Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame, Indiana FAaS ABOUT THE HOLY CROSS FATHERSi The Congregation of Holy Cross was formally approved by the Pope in 1857, twenty years after its founding in France by Father Basil Moreau^ C.S.C.2 It is now active throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in France, Italy, Pakis- tan, Chile, Brazil and Haiti. The principal works of the Congrega- tion are : teaching in universities, colleges, and high schools; preaching missions, re- treats, novenas, etc.; home missions in Texas; foreign missions in Bengal, Pakis- tan, and South America; parish work; writing — books, magazines, pamphlets, articles, etc. The schools manned by the Holy Cross Fathers are the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; the University of Portland and Columbia Preparatory, Port- land, Oregon; King’s College, Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania; Stonehill College, North Easton, Massachusetts; St. George’s College, Santiago, Chile; St. Gregory’s College, Dacca, Bengal, East Pakistan. 1 This Leaflet is intended to give essential facts about admission to Holy Cross Seminary. If you do not already have our larger free catalogue, **Boys Today- Priests Tomorrow,” write for it. 2 The letters “C.S.C.” after the name of a Holy Cross priest or Brother stand for “The Congregation of Holy Cross—Congregatio a 5'ancta Cruce.” [ 3 ] HOLY CROSS SEMINARY Holy Cross Seminary, Notre Dame, In- diana, accepts qualified candidates any time after eighth grade. A lack of Latin does not bar high school and college applicants. * After completing the course of studies in Holy Cross Seminary, the seminarian spends a year of intensive spiritual train- ing at Sacred Heart Novitiate, South Bend, Indiana; then follow the completion of the candidate’s university education at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, and four years of Sacred Theology at Holy Cross College, the Catholic University, Wash- ington, D. C.2 REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO HOLY CROSS SEMINARY Interview: If possible a candidate should visit the Seminary or a house of the Congregation have a t;ilk with the Director of Vocations or any other Holy Cross priest. Much satisfaction is ob- tained from such an interview and 1 High school graduates in the East ordinarily enter the Seminary of Our Lady of Holy Cross, North Easton, Massachusetts. For full information, require- ments, etc., they should write to the Director of Vocations at that address. 2 Occasionally candidates are sent to Rome for Phi* losophy and Theology. [ 4 ] many questions may be adequately an swered. Age: Those who have completed the eighth grade are eligible. Moreover, stu- dents are accepted at any level of high school and college. Scholastic: An average of approximatelv 80% (between B and C) is ordinarly required where the passing grade is 70%. Exceptions can be made only by the Seminary Council. Health: Good health is necessary. A phy- sical examination report by the candi- date’s family doctor is one of the required documents. Character: The solid, manly piety and goodness of the ordinary, rightly-living young man is required. A sense of humor, a love of family, fun, sports, are signs of a normal American Catho- lic —the kind who will make the best priest. But there must also be a serious- ness of purpose, an excellence of char- acter, commensurate with the great am- bition to become “another Christ.” Courage and a spirit of sacrifice are re- quired both in the Seminary and later in the Priesthood. DOCUMENTS The following documents should be sent to the Director of Vocations as far in advance of entry as possible (several weeks, or even months, at least) : Application blank filled out and signed. Certificate of Birth. Certificate of Baptism. Certificate of Confirmation. Certificate of parents’ Marriage (an of* ficial copy of the Church record, not the license) . A letter of recommendation from the pastor. Certificate of good health—statement of an examination signed by a physician, and one signed by a dentist certifying that dental work is not needed, or if needed, has been completed. Eyes must be cared for before entrance and fitted with glasses if necessary. A grade-school student should send his latest report card; a high-school student or graduate should ask his high school to forward a complete record of his credits; a college student or graduate should have forwarded his college credits. (These documents may be sent in as they are gathered—they need not be sent all at once. Photostats may be sent if the candidate wishes to retain the original documents. ) Address all documents and all matters referring to vocation to: The Director of Vocations Holy Cross Seminary Notre Dame, Indiana After a candidate has entered, pay- ments for board, room, tuition, etc., and all other correspondence may be sent to the Reverend Superior at