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In the Photo: Seminarian Anthony Nguyen with Fr Hiep Nguyen, Parish Priest of St Brendan's Parish, Lakes Entrance
The seminary in Sydney is called Good Shepherd in the suburb of Homebush. It was established in 1996 for men in formation for diocesan priesthood for the dioceses of New South Wales. Its origins go back to St Patrick’s Manly, established in 1889 overlooking Sydney Harbour, which was the national seminary. Bishops from around Australia would send their seminarians to Manly, including from Victoria. Then, in 1923, the Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, founded Corpus Christi College in Werribee. It was to be the provincial seminary for Victoria and Tasmania. And, still is, after celebrating their centenary last year. From Werribee (now Werribee Park), the site of the College moved to Glen Waverley (now the Police Academy), then to Clayton and its current site in Carlton, where Anthony Nguyen (pictured) recently entered his first year for our Diocese.
As Vocations Director of our Diocese, I helped recruit Anthony from Vietnam for the Sale Diocese. He was already generously pursuing a vocational path to priesthood and sensed a call from God to serve overseas. Once he arrived ten months ago, Bishop Greg asked Fr Brendan to provide a home for him here at Narre Warren while Anthony went to ACU to further his English studies. Many of you have met him in recent months and been impressed, as I have, with his exuberance and enthusiasm. And, he thrived in the company of the Youth Group. We will see Anthony when he is ‘home’ during seminary holidays. Please continue to pray for him and all the seminarians.
A special collection for the Sale Diocese Bursary Fund, which covers Anthony’s training costs, will be taken up at all Masses this weekend.
Fr Michael Willemsen
Diocese of Sale
Vocation Prayer 2024
HEAVENLY FATHER, Lord of the harvest, we earnestly ask you to bless our
diocese and the Church with many priests, deacons and religious who will love
you fervently, and gladly and courageously live their lives in service to your
Son’s Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Bless our families and parishes that we may be given the grace and strength to
live our baptismal vocation to be holy, as You are. Bless us that we will respond
to your invitation to be living witnesses and disciples of hope as we discern our
life in your son, Jesus Christ.
Bless young men and women to respond openly and generously to your
invitation to become ministers of your Word and Sacraments, or to serve You
faithfully in the covenant of Marriage, or the dignity of single life.
Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation, help us to say “yes”
to the Lord who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation.
Amen
