Catholic school for priests expanding in Boynton Beach to meet growing demand
Monday, October 28 2013, 10:12 AM EDT
Story by Lois K. Solomon / Sun Sentinel
Posted by Scott T. Smith / CBS12 News
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- A surge of men choosing the Catholic priesthood has prompted a Boynton Beach seminary to begin a $7 million expansion project, including two new dormitories for 106 future priests.
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary's student body has grown from 55 five years ago to 85 this year, said the Rev. David Toups, the seminary's rector and president. In three years, Toups expects 110 students, the largest group in the seminary's 50-year history.
"Within an eight-year span, we will have doubled in size," Toups said. "This is something not only we're experiencing, it's going on all across the country."
St. Vincent de Paul offers five years of graduate seminary for future Florida priests, as well as some out-of-state seminarians who need bilingual education. About 40 percent of students are native Spanish speakers; all learn to lead Mass in Spanish.
http://www.cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_10929.shtml
http://www.svdp.edu/portal/
This is a far better approach than the high school, or minor, "seminaries" of yore.
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)rug
(82,333 posts)Haven't seen you in a few days. All well?
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)I got too involved in other matters and not to my improvement either, the reason for my absence. Now I'm about to take off on a short trip with a friend who's almost 80 and can't drive anymore. Her mother lives almost 200 miles away and is not well, though. Thank goodness for her van and a good situation for my dogs or I wouldn't have been able to drive for her.
I can see from the thread list that I've missed a lot. Trying to go through everything briefly at least tonight, as we expect to leave tomorrow morning and I won't be able to hang out on DU for a while.
rug
(82,333 posts)I hope some day I get to drive an 80 year old to visit her mother 200 miles away. It's the basis for a short film.
Enjoy!
No Vested Interest
(5,157 posts)of relaxing thrown in.
A change of scenery is good every now & then.
goldent
(1,582 posts)I don't know why this is happening. I'm wondering if the scandals in the Church has, in some odd way, spurred it.