Formation Team

ST. MARY'S MINOR SEMINARY, KARUNAPURAM, KERALA

REV. FR. PYNADATH SINOJ (RECTOR)

REV. FR. ANTONY DAS (VICE-RECTOR)

REV. FR. MEPRATH JUSTIN (PROCURATOR)

REV. FR. TONY CHEERANKUZHIYIL (SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR)

BRO. I. RAVI. (REGENT)

SPIRITUAL ORIENTATION CENTRE, KURUKURU, A P

REV. FR. KALLIKATT MATHEW

REV. FR. AROKIA SEBASTIAN BABU

REV. FR. PULI ASHOK

ST. JOSEPH'S MAJOR SEMINARY, KHAMMAM, TELANGANA

Dr. K. Arockia Raj (Rector)

Fr. Shiju George (Dean of Theology)

Fr. Arockia Iruuuthaya Raj

Fr. M. Suresh

Fr. Bose Raj

Philosophy

Fr. Sadhanala Joseph (Vice- Rector)

Fr. Joseph Palamattam

Fr. Ananda Velankani

Total Number of the Students

87 Students

ST. MARY'S MINOR SEMINARY

ST. MARY’S MINOR SEMINARY: A BRIEF HISTORY

St. Mary’s Minor Seminary is the minor seminary of St. Paul Province of Heralds of Good News. This long cherished dream of having a minor seminary in Kerala came true on 15th July 2004. It is located at Karunapuram by the Thaliparamba – Koorg Boarder highway near Alakode in Kannur district of Kerala State in India. It was blessed by his Excellency Mar George Valiyamattam, the Archbishop of Thalassery, and was inaugurated by Very .Rev. Dr. Mathew Kallikat the then Director General of Heralds of Good News. It has been flourishing over the years from a form of seed to a tree, yielding varieties of fruits. Holding on to the motto of our society, it focuses on the formation of hardworking, zealous, and saintly missionaries at a primitive level to be sent out for the service of God and humanity. The particular motto of the Seminary is “To Love and To Serve.”

So far there had been seven rectors, starting with Rev. Fr. Tomy Kuttiyanimattathil HGN, and Fr. Mervin Varyankunnel HGN, Fr. Varghese Padayatty HGN, Fr. Reji Kanjirathumkunnel HGN, Fr. Selvan Lazar HGN, Fr. Thomas Olikunnel HGN respectively. Over 300 students have marched through this newly born institute. At present Fr. Paul Pynadath HGN is the Rector of this institute with four staff members and 54 students. The Minor Seminary forms the brothers in three different levels. In the first year the students get initiated to the seminary life undergoing a year of orientation. Then there are second and third years who do their intermediate studies, getting ready for the upper level of formation. The seminarians here are provided with a curriculum wherein they get spiritual, intellectual, human, and pastoral formation.

This seminary is very much indebted to Very. Rev. Dr. Jose Kaimlet HGN the Founder of our Society of Heralds of Good News, who continues to be an inspiration, and whose vision and hard work, motivates us to move forward witnessing to the Gospel of the Lord, proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We are always guided and enriched by the fatherly concern of his Excellency Most. Rev. Dr. George Njaralakkatt the Archbishop of Thalassery, Very. Rev. Fr. M. Ignatius the Superior General of HGN and Rev. Dr. Saji Sebastian the Provincial Superior of St. Paul Province.

Committed to the integral formation of the seminarians, the Seminary marches forward in its faithful service to God and His Church. We express our heartfelt gratitude to god almighty for the providence and guidance that we experience at every interval, the founder and superiors of the missionary society of Heralds of Good News, the provincial and his councilors of St. Paul province for timely intervention and full support for the day to day running of the seminary. All our younger brothers who would like to join our missionary congregation with 10th and above academic qualification in proper family back ground and adequate Christian education are most welcome to this family of priests and seminarians. Let us humbly place ourselves at the feet of mother Mary the mother of priests and seminarians for her most powerful intercession for a holy life and formation.

St. Joseph's Major Seminary

St. Joseph's Major Seminary

St. Joseph's Major Seminary is the major seminary of the Missionary Society of Heralds of Good News, doing its mission of imparting Theological and Philosophical erudition to its seminarians. It came into existence due to the ardent desire of the Society, to have its own Major seminary for the effective formation of its seminarians. Though the building was officially inaugurated only on 6th September 1996, it was established in June 1995 at Khammam with 31 students of philosophy and 3 staff members. The Department of Theology was introduced with the blessing and inauguration of the theology block on 22nd June 1998. Thus St. Joseph’s Major Seminary became a full-fledged Seminary within a brief period of time, proving its steady progress and growth. In order to make priestly formation more effective, fostering better interaction and closer relationship between staff and students, from June 2002 St. Joseph's Major Seminary was concentrating exclusively on the theological formation of the candidates to priesthood. From June 2015, the Institute now plays school also to the Philosophers.

