Author Topic: SSPX Seminary video number 2 - update on progress (Read 5583 times)

Matthew · « **on:** May 06, 2015, 02:51:25 PM »

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/embed/xanow7o4hvg[/youtube]

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2015, 03:31:06 PM »

Seminary video drinking game:

Every time the word "generous" is said, take a drink.
When "generosity of the Faithful" is said, take two drinks.

In the past, the SSPX never used to send out beggar letters. They let their work speak for them -- the Faithful knew (of course) that things cost money, and their donations were never wanting.

But now they have to beg. Interesting.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2015, 03:37:41 PM »

Yeah, the faithful are very generous when the contributions they make to their local chapel are largely siphoned off for this project while they continue to have Mass in a shack in a dangerous part of town.

As I've said, they could have added a huge annex to the building in Winona for a fraction of the cost. This is profligate waste done for no other reason than for the sake of ego.

Ekim · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2015, 03:48:02 PM »

Makes me SICK!

Most recent letter was asking for donations to help rescue St. Joseph's. Made my blood boil. Mission in VA Beach has been meeting in a hotel since the 1980's, I have not seen a single appeal to help them build a chapel. How many existing chapels could benefit from a rectory and full time priest? Yet they spend $80,000,000 on a seminary. This is only the FIRST phase. This hefty sum doesn't even include completion of the Chapel. Me thinnest priorities are a bit mixed up!!! UNBELIEVABLE! They could have spent 1/2 that much and improved Winona. The other half could have gone to expanding Tradition throughout the world.

These CONSTANT "Dollar Hollars" are more than I can stand!!

Ekim · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:04:34 PM »

Your Excellency, how 'bout selling that $3,000+ grandfather clock in the background or that $600 custom made chair your sitting in? Maybe then you'd have money to complete the seminary chapel.

Marlelar · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:22:46 PM »

How many seminarians are there?

Ekim · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:30:12 PM »

Video says they are looking to house 100 seminarians. I'm guessing you would need to add another dozen or two for professors and support staff.

saintalice · « **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:31:49 PM »

And the faithful will never know how much money the US District has or does not have because they do not release annual financial statements. Legally they do not have to as they are a "church" but ethically they should, just like all other diocese/archdiocese in the USA. If the SSPX wants to be part of the modern church (and they certainly do) then they will have to submit financial reports to the public. So why not start now Fr. Wegner?

I say not another dime goes to the SSPX for any project until they release a financial report. Not another dime. The faithful should demand this.

Ekim · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:40:12 PM »

To put my previous comment in perspective, in 2000 the folks in VA Beach GAVE the SSPX 4+ acres of land that they paid for in full, almost $300,000, with the understanding that the SSPX would help them then build their Chapel. Once the deal was finished the SSPX then turned around and said, "Now, raise 1/2 of the cost of construction and we will "Finance" the other half, and oh, by the way, we will own it all."

Till this day, they still have not built on their land. Many of the diehards from the 70cs and 80cs are dead and the not so diehards have lost faith and trust in the SSPX and have moved to the new ans relatively beautiful St. Benedict's (FSSP) in Chesapeake VA.

Matthew · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:50:38 PM »

Quote from: Ekim

To put my previous comment in perspective, in 2000 the folks in VA Beach GAVE the SSPX 4+ acres of land that they paid for in full, almost $300,000, with the understanding that the SSPX would help them then build their Chapel. Once the deal was finished the SSPX then turned around and said, "Now, raise 1/2 of the cost of construction and we will "Finance" the other half, and oh, by the way, we will own it all."

Till this day, they still have not built on their land. Many of the diehards from the 70cs and 80cs are dead and the not so diehards have lost faith and trust in the SSPX and have moved to the new ans relatively beautiful St. Benedict's (FSSP) in Chesapeake VA.

This is what I'm talking about.

Something is wrong; something is lacking in their missionary zeal. They seem to lack the positive, building, growing, can-do spirit that they used to have.

I used to really believe in the SSPX. Now it would be impossible to do so, without serious head trauma and/or brain damage. Seriously, the question would be HOW MUCH of my brain would have to be disabled for me to be able to be sanguine and content about the SSPX today?

If they truly cared about souls, they would want to BUILD UP as many locations as possible. And it's a fact that locations without a permanent location don't grow. There's a location north of us, Austin TX, which has been meeting in a hotel for YEARS. They have dozens of parishioners, and many of them put money in the collection during Mass, which they have twice a month. Still no growth; still no chapel.

