PUNE: Papal Seminary, one of the premier institutions of the Catholic Church in the country, has launched its 125th year anniversary celebrations. 

Established in 1893 at Kandy in Sri Lanka, when India and Sri Lanka were part of British India, the seminary was shifted to its present premises on Nagar Road in 1955.

Pope Leo XIII in 1893 announced his intention of founding a new National Seminary for India. He had these words inscribed on the his jubilee medal: “Filii tui India, administri tibi salutis,” which means, ‘Your own sons, O India, will be the heralds of your salvation!’

Archbishop Ladislaus Michael Zaleski started the Papal Seminary in Kandy in 1893. After India’s independence in 1947, it was found strange to have its national seminary in another country, so the authorities shifted the seminary to Pune.

Pune Jesuit Provincial Fr Pius Geisal completed the task of buying the land and constructing the buildings. Hundreds of outstanding churchmen have received their priestly formation in Papal Seminary; four cardinals and 75 bishops and archbishops.

Pope John Paul II visited the Papal Seminary during his pastoral visit of India in 1986. Currently the Papal Seminary has 193 seminarians and staff stemming from 62 dioceses and four religious congregations. The Papal Seminary, together with its sister-institute Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth will organise a seminar ‘Ministering to Contemporary Indian Church: Challenges, Opportunities’ from November 6 to 9. 

Fr Bahusaheb Sansare (SJ), Rector of Papal Seminary, said about 16 special dignitaries, including cardinals, archbishops, bishops and 300 alumni will attend the seminar. Fr Joe Francis from the diocese of Aizawl, Mizoram, is the coordinator of the jubilee programme.