On Saturday, October 24^th, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary celebrated Cassock Day, the day where the new men are allowed to stop wearing suits and officially wear their new cassocks on campus.

The black cassock worn by seminarians and priests is a long, close fitting, ankle length robe and takes its origin from the tunic that was worn under the toga in classical antiquity.  The color of the cassock differs from that of Priests and Seminarians for Cardinals, Bishops, and Monsignors when serving at liturgies.  When at non-liturgical functions, a Cardinal, Bishop or Monsignor may wear a black cassock with colored buttons, trim (piping) and sash that represent their title.  Pope Benedict XVI is always seen wearing a white cassock.

Five seminarians from the Diocese of Raleigh received their new cassocks:  Philip Johnson, Rob Schmid, Ian Van Heusen, Phil List and Ramon Garcia.

Left to right in the photo above: Philip Johnson, Rob Schmid, Ian Van Heusen, Fr. Ned Shlesinger (Director of Vocations), Phil List and Ramon Garcia.  Photo courtesy of 

S. Webb Photography

.