ST. MARY'S MINOR SEMINARY
 Diocese of Thanjavur

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INTRODUCTION

         St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, with its success story of 65 years of fruitful service, is one of the much reputed institutions of the Diocese of Thanjavur. Having given about 200 priests to the diocese so far, it has grown from strength to strength till today and the Present Bishop the Most Rev. Dr. M. Devadass Ambrose is also one of her illustrious products.

       St. Mary’s Minor Seminary came into existence in the year 1953 and enjoys the special distinction of being the very first institution started by the Bishop of the New Diocese. The rapid changes in the wake of increased urbanization with its noise pollution and the need of renovation forced the Seminary to have a shift in its venue. The New building is in an atmosphere of peace and serenity. The new Seminary was blessed on 22nd November 2002, the day when the formation of the Diocese of Thanjavur was announced 50 years ago.

          At present Number of Priests is  186 and the both Major and Minor  Seminarians are 58.

MISSION

        No wonder there is a global decline in vocations due to prevalence of secularism and technological explosion. Lack of faith formation at the grass root level, minimized modern families, shift of role models from religious to secular sphere and much more can be cited for such a dire situation worldwide. However the diocese of Thanjavur stands an exemption with satisfactory number of candidates for priesthood so far. The mission of the Commission for vocation is to propagate in all the levels the necessity of priestly vocation for the pastoral care of the future Church.

 

ACTION PLAN

1. To visit the parishes individually or collectively in vicariate centers to make a survey of Catholic students who are regular to church activities and to be in constant touch with them to instill the aspiration of vocation gradually.

2. To organize periodical get-together of those future candidates in the Minor Seminary itself to give them a foretaste of community life.

3. Every year the vacation camp for the Major seminarians and vocation camp to select new members are conducted.

4. To select the worthy candidates irrespective of caste.

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In the service of the Lord,

Fr. J. Augustine

                                                                                                                              Commission Secretary