A Time of Transition

Dear Alumni and Friends:

In the Spring 2023 issue of The Crossroads, we celebrate those who will be ordained to the priesthood, those who will move on to new seminaries, and those who will retire and embrace a new assignment in Sulpician ministry.

Our deacons have been preparing themselves over these last four or five years for ordination to the priesthood. Through prayer, study, and hard work, they have followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them to this moment of priestly ordination. As you read their testimonies of gratitude, you will be uplifted by their willingness and readiness to go out into the world and preach the Good News of Christ. And our disciplined Basselin scholars have met the rigorous demands necessary for their philosophical degrees, in preparation for the transition to seminaries where they will begin theological studies.

Father Jim Froehlich, O.F.M. Cap, who has served the Theological College Community for 13 years, decided to retire at the end of this academic year. Father Jim has been a great blessing to us, sharing his joy and sense of humor. His expertise in the area of counseling has greatly contributed to his formation work as an advisor and spiritual director. Father Jim will remain active in retirement, and has plans for a much-deserved sabbatical. As for me, I will be transitioning to a new Sulpician ministry as Director of Homiletics at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, for the fall 2023 semester.  This position became available at the time I completed my Doctorate in Ministry in Preaching in January. There is a need for a homiletics director at St. Mary’s, as they have recently been awarded a Lilly Endowment for work in homiletics with seminarians and clergy formation. All this coming together for me is providential.  This will allow me to teach, give retreats, and do writing and research in the area of homiletics that I would not be able to do as rector. I have been at Theological college for eight years. This is where my Sulpician ministry began and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in all my roles — formation advisor, associate director of intellectual formation, director of Basselin scholars, vice-rector, and rector — with all their challenges. My priesthood has been greatly enriched and I will be forever grateful for that. 

In the TC refectory there is an original serigraph from the famous pop artist, Corita Kent, titled, Shalom. The words on the serigraph are “Work,” “Power,” “Peace,” and “Cor,” and the Hebrew letters for “Shalom” are prominent. It offers encouragement for all those moving into a time of transition. Work thrives on the power of the Spirit which brings peace to the heart in the mission and evangelization of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that our work gives us the power, the effective agency,  to evangelize so as to communicate the peace Christ offers us all, which is at the heart of our faith. I leave you with some advice from Corita Kent: “Always be ready to see what you haven’t seen before. It’s a kind of looking where you don’t know what you are looking for.”

Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!

May God be Praised,

Rev. Dominic Ciriaco, P.S.S.

Rector