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The Seminary When the local pastor learned of Leonard's desire to become a priest, doors opened to the seminary, which was located in northern Illinois, not within walking distance. "They engaged a single car out of Burlington for us," said Fr. B. "That first year we had 100 seminarians at Teutopolis. We needed two classes. That's when the padres always wore their habit. This gave us an example. And they were learned men. We were so blessed." It was 1931. Leonard was 15. "The first night I went to bed crying -- I missed home -- but that was it," said the priest who has remained brave and stalwart all his life as he was assigned from one parish to another. Blessed are those who give up mother and father for the sake of the Kingdom. Fr. B. said the seminary was located 25 miles from Chicago. "This was during the Depression, so our professors often went to Chicago to say Mass and that would help them fund the seminary," he said. "Chicago would pay $25 to get a Franciscan to come in to say Mass, plus a $1 Mass stipend. A dollar was a lot of money at that time." Fr. B. spent four years in the minor seminary at Westmont, Illinois, and then two years in college, also at Westmont. In 1936 he entered the novitiate at Teutopolis, then studied philosophy for three years in Cleveland and theology for another three years back at Teutopolis. The studies included six years of Latin, five of Greek, two of Hebrew, two of German, and English every year. "I was ordained a priest in 1943 and then they held us one more year in Teutopolis," he replied. "They were strict about teaching in those days. We put in altogether 14 years of preparation. If I were to do it all over again, I'd want the same path." Which were his favorite classes? "I tell you, I enjoyed baseball there too," said Fr. B. "Teams came out from Chicago to play. But after the minor seminary we didn't have such a worldly thing." The young lad had entered the seminary as Leonard Hahn and exited as Father Bernardine Hahn. A change in name is related to putting on a new life, and it has to be a saint's name without duplicates in the Province. "I was about to be named, when a priest by the name of Father Bernardine died and so I put that name down on my list," said Fr. B. "We could hand in three names for them to choose from. I just happened to get Bernardine." Fr. B. celebrated his first Mass at his home parish in Omaha. Was his family able to attend? "Oh, yes," he replied. "My four brothers served Mass. That was something else!" What did Mr. Hahn have to say about his son's vocation? "I tell you what," said Fr. B, "after Mass, at the banquet, when he was asked to speak, he said, 'I never thought he'd make it. I thought he'd be back after a year to play baseball.'" And his mother? "She had a trial," said the son. "You know how women talk, and her friends told her that I'd never make a priest, that I played hooky too much."
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Swanson Insurance 952-448-4580 |
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CORNERSTONE Insurance Agency Inc. |
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David Barsness, CPCU Chaska 952-448-5028 |
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March 2013 |
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Fr. B. is pictured here in front of the St. Anthony Friary on Meramec Street in St. Louis, where he resides today. It is the provincial headquarters of the Sacred Heart Province of Franciscans. I took this photo in May 2003. We were last there in April 2010 when Fr. B. blessed the Ave Maria sculpture on its way to the front door at St. Victoria. |