Caring For Orphans

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The call to vocations to the priesthood has been heard and answered by many young. Unfortunately, the Diocese cannot accomodate all of them due to the lack of manes to support the costs of their religious formation.

COMMENTARY:

The Diocese of Tshumbe was fonded in 1910 and currently has 80 diocesan priests and three Passionists missionaries - two of whom are Congolese and the third is Polish. The Diocese measures 62,000 square kilometers (twice the size of the State of Ohio). There are 720,000 inhabitants in this area and roughly one-third the population, 225,000 are Catholics. In such a large area, evangelical work is immense and requires more priests to provide for the needs of the numerous Catholics in such a large area.

The average cost of formation for a seminarian is only 1,250 per year. The Holy See contributes $ 720 for each seminarian per year leaving the Bishop the responsability to contribute the additional $ 530 per seminarian annually. This year, the Diocese of Tshumbe has 37 seminarians in various stages of formation. This includes the preparatory year in spirituality, three years of study in philosophy, and three years of theological study. The financial cost to the Diocese for the formation of these 37 men is $ 28,860 per year.

STATUS:

The finances for the formation of future priests in the Diocese still hinge on the verge of bankruptcy. This situation requires exploration of permanent solutions to the problem. For instance to create a source of revenues through raising cattle. Another way to help continue formation of the seminarians, is through sponsorship. An individual can sponsor the religious formation of a seminarian by making a contribution of $780 annually per seminarian.

THE WORD OF THE LORD:

"THEN HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES:THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW."(Matthew 9:37)