the same ad- dress. FINANCES* We never have refused and never shall refuse a candidate because of inability to pay for board and tuition. In Holy Cross there is no distinction between the candi- date whose parents are paying in full and the one whose parents can afford only part or none at all. The regular rate for board and room is $30.00 per month and for tui- tion $10.00 per month. ($360 for the school year of 9 months). Of this we ask parents to contribute as much as they honestly feel they can afford and in any way which is convenient for them. What- ever they decide upon — and we’d like them to let us know— will be perfectly satisfactory to us, and they must feel free, if necessary, to adjust the amount later on according to their means. * A change in the cost of living may bring about a change up or down in these figures. If a candidate who has not been paying the full amount leaves, he is expected to promise to reimburse the Seminary when- ever possible. [ 7 ] This charge is made only while the can- didate lives in Holy Cross Seminar} (whether he is a high school or college student) . After that there will be no fur- ther financial burden whatever (except for personal things^ such as clothing, dur- ing the one year of Novitiate right after leaving Holy Cross) . After the Novitiate, the Congregation assumes full financial responsibility for board, tuition, clothing, medical care, etc. Moreover, candidates are asked to pro- vide for their books, toilet articles, train fares, etc., while they reside in Holy Cross Seminary, i.e., before the Novitiate year: a sum of $75 per year (at least half of which should be deposited with the Supe- rior on arrival) should cover these or- dinary personal expenses (unless the candidate comes from such a distance as to require considerably more for train fare) . Laundry may be mailed home or done at the Seminary at $1.50 per month. All the seminarians receive full medical and hospital care under the Blue Cross plan at a cost of $2.00 a month. Ex-servicemen eligible for benefits under the G. I. Bill of Rights may ignore these paragraphs concerning finances as the G. L Bill covers all charges. [ 8 ] CLOTHING Clothing owned at the time of accept- ance may be worn, but if new purchases are to be made, suits and shoes should be darky not necessarily black. (Black is not required until the Novitiate year.) Old clothes for every day wear, recreation and work periods should be brought, and all shoes must have rubber heels. These are necessary; black tie, a dark hat, winter overcoat, heavw jacket or sweater, bath- robe, slippers, raincoat, rubbers, sewing kit, and fountain pen. The candidate should bring from six to ten suits of underwear, pairs of socks, towels, wash-cloths, handkerchiefs, and shirts. The latter should have collars at- tached and several should be white. Sport shirts and “T-shirts” are also useful. He will need several pairs of pajamas. This clothing need not be marked. Useful but not necessary: a trunk, ath- letic equipment (baseball glove, swim- ming trunks, ice-skates). The Seminary provides blankets, sheets, and pillow cases. If found necessary after entry, additional clothing and personal supplies may.be sent from home or pur- chased in nearby South Bend. N.B. Trunks, etc., should be shipped 3 or 4 days in advance to assure their ar- rival in plenty of time. A DAY IN HOLY CROSS SEMINARY Rising 5:40 a.m (On Saturdays, Sundays and recreation days, rising at 6:1(3) Meditation, followed by Mass, Communion, and Thanksgiving 6.00 a.m. Breakfast followed by housework 7:05 a.m. Glasses (or study) 8:00 a.m. Recreation 10:10 a.m. Classes (or study) 10:30 a.m. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament 11:55 a.m. Dinner, followed by recreation 12:05 p.m. Glasses (or study) 1:15 p.m. Recreation 3:30 p.m. Study, conference, etc J... 5:00 p.m. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament 5:50 p.m. Supper followed by recreation 6:00 p.m. Study 7:25 p.m. Night prayer preceded by Spiritual Reading and Rosary or Benediction 8:25 p.m. Study or optional retiring 8:50 p.m. Retiring for all 9:30 p.m. Exceptions are made in this schedule on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and for special occasions. Weekly there are con- fessions, Way of the Cross, conferences by the Superior— each month a Holy Hour and retreat. [ 10 ] STUDIES High School Candidates: While in Holy Cross Seminary the high school student pursues the regular classical, college- preparatory course. Among the classes are Religion, Latin, English, Algebra, Geometry, History, Greek, French, German, Physics. College Students: Those who enter after graduation from high school, or at any time during or after college, live in a special Hall at Notre Dame and follow a schedule of studies, religious exer- cises, etc., especially designed to pre- pare them for entry into the Novitiate after one or two semesters.