Seminaries strive for self-sufficiency as funds dry up

Seminaries in Myanmar face a funding crisis as assistance from outside the country continues to tumble, forcing the local Church to step up efforts at becoming self-reliant.

Seminarians chopping firewood as part of the self-support program

The 20 minor seminaries in the country have borne the brunt of the decline in foreign funding, although the three major seminaries have been relatively unaffected, according to Father Hyginus Myint Soe, rector of St. Joseph´s Catholic Major Seminary in Yangon.

However, he says major seminaries must “also launch a self-support program … because funding is decreasing year by year.”

Father John Saw Yaw Han, rector of St. Joseph´s Intermediate/Minor seminary in Yangon archdiocese notes that contributions from foreign sources to his seminary have fallen by around 50 percent over the past two years. The problem has become even more acute since the global financial crisis, he added.

His seminary serves high-school and university-level students preparing for the priesthood.

“Priests have the responsibility to do something to ensure the sustainability of the seminary,” Father Yaw Han says. “There can be no priests without the seminary and without priests it is impossible for the Catholics to grow spiritually.”

He said his seminary has started working on fund raising by distributing donation envelopes to Catholics through their parish priests. He hopes Christmas will give the drive a boost. Last year, donations from Christmas caroling covered the seminarians´ expenses for one month, Father Yaw Han said.

“This year we have received more than 2 million kyat (US$2,000) and we really appreciate the generosity of our people.”

The expenses for a seminarian are about 450,000 kyat a year. This academic year, there are 51 seminarians at the St. Joseph´s Intermediate/Minor seminary who have to contribute toward their own upkeep.

St. Joseph´s Intermediate/Minor seminary

The young men are requested to provide 100,000 kyat (US$100) a year to cover food, tuition and stationery.

Contributions of laypeople are essential.

David Soe Naing, 63, a retired Catholic government official said it is vital for laypeople to be aware of the funding crisis, otherwise no one will come to the aid of seminaries as “most people are struggling to make ends meet.”

Father Yaw Han says he is also trying to cut expenses through producing food for the seminary´s use. Seminarians are now helping to raise pigs and grow vegetables in the compound.

“In future we intend to grow mangoes, durians and jackfruit,” the priest said.

Seminarian Justine Win, 26, gave the thumbs-up to the seminary´s self-support program. “It is only human nature not to appreciate things that one can get easily. However, if we have to work for them, we´ll have a greater understanding of the difficulties involved. And we´ll become more self-reliant as priests.”