St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary in the Archdiocse of Karachi. It had 21 seminarians in April 2008.[1] Father Benjamin Shehzad was the seminary’s rector from 2005 to 2012. In 2012 he was appointed Rector of Christ for the King major seminary.[2]
The Seminary is one of four minor seminaries educating 92 seminarians in Faisalabad, Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. Major seminary studies are split between St. Francis Xavier Seminary in Lahore, where 41 seminarians are studying philosophy, and Christ the King Seminary in Karachi, where 23 seminarians who have finished their study of philosophy are studying theology.[3]
Contents
Expansion
Due to congestion and other issues, a larger seminary building was constructed on ground adjacent to St. Jude's Church in Karachi. Archbishop Evarist Pinto performed the groundbreaking on the 2,044 square meter site. Construction of the seminary began in October 2008, with completion targeted for October 2009. [4]
In May 2011, Archbishop Evarist Pinto cut the ribbon and opened the much-needed newly constructed seminary. The archdiocese faced a vocation crisis for three decades as many applicants had to be turned away due to lack of space. The 12 minor seminarians have to move into the new block very soon. Spanning 6,070 square meters, the facility can accommodate more 50 candidates and has a chapel, library and computer room. In The seminary received financial assistance for the construction of its new facilities from the Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, Kansas, USA.[5]
In 2011 88 minor and 94 major seminarians filled the four minor and two major seminaries in the country.
History
St. Pius X Minor Seminary opened in 1958 later becoming the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta in Baluchistan Province. It was shifted to Catholic Colony in Karachi in 1973.
In August 2011 St Pius became the first seminary in the country to provide internet access to its students.[6] Hope you liked it:)
Rectors
- Fr. Joseph Cordeiro – 1952 - 1958[7]
- Fr. Francis de Souza – 1958 – 1965[8]
- Fr. Luperc Mascarenhas – 1965 - 1990
- Fr. James deSouza – 1990 – 1994
- Fr. Joseph D’Mello – 1994 - 2001
- Fr. Augustine Soares – 2001 - 2005
- Fr. Benjamin Shahzad – 2005 - 2012
- Fr. Benny Travas - 2012 - 2014
- Fr. Ryan Joseph - 2014 -
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Agenzia Fides 18 December 2012
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Ucanews May 17, 2011
- ↑ Curé of Ars Parish website, July 6, 2010
- ↑ CathNews India, August 26, 2011
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Christian Voice, Karachi, August 31, 2008
