Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Every year a large group of seminarians in mission territories is sent by their Bishops to Rome to complete their studies and then go back to the local Churches of origin with a conspicuous cultural and pastoral background. Fides asked some questions to Fr. Fernando Domingues, a Comboni missionary, Rector of the Pontifical Urban College, supported by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples through the Urbaniana Domus Foundation.
What are the aims and objectives for which the Urban College was established?
The Pontifical Urban College was founded in the seventeenth century by Pope Urban VIII, with the precise aim of preparing priests who were willing to leave for situations where it was necessary to proclaim the Gospel. It is thus a "missionary" seminar, from its origins. Another purpose, always present from the earliest times and still valid today, is to cultivate the communion between the various ecclesial traditions, in communion with the Holy Father. So there has always been the presence of seminarians belonging to the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, both from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and India.
Among the aims of the Urban College there has always been the formation of seminarians from the new Churches born from the missionary committment. So it is clear that every Church is called to become missionary in the early days of her life. I remember, in this respect the example of St. Daniel Comboni, Bishop and founder of the modern Church in Sudan, who already at the time of the first evangelization sent a Sudanese seminarian to this College. Today we try to cultivate a strong missionary spirit in our seminarians, which could then become a foundation in their Dioceses.
We also involve ourselves to cultivating a strong sense of belonging to the Catholic Church, respecting and promoting the characteristics of ecclesial traditions. Therefore we celebrate not only the liturgy according to the Roman Rite, but often also in the other Rites of the Catholic Church: Chaldean, Syrian Antioch, Maronite, Coptic, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara.
Who are the College’s guests?
The seminarians who, along with the trainers make up our community, this year they come from 28 countries and 4 continents. While from Africa we have small groups from many different Countries, the groups from Asia are the most numerous. The most conspicuous group comes from India, with a substantial representation of the 3 Rites (Roman, Malabar and Malankara). The second Asian group comes from the Chinese Popular Republic . Substantial numbers are also for those from Vietnam and Pakistan. Even the 12 trainers who accompany the seminarians’ journey to priesthood come from 10 Countries and 3 different Continents. This year for the first time we have a Chinese trainer.
All of our seminarians do their studies at the Urbaniana University, well known for its missionary purpose. In the current Academic Year, 103 seminarians follow the programs of Baccalaureate in Theology, while other 57 are engaged in various programs of specialization in view of the Canonical License in areas of study such as Missiology, Philosophy, Theology, Canon Law, the Bible. All specializations that will be of great benefit to the pastoral life of their Church of origin and especially for the formation in their seminars.
What are the recommendations that the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples gave to the College at the opening of the pastoral year?
During the celebration that marked the beginning of the academic-formation, His Exc. Mgr. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, did not fail to recall that both the trainers and the seminarians have the privilege to serve and to be able to study at the Pontifical Urban College. Here we can learn many aspects of the life of the Catholic Church as it is lived in various parts of the world. The Archbishop also pointed out to us how the great variety and diversity that exists among us is neither a threat nor a danger to our Christian identity but rather enriches and makes it become truly Catholic. The Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery also invited us to take full advantage of our proximity to the Holy Father and to the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul; a unique opportunity for spiritual enrichment and knowledge of the history of the Church and her present life. The Church invests a lot on us and counts on our generous dedication, now and even in our future.
Are there specific initiatives that the College Community promotes on the occasion of World Mission Day?
To celebrate World Mission Sunday, the group of seminarians in charge of missionary animation in our community offers all a variety of information on the various missionary situations of the Church. As immediate preparation, we are organizing at St. Gregory VII church in Rome, a Vigil missionary prayer open to all, on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 9pm. This vigil is also counting on the active participation of the Catechists of the Pontifical Missionary College of St. Joseph and will be presided by Archbishop Mgr. Savio Hon, Secretary of the Missionary Congregation. On this missionary Sunday the presence of our seminarians in many of our parishes in Rome will surely have a special meaning. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 19/10/2011)
