Good ShepherdSunday 2015Newsletter N E W S F R O M C O R P U S C
H R I S T I C O L L E G ET H E R E G I O N A L S E M I N A R Y F O
R V I C T O R I A A N D TA S M A N I AA P R I L 2 0 1 5
The Melbourne Archdiocese and the Sandhurst Diocese will be
blessed this year with the ordination of priests for service of the
people of God within them. As a seminarian, it is a bit surreal
writing this article about a group of men who have been mentors to
me and the community which they have been a fundamental part of,
here in the seminary. Over the years, many have taken younger
students under their wings, provided support, advice and help to
those beginning their journey. For us, ordination is that
bittersweet moment when a seminarian loses a brother, to gain a
Father. Yet this is what everyone sets their eyes upon at the start
of this journey, on that day when we entered Corpus Christi
College.
For these good men and all seminarians to follow, ordination is
not the end of the race, but the end of the training for the race.
The Marathon of Sanctification which they will run for the rest of
their years until they hear the Lord say, Well done, good and
faifhful Servant!, has only begun.
NATHAN RAWLINS
C L A S S O F 2 0 1 5
E D I T O R N AT H A N R AW L I N S A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R
T R A C N G U Y E N D E S I G N A D I I N D R A A D D R E S S : 1 8
0 D R U M M O N D S T R E E T C A R LT O N V I C T O R I A 3 0 5 3
P H O N E : 0 3 9 6 5 7 0 2 2 2 E M A I L : C O R P U S C H R I S T
I C O L L E G E @ C A M . O R G . A U W E B : C O R P U S C H R I S
T I C O L L E G E . O R G . A U
The training of seminarians to serve the People of God and the
Church as priests in our parishes, institutions and the wider
community is a work that continues the work of Christ in the world.
As the number of seminarians rise, there is now a need to extend
the seminary to add eight (8) more rooms to meet the increase in
number of young men who are bravely answering the call to serve.
The Seminarians and the Trustees of Corpus Christi College now ask
anyone who is able in any way, to join them in sharing the
financial burden of this necessary work which will ensure that the
College is capable of accepting and training as many seminarians as
possible for the priesthood. Any assistance offered would be
greatly appreciated. Contact us on (03) 9657 0222 or email us at
[email protected] for more information.
We need more rooms!
The seminary is full.
How can this be? We live in one of the worlds most secularised
societies where the largest increasing religious group is the
Nones-those with no religious affiliation. To say one is Catholic
and attends mass every Sunday is considered unusual in Australia
now, unlike 40 years ago. I am one of the generation that has grown
up with the dark cloud of the sexual abuse crisis dragged through
the media and stain the image of the priesthood in the eyes of the
faithful and wider society for what seems my entire life.
So how is it that the institution where priests are trained has
no more rooms? That the bishops of Victoria and Tasmania need to
raise funds to build eight (8) desperately needed rooms in the
seminary this year in November? That the number of First Year
Seminarians of 2015 has not been seen since 1974?
Why are these young men, most of whom are in their twenties, who
come from backgrounds as diverse as Australian society, are coming
together to study for the Catholic priesthood, if the world says
they hold an enlightened modern, relativist, secular, atheistic,
materialistic mentality? Why is it that a majority often hold
A N E W A WA K E N I N G
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there are people much more willing to stand up for their faith,
to seek the answers to the questions the modern world throws at
them. Why there are more who are willing to be identified with
their faith, who share their faith with their friends and others at
Catholic social events around the dioceses of Australia and are
willing to work for their faith; to study and practice it and to
seriously discern their vocations. That is why many seminarians and
religious are characterised as missionaries now. They are being
trained to bring the Faith to a culture that has, in many spheres
of its being, forgotten entirely about God or where God was never
welcomed at all in the first place.
university graduate and post-graduate qualifications and come
from a variety of careers (from pharmacists, podiatrists and
teachers, to musicians and steam train conductors), are now
throwing it all away to be a priest? Why is it that when you check
social media like Facebook and Instagram, you find young men
characterised by their joy, the surprising normal things they do
and seemingly having fun, rather then sour faced, seeming half
dead, listless men?What is the world missing in its analysis of
seminarians and Catholics?
