The History of C T I
What is now the Catholic Theological Institute (CTI) is the end product of a process going back to 1963. The Catholic bishops of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands had, over the years, made different arrangements for the training of candidates for the Roman Catholic priesthood. In 1961 the bishops decided on a more fixed policy. Consequently on 1st March 1963, Holy Spirit Regional Seminary was opened in Kap (near Madang) under the auspices of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). At about the same time, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) had opened de Boismenu Seminary at Bomana (about 15 kilometers from Port Moresby). This was for the training of members of the MSC for the priesthood. in 1968 Holy Spirit Seminary moved from Kap to Bomana and later in the year the two seminaries joined. In effect, what had been de Boismenu Seminary now became an affiliated college of Holy Spirit Seminary.
Later other congregations moved to Bomana. The result was that there were eventually seven affiliated colleges, with each congregation sending its candidates to Holy Spirit Seminary for priestly training. At this time, therefore, Holy Spirit Seminary provided board and lodging for candidates for the diocesan priesthood as well as academic formation for both diocesan and religious candidates.
In 1994 there was a Roman visitation, conducted by the then-Bishop George Pell. One of his recommendations involved an institutional change in keeping with similar changes in seminaries in other parts of the world. In effect, Holy Spirit Seminary now became two institutions. One institution, which retained the name Holy Spirit Seminary, was to cater for the spiritual dimension of diocesan priestly formation. The other, which would eventually come to be called CTI, was given the task of the academic formation of diocesan and religious candidates for priesthood.
At present seminarians who have completed a 2-year program of Philosophy after grade 12, at CTI as well as at Good Shepherd College (Banz, JWK) usually continue their studies in the Department of Theology at CTI.
Ways are being sought to promote cooperation with the other major seminaries in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. As of 2022, CTI is affiliated with University of Santo Tomas (UST), and the Institute is fully registered and accredited with the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (DHERST).
Later other congregations moved to Bomana. The result was that there were eventually seven affiliated colleges, with each congregation sending its candidates to Holy Spirit Seminary for priestly training. At this time, therefore, Holy Spirit Seminary provided board and lodging for candidates for the diocesan priesthood as well as academic formation for both diocesan and religious candidates.
In 1994 there was a Roman visitation, conducted by the then-Bishop George Pell. One of his recommendations involved an institutional change in keeping with similar changes in seminaries in other parts of the world. In effect, Holy Spirit Seminary now became two institutions. One institution, which retained the name Holy Spirit Seminary, was to cater for the spiritual dimension of diocesan priestly formation. The other, which would eventually come to be called CTI, was given the task of the academic formation of diocesan and religious candidates for priesthood.
At present seminarians who have completed a 2-year program of Philosophy after grade 12, at CTI as well as at Good Shepherd College (Banz, JWK) usually continue their studies in the Department of Theology at CTI.
Ways are being sought to promote cooperation with the other major seminaries in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. As of 2022, CTI is affiliated with University of Santo Tomas (UST), and the Institute is fully registered and accredited with the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (DHERST).