The future of the Catholic Church in Western Australia looks bright with a number of impressive new seminarians beginning their formation at St Charles’ Borromeo Seminary this year.
Nicholas Diedler, Gerard Nemorin, Joseph Hoang and Dominic Sandon, all from Perth, are settling in quickly as the new year of formation gets well underway.
Fr Jean-Noel Marie, the seminary’s new Vice Rector and First Year Formator, also continues in his role as Vocations Director.
“It is a great source of encouragement for me and others to see Our Lord continue to faithfully fulfil His promise to always provide shepherds for his flock.”
He remarks, “It is reassuring that today, as in every age of history, Christ continues to call young men to courageously take up the invitation to ‘Come follow me’.”
Though new to join St Charles Borromeo Seminary, Abraham Chuckwu of the Bunbury Diocese and Jhee Baguinat and Jeffey Casabuena of the Perth Archdiocese, join the community with previous seminary formation and experience already from abroad.
The total number of seminarians and deacons preparing for ordination as diocesan priests, in each of the four dioceses in Western Australia, now number 29, including 5 deacons.
“We must persevere in our prayer for vocations to the priesthood,” continues Fr Jean-Noel.
“Identifying and encouraging vocations in our own community and families is absolutely necessary.”
“Those discerning should know that they need not work out this calling alone. Most often it is in sharing these promptings with someone like a priest that such a calling becomes clearer.”