SEMINARY And Formation
DEAR PARISH PRIESTS AND PARISHIONERS🙏🏼
- Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Recently, I overheard a Seminarian saying that *‘to become a priest in the Catholic Church now is very difficult.'* Well, I simply laughed because there has never been a time and I really do not think that there would be a time when it would be easy to become a priest🙂
However, I think the Seminarian was making a serious point which I actually did not understand until recently when my eyes opened to the reality. First, I went to the Pauline Bookstore, Enugu, where I bought most of the books I used for my Philosophical and Theological Studies; including my prayer books then. Among other shocks, I saw the *‘Complete Volumes of the Breviary/The Divine Office'* (i.e The Prayer Book for the Ordained ministers and the Religious), which I bought in 2015 at about ₦30,000 is now *₦89,800*🙆🏻♂️😭 Not quite long after I got this shock, a young seminarian told me that the little money the Seminarians used to pay to the seminary (which we call Token Fee) has moved from the ₦25,000 that it used to be within the time we graduated to *₦70,000*🙆🏻♂️ Do we also talk about other books that the Seminarians equally need to buy for their studies?🥲
Looking at all the above, I have agreed with that Seminarian that said that: *‘to become a priest now is very difficult'*🤷🏽♂️
Normally, some seminarians depend on the generosity of the people of God in the parishes, who, after the annual apostolic work, would *FINANCIALLY* support them (the Seminarians) in their seminary formation. But with the above situation, it would certainly not going to be easy on all the parties involved in their training, namely: the parish priest, the parishioners, their family members and even the Bishop, who also pay heavily on all the Seminarians of his Diocese studying in the seminary.
The increment in the Token Fee is not actually the fault of the Formators in the seminary but the foreign support they used to get from Rome is gradually reducing because those sending the aid now believe that the people of God in Nigeria can now train their seminarians. We started feeling the effect when we were about graduating.
Therefore, I wish to humbly appeal to our dearest *PARISH PRIESTS and PARISHIONERS,* as this year's annual apostolic work is fast approaching, kindly reconsider what you used to give to the Seminarian(s) that come to your parish at the end of the apostolic work. We have always trusted your benevolent hearts. Please, kindly expand and extend such godly hearts to these young seminarians this time.
May the good Lord provide for you what you really need in order to perfect the above appeal. Amen🙏🏼
Remain blessed🙏🏼
- (#Fb. Page: Fr.Dav54)
#Pleasefeelfreetoshare.
#Martony
