Catholic Major Seminaries Across China Open New Academic Year with Renewed Mission

China’s Catholic major seminaries have begun the 2025–2026 academic year with a spirit of renewed vitality and mission, holding solemn opening ceremonies in early September that highlighted faith formation, discipline, and service to the Church.

On September 9, the Catholic Theological and Philosophical Seminary of China inaugurated its new academic year in the presence of Bishop Joseph Li Shan and Bishop Joseph Guo Jincai, who both delivered keynote addresses.

Bishop Li described the seminary as the “heart of the Church,” entrusted with forming future leaders for Catholicism in China. He urged seminarians to cherish their vocation, deepen their faith, and persevere in prayer and study. Quoting the call to “make straight the paths and level the hills,” he encouraged them to become reliable, accomplished, and morally exemplary leaders for the Church in critical moments.

Bishop Guo emphasized five priorities for the new year: respect for statutes and discipline, faculty leading by example, fidelity to the seminary board’s directives, strict governance in formation, and cultivating a spirit of frugality, virtue, and integrity.

At Sheshan Seminary, the academic year opened on September 6 with the arrival of 15 seminarians and 12 religious sisters. Bishop Shen Bin, the rector, exhorted students to stand firm in faith with pure hearts, to embrace Chinese cultural traditions and core values while expressing faith confidently in their context, and to live in prayerful communion, preparing to become worthy shepherds for God’s people.

The Beijing Catholic Theological and Philosophical Seminary held its opening on September 5, attended by Bishop Li Shan, Auxiliary Bishop Zhen Xuebin, and Father Liu Zhentian. Bishop Li, reflecting on the “Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” encouraged seminarians to cultivate wisdom, understanding, counsel, and fortitude in their vocation.

In Shaanxi, the seminary opened its new academic year on September 6. Executive vice-rector Father Li Jingxi welcomed students and sisters, while Bishop Li Jing of Ningxia invited them to live joyfully, engage actively in community life, and contribute to the seminary’s growth.

Other major seminaries in Hebei and Jilin also launched their academic year this month. Across the country, the ceremonies highlighted the Church’s commitment to forming priests and religious who are deeply rooted in faith, morally sound, and prepared to serve the Catholic Church in China amid the challenges of a new era.

(Source: Faith Press)