Saint Joseph's Seminary was a minor seminary owned and operated by the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Boys typically enrolled in night grade and completed six years of study at this boarding school before moving on to the major seminary with six more years of study and preparation to be a Catholic priest. Norbert Bufka graduated from St. Joe's in 1961. This book is the story of that seminary from 1909 through its heyday in the 1950's and its transformation and final sale in 2008. .It includes the history woven with personal accounts of the author and others who attended the seminary as well as many stories from the student newspaper through all its years. The combination of history and personal stories brings to life what seminaries used to be like and might explain why a pastor acted the way he did. This book also is a fascinating account of what the Roman Catholic Church used to be like, what it thought was important, and how that influenced every Catholic. Vatican II (1962-65) was a watershed event for the Catholic Church and the church has been forever changed.
Norbert Bufka graduated from St. Joseph's Seminary in 1961 with 20 other men. He earned a BA in history, a MA in Latin and Master of Pastoral Studies degrees. He has worked as a high school teacher, a financial planner, a religious educator, a columnist for a daily Michigan newspaper and a popular facilitator at spiritual meetings and retreats. He is the author of several books.
