St John Vianney Seminary Installs New Rector And Welcomes New Seminarians

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · Published February 20, 2023 · Updated February 20, 2023

Fr Wellington Siwundla installation as rector of St John Vianney Seminary

Build true communion. Keep alive the vision and mission of the Church to form priests who are in love with Jesus Christ. This was the message delivered by Bishop Vincent Zungu OFM to Fr Wellington Siwundla, the incoming rector of St John Vianney Seminary at his installation Mass service on Sunday, February 19. Fr Siwundla, originally from the diocese of Mthatha, was appointed to the position in December last year. He takes over from Bishop John Selemela, who Pope Francis appointed as the Auxiliary-Bishop of the archdiocese of Pretoria.

Beyond the installation of the new rector, the Mass service also marked the beginning of the academic year and the admission to candidacy of new seminarians to the seminary. In a wide-ranging homily, Bishop Zungu, who is the bishop of the diocese of Port Elizabeth and the chairperson of the Seminaries Commission, expounded on the shared path that both the new rector and the new seminarians were travelling.

“The Bible tells us that each of us is expected to find our own path to holiness. Those who come to the seminary, as an ordained priest or a new entrant, are a true reflection of a person who incarnates the call to holiness as it is articulated in the Gospel,” he said.

Through words of advice to the new rector, Bishop Zungu urged him to instil a sense of vigilance and discipline in the seminarians and to discourage procrastination in the affairs of the seminary. “Let a yes be a yes, and a no be a no,” he said. Bishop Zungu encouraged the new seminarians, who are mostly intakes from St Francis Xavier Seminary in Cape Town, to be responsible, vigilant and accountable to the seminary. “It is the vision and mission of the Southern African Bishops Conference (SACBC) to provide our parishes with pastorally equipped and well-formatted priests. “I congratulate you and wish you all of the best in your new vocational journey,” he ended.

A decree of instalment for the new rector was read in both English and Latin, whereupon the new rector signed it.

After the Mass service, a special installation service for the new rector ensued. Proceedings opened with a hymn sung by the meticulous St John Vianney Seminary Choir, who provided outstanding music for the day.

A number of speakers were called upon to give speeches. A family member of Fr Siwundla gave a speech on behalf of the Siwundla family. He congratulated the new rector and commended him on making the Siwundla family proud. Gifts were given to the new rector by family members, most of whom had travelled from the Eastern Cape for the occasion.

Other speakers included past rector Auxillary-Bishop John Selemela and the current dean of students at the seminary. The final speaker was Fr Siwundla. He gave a brief background of his involvement with the seminary and thanked God and everyone who had made it possible for him to reach the milestone of his new appointment as rector. After the formalities, lunch was served for all attendees in the seminary dining hall.