Seminary life in a pandemic : How Sacred Heart is approaching an unprecedented year
Staff Writer
The differences are profound , but Sacred Heart Major Seminary ’ s mission is the same : form men for the priesthood and prepare all of its students , laity and clergy , to be ambassadors for the New Evangelization . In a world where face masks , social distancing , online learning , and virtual events have become the norm , the Detroit seminary is forging ahead , educating and forming the next generation of priests and evangelists .
Vice rector Father Stephen Burr said this year ’ s 114 seminarians , representing sixteen dioceses and religious communities , are seeing changes to classrooms , liturgical schedules , and safety protocols , but the seminary still intends to provide the full formation experience .
“ We are trying to keep the two major schools , the graduate school and undergraduate school , separate throughout the year , shifting our liturgical schedule , and creating
separation between the two houses of men ,” Father Burr , who also serves as dean of seminary formation , told Detroit Catholic . “ We ’ re following the same protocols the archdiocese has given about the amount of people allowed in a chapel , making sure people are spaced out .”
Father Burr said the seminary ’ s chapel is technically big enough to accommodate everyone , but for safety ’ s sake , chapel time is being split up .
In addition to the seminarians , who live in dorms on campus , Sacred Heart Major Seminary hosts 292 commuter students as part of its lay formation program , which has a different schedule as officials work to keep the two sets of students apart .
“ We have a few rooms set aside for use by our lay commuters ,” said Matthew Gerlach , Ph . D ., dean of the Institute for Lay Ministry and associate professor of theology . “ Commuter students can still get meals in the cafeteria at special
times reserved for them , bringing their food into the Bishop Gallagher Parlor . We have other larger rooms , such as the Ward Library and the Cardinal Szoka Library , where tables are spaced out for students to socialize and study .”
Besides changes to the classrooms , which include plexiglass dividers to keep lecturers and professors separated from students as well as physical distancing between students , Sacred Heart also is closely considering other elements of the formation experience , such as the movements of transitional deacons to or from assignments or bringing in guests speakers on different topics related to priestly ministry .
Transitional deacons “ will still go out and do ministry on a regular basis ,” Father Burr said , “ but we ’ ve limited them to going out once and then coming back , instead of spending the night at the parish . We still want them at the parish , but we want them to stay in one residence throughout the semester .”
28 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Fall 2020 / Winter 2021