A Seminary in Post Vatican II times… St Paul’s, Terry Herbert MSC remembers

The year - 2021 was an historic one for our Australian Church - 50 years ago on 21 August 1971, the first ten students were ordained from St Paul’s National Seminary for late vocations, Kensington (Sydney). The five diocesan men were from Brisbane, Sydney (2), Melbourne and Hobart. The 5 religious were Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

Six have returned to God; of the MSC, one lives at Kensington and one in Tasmania.

Ed travers MSC, Arthur Stidwill MSC, Len Helm MSC (Arthur and Len recently deceased), Pioneers with Terry Herbert and the late Laurie Bayliss MSC

St Paul’s Seminary began as a joint venture between the MSC and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for the formation of mature age candidates, during a time of falling numbers of younger candidates in Seminaries Australia wide.   The Seminary enjoyed a 30 year history from 1968 to1998 when about 250 priests were ordained. The benefit of both diocesan and religious studying together was also noted.

During the 1980’s, the continued viability of St Pauls was being questioned by the Australian Bishops who had seen the venture as an experiment; yet, numbers were stable and comparable to existing Seminaries elsewhere in Australia, into the early 1990’s.  At the same time, Adult Faith Formation was burgeoning, and St Paul’s accommodated this well; the number of external theology students grew to about 50 during the mid 1990’s.

 As one of the pioneers, after 50 years, I’m immensely grateful for the privilege of completing my formation at St Paul’s; post school, I was three years in the work-a-day world - the building trade in Bowral, then two years in the Public Service in Sydney. After two years initial formation at Douglas Park, three at our (MSC) philosophy house at Canberra, then a two year break teaching at Chevalier College, Bowral, it was late 1967 when I was offered the choice to join the first group at St Paul’s in 1968, rather than our traditional Seminary at Croydon, Vic.

Jim Cuskelly msc (later Auxiliary Bishop in Brisbane), Pioneer Rector, steeped in Vatican II theology, forward thinker, a man’s man informally at home with “older” men … lit a cigarette outside after our first lecture in Feb 1968 ….. “Well chaps, I’ve waited years for this: to make a complete new start to Seminary Formation”.

 So how was St Pauls’ different?  Why was the experience an abiding memory and catalyst for my Ministry since?  That “new start” included a more-open, more-pastoral environment, with very few “directives”, an emphasis on prayer, good study habits, personal responsibility, freedom in our time-use outside of lectures; for me, being able to visit families, part-time teach Religious Ed. at local high schools ….and more. We only experienced Jim Cuskelly for a year … he was elected General of MSC worldwide, and left for Rome. But the foundation was built.

Jim focussed his teaching / theology on the just completed Vatican Council II.

Probably my most acute memory at St Paul’s, was the then Rector, Fr Denis Murphy msc quietly advising us the day before our ordination as Deacons … “tomorrow, gentlemen, you are going to be ordained into a ministry of failure”!  That comment has made an indelible mark on me. It has taken years to slowly realise that we were ordained into the Cross of Jesus, the “non violent, suffering servant of God, whose compassion set hearts free”.

The important influence on me, was Fr Maurie Griffin, msc teaching moral theology after the vision of Fr Bernard Haring, CssR. That drew us into an ever deepening, loving personal relationship with Jesus our Risen One, which contrasted with lists of sins, fear and guilt, that were the core of my upbringing years.

Nowadays I’m very at-home with these influences. It has taken time to realise that priesthood has nothing to do with status, position, entitlement, least of all power. It has everything to do with humble, self sacrificing service in the pattern of the One who daily calls us.  So I’m dismayed beyond words to know that today, “in places”, seminarians are still being told by their seniors that they will be “ontologically changed” (above the lay faithful).  I thought we are all “ontologically changed” at Baptism … Christ-likened at the heart of our being, sharing equally in the spirit of Jesus as priest, prophet and king. The unique character of Ordination, seems to me to configure one even more into the pattern of Jesus’ life and death.

Others more-learned can tease-out the implications of our Baptism; but my / our St Paul’s experience, immediately after Vatican Council II, has been an indelible experience and inspiration in my 53 years of Ministry, since.

 Trying to live the two truths - the Cross, and seeking a deepening relationship with Jesus, have been wonderful, freeing experiences …. truths that have progressively set me free. These two truths were not / are not exclusive to St Pauls. They were, however, central - rather than “lost” in “status”.  Haring's 3 volume sequel to “The Law of Christ” was “Free and Faithful in Christ”. I continue to ask myself how live that today, in various ministries of evangelisation? 

Terence Herbert,  msc, 9 Nov 2024, the article first appearing in The Swag, Summer 2024.