St. John's Seminary plans to create endowed chairs to honor "two great friends of the Seminary known for their faithful priestly service," said Msgr. Craig Cox, rector.

The Cardinal Timothy Manning Chair in Priestly Spirituality and the Cardinal William J. Levada Chair in Systematic Theology will each secure a $1.8 million endowment. Interest income from each endowed chair will support the salary and benefits needed for a St. John's Seminary faculty member teaching in the seminary's theology and priestly formation programs.

"Cardinal Manning was one of the Seminary's strongest supporters in our almost 70 years of educating priests," said Msgr. Cox. "As a priest, auxiliary bishop, and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he provided decades of leadership and was much beloved in the Southern California Catholic community. Cardinal Manning visited St. John's Seminary countless times and supported its mission with great enthusiasm. We're confident many people will want to make a gift to St. John's in Cardinal Manning's name."

During his service in Los Angeles Cardinal Manning ordained 349 priests and conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on an estimated 650,000 people. Msgr. Cox continued, "He was known to be a deeply spiritual man who loved his priesthood and encouraged priests and seminarians to genuine holiness. Thus, a Cardinal Manning Chair in Priestly Spirituality is particularly fitting. At the outset of this drive, we turn for inspiration to an invocation given by then Auxiliary Bishop Manning on March 13, 1953, when he prayed:

"'We gather together in your name. Surround us with your love and bless us. Help us to uphold the dignity and rights of others. May we act impartially and with integrity. Make us one in love and truth and justice. Grant that we may be a light to all nations and enter into our future in the embrace of your blessings upon us all.'"

The Cardinal Levada Chair in Systematic Theology will focus on the study of the deepest mysteries of our faith as proclaimed in the Creed at Mass. While serving as a faculty member of St. John's, Father William Levada taught the courses in systematic theology, noted Msgr. Cox.

"Together with his current service as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a Chair in Systematic Theology is a wonderfully appropriate way to honor Cardinal Levada as well as to emphasize the intimate connection between theology and pastoral ministry," said Msgr. Cox.

Cardinal Levada is a native of Long Beach, a graduate of St. John's Seminary College, and a former priest and auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles. He has served in a wide variety of capacities in parishes, schools, continuing formation for priests, and archbishop of Portland and San Francisco. "In addition to underlining the need for priests to have a solid foundation in theology, the Levada Chair highlights the essential role of the Holy Father in the service of maintaining and enhancing the unity of the Church," says Monsignor Cox.

Donations to the Cardinal Manning or Cardinal Levada Chairs should be sent to St. John's Seminary, Office of Advancement, 5012 Seminary Road, Camarillo, CA 93012-2598. For more information write advancement@stjohnsem.edu or call (805) 482-2755 ext 2037.