28 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 REV. NATHAN VERALLO Vocations’ Director In April to July 2022, we welcomed two seminary applicants on the Come and See Program. Jhunel Mendez and Jonard Cosmo, both from the Philippines. The two men spent three months in the Diocese as part of their application process. The Come and See Program gives those considering priesthood in the Diocese the opportunity to be immersed in parish and seminary life, enabling their discernment. The program also allows the Diocese to consider the suitability of these candidates; one objective of this program is a formal interview with Bishop Shane. During the Come and See Program, Jonard and Jhunel experienced Anzac Day and visited a number of parishes around the Diocese. The men also spent time immersed in parish life. Jonard was placed in Benalla with Fr Vijay Bandanadam and spent two weeks in the parishes of Wangaratta and Moyhu. Jhunel’s placement was at the Cathedral cluster of Parishes (Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Joseph’s in Quarry Hill and St Monica’s in Kangaroo Flat). He also spent time in the parishes of Kerang, Cohuna and Pyramid Hill. The program also requires applicants to spend time at Corpus Christi College, Carlton and attend classes at Catholic Theological College. Both men stayed at the seminary for almost a month, so they became familiar with seminary formation. A week after they returned home to Cebu, Jonard expressed his gratitude to the Diocese for considering his application and giving him the opportunity to experience living in the Diocese. After serious thought and prayer Jonard decided not to continue with his application. Jhunel also was thankful for the opportunity to visit parishes in the Diocese and stay at the seminary. After a period of discernment, which included talking with his two brothers, Jhunel decided to continue his seminary formation and to apply to be a seminarian of the Sandhurst Diocese. On the recommendation of the College of Consultors, Bishop Shane accepted Jhunel as a seminarian commencing in February 2023. While waiting for the appropriate visa to be granted, Jhunel has spent 2023 as a Sandhurst seminarian in the Philippines on parish placement at Holy Cross Parish, Basak Pardo in Cebu City. Corpus Christi College Seminary Formators have guided him over the year and he has taken classes with Catholic Theological College online. We are grateful to Most Rev. Jose S. Palma, the Archbishop of Cebu for his cooperation in this matter. We pray that Jhunel’s visa will soon be granted and that he will join us in Victoria in 2024. I would like to express my gratitude to those who were involved in the success of Jhunel and Jonard’s Come and See program, and for those who will continue to be involved in 2024. Moving forward ... In the past twelve months there has been a number of overseas … pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to His harvest … From
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