if any "Resistance" personae have been contacted.

They would always go through your mail, so this is nothing new. Just adapting to modern technology. When I was there in the late 80s, early 90s, there were no cell phones.

Quote

4. They no longer "ring the bell" (to correct mistakes) on the readers during mealtimes -- it's now considered too "humiliating".

Bishop Williamson had a way of correcting you where he was tough but not degrading. This is a very gentle transition into the world of giving sermons. I got rung up only once for a mistake. I got rung up many times for not being loud enough or for going too fast or too slow. I never had a very strong voice and had to really strain to be heard across the refectory over the din of dishes and forks/knives.

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2015, 09:47:48 AM »

Quote

I never had a very strong voice and had to really strain to be heard across the refectory over the din of dishes and forks/knives.

Metaphorically speaking, you don't have that problem here.

curioustrad · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2015, 11:56:53 AM »

Quote from: Ladislaus

Quote from: Matthew
2. No more Latin spoken at table on Fridays

No loss there. What was spoken at table for the most part only made people's Latin worse rather than better.

Quote
3. Cell phones are turned in, and the authorities check the call log/phone book on each cell phone to see if any "Resistance" personae have been contacted.

They would always go through your mail, so this is nothing new. Just adapting to modern technology. When I was there in the late 80s, early 90s, there were no cell phones.

Quote
4. They no longer "ring the bell" (to correct mistakes) on the readers during mealtimes -- it's now considered too "humiliating".

Bishop Williamson had a way of correcting you where he was tough but not degrading. This is a very gentle transition into the world of giving sermons. I got rung up only once for a mistake. I got rung up many times for not being loud enough or for going too fast or too slow. I never had a very strong voice and had to really strain to be heard across the refectory over the din of dishes and forks/knives.

Ay Chihuahua !

Ladislaus · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2015, 12:05:17 PM »

Quote from: curioustrad

Ay Chihuahua !

:roll-laugh1:

You have a surprisingly good memory.

curioustrad · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2015, 12:08:22 PM »

That one made history ! :applause: