THE five newest students to begin training at Queensland’s Holy Spirit Seminary this year are a reflection of the multicultural Church in Australia today.
Three of the five new students were born overseas and several have decided to train for the priesthood after working in other careers.
All five will be training as priests for Brisbane archdiocese.
They are Michael Grace, 23, of Beaudesert; Andrew Curtin, 25, of West Chermside; Korean-born Pius Jang, 30; Sudanese-born Ladu James, 31; and Philippines-born Wilson Paculan, 32.
Holy Spirit Seminary rector, Fr Michael McCarthy, said the five men came from a range of backgrounds and were quality candidates for the priesthood.
For example, Andrew worked previously as a barrister, Michael was an electrician and Pius was a dentist.
Fr McCarthy said the five newcomers brought the total number of students at the seminary to 15.
The seminary welcomed only one new candidate last year, but had five newcomers in 2002 and four in 2001.
Fr McCarthy attributed the quality of this year’s intake to the archdiocese’s house of discernment which opened last year at St Patrick’s Church, Fortitude Valley and the initiatives of Archbishop John Bathersby’s Vocations Task Force.
