In the Western Hemisphere, the SSPX's seminaries will additionally witness the annual giving of the clerical tonsure to second-year seminarians, the reception of the clerical habit (the cassock) by first-year seminarians, and often the reception of various minor Holy Orders, thereby continuing the progression of the Church's clerical life.

Here in the United States at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, SSPX Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay will not only confer the tonsure to 11 seminarians, and give the cassock to 13 others, but he will also administer the minor Holy Orders of Porter and Lector to 8 seminarians.

For the Seminaire International St. Cure d'Ars in Flavigny, France, the ceremony will take place this year in Paris at St. Nicolas du Chardonnet in order to better celebrate the seminary's 25th anniversary. Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais will celebrate the jubilee Mass and perform the ceremonies, during which 17 seminarians will receive the cassock.

The SSPX founded a seminary at Flavigny because the one at Econe, Switzerland was too small to receive all the French-speaking seminarians. A former Dominican monastery was obtained  which was used to receive a portion of the students applying to Econe. Today the Humanity (first) and Spirituality (second) years take place at Flavigny, which also houses the French SSPX's Brothers Novitiate.

At the Priesterseminar Herz Jesu at Zaitzkofen, Germany, 3 seminarians will  receive the cassock; Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, will offer the Mass and accompanying ceremonies.

Because of different academic schedule in the Southern Hemisphere, the 2 seminaries there (Holy Cross in Goulburn, Australia and Seminario Nuestra Senora Corredentora in La Reja, Argentina) do not have the habit-taking ceremony on February 2.

More details and pictures of the Candlemas ceremonies will follow.

Please pray for the perseverance and sanctification of our seminarians.

PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT

The priestly ordinations have been set at Winona, Minnesota for June 17. 4 deacons are due to be ordained to the Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (3 for the SSPX and one for Our Lady of Guadalupe Benedictine Monastery in Silver City, NM). Please pray for these deacons!