Good Shepherd

Sunday 2015
Newsletter

NEWS FROM CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE

T H E R E G I O N A L S E M I N A R Y F O R V I C T O R I A A N D TA S M A N I A
APRIL 2015

2015 IN NUMBERS

59
11

seminarians

countries of origin
A U S T R A L I A , I N D I A , C R O AT I A , T H E P H I L I P P I N E S , V I E T N A M , N E W Z E A L A N D ,
N I G E R I A , M YA N M A R , S R I L A N K A , P O L A N D A N D I N D O N E S I A

different Archdioceses and Dioceses across Australia

PHOTO BY JOHN CASAMENTO

M E L B O U R N E , S A N D H U R S T, P O R T P I R I E , S A L E , H O B A R T,
A D E L A I D E , B A L L A R AT, D A R W I N A N D W O L L O N G O N G

The Deacons of 2015. Back (L-R): Revs. Patrick Bradford, John-Paul Mount, Daryl Montecillo, Joel Peart, Novelito Lim, Junray Rayna. Front (L-R): Revs. Francis Denton, Justel Callos, Stephen Bolling

We need more rooms!

CLASS OF 2015
A REFLECTION FROM THE EDITOR

The Melbourne Archdiocese and the Sandhurst Diocese will be

blessed this year with the ordination of priests for service of the
people of God within them. As a seminarian, it is a bit surreal
writing this article about a group of men who have been mentors
to me and the community which they have been a fundamental
part of, here in the seminary. Over the years, many have taken
younger students under their wings, provided support, advice
and help to those beginning their journey. For us, ordination is
that bittersweet moment when a seminarian loses a brother, to
gain a Father. Yet this is what everyone sets their eyes upon at
the start of this journey, on that day when we entered Corpus
Christi College.

To be ordained for the Melbourne Archdiocese:

Rev. Patrick Bradford
Rev. Daryl Montecillo
Rev. John-Paul Mount
Rev. Francis Denton
Rev. Joel Peart
Rev. Justel Callos
Rev. Dong Tran
Rev. George Feliciouz
To be ordained for Sandhurst Diocese:
Rev. Stephen Bolling
Rev. Novelito Lim
Rev. Junray Rayna

For these good men and all seminarians to follow, ordination is

not the end of the race, but the end of the training for the race.
The Marathon of Sanctification which they will run for the rest
of their years until they hear the Lord say, Well done, good and
faifhful Servant!, has only begun.

NATHAN RAWLINS

Also soon to be ordained. Revs. Dong Tran (L) and George Feliciouz (R) are on their parish
internships and are also due to be ordained this year for the Melbourne Archdiocese.

The training of seminarians to serve the People of God and

the Church as priests in our parishes, institutions and the
wider community is a work that continues the work of Christ
in the world. As the number of seminarians rise, there is now
a need to extend the seminary to add eight (8) more rooms to
meet the increase in number of young men who are bravely
answering the call to serve. The Seminarians and the Trustees
of Corpus Christi College now ask anyone who is able in
any way, to join them in sharing the financial burden of this
necessary work which will ensure that the College is capable
of accepting and training as many seminarians as possible
for the priesthood. Any assistance offered would be greatly
appreciated. Contact us on (03) 9657 0222 or email us at
corpuschristicollege@cam.org.au for more information.

A N E W A WA K E N I N G
The seminary is full.
How can this be? We live in one of the worlds most secularised
societies where the largest increasing religious group is the Nonesthose with no religious affiliation. To say one is Catholic and
attends mass every Sunday is considered unusual in Australia now,
unlike 40 years ago. I am one of the generation that has grown
up with the dark cloud of the sexual abuse crisis dragged through
the media and stain the image of the priesthood in the eyes of the
faithful and wider society for what seems my entire life.
So how is it that the institution where priests are trained has no
more rooms? That the bishops of Victoria and Tasmania need to
raise funds to build eight (8) desperately needed rooms in the
seminary this year in November? That the number of First Year
Seminarians of 2015 has not been seen since 1974?
Why are these young men, most of whom are in their twenties,
who come from backgrounds as diverse as Australian society, are
coming together to study for the Catholic priesthood, if the world
says they hold an enlightened modern, relativist, secular, atheistic,
materialistic mentality? Why is it that a majority often hold

