Seminaries Make World Series Donations to Local Catholic Schools

During the World Series, Mundelein Seminary made a bet with the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland’s seminaries over which of our teams would become champions. The losing team’s seminary would send a check to a local Catholic high school of the winner’s choice. We were thrilled to present a check for $500 to Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. USML Vice President of Institutional Advancement Ryan Butts presented a check to Cristo Rey President Preston Kendall amidst many Cubs-loving Cristo Rey faculty (and one Cleveland-supporting member). Even though the Cubs won, our rector, Father John Kartje, still honored our side of the bet and sent a $500 check to Cleveland Central Catholic High School. Both seminaries had fun with the rivalry, and are happy to support Catholic education.

Original Press Release:Cleveland, Ohio (October 27, 2016) – The seminaries for the Catholic dioceses for the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians have responded to their Bishop’s challenge on the outcome of the 2016 World Series of Major League Baseball.  http://www.archchicago.org/news_releases/news_2016/news_161027.html.Father Mark Latcovich, President-Rector of Saint Mary and Borromeo Seminaries in Cleveland, and Father John Kartje, President-Rector of University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Chicago have promised to make a charitable donation to a Catholic  school of the winning seminary’s choice.“Our two seminaries have competed for many years together on the basketball court and the soccer field,” says Father Latcovich.  “The World Series gives us an opportunity to come together in a healthy competition which can benefit the future formation of our men.”

Physical exercise and athletic competition are important aspects of diocesan seminary programs, often culminating in yearly tournaments in basketball, soccer, and golf.  These competitions provide opportunities for the seminarians to come together in fraternity and share athletic  talent.

“We welcome the rivalry with our seminarian brothers in Cleveland,” said Father Kartje.  “Cubs fever has spread to seminarians from many other dioceses beyond Chicago, and this friendly bet adds another reason for our guys to all cheer together.”

Mundelein Seminary of Chicago, founded in 1844, is home to over two hundred seminarians from nearly forty dioceses from across the country and around the world.   Cristo Rey High School in Waukegan will be the recipient of a charitable donation if the Cubs win.    The two Cleveland seminaries, Saint Mary Seminary and Borromeo College Seminary, are home to over eighty seminarians primarily from the Diocese of Cleveland, Youngstown, and three religious orders.  The first Cleveland seminary was founded in 1848.  Cleveland Central Catholic high school will be the beneficiary of an Indians victory.

In addition to being founded at the same time in history, both seminaries share a common mission to form and educate men that are called to serve as parish priests.

Both cities have much to celebrate, and regardless of the outcome of the World Series, both seminaries are committed to supporting the future needs of the Church with healthy and holy priests.

For information on Cleveland Seminaries please visit http://clepriesthood.org/.  And for information on Mundelein Seminary please visit https://usml.edu/