The Seminary at 80

The 80th anniversary of the opening of St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs Seminary was celebrated with Holy Mass at the Seminary’s chapel on Friday, January 20. Archbishop Jason Gordon was the chief celebrant. At the end of the Mass, Vice Rector Fr Jason Boatswain gave the Principal’s Address.

The decision to start a seminary in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain began with the inspiration of Pope Benedict XV, whose pontificate extended 1914–1922, and was continued by Pius XI from 1922–1939. It was again echoed in the heart of Pius XII from 1939–1958. It would also be in the heart of Archbishop Finbar Ryan that a local seminary be established.

Initially, there seemed to be some resistance from some sections of the local Church. Archbishop Finbar Ryan, however, had both a desire to fulfil the request of the Holy Father, as well as a strong belief in the local people. He wrote, “…I surveyed the possibilities and saw in the lovely youth of our country a hope that would rejoice the heart of the vicar of Christ.”

Who can deny today that the Seminary of John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs, which was started on  January 19, 1943 – 80 years ago, was not the will of God? In fact, this was the firm belief of Archbishop Ryan when he stated that, “God wills it so!”.

The insistence of three popes for a local seminary, which was relentlessly pursued by Archbishop Ryan, was received in the hearts of five young men: John Mendes, 16; Joseph Daly, 16; and Andrew Joseph, 16 all from Siparia; as well as Frances de Matas, 15 from Maracas; and none other than Urban Peschier from the Royal Chartered Borough of Arima who entered the Seminary at a ripe old age of 13!

He would become our original Msgr Peschier, Judicial Vicar and Spiritual Director at the seminary during my time. When God’s will finds receptivity in the heart of an individual, good things are accomplished but when it concurrently finds receptivity in the heart of a community, great things are accomplished.

This was the case when in 1943, the Benedictine community decided to take the responsibility to begin the seminary. We recognise the Benedictine foundations of the seminary through its first Rectors – Frs Bernard Vlaar OSB 1943–1948; Leo Van Leeuwen 1948–1953; and Idelfons Schroots OSB 1953–1970.

The Benedictines not only started the Seminary but from “1943 – 1960 the Seminary was the sole responsibility of the Abbey which supplied building, library, and staff, with no charges for maintenance and no remuneration for staff or grant for library. The Seminary was never a financial burden on the Archdiocese.” This debt of gratitude to the Benedictine Community is truly impossible to be repaid, and we need to pause for a moment in thanksgiving and recognition of the deep commitment of the Benedictine Community to the local Church.

For the regional Church

The vision of the Seminary has always been that it would be a Regional Seminary, so very early it began taking in men from different parts of the Caribbean. Moreover, this must be understood in the context that Port of Spain was the chief city of the Federation of the Caribbean. Thus, the other islands would send their vocations to Trinidad.

By the year 1968, the student body had grown to 52 candidates coming from the Dioceses of Castries, Georgetown, Paramaribo, St George’s and Port of Spain and from the Benedictine, Spiritan, and Sons of Mary Immaculate religious institutes.

One of the first non-Trinidadians to the Seminary was Kelvin Felix from Dominica who was ordained as priest on April 8, 1956 as the first local diocesan priest in the Diocese of Roseau.

He returned for a short teaching stint at the Seminary and at one time served as Chairman of the Regional Seminary Board. He was ordained Archbishop of Castries in 1981 but brought great joy to the Caribbean when Pope Francis named him first-ever Cardinal in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The year 1970 was one of the most critical periods in the Church. This was characterised by the Black Power revolutions, the cultural revolution worldwide, and a turn towards local, national, and regional identities.

The Seminary and the Church made a very similar move with Archbishop Anthony Pantin CSSp being ordained as the first local Archbishop and Fr Michel de Verteuil CSSp, the first local Rector of the Seminary (1970–1978).

Building upon the foundations laid by the Benedictines, it was the genius of Fr Michel who formed and shaped the pastoral architecture of the Archdiocese through the formation of both clergy and lay people.

This integral formation continued with Fr Cyril Ross RIP (1978–1980), Fr Henry Charles RIP (1980–1989), Bishop John Mendes RIP (1989–1993), Fr Joseph Harris CSSp (1994–1999), Msgr Michael de Verteuil (1999–2008), Msgr Michael Stewart (2008–2010) and Msgr Allan Ventour (2013–2018), and Msgr Cuthbert Alexander (2019 to present).

In the genealogy of Jesus, we see the way in which grace overcomes sin. The genealogy of the Seminary shows how the will of God overcomes doubt and fear. The same doubt, fear and uncertainty that overshadowed the beginning of the Seminary overshadows us today. Yet we can recommit ourselves in the sure and certain hope that this Seminary is firmly rooted in the heart of God and thus, the Lord will continue to sustain it, provide for it, and call the men to live in it.

The genealogy of Jesus also shows the importance of outsiders in salvation history – Moabites, Hittites, and Canaanites. The presence of seminarians from Africa is almost the fulfilment of a prophetic call.

Msgr Alexander recalls that Rev Deacons Augustine and Matthias, two Ugandans, came to the Seminary at the critical juncture when it was about to return to Mt St Benedict from St Joseph. He saw in their coming prayers answered through the intercession of the Ugandan Martyrs and St John Vianney. I agree.

The presence of other students preparing for the priesthood from Africa – Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe – who belong to the Holy Ghost and Benedictine communities seem to be the result of the powerful intercession of the African Martyrs.

In fact, today (January 20) is the actual date one year ago, when Samwel and Daniel came from Kenya to Aspirancy House in St Joseph. Coincidence? Their absence will make the continuation of the Seminary and academic block extremely difficult to continue.

In closing, I want to echo the words of Fr Henry Charles who in 1986 on the 25th anniversary of the Seminary building expressed gratitude by stating,  “We have much to be thankful for, the legacy of commitment passed on by the Benedictines, the example of witness by the first pioneering priests, the creative work done in the Church throughout the region, the enduring ties of friendship and fellowship begun here and sustained, and the encouragement and support of people too many to mention.”