SEMINARIAN FORMATION
Fr . Charles Fox begins New Chapter as Vice-Rector , Dean of Formation
As Fr . Stephen Burr is installed as Rector , Fr . Fox succeeds him as Vice-Rector and Dean of Formation for Sacred Heart ’ s 102nd year
After years of service as Director of Graduate Seminarians and Director of Liturgy , Fr . Charles Fox begins the 2021 – 2022 academic year as Sacred Heart ’ s Vice-Rector and Dean of Formation .
Fr . Fox ’ s predecessor , Fr . Stephen Burr , was installed as Rector in September of this year , and provides inspiration for Fr . Fox as he takes on this new position .
“ Fortunately ,” says Fr . Fox , “ Fr . Burr ’ s living example will be present with us in his service as Rector . No Vice-Rector in my memory has had his predecessor present at the seminary as he served in this position . So , I will be uniquely blessed and challenged by Fr . Burr ’ s example . Just one quality I would point to is Fr . Burr ’ s love for the individual seminarians . He has been not merely a leader and father to the community , but to each man in the community . I would like to imitate him in that care for individuals , especially .”
Fr . Fox attended Sacred Heart while Archbishop Vigneron was rector , which he credits as a strong model for his methods of leadership . Much of his approach to leadership has also stemmed from years of Boy Scout training and the example of his own father , as well as previous leadership positions held as both a priest and a seminarian .
“ The most important thing ,” he says , “ is to strive to be a good shepherd after the Heart of the Good Shepherd , Jesus Christ .”
This Sacred Heart of Jesus is especially important to Fr . Fox , as his goal as Vice- Rector is to instill in each seminarian an ardent devotion to “ the nexus of all the virtues and qualities we need in order to be holy , loving , and effective priests .” His hope is that , as this devotion is more fully expressed through Holy Hours and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass , seminarians may form Christ-like hearts of their own with which to serve the faithful .
His individual meetings with seminarians to further their formation has been a treasured part of his ministry at Sacred Heart so far , a goal he continues to work toward as Dean of Formation .
“ Much of priestly formation is timeless ,” he says . “ Yet the challenges we face today , in both the Church and the culture , are of such significance that I hope to be able to help our seminarians navigate this time we are living in as disciples and as pastors of souls .”
As he continues this mission , Fr . Fox reflects on the unique role at Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ as “ the answer to which every human life is the question .” In his new role , he hopes to reaffirm to the students and seminarians who enter Sacred Heart ’ s doors that , here , they can discover their identity , their mission , and their destiny in Christ .
“ Sacred Heart exists to help people meet Christ , to mature in faith , and to make disciples ,” Fr . Fox says . “ We are formed as disciples and also as priests , deacons , and lay ministers . We grow in our appreciation and understanding of the true , the good , and the beautiful . We learn to proclaim Christ crucified and risen , and our own call to eternal life with Christ , to a world that often fails to look beyond the nearest phone or computer screen . We learn to share Christ in word and sacrament with a starving world that often does not even know its own hunger . We learn to trust Jesus in all things and to help all people to surrender their lives to him who is life itself .”
18 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Fall 2021