St John Vianney Seminary, Pretoria

St John Vianney Seminary, Pretoria, is the National Seminary of the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa. It is a training facility and House of Formation operating under the auspices of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC). The seminary was opened on 14 April 1948 by Archbishop Martin Lucas SVD, initially in temporary quarters at Queenstown while construction of the permanent seminary in Waterkloof, Pretoria, was completed. In 1950 the seminary moved to Pretoria, and it was officially opened in March 1951, staffed by Irish Franciscans. During the apartheid era, St John Vianney initially catered for white South Africans, while a separate institution, St Peter's Seminary, was established first in Pevensey, KwaZulu-Natal, then in Hammanskraal and later in Garsfontein, to train indigenous priests for black Africans; from 1956 St Peter's was administered by the Dominican Order. The seminary began offering a BA in Theology in 1967. Theology students could earn a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (BST) degree issued through the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, to which the seminary became affiliated in 1964. From 1948 until 1998 the seminary was administered by the Franciscans; to compensate for their departure, a number of Jesuit academics joined the staff. In 1995 the seminary signed an agreement with the University of South Africa (Unisa) for the delivery of postgraduate Catholic theological studies through Unisa, and in the same year the link with the Pontifical Urban University was renewed. In 1999 the Higher Diploma in Ministry, introduced a year earlier by Rector Dlungwane, was validated by the South African Qualifications Authority. As a private education provider, the seminary's Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) and Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degrees are registered with the South African government's Council on Higher Education. Following a decision by the Bishops to close St Peter's Seminary in Garsfontein, east of Pretoria, philosophy students became part of St John Vianney Seminary in 2008. The seminary has been led by a series of rectors and presidents, including its first non-Franciscan rector, Graham Rose (1991–1997), and its first black rector, Mlungisi Pius Dlungwane (1997–2000). Its alumni include numerous bishops and archbishops serving across South Africa.

St John Vianney Seminary was opened on 14 April 1948 by Archbishop Martin Lucas SVD. It was initially housed in temporary quarters at Queenstown while the permanent seminary was being constructed in Waterkloof, Pretoria. In 1950 the seminary moved to Pretoria, and it was officially opened in March 1951, staffed by Irish Franciscans. In the climate of apartheid, St John Vianney initially catered for white South Africans, while another seminary, St Peter's Seminary, was set up first in Pevensey, KwaZulu-Natal, then in Hammanskraal and later in Garsfontein, to train indigenous priests for black Africans; from 1956 St Peter's was administered by the Dominican Order. The BA in Theology began being offered at St John Vianney in 1967. Theology students were able to gain a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (BST) degree issued through the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, to which the seminary had become affiliated in 1964. From 1948 until 1998, the seminary was administered by the Franciscans. To make up for the departure of the Franciscans, a number of Jesuit academics joined the staff of the seminary. In 1995 the seminary signed an agreement with the University of South Africa (Unisa) for the delivery of postgraduate Catholic theological studies undertaken through Unisa. Also in 1995 the link with the Pontifical Urban University in Rome was renewed. In 1999 the Higher Diploma in Ministry, which had been introduced a year earlier by Rector Dlungwane, was validated by the South African Qualifications Authority. As a private education provider, the Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) and Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degrees are registered with the South African government's Council on Higher Education. The Bishops decided to close St Peter's Seminary in Garsfontein, east of Pretoria, and in 2008 philosophy students became part of St John Vianney Seminary. The seminary has been led by a succession of rectors and presidents. Fergus Barrett OFM served from 1948 to 1966, followed by Norbett Carroll OFM (1967–1972), Bernard Frank Doyle OFM (1972–1976), Myles Russell OFM (1977–1984), and William Slattery OFM (1985–1991), who later became Archbishop of Pretoria. Graham Rose (1991–1997) was an alumnus and the first non-Franciscan rector, later Bishop of Dundee. Mlungisi Pius Dlungwane (1997–2000) was the first black rector. Mike Lewis SJ served as acting rector (2000–2001). Sithembele Sipuka (2000–2008), an alumnus and lecturer, became Bishop of Mthatha and President of the SACBC. Enrico Parry (2008–2011), an alumnus, professor dean, and vice-rector before becoming rector/president, also served as acting rector of St Peter's Seminary (2006–2007). Molewe Machingoane served from 2011 to 2015, Paul Manci from 2015 to 2018, Mons. Masilo John Selemela from 2019 to 2022, and Wellington Ncedo Siwundla from 2022 onward. Alumni of the seminary include Father Cyril Axelrod OBE, a deaf and now also blind Redemptorist priest; Archbishop Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town; Bishop Reginald Cawcutt, Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Town; Bishop Michael Gower Coleman, Bishop of Port Elizabeth; Archbishop Abel Gabuza, Archbishop Coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Durban; Fr. Bonaventure Hinwood OFM, Franciscan priest and Afrikaans poet; Bishop Joseph Kizito, Bishop of Aliwal; Bishop Robert Mogapi Mphiwe, Bishop of Rustenburg; Bishop Graham Rose, former rector, Bishop of Dundee; and Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu, Bishop of Port Elizabeth.

• 2008

  Following the closure of St Peter's Seminary in Garsfontein, philosophy students became part of St John Vianney Seminary.

• 1999

  The Higher Diploma in Ministry was validated by the South African Qualifications Authority.

• 1998

  The Higher Diploma in Ministry was introduced by Rector Dlungwane.

• 1995

  The seminary signed an agreement with the University of South Africa (Unisa) for postgraduate Catholic theological studies, and renewed its link with the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

• 1967

  The BA in Theology began being offered.

• 1964

  The seminary became affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

• 1956

  St Peter's Seminary began to be administered by the Dominican Order.

• 1951

  The seminary was officially opened in March, staffed by Irish Franciscans.

• 1950

  The seminary moved to Pretoria.

• 1948

  St John Vianney Seminary opened on 14 April by Archbishop Martin Lucas SVD, initially in temporary quarters at Queenstown.

The national seminary and House of Formation of the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa, offering higher-education theological degrees registered with the Council on Higher Education.

• Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil)

  Degree registered with the South African Council on Higher Education.

• Bachelor of Theology (BTh)

  Degree registered with the South African Council on Higher Education.

• Higher Diploma in Ministry

  Introduced in 1998 by Rector Dlungwane and validated by the South African Qualifications Authority in 1999.

• Bachelor of Sacred Theology (BST)

  Degree issued through the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, to which the seminary became affiliated in 1964.

• Postgraduate Catholic theological studies through Unisa

  Delivered under an agreement signed with the University of South Africa in 1995.

1. 1St John Vianney Seminary, Pretoria - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2St John Vianney Seminary, Pretoria - Wikidatawikidata.org