The Malankara Syrian Catholic Church
The Eparchy of St Ephrem, Khadki-Pune
About Us
​NHMS is the Minor Seminary of the Eparchy of St Ephrem, Khadki-Pune. It was inaugurated on 18 June 2016 by His Excellency Bishop Thomas Mar Anthonios in the presence of Very Rev. Fr. Malcolm Sequeira, the vicar general of the diocese of Pune, Very Rev Fr. Varghese Mattamana, Rev. Fr. Varghese Kaithon, the procurator of the exarchate, Rev Fathers from different parishes, Rev. Sisters, the pastoral council members and Parishioners. Very Rev. Fr. George Mathew OIC was appointed as the rector. Presently there are fourteen brothers undergoing priestly formation. Rev Fr Samuel Thoppil is the spiritual director of the seminary and Rev Fr. Mathew Punakulam is the present rector of NHMS (2018-).
Admission and Formation
According to the current system, while admitting a candidate to a minor seminary, the competent authority shall make sure that the candidate is validly baptized and anointed with Holy Moron. The minimum qualification for an entry into the minor seminary at present is Secondary School leaving certificate (SSLC). For an admission to the minor seminary the candidate shall bring along with him a certificate from his proper Parish priest that testifies his character, conduct and other personality traits. Prior to the admission of the candidate lawful investigations have to be done by the concerned authority regarding the eligibility of the candidate. The duration of the formation in the minor seminary is four years.
Formation in the minor seminary is generally based on the spiritual, intellectual, pastoral and human spheres of importance. The candidates are basically introduced to the liturgical, spiritual, disciplinary, socio-cultural and historical heritage of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. Liturgical formation includes training in divine praises (shemonamaskaram), observance of penance such as Lents (nombu), fasting, and abstinence. Faith formation in the seminary refreshes and teaches the candidates the basic catechism of the universal Church and of the proper rite. The spiritual training initiates the candidates to a life of prayer, to the spiritual life of the clerics through study and meditation of the Scripture, sacraments, devotion to St. Mary, the Mother God and to the saints. The disciplinary aspects introduce the candidates to the canonical discipline of the Church, so that they may be able to grow in self–discipline. The academic program in the minor seminary equips the seminarians to get a basically integral knowledge of various branches of spiritual, ecclesial and secular subjects. Learning of language such as Syriac, English and the vernacular are given due importance. Personality development based on values, the building up of the capacity to yield oneself to arts and sports, and the expansion of leadership skills are some of the special areas of training in the minor seminary. In short, the candidate is placed in an atmosphere which is conducive and training is imparted to each individual to recognise and discern his real vocation. As the individual gains clarity to his vocation and accepts it as his call from God he is furthered with the formative plans and given prospects to deepen his vocation. The Synodal Commission for seminary Formation with the approval of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is responsible to prepare the curriculum of studies for the minor seminary. Those candidates who successfully complete the minor seminary formation are promoted to the Major Seminary for further training.
Administrative Structure
The head and patron of the Nirmal Hriday Minor Seminary is the Eparchial Bishop. It is the Synodal Commission for the Seminary Formation that prepares the programme of formation in the accordance with the norms of the Church. Prior to its implementation it has to get the approval of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. (CCEO cc.345ff; CPCSMCC cc.263-265). The Rector, Spiritual Director, Procurator and the teaching staff comprises the administrative personnel of the seminary. The Congregation for the Clergy in Rome has competence over seminary formation. It deals with the life and ministry of priest from the moment of their entrance into seminary, working to ensure that vocations are promoted and cared for, and may blossom into the lives of holy priests. The financial expenditure due to the formation of priesthood both in the minor and major seminaries is primarily the responsibility of the church and of the concerned diocese. At present the joint efforts of the diocese, the parents of the seminarian and the generous assistance of the benefactors pave way to meet the expenses of the seminary. The formation in the seminary in general is both combined effort of the authorities in the seminary and the family members of the seminarians.
Important Annual Events
June 21: St. Peter and St. Paul
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June. The celebration is of ancient origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either their death or the translation of their relics.[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Saints_Peter_and_Paul)
​
July 3 : St. Thomas
St Thomas the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, according to the New Testament. He is informally referred to as "Doubting Thomas." Traditionally, he is said to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as Tamilakam which are the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle)
​
July 15 : Mar Ivanios Day
Archbishop Aboon Geevarghese Mar Ivanios (born 21 September 1882 as Geevarghese Panickeruveetil - died 15 July 1953) was the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum and the founder of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church.[1] He was the founder of Bethany Ashram order of monks and Bethany madom Order Of Nuns. He was the first M.A. degree holder in the Malankara Church. He also served as the Principal of the Kottayam M.D Seminary High School and as a professor at Serampore College.Ivanios sent missionaries to different parts of the land. Besides the newly joined Bishops and Priests from different Malankara denominations, he received missionaries from the Syro Malabar Church. oseph Kuzhinjalil, the founder of the congregation of the Daughters of Mary, was a missionary appointed by Ivanios to work in the southern parts of the land. Under Ivanios's leadership about 75 priests were joined from different denominations of the Malankara Church. About 150 parishes including mission stations were established.[12] Mar Ivanios left for his heavenly abode on 15 July 1953, and was entombed at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geevarghese_Ivanios)
​
August 4 : St. John Maria Vianney
St. John Vianney, was a French parish priest who is venerated in the Catholic Church as a saint and as the patron saint of parish priests. He is often referred to as the "Curé d'Ars" , internationally known for his priestly and pastoral work in his parish in Ars, France, because of the radical spiritual transformation of the community and its surroundings. His feast day is 4 August. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney)
​
September 8 : Birth of Mother Mary
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Mary, or the Birth of the Virgin Mary, refers to a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The modern canon of scripture does not record Mary's birth. The earliest known account of Mary's birth is found in the Protoevangelium of James (5:2), an apocryphal text from the late second century, with her parents known as Saint Anne and Saint Joachim.[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Mary)
​
January 17 : Feast of Bishop Mar Anthonios
Bishop Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC, bishop of the exarchate of St Ephrem, Khadki-Pune was born of Mrs Kunjamma and C.Koshy on 25 November 1955 at Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. He joined the Order of the Imitation of Christ or Bethany Ashram and made his First Profession in the year 1974 after his schooling at Adoor and Kattanam . He continued his higher education in Pune and secured B.Ph. and M.Th. form JDV, Pune. He was ordained priest on 27 December 1980 by Mar Baselios Cleemis, at Mar Ivanios Nagar, Kottayam, the venue of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Reunion Movement initiated by the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios.He celebrates his feast on 17th January.