The needs are great at Vancouver’s missionary seminary

Six young men in Vancouver have left everything behind to follow Jesus, says Karen Allaye-Chan, and she hopes Vancouver Catholics will support them.

Allaye-Chan is helping to organize an April 27 fundraising dinner for Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Vancouver’s missionary seminary. “The formation of a priest takes time and money, and since this is a relatively new seminary, the needs are great.”

Six seminarians are studying at Redemptoris Mater. Five live at the formation house near Blessed Sacrament Church in Vancouver, while another is doing pastoral work in Whitehorse. Father Davide Lanzani was ordained from the seminary last year and two deacons are serving in the Lower Mainland.

“These young men gave up everything to follow God’s call to the priesthood,” said Allaye-Chan. “The seminary and seminarians need our help and support.”

The seminary was temporarily opened at Blessed Sacrament Parish in 2014 and officially erected by Archbishop J. Michael Miller in 2015 under rector Father Gilbert Nunez.

Its students, all members of the Neocatechumenal Way movement, spend between six and eight years in study and then a one-year internship overseas doing missionary work. They will be ordained for the Archdiocese of Vancouver with the aim of doing evangelization work in China or other parts of Asia.

“It is a joy and a privilege for us to play a part in helping young men become priests, especially since there is a great need of priests in many places,” Allaye-Chan said.

About 320 people attended last year’s fundraiser, raising about $35,000, and Allaye-Chan hopes this year’s fundraiser will top that.

“The funds will be used in the running of the seminary, including paying for tuition, school supplies, transportation costs, food, and other living expenses.”

The dinner will be at the Italian Cultural Centre April 27 and includes live entertainment, door prizes, and a silent auction.

More than 100 Redemptoris Mater seminaries operate around the world, all with the mission of bringing the Gospel to Asia.

Tickets for the dinner are $100. For more information call or email Redemptoris Mater Seminary at 604-709-8509 or rmsvancouver@gmail.com.