What is a Redemptoris Mater seminary ?

The Diocesan Missionary "Redemptoris Mater" Seminaries are a completely new reality, desired by the II Vatican Council in the Presbyterorum Ordinis decree, where in the article no. 10 is written: "Let priests remember, therefore, that the care of all churches must be their intimate concern. Where a real apostolic spirit requires it, not only should a better distribution of priests be brought about but there should also be favored such particular pastoral works as are necessary in any region or nation anywhere on earth. To accomplish this purpose there should be set up international seminaries, special personal dioceses or prelatures (vicariates), and so forth, by means of which, according to their particular statutes and always saving the right of bishops, priests may be trained and incardinated for the good of the whole Church."

In 1991, the Interdicasterial Commision, created by Pope John Paul II in order to solve the great need of presbyters in many zones of the world has identified that: "This idea of the Council has been carried out in the "Redemptoris Mater" seminaries were presbyters are prepared for the new evangelisation, according to the modality of the Neo Catechumenal Way. It can be said that it is the realisation of a new form of ministry: "the missionary diocesan" (Osservatore Romano, 15.03.1991).

As a response to the Vatican Council's wish, the Holy Father John Paul II opened the first "Redemptoris Mater" Seminary in Rome in 1987. From then on, more than 60 similar seminaries have been erected in all the world - amongst which the "Redemptoris Mater" of Finland, founded in the year 2003 by S.E Józef Wróbel, Bishop of Finland.

In this way the recommendation made by the "Optatem Totius" decree of the II Vatican Council is carried out, according to which, the future presbyters have to be "penetrated by this very catholic spirit which makes them capable to look over the limits of their own diocese, nation, rite and respond the whole Church's necessities, ready in their soul to announce the Gospel anywhere (OT 20).

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Information regarding possible donations:
Seminario Redemptoris Mater
NORDEA BANK FINLAND
Swift address: NDEAFIHH
Account (IBAN): FI9510143000229134

- Images from the seminary of Helsinki -