St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., one of the stops for Pope Benedict XVI during his three-day visit to New York this April, is no stranger to the present Holy Father or his predecessor.

In 1988, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger gave a talk at the seminary about the study of Scripture. Seven years later, Pope John Paul II spoke to seminarians on the 40-acre campus commonly known as “Dunwoodie” for its location in the Dunwoodie section of Yonkers, just a few miles north of New York City.

Baltimore Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, a former student at St. Joseph’s Seminary and also its rector for seven years, called Benedict’s planned April 19 visit a “great privilege” for the seminary.

The archbishop, who was rector during the 1995 papal visit, remembers the excitement and the intense preparations for that event, including the restoration of the seminary’s chapel.

The archbishop, who also coordinated Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to New York, knows that the returns on the behind-the-scenes preparations are well worth the investment of time. He noted that the Pope’s visit gave seminarians and other youths much encouragement and inspiration in their vocational calling.

The archbishop said Feb. 7 that he assumed Pope Benedict would similarly encourage vocations during the scheduled meeting with youths and seminarians on the seminary grounds.

Archbishop O’Brien described the Pope’s audience at Dunwoodie as “the new generation” and added that they are “very much in tune with living their faith and proud of it.”

The archbishop coordinated Vatican-run apostolic visitations of U.S. Catholic seminaries and houses of priestly formation in 2005 to assess the quality of formation programs. He said the Pope would probably not allude to the results of those visits but would likely “stress the good he sees” in U.S. seminaries and provide encouragement.

When the reports on the visitations are completed, the Vatican is expected to make an overall evaluation of seminary formation in the United States.

Happy History

According to a brief history of the seminary posted on the Archdiocese of New York’s website (archny.org/seminary), St. Joseph’s was the fifth school established for forming priests in the diocese.

On May 17, 1891 — nearly six decades after the first such institution was dedicated in Nyack, N.Y., in 1833-34 — Archbishop Michael Corrigan laid the cornerstone here. He wanted the seminary closer to New York City, his episcopal see.

The first scholastic year began in 1896, with 98 students. “Bishop Bernard McQuaid of Rochester described the newly completed Dunwoodie as ‘the grandest seminary building in Christendom’ in 1896,” reports the archdiocese, “even though he had just completed his own seminary — St. Bernard’s in Rochester.”

For its first 10 years, St. Joseph’s was under the direction of priests of the Society of St. Sulpice, who composed the majority of the faculty. It reverted to the control of the archdiocese in 1906 and has since remained “under an administrative and academic staff composed largely of diocesan priests.”

Successive New York archbishops — including Cardinals John Farley, Patrick Hayes, Francis Spellman and Terence Cooke — expanded the institution. A residence wing went up in 1907, providing accommodations for approximately 160 students in single rooms; a new library was constructed in 1953.

The history continues: In 1967 Cardinal Spellman dedicated the recreation center. In 1983 Cardinal Cooke restored the main chapel of the seminary. In 1995 Cardinal John O’Connor completed the restoration of the chapel in preparation for the historic visit of Pope John Paul II on October 5, 1995.

“St. Joseph’s Seminary extends for 40 acres atop Valentine Hill,” the archdiocese points out. “Its buildings are of gray mile-square granite, most of which was quarried on the seminary site. The main building is in early Renaissance style, and the cross over the cupola reaches 150 feet above ground level.”

Will the latter be the first sight Pope Benedict catches of St. Joseph’s on his approach?

Youth Connection

During his 1995 visit to St. Joseph’s, the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York, Pope John Paul told the seminarians that they must be strong in their faith and not afraid of denouncing evil.

He also challenged them to be true to their calling. “If there is one challenge facing the Church and her priests today, it is the challenge of transmitting the Christian message whole and entire, without letting it be emptied of its substance,” he said.

Pope Benedict will not only address seminarians but also Catholic youths at the seminary gathering, described in the Pope’s itinerary as a rally/prayer service.

In addressing youths, he will continue a long tradition started by Pope John Paul, who always had a strong connection with young people.

Thousands are expected to attend the ticketed event. Tickets will be distributed to young people, seminarians and individuals in formation for religious life in the Archdiocese of New York through Catholic schools, parish catechetical programs, parish youth groups and seminaries.

Prior to the rally, the Pope is also scheduled to meet at the seminary with about 50 children with disabilities.

With additions compiled

by Register staff.