Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was able to spend time with seminarians of the Diocese who are attending St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., when he took part in a Mass and Rector’s Dinner Nov. 30. Accepting an invitation from Bishop Timothy Senior, seminary rector, Bishop O’Connell served as principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass, which was attended by scores of representatives of the seminary community.
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Bishop O’Connell explained to The Monitor that Bishop Senior and the seminary faculty invite bishops who send seminarians to St. Charles Borromeo to celebrate Mass and attend the dinner that follows. The Diocese of Trenton currently has seven men studying at the Philadelphia-based seminary, as well as Father Joel Wilson, a priest of the Diocese, who serves on the seminary faculty.
“As a Philadelphian myself, I have great affection for St. Charles Borromeo Seminary,” reflected Bishop O’Connell. Recalling his own long history with the seminary, he said, “The Archdiocese hosted picnics for parish altar boys there every year when I was growing up. I almost enrolled as a seminarian there until I met the Vincentian Fathers in Princeton and decided to attend their seminary. I am currently on the SCBS Board of Trustees,” Bishop O’Connell said.
He continued, “Our seminarians are doing very well at SCBS. I am impressed by the philosophical, theological and pastoral education and the priestly formation they receive. SCBS provides the best overall evaluations of seminarians and is very attentive to the needs of the students and the Diocese. It is close enough to the Diocese that the seminarians can easily come home and participate in diocesan functions. I was happy this year that I could assign a fine young priest there, Father Joel Wilson, to serve as a professor, formation advisor and role model.”