USA: The great day! 2000 faithful attend the opening of the new seminary

From DICI’s special correspondent in Virginia, Charles Benoît

Dillwyn, November 4, 2016

And the miracle happened: the occupation permit, delivered on the eve of the opening of the new seminary in Virginia, Buckingham County, Dillwyn! Just in time…

The workers finished their tasks late last night. What was still a challenge early yesterday was now complete: the driveway paved, the bricks set in place, the tiles in place, the grass seed sprayed (!) on the lawn. The heavy equipment was moved aside so as not to block the view; it will be needed again soon; not everything is completely done.

Early this morning, under the brilliant sunshine, the seminarians and volunteers got to work as well: as their director, Fr. Yves le Roux, said earlier in his opening address, “They no longer sleep, they no longer eat; they only pray and work.” Magnificent banners were hoisted to the top of flagpoles and hung around the altar; the table was set for the feast to follow the ceremonies; the dust disappeared (almost entirely); the liturgical objects were polished; the 2000 chairs were set up inside the tent for the Pontifical High Mass, since the temporary chapel of the seminary is too small for the crowd that is coming, numerous and enthusiastic.

The tent turned out to be too small as well, and the crowd overflowed. But the piety of the attendees and their joy at being present (many came from over 10 hours away) was palpable. A number of VIPs travelled to be here: the Sherriff of the county, visitors from the General House of Menzigen—Fathers Alain-Marc Nély, Christian Thouvenot, Pablo Enrique Suarez—as well as district superiors from France, Canada and the US, Fathers Christian Bouchacourt, Daniel Couture, Jürgen Wegner and John Fullerton and many others who crossed the ocean to attend this major event. Fr. Bouchacourt confided with fervor, “This seminary is truly colossal: in France, we count every square foot, whereas here… This seminary, how can I say this, is an extremely important event for Tradition, but also for the whole Church.”

In his sermon, of which these were the chief ideas, Bishop Bernard Fellay spoke to the same effect: “Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” (Psalm 126:1) Today we owe an especial thanksgiving to God who is, in a way, the chief author of this seminary.

“Why so large, so beautiful, so imposing a building? First of all to remind us of the majesty of God, who is not one of us. This construction expresses His majesty, His eternity, and His supremacy.

“This seminary is a sort of remedy for the times in which we live. Here future priests will be formed, chosen by God to serve His interests among men and to bring Him to men. In contact with God, the priest is a mediator through his prayer and his work, which are done in silence, in the presence of God. Here future priests will enter into this intimacy, this relationship with God. The more the priest enters into this vision, in this perspective, the more you receive from him: this is the great mystery of the apostolate.

“We are not only in Dillwyn, County of Buckingham; we are at the foot of the cross.

“Now the only thing missing is the church: when the time comes, it will be the crown of all. Future priests will pray there for you: pray for them. This new seminary,” the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X added with gratitude, “is a real jewel. We owe it to your generosity: may God bless you!”

Fr.Yves le Roux.

At the end of the ceremony, followed by the joyful crowd, both numerous and recollected, the long procession of clergy returned towards the seminary. It was time for the meal, for which over 1000 guests had registered (of which only 500 could be seated in the great refectory). This too was a great success, giving Fr. le Roux the opportunity to thank those who, throughout the course of the project, helped with the building and supported the work. They are too numerous to all be named…

Then, before the red sun slipped towards the blue mountains and set the _sky, the nearby forest and the walls of the buildings on fire, Bishop Fellay blessed the seminary and the bells that will from now on set the rhythm of the life of silence and prayer of the future priests: after all the happy feasting, recollection settled back in naturally.

In the distant skies, imposing hawks circled and night began to fall. Fr. Jacques Emily, one of the most senior priests of the Society, concluded, “What a house it is… in Ecône, I remember that we found the place very pleasant and very peaceful. But here… one feels immediately that one is in a religious house, a house of prayer. Conceived, thought out and brought into being for this purpose. What beauty!”

(Source: SSPX/MG – DICI no. 344, dated November 11, 2016)

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