They miss the generations who are sincerely looking for faith
and truth in the world and are now finding it in the Churchs
teaching. They miss the joy, the confidence, the hope that
characterises these generations who have found the beauties and
wonderful things of the Church from the past and the wonderful
things our faith has to offer now in new ways as well, to a society
that cannot provide what the Church can offer. Indeed, the Church
can only ever give one thing-Jesus Christ. Now people are realising
how great a gift it is to be Catholic.
This is why Archbishop Fisher laughs that there are young people
complaining they are dragging their parents to Mass. That is
why
P H O T O B Y J O H N C A S A M E N T O
P H O T O B Y J O H N C A S A M E N T O
seminarians
1 1countries of origin
9different Archdioceses and Dioceses across Australia
A U S T R A L I A , I N D I A , C R O AT I A , T H E P H I L I P
P I N E S , V I E T N A M , N E W Z E A L A N D , N I G E R I A , M
YA N M A R , S R I L A N K A , P O L A N D A N D I N D O N E S I
A
M E L B O U R N E , S A N D H U R S T, P O R T P I R I E , S A L
E , H O B A R T, A D E L A I D E , B A L L A R AT, D A R W I N A N
D W O L L O N G O N G
2 0 1 5 I N N U M B E R S
The Deacons of 2015. Back (L-R): Revs. Patrick Bradford,
John-Paul Mount, Daryl Montecillo, Joel Peart, Novelito Lim, Junray
Rayna. Front (L-R): Revs. Francis Denton, Justel Callos, Stephen
Bolling
Also soon to be ordained. Revs. Dong Tran (L) and George
Feliciouz (R) are on their parish internships and are also due to
be ordained this year for the Melbourne Archdiocese.
A R E F L E C T I O N F R O M T H E E D I T O R
To be ordained for the Melbourne Archdiocese:Rev. Patrick
BradfordRev. Daryl MontecilloRev. John-Paul MountRev. Francis
Denton
Rev. Joel PeartRev. Justel CallosRev. Dong Tran
Rev. George Feliciouz
To be ordained for Sandhurst Diocese:Rev. Stephen Bolling
Rev. Novelito LimRev. Junray Rayna
Anthony Beltrame
My first month here at Corpus Christi has been a thoroughly
enjoyable experience. Coming from interstate, I was unsure how
quickly I would adjust to the new environment, new routine and many
new faces. I stepped through the front gates, however, I have been
overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone has been. My favourite part
of the seminary so far are praying the Divine Office as a community
and also daily Mass. Prior to my entrance, this was not something I
had experienced, but it has been so enriching to my faith. Also the
Friday afternoon session is definitely a highlight of the week.
F I R S T Y E A R A R C H D I O C E S E O F A D E L A I D E
Five minutes with...
PaulZaher
Now that I have moved into second year, I can definitely say
that the honeymoon period is over. One of the struggles that many
other seminarians and I face is the struggle to keep our heads down
and concentrate when there are so many distractions around us. We
live opposite the Melbourne Museum and IMAX, around the corner is
the cafes of Lygon St and the heart of the Melbourne CBD is just
down the road. I live with almost 60 brothers and while sometimes
it feel like a fraternity style environment, having these brother
has taught me that I am not alone and they are always willing to
help me keep on track. There are always brothers in the years above
who also help me with my study if I get stuck on an assignment.
S E C O N D Y E A R D I O C E S E O F S A L E
TracNguyen
This is my third year in the seminary, through a special grace
from God who can make everything possible. I come from a country
where English is not really a popular language. The challenge from
the last few years is my spoken and written English. It is very
hard to express our own ideas in written English and speak with
correct pronunciation. However, living in this community with many
fellow seminarians, I am slowly picking up a Aussie accent. The
seminary also has a special program for overseas students which is
called English Language Support Program (ELSP). All this is helping
me along my journey to answer the call from God to serve the people
of God in Australia, especially in the Archdiocese of Melbourne in
the future. Please pray for our fellow seminarians.
T H I R D Y E A R A R C H D I O C E S E O F M E L B O U R N
E
GodwinNyamida
Currently in my fourth year, the seminary experience has been
uplifting: the assistance from other seminarians and also the trend
of activities moving from one category to another. The mix of work
(academic, pastoral, domestic, etc) and prayer makes the experience
in the seminary seem short and tasteful. The beauty of having the
different gifts of different people put at work in the seminary
activities makes everything run smoothly. In the coming period of
the Passion week and Easter when I will be in St Marys Parish,
Ararat, I believe I would have a wonderful spiritual and learning
experience.