university graduate and post-graduate qualifications and come from

a variety of careers (from pharmacists, podiatrists and teachers, to
musicians and steam train conductors), are now throwing it all
away to be a priest? Why is it that when you check social media
like Facebook and Instagram, you find young men characterised
by their joy, the surprising normal things they do and seemingly
having fun, rather then sour faced, seeming half dead, listless men?
What is the world missing in its analysis of seminarians and
Catholics?
They miss the generations who are sincerely looking for faith and
truth in the world and are now finding it in the Churchs teaching.
They miss the joy, the confidence, the hope that characterises these
generations who have found the beauties and wonderful things of
the Church from the past and the wonderful things our faith has
to offer now in new ways as well, to a society that cannot provide
what the Church can offer. Indeed, the Church can only ever give
one thing-Jesus Christ. Now people are realising how great a gift it
is to be Catholic.
This is why Archbishop Fisher laughs that there are young people
complaining they are dragging their parents to Mass. That is why

PHOTO BY JOHN CASAMENTO

there are people much more willing to stand up for their faith, to
seek the answers to the questions the modern world throws at them.
Why there are more who are willing to be identified with their
faith, who share their faith with their friends and others at Catholic
social events around the dioceses of Australia and are willing to
work for their faith; to study and practice it and to seriously discern
their vocations. That is why many seminarians and religious are
characterised as missionaries now. They are being trained to
bring the Faith to a culture that has, in many spheres of its being,
forgotten entirely about God or where God was never welcomed at
all in the first place.

E D I T O R N AT H A N R AW L I N S A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R T R A C N G U Y E N D E S I G N A D I I N D R A A D D R E S S : 1 8 0 D R U M M O N D S T R E E T C A R LT O N V I C T O R I A 3 0 5 3 P H O N E : 0 3 9 6 5 7 0 2 2 2 E M A I L : C O R P U S C H R I S T I C O L L E G E @ C A M . O R G . A U W E B : C O R P U S C H R I S T I C O L L E G E . O R G . A U

Five minutes with...

Term 1, 2015 in pictures

1

Anthony
Beltrame

FIRST YEAR ARCHDIOCESE OF ADELAIDE

My first month here at Corpus Christi has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Coming
from interstate, I was unsure how quickly I would adjust to the new environment, new
routine and many new faces. I stepped through the front gates, however, I have been
overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone has been. My favourite part of the seminary so
far are praying the Divine Office as a community and also daily Mass. Prior to my entrance,
this was not something I had experienced, but it has been so enriching to my faith. Also the
Friday afternoon session is definitely a highlight of the week.

Paul
Zaher

SECOND YEAR DIOCESE OF SALE

Now that I have moved into second year, I can definitely say that the honeymoon period is
over. One of the struggles that many other seminarians and I face is the struggle to keep
our heads down and concentrate when there are so many distractions around us. We live
opposite the Melbourne Museum and IMAX, around the corner is the cafes of Lygon St
and the heart of the Melbourne CBD is just down the road. I live with almost 60 brothers
and while sometimes it feel like a fraternity style environment, having these brother has
taught me that I am not alone and they are always willing to help me keep on track. There
are always brothers in the years above who also help me with my study if I get stuck on an
assignment.

Trac
Nguyen
THIRD YEAR ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
This is my third year in the seminary, through a special grace from God who can make
everything possible. I come from a country where English is not really a popular language.
The challenge from the last few years is my spoken and written English. It is very hard to
express our own ideas in written English and speak with correct pronunciation. However,
living in this community with many fellow seminarians, I am slowly picking up a Aussie
accent. The seminary also has a special program for overseas students which is called
English Language Support Program (ELSP). All this is helping me along my journey
to answer the call from God to serve the people of God in Australia, especially in the
Archdiocese of Melbourne in the future. Please pray for our fellow seminarians.

9
7

Godwin
Nyamida
F O U R T H Y E A R D I O C E S E O F B A L L A R AT

10

Currently in my fourth year, the seminary experience has been uplifting: the assistance from
other seminarians and also the trend of activities moving from one category to another. The
mix of work (academic, pastoral, domestic, etc) and prayer makes the experience in the
seminary seem short and tasteful. The beauty of having the different gifts of different people
put at work in the seminary activities makes everything run smoothly. In the coming period
of the Passion week and Easter when I will be in St Marys Parish, Ararat, I believe I would
have a wonderful spiritual and learning experience.

