Guests at Kondabada

On January 17, 2011 one of the past pupils of the Seminary, one belonging to the very first batch of students at St John's Regional Seminary, Kondadaba, Fr Maria Joseph a Priest of Nellore Diocese along with another Priest, Fr Showry (from the same diocese) paid a visit to Kondadaba. They were accompanied by two friends from Texas, USA... Ms Vernie and Johannah. Both the latter were introduced as friends of Fr Maria Joseph and active collaborators in their own Parish Church back in Texas. It was good to have them with us for the evening and for the Mass the next day.

Speaking during the goodnight on January 17 (Monday) both the ladies expressed their joy at being in the Seminary for the evening and at the sight of 'so many' seminarians... would-be Priests. Ms Vernie (standing to the left of Fr Showry, in the photo) exhorted the Seminarians to understand the value of Priesthood and go on to become good Priests... a rare but essential figure in the Catholic Church today. Ms Johannah told the Brothers to seek and do what is right always, as Seminarians, or as lay persons or as Priests.

Fr Showry during the homily the following morning enumerated the qualities of a Priest... basically as one who is another Christ to the world of today. He was his normal witty self as he spoke from his heart on this occasion.