We have been back at Allen Hall for about ten days – a few days of induction and settling in, and then lectures started properly this Monday. It’s great to get stuck into the new year.
Sixteen new seminarians have arrived at Allen Hall – the largest intake in many years. Most of these are ‘first years’ beginning their formation for Catholic priesthood; one or two began elsewhere and are starting a new stage in their formation here.
I was going to entitle this post ‘seminary numbers increasing’, but then I realised that this is the same title I gave to a post at the beginning of the last academic year – which you can read it here. The good news about vocations seems to be continuing, not just here but in other seminaries as well.
The other bit of good news is that after much behind-the-scenes work our new website has just been launched. You can see a snapshot above, and if you want to browse around click here.
It looks fantastic. Yes, it’s a WordPress theme! I wish I could find something as crisp for the blog, but I can’t find anything that quite works for me on the free WordPress options. I feel I need a slight refresh – any ideas about blog themes are gratefully received.
Bridges and Tangents 
Yes, you’re right. The Allen Hall website does look fantastic. It suits its purpose very well. Its main purposes being, as far as I’m concerned, to inform and interest people about the life and work of the seminary. Forgive me for sounding a little unadventurous but I don’t ‘do’ change very well. I think the blog looks great. It is a format people have grown used to over the years and one they must like – or else they wouldn’t keep reading.
In a nutshell, please don’t change anything Father Stephen, you’re onto a winner the way things are.
Thanks Simon – I’m still tempted by a refresh, but I realise many people (including myself) like what is familiar as well. And yes, the present design seems to fulfil its purpose.
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Hoping in Mary to hear from you soon,
Kevin
I had a look at the website on my son’s iPad, it looks good. We watched the Fishers of Men video together. He looked at the typical day and wanted to know why supper is optional and breakfast isn’t. I told him the seminarians are allowed out sometimes!
He is very perceptive! And yes, it reflects the balance of ‘community’ and ‘freedom’ – always an interesting question.