Arrangement
Arranged into Series: Cheshire (Minor Seminary, 1969-1972), Fairholt (1954-1966, 1966-1970, 1975-1978), Ledgers 1921-1988, Mystic (St. Edmunds Novitiate, 1954- ), New Orleans (Notre Dame Seminary, 1984-1993), Putney (Theologate 1931-1939, St. Joseph’s Novitiate, 1939-1954), Randolph (St. Mary’s Seminary, 1939-1954), St. Edmund’s Juniorate, 1896-1950), Toronto (St. Basil’s Seminary, 1966-1984), Winooski Park/Colchester (St. Edmunds Hall, Juniorate/Juvenists, 1919-1941 Scholasticate)
Administrative/Biographical History
The Constitutions of the Society of Saint Edmund define Formation as “the process of becoming more and more a disciple of Christ, growing in union with and in configuration to him...” (SSE Constitutions, p. 11) For Edmundites, this formation is lifelong, but it usually begins in a formal formation program. For many years, these formal stages of formation were contained within a formal house. This record group includes records from formal houses and from the informal programs or places where Edmundites or potential members participated in formation programs. The formal programs of Formation for the Society of Saint Edmund have included Juniorate (or minor seminary), Novitiate, Scholasticate and Theologate (sometimes referred to as seminary). The only one required of all members of the Society is the Novitiate, which is a one-year program that keeps with the prescriptions of church law. The Juniorate was a Junior Seminary, where high school age boys could receive both academic and religious training, in hope that they would seriously consider entrance into the Society in the future. The Scholasticate and Theologate are post-novitiate training programs for those with temporary vows. In addition to training in the mission of the Society, the Scholasticate includes undergraduate education and the Theologate included graduate training, especially for those preparing for ordination.
Formal Programs and Houses Minor Seminary Swanton (1898-1950) St. Edmund’s Juniorate Cheshire (1970-1974) LaSallette Seminary Winooski Park/Colchester (unknown dates) St. Edmund’s Hall Novitiate Swanton (1897-1902, 1904-1939) Winooski Park/Colchester (1902-1904) Putney (1939-1954) St. Josephs Novitiate Mystic Novitiate (1954-) St. Edmunds Novitiate Scholasticate/Seminary/Theologate Swanton (1897-1914) Winooski Park, Colchester (1914-1982) Scholasticate Putney (1931-1939) Randolph (1939-1954) St. Mary’s Seminary Fairholt Seminary (1954-1966) St. Edmunds Seminary, Scholastics in Residence (1966-1970, 1975-1978) Toronto(1966-1984) St. Basil’s Seminary/University of St. Michael’s College New Orleans (1984-1993) Notre Dame Seminary Boston (1993-1998) Weston School of Theology
