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Acutely aware of the fact that a local church needs
first of all her own Malawian priests, there was felt a
need to establish a minor seminary for the diocese.
This seminary was later transferred to Rumphi and
they called it St. Patrick's Seminary. This is where it
still stands today. The aim of St. Patrick’s Seminary
is to give the boys who feel they might have a
vocation to the priesthood the opportunity to reflect
on it.
It aims specially at preparing for Mzuzu Diocese,
the country, and for God, priests who will be at the
service of the community in which they will live and
also of the Lord who is calling them. The Seminary
exists in order to help students to discover whether
or not they are called by God to be priests and also
to help each one to prepare himself to a life of
service, and possibly and hopefully, to a priestly life.
It must be remembered; however, that no young
man can be sure of what God wants him to be in
ten or twenty years’ time. All that is wanted from
those who wish to test their vocation at the
Seminary is that they be open to God’s call that they
avoid in their attitude and conduct, anything which
could hinder themselves or other students in the
pursuit of their vacation.
St. Patrick’s Seminary differs from an ordinary
secondary school by the great emphasis given to
spiritual formation. In the daily distribution of
activities, time is put aside for prayer, Holy Mass,
spiritual talks and religious institution. Morning and
evening prayers are said together in the Seminary
Chapel.
The centre, however, of Seminary life as well as
personal spiritual life is the daily celebration of the
Holy Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, the
seminary community answers the call of Jesus
Christ and expresses the unity of all its members
and their commitment to the services of the Church.
Every effort is made to make the Eucharistic
celebration as beautiful and as meaningful as
possible. Everyone is encouraged to give himself
wholeheartedly to daily Holy Mass, co-operate
generously in the singing classes and prepare well
the readings and the ceremonies. Prayerful and
attentive preparation is expected of each person.
first of all her own Malawian priests, there was felt a
need to establish a minor seminary for the diocese.
This seminary was later transferred to Rumphi and
they called it St. Patrick's Seminary. This is where it
still stands today. The aim of St. Patrick’s Seminary
is to give the boys who feel they might have a
vocation to the priesthood the opportunity to reflect
on it.
It aims specially at preparing for Mzuzu Diocese,
the country, and for God, priests who will be at the
service of the community in which they will live and
also of the Lord who is calling them. The Seminary
exists in order to help students to discover whether
or not they are called by God to be priests and also
to help each one to prepare himself to a life of
service, and possibly and hopefully, to a priestly life.
It must be remembered; however, that no young
man can be sure of what God wants him to be in
ten or twenty years’ time. All that is wanted from
those who wish to test their vocation at the
Seminary is that they be open to God’s call that they
avoid in their attitude and conduct, anything which
could hinder themselves or other students in the
pursuit of their vacation.
St. Patrick’s Seminary differs from an ordinary
secondary school by the great emphasis given to
spiritual formation. In the daily distribution of
activities, time is put aside for prayer, Holy Mass,
spiritual talks and religious institution. Morning and
evening prayers are said together in the Seminary
Chapel.
The centre, however, of Seminary life as well as
personal spiritual life is the daily celebration of the
Holy Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, the
seminary community answers the call of Jesus
Christ and expresses the unity of all its members
and their commitment to the services of the Church.
Every effort is made to make the Eucharistic
celebration as beautiful and as meaningful as
possible. Everyone is encouraged to give himself
wholeheartedly to daily Holy Mass, co-operate
generously in the singing classes and prepare well
the readings and the ceremonies. Prayerful and
attentive preparation is expected of each person.
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In the student's preparation for their vocation,
besides prayer, the Holy Eucharist and the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, two elements are
receiving a special emphasis viz. The development
of a great sense of responsibility and of a spirit of
service. In view of developing this sense of
responsibility, which is expected from every good
citizen, still more from a priest, opportunities are
given to students to train themselves in this very
important aspect of their lives. Each and every one is
invited to consider his responsibility or functions as a
service to the society.
To achieve this goal much responsibility is vested in
students who through their various committees, are
working for the common good of the whole family
that the Seminary constitutes. In addition, students
are asked to train themselves to co-operate with
those in-charge and to obey those placed above
them irrespective of age or advancement in studies.
In view of their future role in society, older students
are asked to take part in some pastoral activities
such as visiting the sick in the hospital and teaching
religious education to children twice a month. This
exercise opens the students' eyes to the needs of
others as well as to the possibilities opened to them
to help.
Obviously, the fact that St. Patrick's is a Seminary
and not only a private secondary school, influences
the way in which students are selected. Since the
Diocese of Mzuzu has no preparatory school,
selection is done through all the parishes of the
Diocese. The Parish Priest together with his
pastoral team and the headmaster, recommends to
us a certain number of boys who seem to be serious
and having the right intention. Then an entrance
examination is set and marked by the seminary
staff. The entrance test comprises of a paper in the
following subjects: English, Mathematics, and
Religious Knowledge. Then two members of staff
interview each candidate separately. To be
accepted, the candidate must:
besides prayer, the Holy Eucharist and the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, two elements are
receiving a special emphasis viz. The development
of a great sense of responsibility and of a spirit of
service. In view of developing this sense of
responsibility, which is expected from every good
citizen, still more from a priest, opportunities are
given to students to train themselves in this very
important aspect of their lives. Each and every one is
invited to consider his responsibility or functions as a
service to the society.
To achieve this goal much responsibility is vested in
students who through their various committees, are
working for the common good of the whole family
that the Seminary constitutes. In addition, students
are asked to train themselves to co-operate with
those in-charge and to obey those placed above
them irrespective of age or advancement in studies.
In view of their future role in society, older students
are asked to take part in some pastoral activities
such as visiting the sick in the hospital and teaching
religious education to children twice a month. This
exercise opens the students' eyes to the needs of
others as well as to the possibilities opened to them
to help.
Obviously, the fact that St. Patrick's is a Seminary
and not only a private secondary school, influences
the way in which students are selected. Since the
Diocese of Mzuzu has no preparatory school,
selection is done through all the parishes of the
Diocese. The Parish Priest together with his
pastoral team and the headmaster, recommends to
us a certain number of boys who seem to be serious
and having the right intention. Then an entrance
examination is set and marked by the seminary
staff. The entrance test comprises of a paper in the
following subjects: English, Mathematics, and
Religious Knowledge. Then two members of staff
interview each candidate separately. To be
accepted, the candidate must:
- Have a positive recommendation from both
his parish and his school that he has some
signs of vocation. - Pass the Government Primary Leaving
Certificate Examination as well as the
entrance test set by the Seminary.
For more info visit:
1. Key aspects
2. Achievements
3. Mission Statement
Better to Give than to Receive
Administration Area
Rector's office, form 4 view