The Catholic Church in the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
The emergence of
Christianity in Pakistan dates back to 1581 by
the missionaries from the West. The Catholic
Church in Pakistan has now grown to 1084782
Catholics administratively structured into
seven independent units with one foreigner and
six sons of the soil at its helm and 146
diocesan priests to support them in the work
of God.
Diocesan
|
Arch/diocese/prefecture |
Catholics
|
Priests |
Bishop |
|
Karachi-KHI |
149350 |
36 |
His Grace Archbishop
Evarist Pinto |
|
Hyderabad-HYD |
48991 |
07 |
His Lordship Max
Rodrigues |
|
Quetta-QET |
27000 |
01 |
His Excellency Fr.Victor
Gnanapragasam O.M.I. |
|
Lahore-LHR |
502619 |
28 |
His Grace Archbishop
Lawrence J. Saldanha |
|
Multan-MUL |
98500 |
11 |
His Lordship Bishop Andrew
Francis |
|
Faisalabad-FSD |
135879 |
44 |
His Lordship Joe Coutts |
|
Islamabad-Rawalpindi-RWP |
122443 |
19 |
His Lordship Anthony Lobo |
|
TOTAL[Pakistan] |
1084782 |
146 |
|
Source:The
Catholic Church in Pakistan : Directory 2002
National Institute of
Philosophy in Pakistan
In a village of Yuhannabad, in
the outskirts of Lahore is situated St.
Francis Xavier Seminary, an Institute of
Philosophical studies. It offers a two year
–four semester – programme in “Christian
Philosophy”. It is affiliated to the
Pontifical Urban University of Rome. The Roman
Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan
decided on the 18th of April 1990
to build this new seminary for philosophical
studies in the Punjab; Approval was given by
the Holy See. Lahore was chosen. His Grace,
Archbishop Armando Trindade, of blessed
memory, the former Archbishop of Lahore
offered a big piece of land in Yuhannabad for
its construction.
Inauguration & Blessing
Work on the project started in
September 1992. We welcomed the first group of
seminarians on the 1st of September
1994. His Excellency Cardinal Jozef Tomko
opened and blessed St. Francis Xavier Seminary
on the 2nd of December 1994.
The seminary consists of three
blocks.
Academic Block
One block houses the
administration, Staff residence, lecture rooms
and library.
Living Quarters
Another block is the residence
of the seminarians. It is divided in four
units. Each unit comprises two dormitories, a
common room, a small store, bathroom
facilities and a room for the Moderator of the
group.
The third block houses the
chapel, the dining room, the kitchen, the
pantry, the kitchen store, the main store and
a multipurpose hall, which is regularly used
as a recreation hall by the seminarians. It is
also used as a theatre for film shows and
drama, not only for the seminarians but also
for the people of the area. It is also used as
an assembly hall.
Garages & Staff Quarters
A small block,with garages and
a workshop, besides, three small houses for
the domestic staff.
Farm, Recreation & Marian
Shrine
The building is surrounded by a
fairly large piece of land, which is being
developed as a wheat and rice field also a
vegetable garden; a small recreational spot,
which includes a football ground, a basketball
pitch and Marian Shrine. The seminarians give
a great helping hand in the normal domestic
chores and also a lot of work to maintain and
improved the premises. |
