Support The Formation Of Catholic Seminarians
Since 2014, Catholic World Mission has supported the needs of men discerning the priesthood. Our donors have been extremely generous at every turn, and have risen to the occasion every time these courageous men had a need they couldn’t meet on their own.
With a special focus on missionary orders and poor dioceses around the world, you can help hundreds of seminarians on their way to the priesthood!
What is the Catholic Priesthood?
In Matthew 9:36 we hear that Jesus looked with pity on the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He was sad to see so many people in his day that had no one to teach them about the love of God. That problem has never fully gone away, but the priesthood is God’s gift of shepherds for his people today. For so many people, the priestly shepherd is the living example of God’s love in their lives. He is with them to baptize their children, watches those same children grow and form their own families, even with them in death as a loving and consoling presence, and through joys and sorrows as the good shepherd who walks with them on their journey toward God, also a reminder that there is more to life than our basic material needs. The priest is the regular, humble witness to the truth that only God will make us fully happy.
What does
the Program Do?
The CWM Seminarian Support program focuses in a special way on missionary priests, men who work as God’s priestly shepherds in remote territories, places where people may have never heard of Jesus, or places where poverty and hopelessness are extreme. These seminarians, once they are ordained as priests, will be sent all over the world to proclaim the love of God and serve those in great need.
Who does the Program Support?
When you support seminarians and priests, you are joining–in a very real, powerful way–in the work of Jesus to bring His love to the world through His priests. When you support these seminarians and priests in particular, you are sending a spark of hope directly to the parts of the world that need it most.
Support the Formation of Our Seminarians
Diocese of Wiawso Ghana
Yeboah Sampson
A seminarian of St. Paul’s, first heard the call to be a priest as an altar server at his home parish in Bonsu Nkwanta. Encouraged by the solid catechetical foundation that he learned from his father and parish community, Yeboah decided to pursue a vocation to the priesthood. Now, confident in God’s grace, Yeboah seeks to discern, understand, and authenticate his calling.
Luke Gyebi
A second-year Philosophy seminarian at St. Paul Catholic Seminary. Luke was drawn to the priesthood after witnessing the reverence with which his late parish priest vested for Mass. Though Luke thoroughly enjoys the human aspect of priestly formation (particularly sports!), he has an even greater desire to excel in the spiritual, moral, and intellectual pillars. Luke believes that the Church needs “True Catholic” priests who are not afraid to celebrate beautiful liturgies, adore Christ, and form the rest of humanity.
Richmond Kwaw
Richmond Kwaw, 21, hails from the small village of Enchi, where he was brought up in a humble Catholic family of six. After a priest recommended seminary to him, Richmond jumped on the opportunity to deepen his faith, continue his higher education, and inspire future generations. Luke knows that the seminary is the one place he can continue on his journey to the priesthood and the bedrock upon which he can be further molded into the likeness of God.
George Tano
George Tano is a seminarian in the diocese of Wiawso currently studying in his third year of Theology. At the young age of 9, George was inspired to become a priest by watching his parish priest celebrate daily Mass for the entire community. George has an ardent desire to save souls, dedicate his life to serving God and others, and evangelize to his own people.
Diocese of Jowai India
The Diocese of Jowai is still a very young diocese, but already the harvest is plentiful. The diocese has 31 seminarians, including two deacons, in formation. These men study at seven seminaries operated by other dioceses until Jowai has enough resources to have its own seminary. Most of these seminarians come from very poor families. Here are three of their stories.
Sambha Kyndait
Sambha, 27, comes from a family of 10. Growing up, the family practiced a tribal religion but today, Sambha and one of his siblings is Catholic. Sambha was baptised in 2006, at the age of 15. It was on that day that he felt the call to the priesthood. His desire to become a priest continues to this day. He is hardworking, devout, sincere, and polite.
Donbok Pakma
Donbok, 25, is the oldest of three children. His father died when Donbok was just eight years old. His mother, consumed by grief, was no longer able to raise her children, who were each sent to a youth hostel. Providentially, Donbok was sent to a hostel operated by priests, where he lived for several years. Now in his seventh year of formation, he is about to begin his regency period, where he will receive all the practical training he needs to be a holy and pious priest.
