By John Rohlf
The Message assistant editor
The Diocese of Evansville celebrated the renovation of the former convent on the Sacred Heart property, which will now house first-year seminarians in the diocese.
Residents of the Diocese of Evansville’s House of Formation and House of Discernment will both be housed on the Sacred Heart Campus, which is part of St. Boniface Parish and located along the 2700 block of West Franklin Street in Evansville. The House of Formation houses first-year seminarians in the diocese who are in the propaedeutic stage of seminary formation.
The renovation of the former convent on the site of Sacred Heart in Evansville began with demolition in January. This year’s first-year seminarians in the propaedeutic stage moved into the House of Formation in September.
“That’s break neck speed for an almost 7,000 square foot building where 48 of the 50 windows were replaced,” Diocesan Director of Vocations Father Tyler Tenbarge said. “Every electrical wire, every water line replaced. Every exterior door, all new. All the flooring new on every floor except for some of the staircases. And there was no central heating or air. So all that’s also brand new. And all of that was done in seven months.”
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel said it is such a great blessing to be able to conduct the initial formation in the diocese rather than sending them off to a seminary somewhere else for the initial formation. He said here the men can come to know our diocesan church, the priests and parishes.
The propaedeutic stage moves to the site of the former convent after living in the rectory house last year. When the first-year seminarians were placed at the rectory house last year for the propaedeutic stage, the diocese at the time did not have a place for those discerning seminary but not ready to apply. The rectory house previously housed those discerning seminary for many years prior to the implementation of the propaedeutic stage for first-year seminarians.
With the renovation of the former convent to house first-year seminarians in the propaedeutic stage complete, four men are living at the House of Discernment at the rectory house this year after the diocese was not able to offer a house for discerners last year. Bishop Siegel said they gather to pray and live in community while they continue their college studies or their work.
Bishop Siegel said the diocese has been working hard over the past years to create a culture of vocations. He said they want it to become a more normal thing for a man to be able to discern a vocation and find that support in family, parish and with other young men to respond to the call. This is in part due to the generosity of St. Boniface Parish and all the donors both at the celebration event and over the past seven years that have helped create two homes where young men can find and follow the call of Christ in their lives.
Father Tenbarge thanked those in attendance at the Oct. 22 celebration for their contributions that made this possible.
“We are so grateful,” Father Tenbarge said. “I am so grateful. These men are so grateful for what you’re offering them. For what you did offer them. Thank you and we’re happy to be able to thank you tonight.”
