THE INSTITUTION
Morning Star Regional Seminary and Morning Star College are two
Institutions owned and managed by the Bengal Catholic Priests' Training
Institute, registered on 10.1.1979 under the West Bengal Societies Act XXVI
of 1961. Morning Star Regional Seminary was established on June 4, 1968,
as the Calcutta Archdiocesan Seminary. On August 6, 1971, the B.A.
Department of the Seminary was affiliated to the University of Calcutta, with
the name of “Morning Star College”. When the Calcutta University was
bifurcated in 2008, Morning Star College was asked to affiliate to the newly
established West Bengal State University (WBSU), Berunanpukuria,
Malikapur, Barasat. The first course of Theology began in 1972. In May1974,
Morning Star became a Regional Seminary to serve the Dioceses of Bengal
Region, namely, Asansol, Bagdogra, Baruipur, Calcutta, Darjeeling,
Jalpaiguri, Krishnagar and Raiganj. The first Batch of Deacons from this
seminary was ordained in December 1975.
The residential staff of the seminary is mainly drawn from the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, Diocesan Clergy of the Region, Claretians, Society of Jesus, Vincentian Congregation, TOR Franciscans and Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI). Though the Seminary is primarily meant for the Formation of Priests for the West Bengal Region, it also caters to the seminarians of the neighbouring Dioceses and some religious congregations.
The Seminary has three Departments: B.A., Philosophy and Theology. The Three-year B.A. Degree Course is combined with the Philosophy Course. However, a compact provision is also made for a two year Philosophy course without B.A., for those who do not do B.A., either because they had already done it, or do it elsewhere or later. The Theologians in their fourth year, after completing their comprehensive exams by early September proceed to finish the Pastoral Course of three months' duration before leaving for their respective Dioceses/ Congregations. The Department of Theology of Morning Star Regional Seminary is affiliated to the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Theology also called Jnana-Deepa in Pune. The Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome, by its decree No.1130/2002, dated 25th November 2002, was pleased to approve the affiliation of the Baccalaureate in Theology programme of Morning Star Regional Seminary (Morning Star College) to the Faculty of Theology, Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Pune. The students now qualifying in the B.Th. Examinations are awarded with the B.Th. Degree from JD.
May Mary, the Morning Star, the Patroness of this seminary and beloved Mother of all Priests, guide us on the path of Christ, the true light of the world and keep on inspiring us by the Motto of the seminary - “Let your Light Shine!
MOTTO OF THE INSTITUTION
The Motto of the Institution is “Let your Light shine”. The inspiration is drawn from the summon of Jesus to his followers in Matthew 5.16: “Let your good works shine before others so that they give glory to your Father in heaven”. Our ultimate aim is to “give glory” or to “glorify” the Father. This was the whole mission of Jesus as well. This is the same mission that Jesus entrusts to all his disciples. This mandate of Jesus becomes our motto, because this is the right way to accomplish the ultimate aim of glorifying the Father. The 'Light' in the text according to its context signifies 'good works'. However, in the holistic sense, it signifies an entire life of witness. And in the specific and precise context of the seminary and college, 'light' very well indicates the “Light of knowledge and wisdom, the light of a witnessing life”. This happens through the years of formation and academics in the Institution.
The motto then beautifully sums up a fourfold mission and pursuit: “Be Enlightened, Be enriched, Be Empowered and Be Entrusted”.
The residential staff of the seminary is mainly drawn from the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, Diocesan Clergy of the Region, Claretians, Society of Jesus, Vincentian Congregation, TOR Franciscans and Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI). Though the Seminary is primarily meant for the Formation of Priests for the West Bengal Region, it also caters to the seminarians of the neighbouring Dioceses and some religious congregations.
The Seminary has three Departments: B.A., Philosophy and Theology. The Three-year B.A. Degree Course is combined with the Philosophy Course. However, a compact provision is also made for a two year Philosophy course without B.A., for those who do not do B.A., either because they had already done it, or do it elsewhere or later. The Theologians in their fourth year, after completing their comprehensive exams by early September proceed to finish the Pastoral Course of three months' duration before leaving for their respective Dioceses/ Congregations. The Department of Theology of Morning Star Regional Seminary is affiliated to the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Theology also called Jnana-Deepa in Pune. The Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome, by its decree No.1130/2002, dated 25th November 2002, was pleased to approve the affiliation of the Baccalaureate in Theology programme of Morning Star Regional Seminary (Morning Star College) to the Faculty of Theology, Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Pune. The students now qualifying in the B.Th. Examinations are awarded with the B.Th. Degree from JD.
May Mary, the Morning Star, the Patroness of this seminary and beloved Mother of all Priests, guide us on the path of Christ, the true light of the world and keep on inspiring us by the Motto of the seminary - “Let your Light Shine!
MOTTO OF THE INSTITUTION
The Motto of the Institution is “Let your Light shine”. The inspiration is drawn from the summon of Jesus to his followers in Matthew 5.16: “Let your good works shine before others so that they give glory to your Father in heaven”. Our ultimate aim is to “give glory” or to “glorify” the Father. This was the whole mission of Jesus as well. This is the same mission that Jesus entrusts to all his disciples. This mandate of Jesus becomes our motto, because this is the right way to accomplish the ultimate aim of glorifying the Father. The 'Light' in the text according to its context signifies 'good works'. However, in the holistic sense, it signifies an entire life of witness. And in the specific and precise context of the seminary and college, 'light' very well indicates the “Light of knowledge and wisdom, the light of a witnessing life”. This happens through the years of formation and academics in the Institution.
The motto then beautifully sums up a fourfold mission and pursuit: “Be Enlightened, Be enriched, Be Empowered and Be Entrusted”.
