Rector’s Address

Educated Priests-a Necessity!
Since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the government has made it possible for anyone who wants to develop himself/herself in the area of education to do so. Bursaries in the form of NSFAS were made possible for the disadvantaged members of our communities. Those who wish to do post graduate studies were also to be sponsored as they developed themselves in this area. As a result, we have educated people in our societies and consequently in our congregations. Some are professors and lecturers in their fields of study which include even Philosophy and Theology.
It follows then that priests must also be equally educated. In the Seminary of St John Vianney a lot of energy and resources is invested in this area of formation because it is believed that priests are expected to be professionals, not only in the way they carry themselves but also academically. Students therefore are expected to grab the opportunity given to them with both hands and not perform meritocratically.
One does not wake up in the morning and decide to become a priest and then immediately, a ceremony of ordination is arranged. In the Church there are no “instant priest.” Everyone who wants to become a priest must prove his seriousness over many years of formation and receiving instruction from expects in the classroom because we cannot afford to simply tell people “God loves you” in our Sunday homilies.
This means that a priest must be familiar with Philosophy which sharpens one’s mind and theology which in the Seminary is offered in different areas, namely, Scripture, Dogma, Moral and Ecclesiastical Sciences. Each student should pay equal attention to these important areas so that he is able to feed the people of God in his Sunday homilies.
Formation that is offered in the Seminary is often referred to as “initial formation because formation cannot be concluded. People learn new things everyday and therefore no one can claim not know everything. At the moment of leaving the Seminary, the candidate is only ready to lead the people. This is why the Church refers to as “on-going formation” to the learning that takes place after ordination. On-going formation applies also to education.
It is encouraged therefore that after finishing the initial formation one does not relax with an attitude that all is well and done. Priests must develop themselves in this area with local or international universities and see to that further development in education also takes place during the stage of on-going formation because educated priests are a necessity!
The Rector:
Rev. Fr Ncedo Siwundla