Christ the King Seminary is a Roman Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 seminary

Seminary

A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...

 in Karachi

Karachi

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

. It is located adjacent to the Portiuncula Friary

Portiuncula Friary

The Franciscan Portiuncula Friary is the oldest Friary in Pakistan, founded in 1940. It is located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, adjacent to the Christ the King Seminary....

. In its early years most of the faculty were provided by the Franciscans.

The current rector

Rector

The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...

 is Father Augustine Soares

Augustine Soares

Augustine Soares is a Roman Catholic priest in Karachi, Pakistan. He was born in Karachi and received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi....

 who is an alumnus

Alumnus

An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...

 of the seminary

Seminary

A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...

, as is the present Archbishop of Karachi Evarist Pinto

Evarist Pinto

Evarist Pinto is the current Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.-Education:He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, where he was ordained a priest on 6 January 1968. He also had a doctorate in theology...

.

The high-water mark of the seminary's 50 year existence was the recruitment of 98 seminarians for the class that entered in 1990.

When the seminary started in 1956 it had only four students. Among them was Archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 Lawrence Saldanha

Lawrence Saldanha

Lawrence John Saldanha was born in Mangalore, India on 25 October 1936. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and was ordained a priest in Lahore, Pakistan on 16 January 1960....

 of Lahore

Lahore

Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

, who later went on to become its Rector. Other alumni include Bishop Anthony Theodore Lobo

Anthony Theodore Lobo

Anthony Theodore Lobo is a Pakistani Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan on July 4, 1937 to parents of Goan origin. He received his early education at Saint Patrick's High School and religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, and was ordained a priest in...

 of Islamabad

Islamabad

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...

-Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...

, Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, Bishop Andrew Francis of Multan

Multan

Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...

, and the late Bishop John Joseph

Bishop John Joseph

John Joseph was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad from 1984–1998 and was best known for committing suicide to protest the cruel treatment of Christians by Pakistani Muslims.John Joseph was born in Khushpur, Pakistan....

 of Faisalabad

Faisalabad

Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...

 and Bishop Patras Yusaf

Patras Yusaf

Patras Yusaf was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan from 1984 until his death in 1998.Yusaf was born in Francisabad, Pakistan on 29 July 1936. He received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest on 29 December 1965.He was appointed as vicar...

 of Multan.

Fifty years on, the seminary has graduated 780 students from Pakistan and abroad, some coming from Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 and Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

. It also expanded over the decades, adding a grassy field for soccer and cricket

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

, a basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 court, a pavilion, a retreat center and a Marian grotto

Grotto

A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...

 with a fountain.

The National Catholic Institute of Theology

National Catholic Institute of Theology

The National Catholic Institute of Theology was established in Karachi, Pakistan in September 1997. It offers academic courses leading to a diploma in theology, as well as programs for laypeople and Religious involved in Church ministries...

 (NCIT) was established at the seminary in September 1997, offering academic courses leading to a diploma in theology, as well as programs for laypeople and Religious involved in Church ministries. At the Institute students can now obtain a Bachelor of Theology

Bachelor of Theology

The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...

 degree from Melbourne University due to the efforts of Yarra Theological Union and the Melbourne College of Divinity

Melbourne College of Divinity

The Melbourne College of Divinity is a theological education organisation located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.The MCD is an ecumenical consortium of a number of theological colleges from a number of denominations...

.

In 1994 the philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

 studies program for seminarians was separated from the theology

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

 program and moved to the St. Francis Xavier Seminary

St. Francis Xavier Seminary

St. Francis Xavier Seminary is situated on four hectares of land next to the Christian housing estate of Yuhannabad, 25 kilometers east of Lahore. It is an Institute of Philosophical studies serving the whole country. It offers a two year program in Christian Philosophy. It is affiliated to the...

 in the Lahore archdiocese

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore is an archdiocese in Punjab, Pakistan.-History:It was founded as a diocese on 1 September 1886, having previously been the Vicariate of Punjab. On 23 April 1994 the diocese was elevated to the rank of Archdiocese. Fr...

.

In addition to dwindling vocations, the seminary has had to deal with a shortage of drinking water over the last 10 years, exacerbated by local authorities appropriation, without compensation, of its old well in November 2005 for the Lyari Expressway project.

The expressway

Controlled-access highway

A controlled-access highway is a highway designed exclusively for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow and ingress/egress regulated...

 project is part of Karachi's "Cleaning the City" drive, which the Asian Human Rights Commission

Human rights commission

A Human Rights Commission is a body set up to investigate, promote or protect human rights.The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as national human rights institutions or truth and reconciliation commissions.-International Human Rights...

 says has rendered thousands homeless. It adds that 11,000 houses and 3,100 commercial buildings outside the path of the expressway have been evacuated and demolished.

Since 2008 the seminary has been hosting the Cardinal Cordeiro

Joseph Cordeiro

Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro was the first Pakistani cardinal.-Education:He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi, the University of Bombay and Oxford University...

 Cricket tournament to promote religious vocations and remember Pakistan’s first cardinal. In 2010 there are 43 students from all six dioceses and the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta

Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta

The Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta was established on November 9, 2001 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi...

.

In 2010, a grant from Aid to the Church in Need

Aid to the Church in Need

' describes itself as "an international pastoral aid organization of the Catholic Church, which yearly offers financial support to more than 5,000 projects worldwide...

 was made to the Seminary where it will be used for library books and new air conditioning units.

Rectors

Fr. Innocent Laurensse OFM - - 1971

Fr. Anslem Moons OFM - 1971 - 1974

Fr. Lawrence Saldanha - 1974 - 1979

Fr. Emmanuel Asi

Emmanuel Asi

Fr. Emmanuel Asi received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore in 1974. He obtained his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. Among his many appointments he has served as Rector...

