CNEWA has long been committed to the formation of religious in the world we serve — whether it’s congregations of religious sisters, brothers or priests. We have proudly supported St. Leo the Great Seminary for decades, helping to ensure that young men who answer God’s call receive the best training academically, spiritually and theologically as they discern their vocation.
In Egypt, this presents distinct challenges. The Catholic community there is small — less than two percent — and vocations have been decreasing. St. Leo’s today has 32 seminarians, down from an average of 50 to 60 in the 1990’s. CNEWA’s regional director in Beirut, Michel Constantin, explained that waves of fanaticism, economic and political instability and discrimination against Christians in Egypt have taken a toll and made it harder for young people to commit to eight years of study in the seminary.
“Nevertheless,” he told us, “despite all the obstacles and difficulties, the Catholic Church in Egypt is playing a major leading role in the social life of the Egyptian population, through the heroic work of the Catholic institutions in the fields of education, health and helping those who are marginalized.”
CNEWA is privileged to be a vital part of that ongoing work.
To help support vocations in Egypt and throughout CNEWA’s world call: 1-800-442-6392 (United States) or 1-866-322-4441 (Canada).