At the beginning of the academic year 1996 the Seminary of the Good Shepherd opened at Abbotsford Road, Homebush, and on a separate location in Albert Road, Strathfield, the Catholic Institute of Sydney came into being.

The word seminary comes from the Latin word “seminarium” meaning “seed-plot”.

Good Shepherd Seminary, therefore, is a place to prepare young men to be priests. Our seminary is indeed a seed-plot where the ideals of priestly ministry are nurtured.

When Pope John Paul 11 spoke of the role of the seminary he described it as a place where men gather to learn from the Lord, in the same way as the disciples gathered around the Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry.

“In its deepest identity the seminary is called to be, in its own way, a continuation in the Church of the apostolic community gathered about Jesus, listening to his word, proceeding towards the Easter experience, awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit for the mission.” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 60)

Seminarians at the Good Shepherd consciously seek to be with Christ in order to learn from Him, and more importantly, to be formed by Him. They are taught that priests are to be “other Christs”, who act in persona Christi, in the person of Christ.

Time spent at Good Shepherd is an “opportune time” of intense formation, not just in philosophical and theological study, but in human virtues, social graces and spiritual values. We bring our young men into the world of the Church’s rich human and spiritual tradition.

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.” (John 10,11)

This is what we do at Good Shepherd: we teach and form our young men to lay down their lives for the sheep. This is the heart of Christ.