Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
15 May 2012
The past 12 months have been a landmark year for Sydney's youngest seminary. In addition to moving from cramped temporary quarters at Pagewood to a handsome new purpose-built home at Chester Hill, the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary of the Neocatechumenal Way recently celebrated the first ordination to the priesthood of two its candidates and the ordination of a further four to the Sydney Diaconate at St Mary's Cathedral late last year.
A world within a world, the 22 seminarians in training for the priesthood at Chester Hill hail from 15 different nations. This international mix includes seminarians from Italy, Sudan, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, Columbia, Poland, Chile, India, Ecuador, Croatia, Venezuela, El Salvador and of course, Australia.
"One of the demons afflicting society is nationalism and by having seminarians from a wide variety of countries is a way of breaking down those barriers," says Fr Eric Skruzny, Rector of the Seminary, explaining that by living and studying together, Redemptoris Mater seminarians learn to understand and love one another regardless of culture, language or skin colour.
As missionary priests of the Neocatechumenal Way, Fr Eric says it is also important that those entering the priesthood not only be open to the Lord but open to whatever corner of the world the Lord may send them.
The Neocatechumenal Way is a charism founded in the shanty towns of Madrid during the Second Vatican Council. Dedicated to the New Evangelisation lay communities not only lived and worked with the poorest of the poor, but brought them the great gift of Christ and the Gospels.
From Madrid, the Neocatechumnal Way quickly spread with communities established in poverty-stricken villages, towns and city slums in nations across the world. Offering hope and God's love as well as practical support, the Neocatechumenal Way founded its own Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Rome in 1987 in answer to Blessed Pope Paul II's call for a better distribution of priests worldwide and to tackle the problem of the scarcity of priests in many parts of the world.
Since then, more than 86 Redemptoris Mater Seminaries of the Neocatechumenal Way have been established across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Australia.
In 1994, Perth became the first city in Australia to have its own Redemptoris Mater Seminary and in 2003 this was followed by the establishment of the Sydney seminary. Initially the Sydney seminary was temporarily housed in a former Marist Brothers religious house at Pagewood. Then late last year, the first stage of the new purpose-built seminary at Chester Hill complete, Fr Eric, staff and the seminary's 22 priests-in-training were able to move in. Then in late February this year, the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell officially opened and blessed the seminary, describing it as an important complement to the Seminary of the Good Shepherd at Homebush, comparing the them to "two lungs, each different, complementary and necessary."
Students of Sydney's newest seminary receive the same academic formation as those at Homebush, completing their theological and philosophical studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and the University of Notre Dame. Unlike seminarians at the Good Shepherd, part of their faith formation involves participating the life of a Neocatechumenal community. In addition before ordination, Redemptoris Mater seminarians are sent on missionary experiences not only across Australia but overseas well.
The completed Stage I of the new seminary includes accommodation for 30 seminarians and staff, three classrooms, a dining room and a temporary chapel. Fundraising for Stage II which will include further accommodation, a library, lecture theatre, gardens, a permanent chapel and belltower, is now underway.
Followers of the Neocatechumenal Way raised more than $1 million for the first stage with the rest of the monies needed obtained through the help and generosity of Cardinal Pell, the Archdiocese of Sydney and Archdiocese's Catholic Development Fund which arranged a loan to build the Chester Hill seminary.
"We are extremely grateful for all the help we have received and continue to receive," says Fr Eric and give special thanks to the Archdiocese of Sydney's Charitable Works Fund which covers the cost of tuition for the Seminary's 22 international student priests.
SOURCE: ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
15 May 2012
Father Eric Skruzny welcomes Cardinal George Pell at
opening of the new Redemptoris seminary at Chester Hill
opening of the new Redemptoris seminary at Chester Hill
A world within a world, the 22 seminarians in training for the priesthood at Chester Hill hail from 15 different nations. This international mix includes seminarians from Italy, Sudan, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, Columbia, Poland, Chile, India, Ecuador, Croatia, Venezuela, El Salvador and of course, Australia.
"One of the demons afflicting society is nationalism and by having seminarians from a wide variety of countries is a way of breaking down those barriers," says Fr Eric Skruzny, Rector of the Seminary, explaining that by living and studying together, Redemptoris Mater seminarians learn to understand and love one another regardless of culture, language or skin colour.
The new purpose built Redemptoris Mater Missionary
Seminary opened in February this year
Seminary opened in February this year
The Neocatechumenal Way is a charism founded in the shanty towns of Madrid during the Second Vatican Council. Dedicated to the New Evangelisation lay communities not only lived and worked with the poorest of the poor, but brought them the great gift of Christ and the Gospels.
From Madrid, the Neocatechumnal Way quickly spread with communities established in poverty-stricken villages, towns and city slums in nations across the world. Offering hope and God's love as well as practical support, the Neocatechumenal Way founded its own Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Rome in 1987 in answer to Blessed Pope Paul II's call for a better distribution of priests worldwide and to tackle the problem of the scarcity of priests in many parts of the world.
Icon of the Virgin Mary
by Kiko Argüello,
the Spanish painter who initiated
the Neocatechumenal Way
by Kiko Argüello,
the Spanish painter who initiated
the Neocatechumenal Way
In 1994, Perth became the first city in Australia to have its own Redemptoris Mater Seminary and in 2003 this was followed by the establishment of the Sydney seminary. Initially the Sydney seminary was temporarily housed in a former Marist Brothers religious house at Pagewood. Then late last year, the first stage of the new purpose-built seminary at Chester Hill complete, Fr Eric, staff and the seminary's 22 priests-in-training were able to move in. Then in late February this year, the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell officially opened and blessed the seminary, describing it as an important complement to the Seminary of the Good Shepherd at Homebush, comparing the them to "two lungs, each different, complementary and necessary."
Students of Sydney's newest seminary receive the same academic formation as those at Homebush, completing their theological and philosophical studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and the University of Notre Dame. Unlike seminarians at the Good Shepherd, part of their faith formation involves participating the life of a Neocatechumenal community. In addition before ordination, Redemptoris Mater seminarians are sent on missionary experiences not only across Australia but overseas well.
The completed Stage I of the new seminary includes accommodation for 30 seminarians and staff, three classrooms, a dining room and a temporary chapel. Fundraising for Stage II which will include further accommodation, a library, lecture theatre, gardens, a permanent chapel and belltower, is now underway.
Founder Kiko Arguello
"We are extremely grateful for all the help we have received and continue to receive," says Fr Eric and give special thanks to the Archdiocese of Sydney's Charitable Works Fund which covers the cost of tuition for the Seminary's 22 international student priests.
SOURCE: ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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