On Oct. 2, 1915, Bishop John William Shaw, fourth bishop of San Antonio, dedicated the new St. John Seminary. It started with 17 students, of which 6 were ordained priests. In 1952, Archbishop Robert E. Lucey opened the new campus of the seminary, naming it Assumption Seminary, honoring the newly declared dogma of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary on Nov. 1, 1950.
    In a letter announcing his intention to open the seminary, Bishop Shaw wrote these prophetic words: “We are convinced that such an institution in the diocese will increase the number of vocations and at the same time give us a more accurate knowledge of the fitness of the young men who aspire to the priesthood.”
     Throughout the years, hundreds of students have passed through the seminary of the archdiocese. Through their intense preparation in the faith and in the love of God, their lives and the lives of those they have served have been changed.

     Later on this month, 62 seminarians will continue their priestly formation and will once more remind us of all the students who have studied both in St. John and Assumption.
    This group of candidates to the priesthood, of which 13 are preparing to serve in the Archdiocese of San Antonio and 49 in other 17 dioceses — mostly in Texas — will return to their studies and the community life of the seminary.
    They form a special group, bringing an unusual enthusiasm, not commonly seen in people their age, because they represent the future of the church in our diocese, and in a certain way, in the whole world.

    We are members of the church, and as the Second Vatican Council explains, we all share the same dignity of baptism, and we all have the same call to holiness. However, our church is apostolic — as we pray in the creed — and this means by its own nature, the church depends on the ministry of the successors of the apostles, the bishops, who assisted by the priests continue the ministry that Christ entrusted to the apostles: to preach the word and administer the sacraments. For this reason, the church needs many and holy priests.

    As archbishop, I am happy to see these men respond to the call to the priesthood, and am pleased that the archdiocese can offer such a rich treasure as Assumption Seminary to help them on their journey toward ordination. However, we still need many more priestly vocations to respond to the needs and demands of the growing number of Catholics and the constant expansion of our archdiocese.
    Saint Philip Neri used to say that each Christian should have his or her own priest: this should be, in the eyes of God — the saint believed — the proportion between priests and lay faithful. Why are there not enough priests? Is it that God has forgotten his church and for this reason is not sending all the workers she needs? Certainly not!
    The answer is more simple, and at the same time, more demanding. If there is a shortage of priests it may be because we can still be more generous in doing what Jesus told us: “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt 9:38) Do we ask enough in our personal prayers, in our families, in our parishes and communities for vocations to the priesthood?

    As we reflect on our priest shortage, we must ask the question, “Is there lack of vocations to the priesthood?” Men are still being called as they have been in the past. What we lack are young men with the courage to respond to this vocation, to this personal calling from God.
    For this reason I want to encourage the young men who discover in the depth of their souls the possibility of a calling, to listen to God’s voice without fear. God never disappoints us. I also ask parents, relatives and friends to encourage the young men who have questions about their vocation. Let us not forget that our support can be critical to affecting their positive response in the priesthood. Let us pray together — priests, deacons, parents and friends, so that the Lord, the Master of the harvest, may send us more and better laborers to the harvest.

    I pray and hope that this celebration of the 90th anniversary of the seminary may see the success of the fund-raising campaign for the seminary expansion. Once completed, Assumption Seminary will house more than 100 seminarians. God has blessed us abundantly with this seminary and I am sure that, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Mother of Jesus and of priests, he will continue to bless us with many more very holy priests!