Passionist Seminarians in the Sixties: Radical or
Status Quo?
The Student Council of Holy Family Seminary West Hartford, CT
by Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D.
Throughout the 20th century Passionist seminary life has changed dramatically. Semi-isolation of a pre-World War II culture gave way to a kind of post-Vatican II participatory experience by the late 1960s. Study of the minutes of The Student Council at Holy Family Monastery is a reminder to Passionists and the general public that each era of religious formation was unique and remains so even today. Greater scrutiny and understanding is necessary to ascertain how these various modes have influenced present day decision-making and religious values in the Passionist Congregation.
Morgan P. Hanlon, C.P., Editor
On February 17, 1967 Passionist Prep seminarian Richard McLaughlin called to order the first regular weekly meeting of the Student Council of Holy Family Seminary, West Hartford, CT. In operation till the Seminary closed in May, 1968, the Council was quasi-independent: only seminarians could attend. However, some Council actions needed permission of Fr. Austin McKenna, C.P., the Director of Students or, quite possibly, Fr. Gregory Flynn, C.P., Rector of Holy Family Monastery.
Having elected a president and representing a student body of no more than forty students, The Seminary Council combined the aggiornamento of the Second Vatican and the student movement of the 1960s. The Council represented a new dimension of religious education whereby freedom of expression and individual or group activity linked to create a seminary culture. On May 9, 1967 Jeffrey Burns was elected the second president. On November 28, 1967 Harry Bittner was elected the third, and on March 2, 1968 Thomas Stanton was elected the fourth president.
Opened September 1963 for education of east coast Passionists, the Seminary Bulletin (1967-1968) stated the seminary moved to West Hartford because "the steady increase of vocations was proving too great for the facilities" of Holy Cross Seminary in Dunkirk, NY. To facilitate the move a new seminary building was constructed at Holy Family adding to the pre-existing monastery and retreat house complex. The new seminary building, advertised the Bulletin, had private rooms, "library with space for 25,000 volumes, classrooms, a well-equipped laboratory, three Mass chapels, offices, reception rooms, a large recreation room and other facilities. It provides a tranquil atmosphere for study and environment in which the student can develop spiritually and intellectually for his future role as a Passionist priest." In addition, "association of the seminary with the monastery and retreat house also gives the students the opportunity to observe at close range the form of monastic life and active works of the priesthood for which they are preparing. Registration $15.00; Tuition (per year) $500.00; Laboratory fee $5.00; Athletic fee $5.00; Graduation fee $5.00." Accredited as a junior college by the Commission for Higher Education of the State of Connecticut, Holy Family granted an Associate of Arts degree.
Feed