* Interested young men are invited to visit the Uni- versity in order to observe this college- seminary program. For full information and to arrange for such a visit, write to the address on page seven. * In the case of older candidates, entry directly into the Novitiate is sometimes permitted. THE RELIGIOUS LIFE The Congregation of Holy Cross is a Religious Community. Its seminaries ac- cept only those candidates who wish to become Holy Cross priests, that is, to dedi- cate their lives to the service of God and souls by the three vows of poverty, chas- tity, and obedience, and under the partic- ular Rule of Holy Cross. The fourth vow of foreign missions is required of no one but is taken voluntarily only by those “who feel called by God to go to whatever part of the world the Superior General may wish to send them.” The first temporary vows, are pro- nounced at the conclusion of the Noviti- ate year. They are renewed annually for three years. Only then, after this period of thorough trial and testing, are the semi- narians permitted to make these vows for life. Before final vows a candidate is free to leave at any time. * If at the end of three years there is still some doubt about a candidate’s vocation, he may renew temporary vows for a further three-year period. ^ 12 ] Some candidates ask whether their vow of obedience permits them to choose their work as Holy Cross priests. Seminarians are urged to tell what work appeals to them and ordinarily they are given that assignment as priests if their Superiors see that they have the ability for it. However, the vow of obedience is the chief one in the religious life and a priest may be as- signed wherever he is needed. VACATIONS—VISITORS—LETTERS Vacations: In Holy Cross Seminary there are the full summer’s vacation of ap- proximately 10 or 11 weeks and a Christmas vacation of about 2 weeks. Easter vacation is spent in the Seminary. Visitors: Families and friends may visit the Seminary on the second Sunday of each month. Twdce during the semester the seminarians are permitted to take dinner with their families in the Uni- versity Cafeteria. Letters: Seminarians may receive letters from home anytime and must write to their parents once a week. They may write to members of their immediate family without obtaining special per- mission. Permission to write to other relatives and friends is readily granted by the Superior. [ 13 ] THE LAY FAMILY OF HOLY CROSS The Lay Family of the Congregation of Holy Cross is an organisation of the par- ents^ brothers and sisters, other relatives and friends of the seminarians, priests, and Brothers of the Congregation. Its purpose is spiritual (to pray for the seminarians and the welfare of the Congregation in general, social (to acquaint the families of the seminarians with each other), and financial (to provide occasional help for worthy seminarians and for the Seminary) . There are branches of the Lay Family in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Wayne, New Bedford, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland, Me., South Bend, Toledo, and Washington, D. C. Meetings are held once a month; in the summer, picnics and par- ties are arranged in order that the semi- narians-to-be and their families may be- come acquainted with the old seminarians and their families. FOR THE PROSPECTIVE SEMINARIAN 1 . Pray fervently for the grace to know your vocation and the courage to follow it. The devil will throw many tempta- tions in your way in an attempt to de- stroy God’s previous gift in the very beginning. Family prayer— especially the Family Rosary— is one of the most eflfective [ 14 ] means to obtain God’s choicest blessings on all the members of the family. 2. Go to Mass, Confession and Holy Com- munion frequently. 3. Have a regular confessor or priest ad- visor. 4. Be obedient, studious, charitable, gener- ous, cheerful, truthful at all times. 5. Be careful to choose good companions and to avoid occasions of sin. 6. In due time before you are ready to enter (several months at least), write to the Director of Vocations at the Seminary, ask for an application blank, and gather the required documents (see page 6) . Lay Brothers of Holy Cross The Lay Brothers in the Priests’ Society of Holy Gross live the fullness of the religious life under the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and assist the Holy Cross Fathers at home and abroad as office-workers, carpenters, cooks, maintenance men, etc., and most of all by their liVes of prayer and sacrifice in imitation of Our Lord and their special patron, St. Joseph. The ordinary age for acceptance is from 17 to 35 but exceptions are occasionally made. [ 15 ] For more information about the Priests and Lay Brothers of Holy Cross write to: THE DIRECTOR OF VOCATIONS Holy Cross Seminary Notre Dame, Indiana or THE DIRECTOR OF VOCATIONS Seminary of Our Lady of Holy Cross North Easton, Massachusetts 7&9a.10M 152