A4 seminary appeal brochure

Thank you to our Sponsors

SEMINARY APPEAL Catholic Diocese of Hamilton

Phone: 0800 843 233 Email: cdf@cdh.org.nz

“… they followed Him … they know His voice” (John 10:4)

POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE for the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations Dear Brothers and Sisters ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest’ (Mt 9:35-38) … … the prayer which Jesus asks of the Church therefore concerns the need to increase the number of those who serve his Kingdom … ...‘It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture’ (Psalm 100:3) …

Therefore every vocation, even within the variety of paths, always requires an exodus from oneself in order to centre one’s life on Christ and on his Gospel. Both in married life and in the forms of religious consecration, as well as in priestly life, we must surmount the ways of thinking and acting that do not conform to the will of God. A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people. Did not Jesus say: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35) ...

I ask you bishops, priests, Christian communities and families to orient vocational pastoral planning in this direction, by accompanying young people on pathways of holiness which, because they are personal, “call for a genuine ‘training in holiness’ capable of being adapted to every person’s need …. (Novo Millennio Ineunt, 31).

Scan this code to visit our Diocesan Vocations website: thepriesthood.org.nz

From the Vatican 15 January 2014

The Seminary

Holy Cross Seminary is situated at 44 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, and is the National Seminary for the training of Diocesan clergy.

Seminarians are in formation for priesthood. Holy Cross is home for our seminarians for their training for the priesthood. Lectures are undertaken at nearby Good Shepherd College where seminarians study towards their Bachelor in Theology. During their time in the seminary, students participate in human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation.

Whilst there is a shortage of priests in our diocese, overseas clergy have enriched us. Our diocese is fortunate to have active clergy from the Philippines, South Korea, India, Ireland, England, Argentina, Fiji, Switzerland.

However, all our clergy are still financially sustained by our diocese. At around 2,500 the number of Catholics per active priest in our diocese is substantial.

Currently we have 35 parishes in Hamilton Diocese and only 32 priests in active parish Ministry. Some parishes need two priests. Clearly we need more priests in the diocese.

They must be formed if we are to have enough priests for our people.

We have 6 seminarians currently.

THE SEMINARY FORMATION PROGRAMME Year 1 Human & Spiritual Formation, Academic & Pastoral Formation

Year 2 - 4

Year 5

Bachelor of Theology

Pastoral Year

Years 6 – 7 preparation for priestly life

WHAT IT COSTS Costs are substantial: This year, costs are expected to be around $45,000 per seminarian. Currently we have 6 seminarians.

Their costs cover Seminary/Good Shepherd College overheads, plus seminarians’ board (meals, accommodation), text books, course fees, telephone/internet, power, insurance, day trips…..

These costs are funded largely by the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, plus any donations (including this Seminary Appeal).

However, this funding is not sustainable.

For this reason the diocese is undertaking this additional request for funding now.

TAX REBATE Generally individuals can now claim one third of their charitable donations up to the level of their annual taxable income excl. the donations (please refer www.ird.govt.nz/individual/tax/credits).

Donors must present receipts.

For details please see Donation boxes at right.

Companies/organisations/also able to claim a tax credit on this and other charitable donations (please see: www.ird.govt.business/tax/expenses).

Disclaimer: The Catholic Diocese of Hamilton cannot provide advice to you on the tax implications of donations. Please contact your tax professional for advice on your specific situation.

fold here

Mr & Mrs, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Other (Please circle) First Name(s) ...................................................................................................................................................

Family Name: ..................................................................................................................................................



Address: .......................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................. Postcode........................

Phone: Home (…..) .......................................... Mobile ..................................................................................

Email ............................................................... Your Planned Giving number (if you have one) .....................

Your Parish ...................................................... Location. .......................................................................

I/We wish to donate $

by (  ) please tick appropriate box

Cheque Internet Banking Please make payable to (Please use the ‘payee’ a/c your parish name and details on form at right) mark “Seminary Appeal” Please insert your name, address or parish name/location Loose Change in the ‘payee’ Particulars/Code/ Please include with this Reference boxes for receipting form and put into the purposes Offertory basket

Automatic Payments (A/P)

Please complete the A/P authority form at right and include your name, parish name/location in the ‘payee’ Particulars/ Code/Reference boxes

Signature (s): ……………………………………………………..

Date: …../..…./…….

PLEASE HELP US / WHAT TO DO NOW 1 Pray for our seminarians (and for more young men to answer the call for vocations) 2 Please check you have completed all applicable areas on Donation Form above and Automatic Bank Payment form (if applic.) at right 3 Detach at the perforation, enclose your donation (if applic.), fold where marked, seal, and return it to your parish office or put in the offertory basket at Mass 4 Remember the “Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton – Seminary Account” in your Will.

Please contact me / us Privacy Act 1993 I / We acknowledge that personal information concerning me / us whether contained in this form or otherwise obtained, may be held and used by the parish to process information contained on this form, service and maintain my/our parish roll details, provide me/us with information concerning this programme.

If you do NOT wish to receive such Information, please write NO in this box The personal information provided in this form is collected by and will be held by your parish. I / We have the right under the Privacy Act 1993 to obtain access to and to request correction of any personal information held by the parish concerning me/us.

Bank of New Zealand R C B I SHO P

O F

Hamilton HAM I LT ON 0 2 0 3 42

0 0 5 00 08

SE MINARY

please seal here

fold here

please detach here

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

DONATION FORM & RETURN ‘ENVELOPE’

0 03

please seal here

CONDITIONS:

Date Received:

Recorded By:

FOR BANK USE ONLY Checked X Code By Reason Sign

BANK STAMP

Donation Form/Return ‘Envelope’ please seal here

1. The Bank will use reasonable care and skill to give effect to the directions given to it in this authority.

2. Where the directions given in this authority have been given by me/us for the purpose of a business, the Bank accepts those directions without any responsibility or liability for any refusal or omission to make all or any of the payments or for late payment or for any omission to follow such directions.

3. The Bank accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained in the payment information fields on this authority.

4. I/We undertake to advise the Bank immediately of any information about payments shown on bank statements which is incorrect.

5. This authority is subject to any arrangement now or hereafter subsisting between myself/ourselves and the Bank in relation to my/our account.

6. The Bank may in its absolute discretion conclusively determine the order or priority of payment by it or any monies pursuant to this or any other authority or cheque which I/we may now or hereafter give to the Bank or draw on my/our account.

7. The Bank may in its absolute discretion refuse to make any one or more payments pursuant to this authority where there are insufficient funds available in my/our account.

8. This authority may be terminated or reduced by the Bank or the payee without notice to me/us in respect of the payments detailed over.

9. This order will remain in force and effect in respect of all payments made in good faith notwithstanding my/our death or bankruptcy or any other revocation of this order until notice of my/our death, bankruptcy or other revocation is received by the Bank.

10. All current Bank and Government charges for this service in force from time to time are to be debited to my/our account.

ALTERATION TO FIXED AMOUNT Please alter the fixed amount of this transfer As from Fixed Amount Amount in Words Customer’s Signature / $ As from Fixed Amount Amount in Words Customer’s Signature / $

Please complete this form, enclose donation (if applic.) and detach at the dotted line.

Then fold and seal and put into the Collection Basket, or forward to the Parish Office.

Thank you.

please seal here