Holy Ghost Seminary Will Close on June 1

Holy Ghost Seminary Will Close On June 1          THU MAY 1968

The Holy Ghost Seminary at 4133 Washtenaw will close June 1 after graduation ceremonies and will not reopen in the fall.
The Rev. Francis P. Trotter, Provencial Superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers of the United States Eastern Provinces, in Pittsburgh, said the junior seminary for training missionary priests is closing because so few students are enrolling. The school was built in 1951 to accommodate 90 to 100 students. There are 27 enrolled now.
“It was with great regret and much debate that we decided the only solution was to close up —we hated to do it,” said Fr. Trotter.

Washtenaw Community College has indicated interest in the facilities.
College President David H. Ponitz commented, yesterday that WCC is short of space and has been exploring several areas to rent, including temporary buildings. WWC officials earlier contacted the seminary to find out if its gymnasium might be rented on a part-time basis.
It learned of the possible closing but was told it would not take place until mid-summer, if then.
Ponitz expressed “surprise” upon learning that the entire facility will be available. Its possible rental will be under study immediately by WCC staff and trustees.
The seminary, on 35 to 40 acres of land, has four building units connected by underground tunnels. There is a classroom area with four classrooms and a language laboratory, library, offices and a dining room. There is also a faculty-administrative two-story wing, and a chapel and dormitory complex. There is a gymnasium-recreational area with locker rooms and showers, and an adjoining science lab. Behind the school there is an outdoor pool and baseball-football fields.
Fr. Trotter said no decision on the disposal of the land has been made. “It will be sold, but to whom and when we have nothing definite.”
The Rev. Louis Dolan, who is in charge of the seminary, said the numbers of students enrolling for missionary work seems to be following a declining trend throughout the country.”
Upon his return from 13 years missionary work in Tanzania East Africa in 1963, there are about 75 students enrolled at the seminary. That number steadily declined to the present low. The peak year at school was in 1961-62 when there were about 85 students. Fr. Trotter reported students from Holy Ghost Seminary will be transferred to Cornwells Junior Seminary in Cornwells heights near Philadelphia. When Holy Ghost Seminary closes, the Cornwells Junior Seminary will be the only one remaining in the United States. There are 225 students at Cornwells.
The two clergymen currently teaching at the schol, Fr. Dolan and the Rev. Francis Kanda, who was also a missionary to Tanzania and came to the seminary in January, will receive new assignments. Fr. Kanda will be assigned to a new teaching position, and Fr. Dolan will work toward a PhD at the University.

Entrance To Holy Ghost Fathers Seminary, 4133 Washtenaw