Our patronal feast should probably be the feast of the Assumption on the 15th of August but as the college is not in session until September, we decided several years ago that we should celebrate our Patronal Feast during October, the month of Mary. In our chapel above the tabernacle there is a beautiful stained glass window with the image of ‘Sedes Sapientiae’ – Our Lady Seat of Wisdom. We decided, therefore, that we would use the prayers for the Mass of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom for our Feast day because as a place of formation for priests, it is highly appropriate that we should seek Our Lady’s intercession that our priests should learn true wisdom in their preparation for ministry.
Reflecting on ‘Our Lady Seat of Wisdom’ Archbishop Bernard said, during his homily, ‘We acclaim Our Lady as the Sedes Sapientiae, the title that describes this beautiful image at the back of the chapel because of something quite remarkable that emerges from her relationship with her son. As you leave the chapel later pause for a moment in prayer before the statue as many generations of seminarians have done before you. Jesus holds for us the Wisdom of God – here as a child he is supported by his mother. She is the Seat of Wisdom because she reflected on her experience: She pondered on these things and treasured them in her heart.’
We acclaim Our Lady as the Sedes Sapientiae, the title that describes this beautiful image at the back of the chapel because of something quite remarkable that emerges from her relationship with her sonThis year was a celebration of particular significance because of the arrival of so many seminarians from the northern dioceses after the closure of Ushaw. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome the Vocations Directors from the 13 dioceses and 2 religious orders that now send students to the college. The Feast Day is also the opportunity to invite everyone involved in the pastoral placements of our students in order to thank them for the invaluable role they play in the formation of our future priests. The whole occasion, therefore, was a much bigger event than in past years and was a real celebration of the new life that has begun in the college this year.
Archbishop Bernard went on to say, ‘As this very full chapel reminds us, the beginning of this academic year saw 60 students taking their rooms and their places in the community. This was partly because of the closure of St Cuthbert’s College in Ushaw with the transfer of 18 seminarians together with new students from the northern dioceses who might otherwise have begun their formation at Ushaw. I know from what I have seen and been told that this group of seminarians have truly made themselves at home, they have been unhesitatingly welcomed and they have already made a notable and positive contribution to the life of this College. Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, has joined St Cuthbert on the list of their patrons.’
