Fr. King Burse: A Lasting Legacy

The story below was originally published in The Athenaeum, MTSM’s bi-annual magazine. The Athenaeum is published twice a year for alumni, patrons and friends of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. To be added to the mailing list, contact: Heidi Walsh at 513.233.6159 or hwalsh@athenaeum.edu.

The parishioners at Guardian Angels parish, where Rev. Thomas M. King has served for more than 20 years asked how they should commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 2, Fr. King did not consider a gift for himself. Instead, he requested the Guardian Angels family create a burse in his honor. A burse is a permanent fund that supports the educational needs of the seminarians. A fully funded burse requires a $25,000 minimum commitment.

The Guardian Angels parish set an initial goal of $50,000 to coincide with Fr. King’s 50th Anniversary. The outpouring of support both in honor of Fr. King and for the future priests who will receive the support from the Rev. Thomas M. King Burse while at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary has been extraordinary. To date, there have been more than 100 gifts to the burse, totaling more than $52,000.

“Fr. King is very beloved in our family of parishes, with his sense of humor and willingness to truly be a servant to the people of the St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes,” Rev. Steve Angi, Pastor for the St. Gregory the Great Family of Parishes said. “This is witnessed to by their generosity in supporting the Fr. King Burse for future training of seminarians.”

All burses become part of the Seminary’s permanent endowment. Each year, a portion of the income from the burse will be used to help support the formation of a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Currently there are 46 men from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati preparing for the holy priesthood at MTSM.

To make a donation to the Rev. Thomas M. King Burse, click here. For additional information about the Rev. Thomas M. King Burse or supporting MTSM, please contact Dr. Lori Rassati, Vice President for Development and Relations, at 513.233.6161 or lrassati@athenaeum.edu.