11

Anil
Mascarenhas
FIFTH YEAR ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
I spent the last semester doing my pastoral ministry at St. Monicas Parish, Moonee Ponds.
Under the guidance of the priests there, I took responsibility in organising Eucharistic
services and various other liturgical services, visiting the home-bound, sick and elderly,
taking communion to nursing homes and working with the youth. This all has fostered in
me a deeper spirit of service and has also given me the confidence to take on any pastoral
responsibility that would come my way in the future. This year I am particularly excited
about the 30 day retreat which would help me draw closer to the Good Shepherd. The
seminary is a home away from home and I enjoy being with this family, where I witness the
love of God made manifest through the care and concern of people each day.

Ramel
Morales
SIXTH YEAR DIOCESE OF PORT PIRIE
I am forever blessed and grateful to God as I continue my journey of discernment. God
willing, I will be ordained deacon for the Diocese of Port Pirie some time this year. The
work of becoming a priest can be challenging but many people have shown such amazing
support to us. We need lots of prayers and encouragement. So please continue to pray for
me and my fellow seminarians that we might become humble and faithful servant of God
and His people.

Rev. Stephen
Bolling
SEVENTH YEAR DIOCESE OF SANDHURST
While preparing for ordination, both mentally and practically, I am also working on my final
paper, or synthesis, which will summarise everything Ive learnt about theology. It will take
a lot of work, but at the same time I also hope I will be able to appreciate my last year here
and enjoy the community life. To me, the fraternity, founded on our shared faith, is what
defines the seminary community, and particularly as a deacon I want to be able to be a part
of and contribute to that seminary spirit before I go. Of course, while trying to live in the
moment, this also is a time for looking ahead to my life as a priest and thinking and praying
about my future ministry. So with all the thinking, planning, writing and praying it will be an
intense year, but one I will enjoy in the company of my brother seminarians.

1. First Year Seminarians took a selfie before going to

Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, March 2015
2. The newly instituted lectors at St Patricks Cathedral,
Melbourne, March 2015.
3. Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart with his
seminarians, March 2015.
4. Olek Stirrat, First Year Seminarian for Adelaide
Archdiocese, March 2015.
5. Fr Thinh Nguyen, Formator at Friday Sports Day,
March 2015.
6. The Johannine Archers Team at Friday Sports Day,
March 2015.
7. Victor Vincent, Fourth Year Seminarian for Wollongong
Diocese at Friday Sports Day, March 2015.
8. Avinash George, Fourth Year Seminarian for Sale
Diocese at Friday Sports Day, March 2015.
9. Fr Denis Stanley, Senior Formator enjoying the
afternoon after the visit to Our Lady of TaPinu Shrine,
Bacchus Marsh, April 2015.
10. Archbishop Denis Hart presents a copy of the
Catechism and the college badge to Joseph Aung, First
Year Seminarian for Melbourne Archdiocese, March
2015.
11. Fr Desmond Moloney, Vice Rector and First Year
Seminarian Jaycee Napoles on Seminary Family Day,
March 2015.
Photo credits: Vincent Taouk, Adi Indra, Joseph Nguyen

FOLLOW US ON
FA C E B O O K !

V O C AT I O N S D I R E C T O R S
I N V I C T O R I A A N D TA S M A N I A
MELBOURNE ARCHDIOCESE

Fr David Cartwright
The Cardinal Knox Centre
383 Albert Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002
T: 03 9926 5733
HOBART ARCHDIOCESE

Fr Brian Nichols
275 Sandy Bay Road
Sandy Bay TAS 7005
T: 03 6224 1423
B A L L A R AT D I O C E S E

Fr Mathew Thomas
St Patricks Presbytery
PO Box 64
Camperdown VIC 3260
T: 03 5593 1284
SANDHURST DIOCESE

Fr Stephen Bohan
Sacred Heart Church
Cnr Murphy & Witt Street
Yarrawonga VIC 3730
T: 03 5744 3030
SALE DIOCESE

Corpus Christi College Seminary

Fr Michael Willemsen
Corpus Christi College
180 Drummond St
Carlton VIC 3053
T: 03 9657 0254