Mumbai: priests celebrate 50 years of the Archdiocesan Seminary
(October 16, 2010) The Archdiocese of Mumbai is celebrating 50 years of its’ St.
Pius X Seminary and 25 years of Parel Seminary, the first Church institute founded
in the city. The Jubilee Mass was concelebrated by Msgr. Robert Sarah, secretary of
the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai
and the new Apostolic Nuncio in India Salvatore Pennacchio, on his first visit to
the archdiocese. In these 50 years said Mgr. Sarah in his homily, Divine Providence
has never failed to accompany this Seminary with abundant Graces throughout these
fifty years, even during very difficult moments of trials. The prelate urged seminarians
and priests to bring Eucharist to the heart of this anniversary. He added that it
is a moment of grace from God to deepen faith, hope and the opportunity for the work
of evangelization, especially in the formation of future priests. Present at the
inauguration of the seminary in 1960 as a young student, Cardinal Gracias thanked
all the donors in these 50 years who have supported the institute with prayers and
donations, enabling the formation of new priests. Since its founding the College of
St. Pius X has trained more than 700 priests and every year for five to seven new
seminarians enter the institute. The seminary holds special importance since 2006,
which is when the programs were approved by Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome.
It is also affiliated with the St. Peters Pontifical Institute of Bangalore and students
passing out as priests are provided with a degree that is internationally recognized.