Benefactors' Dinner 2026
- rector55
- Feb 16
- 2 min read
On the 2nd of February, the seminary celebrated its 11th anniversary from the day in which Archbishop Miller erected it. Msgr. Smith - our beloved Vicar General - shared with us some beautiful words that we would like to share with you.
"The blessings that have flowed from the generous service of the Neocatechumenal priests who have in every sense become valued members of the Archdiocesan presbyterate are countless—actually we could count them as we think of the individual priests now incardinated or serving here.
I can speak for my fellow priests. Obviously, our burdens are lighter than they would be without the collaboration of our NeoCat brothers, but that is almost secondary to the example they give us of zeal and dedication. Those of us who have lived with one of them—in my case two of them—have also witnessed their remarkable commitment to prayer and the Word of God which is, to say the least, a challenge and an inspiration.
We’re also inspired by the readiness of these priests to undertake serious studies either in support of the apostolic mission itself or to prepare themselves for service to the seminary.
Of course, these remarkable priests are themselves the fruit of the Neocatechumenal Way that formed them and of their time in Redemptoris Mater seminaries, where participation in the Way is “a specific and basic element” of their formation [art. 18 §3].
And I don’t think it’s too much to say—especially from my position as Vicar General—that it’s hard to imagine what the Archdiocese would look like today without the parish ministry of Neocatechumenal priests.
Turning to the Neocatechumenal Way itself, which St. John Paul II called “an itinerary of Catholic formation, valid for our society and for our times”, I must express my gratitude to all those involved because—of course—it is the itinerants, catechists, and others who make possible this rediscovery of Christian initiation by baptized adults.
The statute of the Neocatechumenal Way highlights four groups amongst these baptized adults: those who have drifted away from the Church; those who have not yet been sufficiently baptized and catechized; those who desire to be matured in their faith; those who come from Christian denominations not in communion with the Catholic Church.
These four groups exist everywhere but in the Archdiocese of Vancouver we can identify a particular urgency to assist those who have drifted away from the Church to return to the faith and a burning need to share the gospel and Catholic truth with those who have not had the experience of knowing the Lord.
Overcoming a culture which is both highly secular and afflicted with busyness is the challenge of our times and of our Archdiocese.
But the time is ripe. The commitment of our local Church for evangelization is well-established.
And the Way provides those who seek it the formation needed to live their baptismal calling fully and an intense and effective means of growing in the spiritual life.
On this night when we celebrate the Redemptoris Mater seminary and pledge ourselves to its support, I join you in praying that this precious ministry in our Archdiocese be richly blessed by the Good Shepherd and that it continue to form priests after His own heart."
