SEMINARY APPEAL Catholic Diocese of Hamilton

Thank you to our Sponsors

“… they followed Him … they know His voice”

(John 10:4)

Phone: 0800 843 233

Email:

cdf@cdh.org.nz

POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE

for the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Dear Brothers and Sisters

‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are

few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to

send out labourers into his harvest’

(Mt 9:35-38) …

… the prayer which Jesus asks of the Church

therefore concerns the need to increase the

number of those who serve his Kingdom …

...‘It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of

his pasture’ (Psalm 100:3) …

Therefore every vocation, even within the variety of paths, always

requires an exodus from oneself in order to centre one’s life on Christ and

on his Gospel. Both in married life and in the forms of religious

consecration, as well as in priestly life, we must surmount the ways of

thinking and acting that do not conform to the will of God.

A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that

becomes mutual service. A vocation flows from the heart of God and

blossoms in the good soil of faithful people. Did not Jesus say: “By this all

men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”

(Jn 13:35) ...

I ask you bishops, priests, Christian communities and families to orient

vocational pastoral planning in this direction, by accompanying young

people on pathways of holiness which, because they are personal, “call for a

genuine ‘training in holiness’ capable of being adapted to every person’s

need …. (Novo Millennio Ineunt, 31).

From the Vatican

15 January 2014

Scan this code to

visit our Diocesan

Vocations website:

thepriesthood.org.nz

The Seminary Holy Cross Seminary is situated at 44 Vermont Street,

Ponsonby, Auckland, and is the National Seminary for the training of Diocesan clergy.

Seminarians are in formation for priesthood. Holy Cross is home for our seminarians for

their training for the priesthood. Lectures are undertaken at nearby Good Shepherd

College where seminarians study towards their Bachelor in Theology. During their

time in the seminary, students participate in human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral

formation.

Whilst there is a shortage of priests in our diocese, overseas clergy have enriched us. Our

diocese is fortunate to have active clergy from the Philippines, South Korea, India, Ireland,

England, Argentina, Fiji, Switzerland.

However, all our clergy are still financially sustained by our diocese. At around 2,500 the

number of Catholics per active priest in our diocese is substantial.

Currently we have 35 parishes in Hamilton Diocese and only 32 priests in active parish

Ministry. Some parishes need two priests. Clearly we need more priests in the diocese.

They must be formed if we are to have enough priests for our people.

We have 6 seminarians currently.

THE SEMINARY FORMATION PROGRAMME

Year 5

Pastoral Year

Years 6 – 7

preparation for

priestly life

Year 1

Human & Spiritual

Formation, Academic

& Pastoral Formation

Year 2 - 4

Bachelor of Theology

WHAT IT COSTS

Costs are substantial: This year, costs are expected to be around $45,000 per

seminarian. Currently we have 6 seminarians.

Their costs cover Seminary/Good Shepherd College overheads, plus seminarians’ board

(meals, accommodation), text books, course fees, telephone/internet, power, insurance,

day trips…..

These costs are funded largely by the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, plus any

donations (including this Seminary Appeal).

However, this funding is not sustainable.

For this reason the diocese is undertaking this additional request for funding now.

TAX REBATE Generally individuals can now claim one third of their

charitable donations up to the level of their annual taxable income excl. the

donations (please refer www.ird.govt.nz/individual/tax/credits). Donors

must present receipts. For details please see Donation boxes at right.

Companies/organisations/also able to claim a tax credit on this and other

charitable donations (please see: www.ird.govt.business/tax/expenses).

Disclaimer: The Catholic Diocese of Hamilton cannot provide advice to you on the

tax implications of donations. Please contact your tax professional for advice on your

specific situation.

I/We wish to donate by ( ) please tick appropriate box

Cheque

Please make payable to

your parish name and

mark “Seminary Appeal”

Loose Change

Please include with this

form and put into the

Offertory basket

Internet Banking

(Please use the ‘payee’ a/c

details on form at right)

Please insert your name,

address or parish name/location

in the ‘payee’ Particulars/Code/

Reference boxes for receipting

purposes

Automatic Payments (A/P)

Please complete the

A/P authority form at

right and include your

name, parish name/location

in the ‘payee’ Particulars/

Code/Reference boxes

Signature (s): …………………………………………………….. Date: …../..…./…….

DONATION FORM &

RETURN ‘ENVELOPE’

Mr & Mrs, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Other (Please circle)

First Name(s) ...................................................................................................................................................

Family Name: ..................................................................................................................................................

Address: ..........................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................. Postcode ........................

Phone: Home (…..) .......................................... Mobile ..................................................................................

Email ............................................................... Your Planned Giving number (if you have one) .....................

Your Parish ...................................................... Location. .......................................................................

PLEASE HELP US / WHAT TO DO NOW 1 Pray for our seminarians (and for more young men to answer the call for vocations)

2 Please check you have completed all applicable areas on Donation Form above and

Automatic Bank Payment form (if applic.) at right

3 Detach at the perforation, enclose your donation (if applic.), fold where

marked, seal, and return it to your parish office or put in the offertory basket at

Mass

Privacy Act 1993 I / We acknowledge that personal information concerning me / us whether contained in this form or otherwise obtained, may be held and used by the parish to process information contained on this form, service and maintain my/our parish roll details, provide me/us with information concerning this programme. If you do NOT wish to receive such Information, please write NO in this box The personal information provided in this form is collected by and will be held by your parish. I / We have the right under the Privacy Act 1993 to obtain access to and to request correction of any personal information held by the parish concerning me/us.

Bank of New Zealand Hamilton

R C B I S H O P O F H A M I L T O N 0 2 0 3 4 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 8 0 0 3

S E M I N A R Y

$

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4 Remember the “Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton – Seminary

Account” in your Will. Please contact me / us

CONDITIONS: 1. The Bank will use reasonable care and skill to give effect to the directions given to it in this authority.

2. Where the directions given in this authority have been given by me/us for the purpose of a business, the Bank accepts those directions without any responsibility or liability for any refusal or omission to make all or any of the payments or for late payment or for any omission to follow such directions.

3. The Bank accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained in the payment information fields on this authority.

4. I/We undertake to advise the Bank immediately of any information about payments shown on bank statements which is incorrect.

5. This authority is subject to any arrangement now or hereafter subsisting between myself/ourselves and the Bank in relation to my/our account.

6. The Bank may in its absolute discretion conclusively determine the order or priority of payment by it or any monies pursuant to this or any other authority or cheque which I/we may now or hereafter give to the Bank or draw on my/our account.

7. The Bank may in its absolute discretion refuse to make any one or more payments pursuant to this authority where there are insufficient funds available in my/our account.

8. This authority may be terminated or reduced by the Bank or the payee without notice to me/us in respect of the payments detailed over.

9. This order will remain in force and effect in respect of all payments made in good faith notwithstanding my/our death or bankruptcy or any other revocation of this order until notice of my/our death, bankruptcy or other revocation is received by the Bank.

10. All current Bank and Government charges for this service in force from time to time are to be debited to my/our account.

ALTERATION TO FIXED AMOUNT Please alter the fixed amount of this transfer

As from /

Fixed Amount $

Amount in Words Customer’s Signature

As from /

Fixed Amount $

Amount in Words Customer’s Signature

FOR BANK USE ONLY

Date Received:

Recorded By: Checked By

X Code Reason

Sign

Donation Form/Return ‘Envelope’

Please complete this form, enclose donation (if applic.)

and detach at the dotted line. Then fold and seal and put into

the Collection Basket, or forward to the Parish Office.

Thank you.

BANK

STAMP

please seal here

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