Daleiki Shylla
Daleiki, 26, comes from a family of 11 children (he has seven brothers and three sisters!). In high school, he realized he wanted to become a priest. But when he first shared this with his family, they told him they couldn’t support him. When he graduated from high school, he went on to college. He worked during the day and took classes at night in order to support himself. Once again, he felt the tug toward seminary. Now in his fourth year of formation, Dalieki is respectful, obedient, devout, and hardworking.
Diocese of Sindhudurg India
The Diocese of Sindhudurg is a missionary, poor, rural diocese in southwestern India. The total population of the diocese is 5,365,706 with 29,794 Catholics. While the Diocese of Sinhudurg is fairly young–it was formally erected on July 5, 2005–great fruit is already being borne here.
Richard Fernandes
Richard, 24, grew up in a supportive and devout Catholic family where he was involved in altar serving and became inspired by the lives of the priests and seminarians in his parish. After joyfully accepting his vocation to join the priesthood, Richard completed seven years in formation where he studied Zoology and Philosophy, completed a year-long pastoral experience at a Clergy home, and assisted a neighboring Catholic school. Now, it is his eighth year information where he is studying Theology.
Lloyd D’Souza
I come from a middle-class family who lives with the fear of God. When I was a child, my parents sowed the seed of priesthood in me, and ever since then, my childhood dream was to be a priest. As I journeyed along in life, the seed began to grow, even though I was caught up with worldly pleasures, which challenged my vocation. However, soon after my tenth grade, I realised the joy of being a priest, and I recognised that the worldly pleasures are only temporary, as compared to the eternal happiness of heaven. I then decided to enter the seminary, and now, I am on my journey towards the priesthood.
Gabriel Fernandes
After completing my high school in 2013, I began discerning about the priesthood. I took it up in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and discussed it with my family too. They were very supportive of me joining the priesthood. I then expressed my desire to join the priesthood to Bishop Alwyn Barreto who then accepted me as a seminarian for the Diocese of Sindhudurg.
Benwen Lopez
I first received my calling when I was completing my final semester at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, and I always believed that God called me to serve my home country, India. However, I put my decision on hold and returned to the corporate world after graduation. I worked as an Assistant Editor in Dubai for a business magazine. But although I was exposed to the corporate world, the flashy lifestyle, with tons of opportunity to make a lot of money, I felt a void in my heart. I turned again to the idea that maybe I was called to the priesthood. After an 18-month discernment program, I resigned from my job, and joined the Diocese of Sindhudurg. Surely it was a challenging and tough decision for me to take, but it was the intensity of God’s presence in the Eucharist that drew me to the priesthood. For me the Eucharist is everything.
Diocese of Kurunegala Sri Lanka
The Diocese of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, currently has 12 seminarians in various stages of formation. Each of these young men comes from a poor family, but each one’s faith and desire to become a priest is truly an inspiration.
We’ve worked with the Diocese of Kurunegala since 2017, and we’ve worked closely with Bishop Harold Perera on several projects. We first met Bishop Perera when he visited Atlanta last fall. He has a true love for God, a strong devotion to the Eucharist, and cares for the people of his diocese with a truly pastoral heart.
As education costs increase across the board, the Diocese of Kurunegala must absorb greater expenses to educate its seminarians.
Deacon Rick Medina (left), CWM executive director, and Bishop Harold Perera (right), August 2017.
Meet Some of the Seminarians of the Diocese of Kurunegala:
“We are truly blessed to be able to educate our seminarians, but with this blessing comes tremendous responsibilities. We are turning to you, trusting you to help us train up our seminarians, so that they can become priests and serve the suffering people in our country.” – Bishop Perera
Malinda Priyanath
Malinda Priyanath, 19, entered minor seminary in 2016. He has one older brother. His father works as a print operator and his mother works as a postmistress. His faith inspires his commitment and drive to pursue the priesthood.
Keshan Fernando
Keshan, 17, has one older sister and one younger brother. His brother suffers from physical disabilities, so Keshan’s family is unable to support his studies for the priesthood. In spite of this, Keshan faithfully applies himself to all of his classes without complaint or hesitation. Your support of Keshan and his fellow Sri Lankan seminarians will allow him to share the love of Jesus with the community once he is ordained.
Joseph Himasha
Joseph, 21, is the youngest child in his family. He has two older sisters. Although his family is very poor, Joseph has always seen this as an opportunity rather than a hurdle. Your generosity today will allow him to fulfill his dream of becoming a priest.
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