The top picture is from First Communions in Austin TX last month.
The bottom picture is from First Communions at St. Dominics (the chapel here at CathInfo HQ).

The top chapel has tens (hundreds?) of thousands of dollars in assets, as well as 15 or 20 years of regular bi-weekly Masses.
The bottom chapel, less than 2 years old but really got started only 7 months ago, thinks it won the lottery when it gets a $10 bill in the "building fund donation can".

You be the judge.

saintalice · « **Reply #10 on:** May 06, 2015, 04:52:08 PM »

Quote from: Ekim

To put my previous comment in perspective, in 2000 the folks in VA Beach GAVE the SSPX 4+ acres of land that they paid for in full, almost $300,000, with the understanding that the SSPX would help them then build their Chapel. Once the deal was finished the SSPX then turned around and said, "Now, raise 1/2 of the cost of construction and we will "Finance" the other half, and oh, by the way, we will own it all."

Till this day, they still have not built on their land. Many of the diehards from the 70cs and 80cs are dead and the not so diehards have lost faith and trust in the SSPX and have moved to the new ans relatively beautiful St. Benedict's (FSSP) in Chesapeake VA.

This is just not right. The SSPX needs to be financially accountable to the faithful. The faithful have got to demand accountability from the SSPX or they will never give it. This has been going on way too long. How much money do they have? How are they spending it? Where are they spending it? etc. etc. The faithful deserve nothing less. If the SSPX is on the up and up then they won't mind showing us the "Money trail."

Matthew · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2015, 05:06:13 PM »

Here are the pics:

(Pay special attention to the altar of each.)

The bottom two are of St. Dominic's chapel, which is dirt poor and brand-new.

Matthew · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2015, 05:09:30 PM »

My point is that a layman of VERY modest means, together with a very small group of mostly poor parishioners (our chapel's main wealth is CHILDREN), is able to put together a better chapel in 6 months than the facilities used by a well-established, well-funded group in Austin, TX.

Something's wrong with this picture.

Ekim · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2015, 05:11:19 PM »

It gets better (or worse). The property that they purchased had a rancher styled house on it. It had multiple bedrooms. The idea when the purchase was made was that this would house the visiting priest. The attached garage would serve as a Chapel. They actually did have Mass in the makeshift Chapel at least once by a visiting priest from O.L. Fatima in Richmond. Not too long after, the SSPX decided the house wasn't quite good enough, or worth renovating, even though a parishioner was a licensed contractor and agreed to renovate for free provided parishioners provided free labor and materials. They gladly volunteered. Instead, the Society donated the house to the local fire department. They torched it as part of a training exercise.

After a few years, 2003, property values sky rocketed. Some realtor estimated that the property value was now worth triple, that's right, almost a million dollars. So now the SSPX has 4+ acres of prime real estate, on a major thoroughfare in VA Beach, incredible location to build a Chapel to honor Christ the King for all tourists and military to see, and what does the Society do? They put the land up for sale and say with the profit we make from the sale we can purchase something else, somewhere else.

12 years later....Nada! Still meeting in a hotel.

covet truth · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2015, 06:38:43 PM »

Quote from: Ekim

It gets better (or worse). The property that they purchased had a rancher styled house on it. It had multiple bedrooms. The idea when the purchase was made was that this would house the visiting priest. The attached garage would serve as a Chapel. They actually did have Mass in the makeshift Chapel at least once by a visiting priest from O.L. Fatima in Richmond. Not too long after, the SSPX decided the house wasn't quite good enough, or worth renovating, even though a parishioner was a licensed contractor and agreed to renovate for free provided parishioners provided free labor and materials. They gladly volunteered. Instead, the Society donated the house to the local fire department. They torched it as part of a training exercise.

After a few years, 2003, property values sky rocketed. Some realtor estimated that the property value was now worth triple, that's right, almost a million dollars. So now the SSPX has 4+ acres of prime real estate, on a major thoroughfare in VA Beach, incredible location to build a Chapel to honor Christ the King for all tourists and military to see, and what does the Society do? They put the land up for sale and say with the profit we make from the sale we can purchase something else, somewhere else.

12 years later....Nada! Still meeting in a hotel.

I am so sorry for your group there. This borders on criminal in my opinion. It's what they do even to established chapels. Be very cautious about leaving them money in your will, and forget about leaving it for a specified purpose. The chances of your own chapel getting the use of it is about nil.