The existence of St. Joseph’s Major Seminary is a laudable landmark in the history of the Society of Heralds of Good News as it materializes the raison d’être of the Society, which is the formation of zealous and hardworking priests in order to be sent wherever their service is needed. The seminary is very much indebted to Very Rev. Dr. Jose Kaimlett, the Founder of Heralds of Good News, who continues to be its motivating force with his indefatigable endeavor and prophetic vision. We sincerely acknowledge the timely help and encouragement given by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. M. Joji, then Bishop of Khammam, in founding the Seminary in the diocese of Khammam.

We remember with gratitude the assistance, encouragement and support we receive from the different Bishops in Andhra Pradesh, especially from His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Paul Maipan, Bishop of Khammam. We also thank the clergy, religious and the faithful of the diocese of Khammam for the encouragement and the support we receive from them. We grow in reason and faith and march towards God. Ad Deum Fides et Ratione.

Besides the students of Heralds of Good News, the admission is open to the students from the local dioceses and the religious congregations in India. Today we have students from SDM, Diocese of Kurnool and Sisters of DSS and SAP. In conformity with the fundamental goal of the Society of Heralds of Good News and the concrete need of the Indian Church, the seminary structures its formation programme in such a way to offer to the future priests and missionaries of the third millennium, an integrated personal, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation. The new Academic year 2015-16 was inaugurated on 04th July 2015 by Very Rev. Fr. M. Ignatius, the Superior General of Heralds of Good News in the presence of the Major Superiors of the Society and the staff and students of the institute. This present year, we have 43 Philosophers and 55 theologians guided by 14 staff members.

Heralds of Good News Spiritual Orientation Centre

Heralds of Good News Spiritual Orientation Centre

Heralds Minor Seminary is the 1st institute of the society and the Mother House of Heralds of Good News, a Missionary Society of Priests. This house has a lot of special significance with regard to the life and the ministry of priests as we feel a family attachment to this house. Its foundation stone was laid on 12th December 1984 in Kurukuru by His. Ex. Most. Rev. Dr. John Mulagada the bishop of Eluru, in the presents of Very. Rev. Dr. Jose Kaimalat the founder of the Missionary Society of Heralds of Good News and Rev. Fr. Thomas Alenchery, Rev. Dr. Mathew Kallikatt, Rev. Fr. K. V. Augustine, Bro. Thomas Karachira and Bro. Jose Oonukalell, the pioneer members of the society. This house also served as the minor seminary for many years under the efficient rector-ship of Rev. Fr. Thomas Alenchery, Rev. Fr. Varakukala George, Rev. Fr. Karachira Thomas, Rev. Fr. Puthiyaparambil Jose, Rev. Fr. Pullambrayil Baby, Rev. Fr. Kulathinapadikal Philip, Rev. Fr. Thomas Naidu, Rev. Fr. John Charles, Rev. Fr. Selva Nayakam, Rev. Fr. Mathew Kallikatt, forming and promoting many zelous, hard working and saintly missionaries. Today this house serves as Heralds Spiritual Orientation Center forming the seminarians to become true Heralds of the Gospel of Christ.

Seminarians

Formation of a Seminarian

Help us in Training and Preparing Hardworking, Zealous and Saintly Priests

The specific purpose of the Society is to promote vocations to the priesthood and to train and supply zealous, dedicated and hard working missionaries wherever there is need in the Church. Thank God we have many vocations. But many of them come from rather poor families that cannot afford the expenses of 12 years of seminary formation. You can give a partial sponsorship for a seminarian with $ 30 for a month; $ 300 for a year and $ 3,000 for a permanent memorial scholarship.

Permanent Scholarship:

There is also a possibility of establishing a scholarship in the name of persons dear to the sponsor. In such an eventuality the scholarship amount will be made part of the CORPUS FUND and when one student completes his studies another will be able to take up studies using the same amount.

How it works

The Provincial Superior will assign a seminarian to the sponsor, who is supporting his studies. The seminarian will write at least 2 times a year (Christmas & Easter) and the sponsor will be given yearly update about the progress, the seminarian is making in his studies. In case of the unlikely situation of a student dropping out midway through his studies, another will be assigned in his place.

To Sponsor a Seminarian

For a Month	$	30.00
For a Year	$	300.00
Permanent Scholarship	$	3000.00