Flocknote

February 2024

In this email we bring you our continuing monthly series of blogs written by our seminarians. We hope you find their writings spiritually uplifting and educational.

The Spirituality of Parish Priests

Bruté seminarians during their retreat at St. Meinrad.

Every January, before classes begin, we start the spring semester by taking a retreat to St. Meinrad. This is an opportunity for brotherhood, prayer, and learning before heading back to regular seminary life. One of my biggest takeaways from this year’s retreat was that a central duty of parish priests is to “gather the family of God.” Of course, this happens at Mass and in the Eucharist, but as our retreat director pointed out, this takes place many times outside the formal bounds of sacraments. In the coffee and donut Sundays, in the prayer vigils and catechesis, potluck dinners, and parish picnics, it is the priest whose gathering presence can and should be felt. It is all part of being a true shepherd to your flock and father to your children.

This gave words to an experience from my own life over this last Christmas break. At the parish office, I watched the pastor gather his staff together in one of the large meeting rooms. As we entered into a simple morning prayer and sharing of intentions, I had the distinct sensation of “family.” It pulled me right back to the living room I grew up in, with siblings sprawled out on assorted furniture, some still rubbing sleep out of their eyes, as we began, “In the name of the Father…”

God is family. The Trinity is family. We all share in this, and it is the priest, in a special way, who gathers everyone together. Praise be to God that parish priests are humbly gathering the family of God together because, truly, if they did not, who would? In a quiet moment today, I invite you to give thanks to God for a time you experienced a pastor in your life gathering you into the family of God.

Nick Kompar is a Bruté seminarian studying for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and a member of the Class of 2024.

Learn about Nick

2024 Legacy Gala Auction and Live Stream

We hope you will be joining us at the Legacy Gala this Friday, February 9, 2024. Be sure to check out some of the great auction items that will be available to bid on. Click here to preview the auction. If you are not able to join us at the Legacy Gala in person, we invite you to watch a live stream of the event starting at 7:30p.m. by clicking here.

Bishop Simon Bruté Giving Society Save the Date

Your gift of $1,000 or more will recognize you as a member of the Bishop Simon Bruté Giving Society. Members will receive special gifts and experiences. At each level, all previous level benefits are included.

Bishop Chartrand Circle with gifts of $1,000 - $2,499 will receive a Bruté Prayer Journal.
Cardinal Ritter Circle with gifts of $2,500 - $4,999 will be invited to Sunday Mass on May 19, 2024 at the seminary followed by donuts and coffee.
Archbishop O’Meara Circle with gifts of $5,000 to $9,999 will be invited to Evening Prayer and Mass on March 14, 2024 with the seminarians followed by a light dinner at the seminary.
Archbishop Buechlein Circle with gifts of $10,000 and above will be invited to the spring semester opening Mass on January 5, 2025 at the seminary with Archbishop Thompson followed by a light breakfast.

Support Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary

with a Bequest in Your Will

What are charitable bequests? Charitable bequests are gifts made as part of a will or trust and are one of the most popular and flexible ways to support the Catholic causes that are important to you and your family. A charitable bequest to a nonprofit organization such as the Archdiocese of Indianapolis or any of its parishes, schools or ministries demonstrates your commitment to stewardship and leaving a charitable legacy after your death.

How do I provide for a charitable bequest? Simple language included in your will or trust provides your intention to benefit a Catholic cause. We can provide you with sample bequest language. If you have already left the Church in your will, please share this information at www.archindy.org/GiftIntention so we can steward your gift appropriately when the time comes. And, if you would like more information regarding bequests, please contact us at www.archindy.org/CCF or call 317-236-1482.

2024 Bishop Bruté Days

Bishop Bruté Days (July 9-11, 2024) is a retreat for young men, grades 9-12 the following school year, who are seeking to grow closer to Christ, and may be open to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood. The retreat gives young men the opportunity to spend three days with the Bruté college seminarians learning about prayer, service, scripture, and the awesome gift of our Catholic faith.
Bishop Bruté Days Jr. (Monday, July 8, 2024) is a one-day experience for young men who are in junior high (7th & 8th grade). It is designed to focus more on general discernment and serve as an introduction to Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary.

If you know a young man that might be interested in attending either of these events, more information and registration can be found here.

Castle Nights

Castle Nights are opportunities for high school men to join the Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary community for prayer, meal, and conversation with our college seminarians.

Here is the upcoming schedule of Castle Nights:

March 20, 2024

April 17, 2024

If you know a young man that might be interested in attending, more information and registration can be found here.