Updated fixtures, new carpets, and a fresh coat of paint will give priests of the future a chance to dive deep into their faith while staying close to home.
“So we’ve decided that we’re going to have that first year of seminary take place right here in Scranton,” said Roche. “So all of our men who enter seminary are going to begin right here, get to know the people, get to know the parishes, and just get started off that way.”
Father Alex Roche was recently appointed to oversee the new Saint Pius X Seminary, which will focus on the “propaedeutic year,” or first stage of becoming a priest.
The practice is relatively new in the United States but has been used for years in other countries to help recruit future priests.
“You kind of watch things take shape, and it goes from just this theory, this idea, to something you can actually see playing out, which is pretty cool,” said Roche.
Inside, renovations have brought the building up to date. Outside, Bishop Joseph Bambera talked about the excitement surrounding the project.
“Admittedly, yes, we have had to respond to a lot of changes, but this is one change that’s really a positive thing, reflecting a great deal of growth and, more importantly, underlying that sense of growth, a deepening commitment to faith and the place of God in the lives of young men who are coming into our seminary and all the people of God,” said Bambera.
“You know, I’ve been a priest for 14 years. I’ve gotten to know the people in a lot of different parishes and develop some awesome and great relationships. So I really look forward to the guys being able to do that from day one,” said Roche.
The renovations are scheduled to wrap up around the end of July, with the first seminary class starting in August.