- 1979 - 1988

Fr. Arnold Heredia

Arnold Heredia

Arnold Heredia was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1940. He attended the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in 1965...

 – 1988 - 1993

Fr. Inayat Bernard

Inayat Bernard

Fr Inayat Bernard is the parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Kasur, 55 kilometres south of Lahore, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore.Father Bernard, ordained a priest for Lahore diocese in 1980, graduated from the Punjab University...

- 1993 - 2004

Fr. Rufin Anthony

Rufin Anthony

Rufin Anthony is a Pakistani Roman Catholic Bishop. He completed his primary and secondary school in Khushpur. He received his religious training at the St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Quetta and the Christ the King Major Seminary, Karachi and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of...

- 2004 - 2005

Fr. Augustine Soares

Augustine Soares

Augustine Soares is a Roman Catholic priest in Karachi, Pakistan. He was born in Karachi and received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi....

- 2005 -

Alumni

Bishop John Joseph

Bishop John Joseph

John Joseph was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad from 1984–1998 and was best known for committing suicide to protest the cruel treatment of Christians by Pakistani Muslims.John Joseph was born in Khushpur, Pakistan....

 

Lawrence Saldanha

Lawrence Saldanha

Lawrence John Saldanha was born in Mangalore, India on 25 October 1936. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and was ordained a priest in Lahore, Pakistan on 16 January 1960....

Terence D'Souza

Derek Misquita

Anthony Theodore Lobo

Anthony Theodore Lobo

Anthony Theodore Lobo is a Pakistani Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan on July 4, 1937 to parents of Goan origin. He received his early education at Saint Patrick's High School and religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, and was ordained a priest in...

Archie D’Souza

Archie D’Souza

Archie D’Souza was 18 years old when he decided that he wanted to become a priest. He received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi at St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1968.He pursued a B.A. in Islamic studies at...

 

Adrian Pereira

Patras Yusaf

Patras Yusaf

Patras Yusaf was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan from 1984 until his death in 1998.Yusaf was born in Francisabad, Pakistan on 29 July 1936. He received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest on 29 December 1965.He was appointed as vicar...

Arnold Heredia

Augustine Soares

Anjou Soares

Anjou Soares

Anjou Soares was born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1942. He graduated from Karachi University before entering the Christ the King seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in 1969....

Joseph Paul

Joseph Paul

Father Joseph Paul is a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in Pakistan. He received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi....

 

Joe D’ Mello

Evarist Pinto

Evarist Pinto

Evarist Pinto is the current Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.-Education:He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, where he was ordained a priest on 6 January 1968. He also had a doctorate in theology...

Edwin Mathias

Anthony Martis

Charles D'Souza

John D'Cruz

Rufin Anthony

Rufin Anthony

Rufin Anthony is a Pakistani Roman Catholic Bishop. He completed his primary and secondary school in Khushpur. He received his religious training at the St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Quetta and the Christ the King Major Seminary, Karachi and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of...

P A Varkey

John Crasto

Daud Gois ofm

Felix Allahditta
Richard D'Souza

Andrew Francis

Andrew Francis (bishop)

Andrew Francis is a Pakistani Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Adah, Pakistan on 29 November 1946. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi. On 10 January 1972, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore. He has been rector of...

Joseph Coutts

Raymond Saeed

Raymond Saeed

Pope John Paul II appointed Father Raymond Saeed apostolic administrator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan in Pakistan. Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, then a monsignor and the acting chargé d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature in Islamabad, announced that Archbishop Renzo Fratini had...

Theophilus D'Souza

Emmanual Asi

Augustine Rodrigues OP

Dominic Sequiera

Martin Pereira

Diego Ferro

Mukhtar Alam

Thomas Gulfam

Ayub Francis Nasar

Javed Nazar

Joseph Perera

Arthur Charles

Arthur Charles

Arthur Charles received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi.From 2005 to 2009 he served as assistant parish priest at St. Jude's Parish, Karachi....

Sebastian Francis Shah

Sebastian Francis Shah

Sebastian Francis Shah was born in Padri-Jo-Goth, Pakistan on 14 November 1957. He received his early education at Fatima High School and attended the Government Degree College. He received his religious training under the Order of Friars Minor and at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and...

Zacharia Ghouri

Khalid Yusaf

Francis Tanveer

Anthony D'Cruz

James Channan

Nobert Mendonca

Peter John
Benjamin Shehzad
Nazar Nawab

Edward Joseph

Younan Shahzad

Saleh Diego

Mathew Sebastian

John Murad

Mario Rodrigues

Jacob Dogra

Abid Habib

Francis Nadeem

Francis Nadeem

Father Francis Nadeem is a Franciscan Capuchin priest working in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore in Pakistan.He was chief editor of Catholic Naqib, the Urdu-language Catholic journal, in 1989....

Andrew Nisari

John Mendonca

George Ibrahim

George Ibrahim

Father George Ibrahim, a Roman Catholic priest from Pakistan, was killed there on 5 July 2003.He was born in Khushpur, Punjab on 10 July 1964. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary and was ordained a priest on 3 September 1993....

James Paul

Samson Dilawar

Munawar Bhatti

Aftab James Paul

Yousaf Amanat

Emmanuel Yousaf Mani

George Daniel

Inayat Patras

Khalid Rashid

Pervez Khalid

External links

The Indian Catholic

Catholic Hierarchy

Newsline, August 2002

Express and elevated Dawn, April 08, 2007

Pontificia Universitàs Urbaniana