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St Benedict’s seminary closes

BELIZE

Due to the high and low waves of vocations, Bishop Lawrence Nicasio of Belize City and Belmopan decided that the St Benedict Diocesan Seminary temporarily close from July 31 until conditions are fitting for formation to be done and continue in the diocese.

The Christian Herald reported enrolment from 2013 – 2017 produced four seminarians who entered Kenrick Glennon Seminary, Missouri, US with no new seminarians for intake of 2017.

The number seems small but the impact is immense and hopeful especially in light of shortage of priests in our diocese. Our Catholic Church in Belize is still a missionary one experiencing the high and low waves of vocations. Many have come and given their lives serving our Lord in the local church in Belize. Yet the Lord of the harvest continues to call more labourers even in difficult time.

Opened in August 2013, the monastery buildings of St Benedict Diocesan Seminary were once owned by the Benedictines and turned to a minor seminary after years of discussion, discernment and continuing the Church’s mission – to teach all nations everything that He has commanded.

The seminary followed the rules of canon law and the stipulations of the priestly formation programme as required by the Church with the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation vital aspects of the life of the seminary.

The diocesan monthly said seminarians were welcomed according to set requirements and the curriculum and sequence of courses had in view continuation at a major seminary, namely, Kenrick Glennon Seminary.

The formation included the intellectual, liturgical, pastoral and human dimensions at junior college level where studies included the humanities and sciences.