With the closing of the seminary, the administration of the facility is now handled by the Diocese of Fargo (see contact information).
Bishop Aquila with the newly ordained
Fr. Markman (left) and Fr. Pfeifer.
Four alumni of Cardinal Muench Seminary were ordained priests during the summer of 2011. On June 4, Fr. Zachary Peterson was ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, Minnesota. He graduated from Cardinal Muench Seminary’s Pre-Theology program in May of 2006. The other three men graduated from CMS in 2007. Fr. William Ruelle, from the Diocese of Bismarck, was ordained on June 29, the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. Fr. Chris Markman and Fr. Neil Pfeifer were ordained for the Diocese of Fargo on July 1, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
With these ordinations, the number of CMS alumni who have been ordained priests is 114. Ten CMS alumni are still studying in major seminary and should be ordained over the course of the next few years.
On May 26, 2011, the Feast of St. Philip Neri, Bishop Samuel Aquila celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving to recognize the 49 years of priestly formation at Cardinal Muench Seminary and mark its closure. In his homily, Bishop Aquila said the seminary “fulfilled the dream of Cardinal Muench and it served well in its time in history.” He added that the priests and people of the diocese will continue to lift their hearts “in gratitude to God for the priests He has formed in this seminary.”
Those who attended the event included current and former rectors, staff and faculty. Also present were about one quarter of the seminary alumni who have been ordained and are active as priests; they represented the dioceses of Fargo, Bismarck and Crookston. A reception was held after Mass.
Bishop Aquila and rectors, with staff, faculty and alumni
priests at the beginning of the Mass of Thanksgiving.
Among the former teachers who
were present, were Sisters
of the Presentation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
From left to right: Larry Zilgitt (teacher),
Fr. Duaine Cote
(vocations and spiritual
director), Nathan Haich (maintenance),
Jennifer, his wife (administrative
assistant), and Fr. Leo Stelten (classics).
On April 8, 2010, Bishop Aquila announced that the program of priestly formation at Cardinal Muench Seminary will end (full statement). After 49 years of forming young men to be priests, Cardinal Muench Seminary closed it doors on Friday, May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
In the fall of 1962 42 High School students entered Cardinal Muench Minor Seminary, a remodeled building once devasted by a tornado. In 1996 a new facility was built to accomodate the increasing number of seminarians. Over the years over 920 men passed through its doors, 364 graduated from one of its programs and 106 were eventually ordained priests. As of the spring 2011, 21 alumni were still in formation, and may eventually become priests (more CMS history).
Paul Denning, Gordon Kuklok and John Martineau
entering the original CMS building in 1963.
Lee Fortin was the last seminarians to leave CMS.
God arranged that it rain on this sad day.
In the last issue of The Cardinal Spirit, the seminary’s newsletter, as the fruit of prayerful reflection, Msgr. Schlesselmann, the seminary’s final rector, suggested that the seminary’s closing be seen in terms of a Sabbath rest.
Lee Fortin
Steven Wirth
On Thursday, May 12, two men were honored for their completion of Cardinal Muench Seminary’s college program of priestly formation. The Most Reverend Samuel Aquila, bishop of the Diocese of Fargo, celebrated Mass in the seminary chapel during which certificates were awarded to the seminarians. He was joined by the Vocation Directors of the Dioceses of Fargo and Sioux Falls, as well as seminary and guest priests.
The two graduates, each studying for a different diocese, were joined by family and friends. Lee Fortin, from Lake Norden, South Dakota, is a seminarian of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Steven Wirth, from Munich, North Dakota, is a seminarian of the Diocese of Fargo.
After the celebration of Mass, a banquet was held. After the meal awards were given, and Bishop Aquila spoke and imparted his episcopal blessing.
The evening was bitter-sweet. There was much joy in celebrating what the Lord had accomplished in the lives of these two men during their formation at CMS. At the same, with the closure of the seminary, they are the last two men to graduate.
On May 3, 2011, the Feast of St. Philip and St. James, Bishop Aquila published a Pastoral Letter entitled Bearing the Mission of Christ to our Transforming Communities (full text). In it he announced his decisions about parishes in Fargo and the future of the Cardinal Muench Seminary facility. He wrote:
“I have decided that the Cardinal Muench Seminary buildings and land will be sold. ... Proceeds from the sale will be used for clergy and seminarian education needs, consistent with the intent of the donors who have supported Cardinal Muench Seminary through the years and with the need for sacramental ministry.”
He also said that the theological and philosophical sections of the seminary’s library will be kept by the diocese and relocated.
Thank you to all our benefactors and supporters for your faithful years of support. Pray that young men continue to respond to the Lord’s call to be molded as “shepherds after my own heart” (Jer. 3:15). Please continue your financial support of the seminarians of the Diocese of Fargo (learn more).