F O U R T H Y E A R D I O C E S E O F B A L L A R AT
AnilMascarenhas
I spent the last semester doing my pastoral ministry at St.
Monicas Parish, Moonee Ponds. Under the guidance of the priests
there, I took responsibility in organising Eucharistic services and
various other liturgical services, visiting the home-bound, sick
and elderly, taking communion to nursing homes and working with the
youth. This all has fostered in me a deeper spirit of service and
has also given me the confidence to take on any pastoral
responsibility that would come my way in the future. This year I am
particularly excited about the 30 day retreat which would help me
draw closer to the Good Shepherd. The seminary is a home away from
home and I enjoy being with this family, where I witness the love
of God made manifest through the care and concern of people each
day.
F I F T H Y E A R A R C H D I O C E S E O F M E L B O U R N
E
RamelMorales
I am forever blessed and grateful to God as I continue my
journey of discernment. God willing, I will be ordained deacon for
the Diocese of Port Pirie some time this year. The work of becoming
a priest can be challenging but many people have shown such amazing
support to us. We need lots of prayers and encouragement. So please
continue to pray for me and my fellow seminarians that we might
become humble and faithful servant of God and His people.
S I X T H Y E A R D I O C E S E O F P O R T P I R I E
Rev. StephenBolling
While preparing for ordination, both mentally and practically, I
am also working on my final paper, or synthesis, which will
summarise everything Ive learnt about theology. It will take a lot
of work, but at the same time I also hope I will be able to
appreciate my last year here and enjoy the community life. To me,
the fraternity, founded on our shared faith, is what defines the
seminary community, and particularly as a deacon I want to be able
to be a part of and contribute to that seminary spirit before I go.
Of course, while trying to live in the moment, this also is a time
for looking ahead to my life as a priest and thinking and praying
about my future ministry. So with all the thinking, planning,
writing and praying it will be an intense year, but one I will
enjoy in the company of my brother seminarians.
S E V E N T H Y E A R D I O C E S E O F S A N D H U R S T
Term 1, 2015 in pictures
M E L B O U R N E A R C H D I O C E S EFr David Cartwright
The Cardinal Knox Centre383 Albert Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002T: 03 9926 5733
H O B A R T A R C H D I O C E S EFr Brian Nichols
275 Sandy Bay RoadSandy Bay TAS 7005
T: 03 6224 1423
B A L L A R AT D I O C E S EFr Mathew ThomasSt Patricks
Presbytery
PO Box 64Camperdown VIC 3260
T: 03 5593 1284
S A N D H U R S T D I O C E S EFr Stephen Bohan
Sacred Heart ChurchCnr Murphy & Witt Street
Yarrawonga VIC 3730T: 03 5744 3030
S A L E D I O C E S EFr Michael WillemsenCorpus Christi
College
180 Drummond StCarlton VIC 3053T: 03 9657 0254
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V O C AT I O N S D I R E C T O R SI N V I C T O R I A A N D TA S
M A N I A
1. First Year Seminarians took a selfie before going to
Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, March 20152. The newly instituted
lectors at St Patricks Cathedral, Melbourne, March 2015.3.
Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart with his seminarians, March
2015.4. Olek Stirrat, First Year Seminarian for Adelaide
Archdiocese, March 2015.5. Fr Thinh Nguyen, Formator at Friday
Sports Day, March 2015.6. The Johannine Archers Team at Friday
Sports Day, March 2015.7. Victor Vincent, Fourth Year Seminarian
for Wollongong Diocese at Friday Sports Day, March 2015.8. Avinash
George, Fourth Year Seminarian for Sale Diocese at Friday Sports
Day, March 2015.9. Fr Denis Stanley, Senior Formator enjoying the
afternoon after the visit to Our Lady of TaPinu Shrine, Bacchus
Marsh, April 2015.10. Archbishop Denis Hart presents a copy of the
Catechism and the college badge to Joseph Aung, First Year
Seminarian for Melbourne Archdiocese, March 2015.11. Fr Desmond
Moloney, Vice Rector and First Year Seminarian Jaycee Napoles on
Seminary Family Day, March 2015.
Photo credits: Vincent Taouk, Adi Indra, Joseph Nguyen
F O L L O W U S O N FA C E B O O K !
Corpus Christi College Seminary
