06/09/2020
This year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Sacred Heart Seminary, the first school specifically for African-American men who wished to study for the priesthood.
Editor and Divine Word Father Jim Pawlicki of the Southern Province writes:
"In this issue we remember the founding of the seminary 100 years ago in Greenville, Mississippi by the Divine Word Missionaries.
Despite racism within the Church to a seminary for African Americans these German missionaries were determined to ordain African American men. They did so with determination and the support of Rome.
There is also a link on page 4 to the first hand account of those days by Father Matthew Christmann, SVD. He was the guiding force behind the seminary. An interesting read from a primary source. The seminary grew and would move to Bay Saint Louis, MS in 1923."
For more information, please check out the latest issue of IN A WORD by clicking http://www.inaword.com/assets/09_2020.pdf.