St.Raphael Seminary, Diocese of Quilon

The very ancient Diocese of Quilon from the very inception has not lacked in vocations to priesthood. St. Teresa’s Major Seminary was the first and the only Major Seminary of Kerala started for the then extensive diocese of Quilon. The Apostolic Vicar Rev. Charles Hycinth Valerga was the founder of this major seminary.  It started in 1863 located in Mulakumootil, Travancore named as St. Joseph’s Convent and functioned up to 1948 imparting priestly formation for all the priests including that of the neigbouring dioceses. There was no minor seminary for the diocese, till the year 1902. So the whole formation of the seminarians took place in the major seminary. Lack of the minor seminary was well understood by Bishop Ferdinand Ossi OCD and he founded the St. Raphael’s Petit Seminary on November 22^nd 1902 for the extensive diocese of Quilon. The first rector of this minor seminary was Rev.Fr. John Netto, from Eravipuram. The minor seminary started to function in Tangasseri, in a building very closer to the Infant Jesus Cathedral.   The bishop found that it was difficult for the minor seminarians to come from Tangasseri to attend classes in St.Aloysius school, so the situation was solved by buying the big campus which was in front of the St.Aloysius school. On June 27^th 1903 the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Ferdinand Ossi OCD. In one year’s time the minor seminary was ready for its use. On 17^th March 1904 Bishop Ferdinand Ossi OCD blessed and inaugurated this minor seminary, which was a dream of the bishop and the whole diocese. The seminary is dedicated to the patronage of St.Raphael whom God had sent down to guide and guard the young Tobias on his special mission. Here the same Archangel guides and helps the seminarians to become holy priests. The minor seminary is the epicenter of the diocese where the moulding process of the formation of future priests takes place. The Minor seminary continued to serve the Seminarians of Kottar and Trivandrum for more than 20 years even after their bifurcations. Even now the possibilities of accommodating brothers from other dioceses are left open.  

St.Raphael Seminary,Diocese of Quilon, 1902