As the sixth rector of Vianney College, I am indebted
to my predecessor of late, Bishop William
Brennan, who founded this seminary back in 1992. Bishop Brennan’s vision of
establishing a rural seminary was to train men for the diocese of Wagga Wagga. In reaching its thirtieth year Vianney College
has welcomed a number of men from a diversity of different cultures and
backgrounds from local, within state, interstate
and overseas students. Many have become
ordained for our own diocese, and others for their home diocese.
Vianney College is a campus of the Catholic Institute
of Sydney (CIS) which is also in partnership of Notre Dame Australia. Thanks to
this crucial partnership, our seminarians studies have the benefit of receiving
both civil and pontifical recognition.
Through our efforts in human, pastoral, spiritual and
intellectual formation, we hope to serve the people of God in the countryside
through our work of forming clergy with a heart for serving the faithful in
rural Australia.
As in all seminaries, the seminarian of Vianney
College follows a rule of life, to help in building up their character for the
good of themselves and their community.
I would like to
see that the formation these men will receive over the years will help to prepare
them to serve Christ’s faithful with a genuine love and desire in bringing
souls to Him. It is in the working of the Holy Spirit who is our primary formator, who wants to conform our lives to
Christ through the unseen power of His grace.
I pray and hope that I can bear witness to His
living grace by the example I show in willing the good of my neighbour for the
good of His Church. And in the words of
our patron saint John Marie Vianney:"All that we do without offering it to God is wasted."
We thank our benefactors both materially and
spiritually and all who support the life and work in our seminary.