St. Pius X Minor Seminary

{{about|the seminary in North Nazimabad|other schools with the same name|St. Pius X (disambiguation)}} {{Short description|Pakistani Catholic seminary in Karachi}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{more citations needed|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox university | name = St. Pius X Minor Seminary | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_upright = | image_alt = | caption = | latin_name = | motto = | type = Minor Seminary | established = 1958 | closed =  | founder = | parent = | affiliation = | religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi | academic_affiliation = | endowment = | budget = | vice-president = | rector = Fr. Shahzad (June 2021-) | principal = | director = | dean = | head_label = Groundbreaking by | head = Archbishop Evarist Pinto | academic_staff = | administrative_staff = | students = sirf 9 | undergrad = | other_students =  | address = North Nazimabad | city = Karachi | state = | province = Sindh | country = Pakistan | postalcode =  | coordinates =  | language = Punjabi | free_label = | free = | campus = {{cvt|6,070|sqm}} | free_label3 = | free3 = | website =  | logo = | logo_size = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = }}

'''St. Pius X Minor Seminary''' is the preparatory seminary in the [[Archdiocese of Karachi]]. It is located in [[North Nazimabad]], Sindh, Pakistan.

It had 21 seminarians in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=UCANEWS January 14, 2010| url=http://www.ucanews.com/2010/01/14/shortage-of-priests-hinders-pastoral-work}}</ref> Father Benjamin Shehzad was the seminary's [[Rector (ecclesiastical)#Roman Catholic hierarchies|rector]] from 2005 to 2012. In 2012 he was appointed Rector of [[Christ the King Seminary (Pakistan)|Christ the King Seminary]].<ref>[http://www.news.va/en/news/asiapakistan-appointment-of-the-rector-of-the-in-2 Agenzia Fides 18 December 2012]</ref>

The seminary is one of four minor seminaries educating 92 seminarians in [[Faisalabad]], [[Lahore]], [[Karachi]] and [[Rawalpindi]]. Major seminary studies are split between [[St. Francis Xavier Seminary]] in Lahore, where 41 seminarians are studying philosophy, and Christ the King Seminary in Karachi, where 23 seminarians who have finished their study of philosophy are studying theology.<ref>{{cite web |title =UCANews.com 14 April 2008| url=http://www.ucanews.com/2008/04/14/growing-vocations-boost-plan-to-switch-minor-seminary}}</ref>

== Expansion == Due to congestion and other issues, a larger seminary building was constructed on ground adjacent to [[St. Jude's Church, Karachi|St. Jude's Church]] in Karachi. Archbishop [[Evarist Pinto]] performed the groundbreaking on the {{cvt|2,044|sqm|adj=on}} piece of land. Construction of the seminary began in October 2008, with completion targeted for October 2009.

In May 2011, Archbishop Evarist Pinto cut the ribbon and opened the much-needed newly constructed seminary. The archdiocese faced a vocation crisis for three decades as many applicants had to be turned away due to lack of space. The 12 minor seminarians have to move into the new block very soon. Spanning 6,070 square meters, the facility can accommodate more than 50 candidates and has a chapel, library and computer room. In 2010 the seminary received financial assistance for the construction of its new facilities from the Curé of Ars Parish in [[Leawood, Kansas]], USA.<ref>[http://www.cure-of-ars.org/2010-summer-update/ Curé of Ars Parish website, July 6, 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120723083935/http://www.cure-of-ars.org/2010-summer-update/ |date=July 23, 2012 }}</ref>

In June 2019 ten young men joined the seminary taking the total number of students to 30.<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Bishop-Indrias-Rehmat-is-the-new-bishop-of-Faisalabad:-We-must-rienforce-education-47433.html Asia News 7/2/2019]</ref>

== History == St. Pius X Minor Seminary opened in 1958 in [[Quetta]] (later becoming the [[Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta]]) in Baluchistan Province. It was shifted to [[Catholic Colony]] in Karachi in 1973.

In August 2011, St Pius became the first seminary in Pakistan to provide internet access to its students.<ref>[http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2011/08/26/seminarians-enter-wired-world/ CathNews India, August 26, 2011]</ref>

==Rectors== *Fr. [[Joseph Cordeiro]] – 1952 - 1958<ref>{{cite web|title = UCANews.com February 14, 1994|url = http://www.ucanews.com/1994/02/14/cardinal-cordeiro-first-pakistani-cardinal-dies-in-karachi/?key=bonaventure+paul+|access-date = 26 November 2009|archive-date = 28 December 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241228073301/https://www.ucanews.com/1994/02/14/cardinal-cordeiro-first-pakistani-cardinal-dies-in-karachi/?key=bonaventure+paul+|url-status = dead}}</ref> *Fr. Francis de Souza – 1958 – 1965<ref>Christian Voice, Karachi, August 31, 2008</ref> *Fr. Luperc Mascarenhas – 1965 - 1990 *Fr. [[James deSouza]] – 1990 – 1994 *Fr. Joseph D'Mello – 1994 - 2001 *Fr. [[Augustine Soares]] – 2001 - 2005 *Fr. Benjamin Shahzad – 2005 - 2012 *Fr. [[Benny Travas]] - 2012 - 2014 *Fr. Ryan Joseph - 2014 -2021 *Fr. Shahzad Arshad - 2021 -

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Pius X Minor Seminary}} [[Category:Catholic seminaries in Pakistan]] [[Category:Catholic minor seminaries]] [[Category:1958 establishments in Pakistan]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1958]]