Forming men of God
Like most U . S . seminaries , Sacred Heart forms priests in the human , spiritual , intellectual , and pastoral traditions of the church . It ’ s not just about knowing the material or being well-rounded , but truly living as men of God , Fr . Burr said .
“ We want to instill virtue in the men ,” Fr . Burr said . “ We want them to be healthy men , men of prayer who are not only establishing a relationship with God that ’ s rooted in their life but that they know how to live with him .”
In order to do that , spending time as a community of faith is essential , he said .
One tradition Msgr . Lajiness implemented was regular “ family dinners ,” in which seminarians and faculty share meals together on a regular basis , Fr . Burr said .
“ Msgr . Lajiness has been a really caring father for the seminary . He ’ s been generous with his time and leadership , and I definitely want to model that ,” Fr . Burr said . “ It ’ s been a great experience to bring the men together like that . I wouldn ’ t dare to lose that . We ’ re better for it .”
Not only do friendships develop while living , learning , and praying together daily , Fr . Burr said , but the seminarians can foster a sense of shared mission through experiences such as the seminary ’ s annual trip to Washington , D . C ., for the March for Life , Spanishlanguage immersion programs in Latin America , and pilgrimage opportunities to the Holy Land and various shrines and Catholic sites .
“ As humans , we ’ re communal people ,” Fr . Burr added . “ We need that support and friendship . And all of the men here have the opportunity to develop with their brothers rich and God-focused friendships .”
Learning to trust the Lord
Fr . Burr has experience in parish ministry — he also was pastor of Presentation Our Lady of Victory Parish in Detroit from 2017 until this year — but something about seminary life is special , he said .
Along with being good mentors and models of prayer for the seminarians , every priest who serves as a formator at Sacred Heart has a sacred responsibility , according to Fr . Burr .
“ Our job is to care for ( the seminarians ), to love them and to be priests for them ,” Fr . Burr said . “ If we can be an image of God the Father for them , then we ’ re doing our work as formators .”
Fr . Burr said he and his fellow priests and formators — including Fr . Charles Fox , Sacred Heart ’ s new vice-rector and dean of seminarian formation — will make it a point to spend face time getting to know students , living , and teaching alongside them , creating a holy environment where faith and trust can flourish .
“ The men know that we ’ re around . We spend time with them in the regular routine of our day in our prayer , in the classroom , in formation sessions , and all of these moments . And we ’ re happy to be
with them because we want good , happy , healthy , holy priests for the church ,” Fr . Burr said .
In his prior roles , Fr . Burr served as a mentor to undergraduate seminarians , so he knows firsthand how crucial first impressions can be for a young man entering the seminary for the first time .
The most important thing is to understand that God is trustworthy , Fr . Burr said . And it ’ s up to the seminary to reinforce that .
“ The first thing a new seminarian can learn is that if they ’ ve heard a call to the priesthood , even faint , it ’ s worth exploring ,” Fr . Burr said . “ That ’ s the biggest hurdle . When you first hear a call from God , it can seem strange , but you can always trust God .”
Regardless of whether a seminarian leaves as a priest , Fr . Burr said no time spent within Sacred Heart ’ s walls is wasted time .
“ If you come to the seminary and discern God ’ s will for you , it will change your life ,” Fr . Burr said . “ Maybe you ’ ll be a great priest , or maybe you ’ ll be a great husband and father . Either way , it will be a time where you get to dedicate your life in a way that you wouldn ’ t be able to do otherwise .”
26 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Fall 2021