Mentoring seminarians: The Franciscan wisdom of Br. Bill

The homily. It’s that insightful moment after a Scripture reading and before the Eucharist when a priest delivers commentary, linking the two, and offers spiritual guidance gleaned from years of study and experience, tailored for the moment and the audience before him.  

Men like Br. Bill Burton, OFM, guide prospective pastors on the art and soul of the homily, calling upon interpretation capabilities that form in seminary and develop for a lifetime. “Jesus came to take away your sins,” Br. Bill tells seminarians. “Not your minds.” 

Brother Bill, who received training as an alcohol and drug counselor, has been a Scripture teacher at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore since September 2019. 

He taught for seven years at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, mentoring seminarians in biblical studies and homily preparation. The province facilitated this shift early in his ministry. 

“My interest in Scripture was deeper than I thought, even when I studied it in college,” he said. “I couldn't get enough of it. It was a wonderful, happy accident that I was told to forget about the counseling and get a doctorate in Scripture.”  

For fun, Br. Bill Burton, OFM, exchanged habits with a friend and colleague, the late Bishop Robert Christian, OP. Br. Bill’s ministry sent him all over the globe to meet with many memorable people. (Photo courtesy of Br. Bill Burton, OFM)

'The friars just found me’ 

Br. Bill was born in St. Louis. He began his religious life after moving to Quincy, Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Quincy University, which was established by friars in 1860. 

As a child, he was surprised when a young friar visited his home for the parish census. He hollered, “Mom! There’s a man in a brown dress on the porch!” Years later, he became one of those men. 

Br. Bill’s mother worked as the parish bookkeeper and secretary, and after school, Bill helped the brothers at the friary. “I was born a Franciscan and the friars just found me,” he said. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for you guys to show up.” 

Nice homily, Father 

Br. Bill encourages biblical literacy via teaching, study groups, pilgrimages and multimedia. His book, “Abba Isn’t Daddy and Other Biblical Surprises”, inspires lay Scripture study, and he has presented at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. 

He mentors seminarians, helping them see their relationship with God and develop the ability to deliver meaningful homilies. Among his courses: Introductory New Testament Greek, The Book of Revelation, The Bible in Church Teaching and Jesus at Table. 

He brings a wealth of experience in fraternity with friars worldwide, having lived and learned among 150 brothers at the Antonianum while studying at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. 

Br. Bill’s world studies and interactions with friars provide him with insights he shares with his students, who find him both meticulous and full of humor and joy – traits his friar formators modeled for him. 

“Friars have a good time with one another,” said Br. Bill. “That is important for us.” 

Br. Bill Burton, OFM, with pilgrims in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. His shared journeys with people of different faiths have deepened his understanding of a benevolent God and his incredible creation. (Photo courtesy of Br. Bill)

'Apply your intellect’ 

The pastoral year is a critical period for seminary evaluation, as Br. Bill describes it. Seminarians devote two years to study at St. Mary’s, a year to pastoral work in their diocese, and then return to the seminary for two more years.  

Diocesan priests often must assume demanding roles early, becoming pastors quickly and sometimes leading large parishes without any assistants. 

“You must apply your intellect,” he said. “The authors of these biblical texts were divinely inspired. I’m not. That’s when we’re in contact with the inspired Word of God. It is our intellect that makes this awareness come alive in our minds and hearts.”  

Br. Bill compares it to giving seminarians new toys. 

“I have these great toys of biblical scholarship, and I get to show you how to use them, and then we get to play with them,” he said. “I want them to find biblical study fulfilling and enjoyable; not just work. Students don’t often feel the same, but that’s my approach.” 

Until they have to write a homily. “Then, it's ‘Oh, gosh, Burton said that, now I remember,’” he said. 

“You need to understand the text so that you can make that Sunday morning homily in Mass, or bring it to your pastoral care, that’s the fundamental value, at least for me, teaching it,” Br. Bill said. 

Br. Bill Burton, OFM, chats with pilgrims at the Church of the Beatitudes in Galilee. Pilgrimages are an integral part of learning, he believes. (Photo courtesy of Br. Bill)

For everything, a season 

““I assume you seminarians love God, well, you are called here to study the object of your affection, God!” Br. Bill tells seminarians from the start of their spiritual development. 

“You’ll learn more about your beloved here and will never have this opportunity for such focused study again.” 

One class ends, and another class starts. 

“All you can do is hope that something good was done there, and that I’ve helped them do their work,” Br. Bill said. “Now I have an incoming class I must prepare lectures for.” 

Br. Bill notices how student questions often lead to meaningful discussions, which highlight the link between Franciscan theology and practical values. 

“It’s not just living side by side with the students, but in engagement with them,” he said. “It’s not ignoring each other so we don’t fight. We will seek engagement with the seminarians and accept the person as they are. 

“That’s the opening gambit.”