SW News: A historic seminary in Chicago, USA, that trains Americans from dioceses across the country for the priesthood is celebrating its centenary. On Sunday, October 17, Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, and Cardinal Blase Joseph Cupich, who is the Archbishop of Chicago, celebrated Holy Mass at the University of St Mary of the Lake which is also known as Mundelein Seminary. It was followed by a tour of the campus and talks about the history of the school.
The University was established in 1844 by Cardinal George William Mundelein. Around 116 seminarians from 24 dioceses are presently studying for the priesthood in this institution.
On the occasion, Cardinal Gregory said that he interacted with the priests and faculty members who knew Cardinal Mundelein while he was a student there. The founder of the seminary passed away in 1939 after being the Archbishop of Chicago for 23 years. In his homily, the prelate said, "he was a man who exuded confidence." Cardinal Gregory graduated from Mundelein and was ordained as the priest of the Chicago Archdiocese in 1973.
Cardinal Mundelein was sent to a frontier diocese in early 1916, where the population included migrants from Ireland, Poland, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, and other European countries. At that time, they brought their own priests and religious orders of men and women. Archbishop Gregory said that Cardinal Mundelein had to form an American clergy. "Even one who spoke a variety of languages. Mundelein Seminary was his answer and his dream of creating a united presbyterate. Mundelein Seminary would remind seminarians and visitors that this was an American institution, and it was to create servant leaders." said the prelate.
Cardinal Cupich read out a congratulatory note in which Pope Francis described the university as "unique architecture, so expressive of the American spirit."