Holy Cross Seminary
Auckland, New Zealand
Holy Cross Seminary (HCS) is the national seminary for the education and formation of diocesan priests for the Catholic Church in New Zealand. Established in 1900 by Bishop Verdon of the Diocese of Dunedin, it was sited at Mosgiel (just outside Dunedin) for nearly 100 years. At the end of 1997 the seminary moved to Auckland and a year later was established on the present site of 44 Vermont St, Ponsonby. It is located in close proximity to the Ponsonby Parish church, Te Kupenga - Catholic Theological College, and St. John Vianney rest home for retired priests. Nowadays the student body reflects the increasing diversity of peoples for whom New Zealand is home and is comprised of men from a wide range of countries and cultures, age and life experience.
Our Story
Jesus Christ called and appointed apostles to proclaim his love for all humanity, to teach, baptise, and care for people. In turn those first apostles shared and passed on their mandate to appointed successors and helpers down through the ages. This is our story in Aotearoa-New Zealand today as part of that continuing mission and pilgrimage.
Programme
Seminarians reside at Holy Cross Seminary, Auckland, where they undertake their human, spiritual, and pastoral formation. Most of the academic formation takes place at nearby Good Shepherd College on Ponsonby Road.
Vocations
Through the sacrament of Baptism each and every Christian receives a “call” or “vocation” to serve God through serving others by the particular way of life unique to each person. For some, that involves a call and mission to be a priest.
“Dear God, you taught:
The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).
Raise up for your Church, we pray, men after your own mind and heart, to serve your people with wisdom and courage, humility and strength, for the common good of all and the glory of your name.
Amen.”
Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the 'tools of trade' of the Christian life.
Please support the work of the seminary through engaging in these means of encouraging, inspiring, and enabling seminarians to answer the call to be Christ's priests for the people of our times and our world of today.