Sponsor the Training of Seminarians in Bolivia
Tuesday, December 20, 2016

There are currently 17 young men training for the priesthood in the diocesan Holy Spirit seminary, but living costs are continuing to rise and the seminary is having difficulties providing for all its students. Will you help?

The Diocese of Coroico is situated in the west of Bolivia and covers a predominantly rural region with an area of over 12,000 square miles. Almost 90% of the 228,000 inhabitants are Catholics. However, there are just 10 parishes, each covering vast areas with numerous smaller villages and towns within them, and there are just 30 priests to minister to the Catholic faithful. Clearly more priests are urgently needed to minister to the scattered Catholic communities!

The good news is that there are currently 17 young men training for the priesthood in the diocesan Holy Spirit seminary. Less good is the news that living costs are continuing to rise and the seminary is having difficulties providing for all its students. Food in particular is becoming increasingly expensive, and even with very modest fare it is still a heavy financial burden. Then there is the cost of the salaries for the seminary staff, who earn very little and are paid mainly in terms of food and housing.

The seminary building itself has maintenance and ongoing running costs, such as electricity, water and transportation for the seminarians who are working in the parishes, helping out at weekends and familiarizing themselves with the practicalities of parish work – all these things come with financial costs. While the seminarians themselves roll up their sleeves and help with much of the practical work, such as helping to prepare the meals and assisting with many other household tasks, the seminary still has to cope with many unavoidable expenses.

The rector of the seminary has turned to ACN for help. We are proposing to give $13,200 to support the training of the seminarians in the current academic year.

Will you give to sponsor the training of future priests in Bolivia?

Progress: 4% Raised: $ 503     Goal: $ 13200

Code: 211-02-79

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