Holy Cross Seminary

New Priests: 2006

	FR. R. MICHAEL JOHNSON Originally from Washington, D.C. Reverend Mr. Johnson lived most of his adult life in California, U.S.A. At the age of 62, he is certainly a late vocation, having sought his entire life for the traditional formation that he has received in the Society of Saint Pius X. He first entered into the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1962, and after four years, two of which in temporary vows, he was forced to leave on account of the changes that immediately followed Vatican II, destroying the religious life. After four years in the US Air Force, he entered St. Mary’s Cistercian monastery in New Ringgold, PA in 1971, being forced to leave in 1975, also on account of the modernist changes. After studies in Accounting and Computer Science, Reverend Johnson spent the next 20 years as an accounting and payroll manager and computer programmer analyst in California, also taking care of his sick and elderly mother. After his mother’s death in 1996, he applied to enter the Society’s seminary, and after a period of probation, he entered into St. John Vianney Seminary in Flavigny, France in October 2000. This was followed by one year at St. Pius X Seminary in Econe, Switzerland, after which he transferred to Holy Cross in November 2002, spending the last four years of his long formation at Holy Cross Seminary.
	FR. CHRISTOPHER CURTIS Reverend Mr. Curtis, of Anglo-Indian origin, but born and raised in Melbourne, is now 34 years of age. His secondary studies were accomplished at Chadstone Salesian College. Afterwards he studied at the Victorian College of the Arts and worked as a classical guitarist and teacher. In 1995, along with his father, he found Tradition at Our lady of Perpetual Help and St. Andrew church in Hampton, Victoria. Following Ignation retreats in 1996 and 1997, he determined to follow a religious vocation. He arrived at Holy Cross Seminary in March 2001, but was advised to follow a priestly vocation, which he has done ever since, accomplishing very well the necessary studies.
	FR. MICHAEL LAVIN Reverend Mr. Lavin, now 23 years of age, grew up near Cambridge, New Zealand. His parents became traditional in 1987, knowing that otherwise they would never have any vocations among their children. Reverend Lavin spent the year 1997 at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Tynong, at which time he was in Year 9. His parents then moved to Wanganui in 1998 to be close to the priory of the Society of Saint Pius X. He had always felt the calling to follow a priestly vocation but it was during an Ignation retreat in 1999 that he resolved to follow through with it, under the guidance of Fathers Delsorte and De la Tour. He entered Holy Cross Seminary in March 2001, and has now completed his sixth year of studies. He will be the fourth New Zealand priest in the Society.

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