Picture Time

It is picture day and registration for the seminarians of Conception Seminary.  The early morning rain did not prevent the photographer from capturing their smiling faces.  This morning the men gathered in front of the Basilica in order to take the group photo.  Afterwards they took separate pictures based on Diocese or Religious Order.

Loud noises from the machinery, several yards away, from the nearby monastery construction made it a bit difficult to hear the photographer’s instructions, but all went well.

How about some statistics?

This year, Conception Seminary College has 92 full-time students this semester (93 priesthood candidates, which includes an Abbey monk)

• 54 are returning students, and 38 are new (3 are returning students from previous enrollment)

• 14 of our students were born in a country other than the United States, including, Guatemala (2), Mexico (6), South Africa (1), Turkey (1) and Vietnam (4).

• 67 (70%) are Caucasian, 21 (22%) are Hispanic, 6 (6%) are Asian, 1 (1%) is African-American and 1 (1%) is Native American.

The classes this year break down as follows: 19 freshmen, 27 sophomores, 22 juniors, 15 seniors, 4 pre-theologians and 5 LCC students.

17 dioceses and 4 religious communities are represented this year, with Wichita having the largest number (22) and for smallest Lubbock (1).

Our average student age 22.48.

Here is the age breakdown by class:

• Freshmen: 19.9

• Sophomores: 21.1

• Juniors: 23.5

• Seniors: 23.6

• Pre-Theo: 29.4

• LCC: 26.8

15 of our 19 freshmen are 2014 graduates…straight out of high school.

Please pray for these men, that they may grow in their relationship with Christ!