St. Pius X Minor Seminary
Encyclopedia
St. Pius X Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary in the Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan. It had 25 seminarians in January 2010. Father Benjamin Shehzad is the seminary’s rector.
Due to congestion and other problems a new, larger seminary building is to be 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 will begin in October 2008, with completion targeted for October 2009.
St. Pius X Minor Seminary opened in 1958 in what is now the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
in Baluchistan Province. It was shifted to Catholic Colony in Karachi in 1973.
St. Pius X Minor 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.
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 are 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 2011 there are 88 minor and 94 major seminarians in the four minor and two major seminaries in the country.
The seminary received financial assistance for the construction of its new facilities from the Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, Kansas
, USA.
In August 2011 St Pius became the first seminary in the country to provide internet access to its students.
Due to congestion and other problems a new, larger seminary building is to be constructed on ground adjacent to St. Jude's Church
St. Jude's Church
St. Jude's Church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, is situated in North Nazimabad in Karachi, Pakistan.-History:In 1951 Gabriel Indrias did a survey of 25 Catholic families living across the Lyari River from the Portiuncula Friary. Fr. Edouald OFM was the first parish priest...
in Karachi. Archbishop Evarist Pinto
Evarist Pinto
Evarist Pinto is the current Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.-Education:He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, where he was ordained a priest on 6 January 1968. He also had a doctorate in theology...
performed the groundbreaking on the 2,044 square meter site. Construction of the seminary will begin in October 2008, with completion targeted for October 2009.
St. Pius X Minor Seminary opened in 1958 in what is now the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
The Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta was established on November 9, 2001 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi...
in Baluchistan Province. It was shifted to Catholic Colony in Karachi in 1973.
St. Pius X Minor 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
St. Francis Xavier Seminary
St. Francis Xavier Seminary is situated on four hectares of land next to the Christian housing estate of Yuhannabad, 25 kilometers east of Lahore. It is an Institute of Philosophical studies serving the whole country. It offers a two year program in Christian Philosophy. It is affiliated to the...
in Lahore, where 41 seminarians are studying philosophy, and Christ the King Seminary
Christ the King Seminary (Pakistan)
Christ the King Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary in Karachi. It is located adjacent to the Portiuncula Friary. In its early years most of the faculty were provided by the Franciscans....
in Karachi, where 23 seminarians who have finished their study of philosophy are studying theology.
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 are 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 2011 there are 88 minor and 94 major seminarians in the four minor and two major seminaries in the country.
The seminary received financial assistance for the construction of its new facilities from the Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, Kansas
Leawood, Kansas
Leawood is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The city is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri and is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 31,867.-History:...
, USA.
In August 2011 St Pius became the first seminary in the country to provide internet access to its students.
Rectors
- Fr. Joseph CordeiroJoseph CordeiroJoseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro was the first Pakistani cardinal.-Education:He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi, the University of Bombay and Oxford University...
– 1952 - 1958 - Fr. Francis de SouzaFrancis de SouzaFrancis de Souza is only the second priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi to complete 60 years of service. He received his religious training at the Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka and was ordained a priest on 24 August 1948. He served as Principal of St. Lawrence's Boys School from...
– 1958 – 1965 - Fr. Luperc Mascarenhas – 1965 - 1990
- Fr. James deSouzaJames deSouzaJames “Jimmy” deSouza was born on December 11, 1925, in Karachi, Pakistan. He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi. He received his religious training at the Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka, which entered in 1944 and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi...
– 1990 – 1994 - Fr. Joe D’Mello – 1994 - 2001
- Fr. Augustine SoaresAugustine SoaresAugustine Soares is a Roman Catholic priest in Karachi, Pakistan. He was born in Karachi and received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi....
– 2001 - 2005 - Fr. Ben Shahzad – 2005 -