“Formation is a collaborated effort by the formators and parents to shape future priests” - Rev. Dr. Cyril Victor Joseph

Bangalore, 7 December, 2025: The parents of 45 seminarians were invited to meet and mingle and enjoy a morning of fellowship, along with their sons in the Maria Bhavan campus, the Archdiocesan Collegiate Seminary. The program was organised to bring in an interaction between the formators and the parents with regard to the priestly formation.

The heart of the program was the celebration of the eucharist con-celebrated by the Rector Rev Dr Cyril Victor Joseph and the Vice-Rector Rev Fr David Joseph SMM with a very meaningful homily which inspired all the parents present. The choir added to the sanctity of the Mass, with young voices singing in Tamil, Kannada and English.. 

Before the eucharistic celebration, the parents were treated to a wonderful video presentation, which gave all a direct peek into a day’s life of a Seminarian. Obviously not meant for the faint hearted, the seminarians lead a packed life which includes all sorts of chores from cleaning to cooking to keeping their dormitories clean. Some go off to college and on their return they are immersed in prayer and introspection. 

As Fr Cyril explained – “these boys are going to be the leaders of our Catholic Institutions in the years ahead - our Churches, hospitals, schools and other Church led institutions. That is why he emphasised that as parents they have to encourage their boys in these precious years leading up to their ordination.” A parent's role is important and the boys are not just left to them to look after. Parents have to strengthen the calling and guide their boys on the right path to priesthood. He also stressed, “Formation is a collaborated effort by the formators and parents to shape the future priests.”

The programme went on to an exciting mission auction of over 65 items. It was there one could see how much meticulous planning had gone into the whole event. As the young auctioneer kept repeating – ‘whatever is collected goes towards the missions’ and the parents entered into the spirit of the day and bought all that came up for sale.

The hearts of parents were full of peace, knowing that their sons are going into a formation, which will turn them into men of the cloth and soldiers of God in a few years.

Dr. Marianne Furtado de Nazareth