The occasion was the official groundbreaking for a new four-storey addition to Serra House, a residence of discernment for men interested in the priesthood. The project, estimated to cost $10 million, doubles the size of the home with an extra 8,000 square feet to increase capacity to 26 prospective seminarians. It鱿鱼视频app expected to be completed by spring of 2021.
鈥淣ow we can accommodate more people,鈥� said Mario Biscardi, past president of Serra International and a driving force in Canada鱿鱼视频app Serra Club initiatives for more than 30 years. 鈥淎nd that is a good thing for the future. We鈥檝e been very blessed with a good number seminarians. Currently, we have 81 seminarians between St. Augustine鱿鱼视频app (Seminary) and Serra House. We have 81 in the process of discerning their vocation.鈥�
Serra House, which opened in 1983, provides a formative environment as prospective seminarians begin their philosophic preparation for theology. It was founded by Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter and Fr. Sean O鈥橲ullivan, the then vocations director for the Archdiocese of Toronto.
The project plan is broken down into two segments, one to restore Serra House 鈥� which was originally built in 1904 鈥� and the other to develop a new facility in the rear of the house.
As a minor seminary for St. Augustine鱿鱼视频app, students who need to complete their philosophy courses are eligible to enrol in the house. There are currently 15 students, who moved to St. Augustine鱿鱼视频app in 2017 when initial renovations began, including the demolition of a section at the back of the house that had deteriorated.
Inside the existing house, rooms will be upgraded, while a library, common space, office space, a gym, seminary rooms and guest suites for guest speakers will be added. The project will also include a larger chapel, an upgraded kitchen and a dining space that can accommodate more students.
鈥淭he chapel was crammed and there were also problems of heating and mould,鈥� said Fr. Scott Birchall, who has been director of philosophy formation at Serra House since 2017. 鈥淎nd it just wouldn鈥檛 meet our current vision for seminary life.鈥�
Existing facilities in the house will be remediated, ensuring the building respects the history of the home near the University of Toronto campus.
鈥淭he existing chapel, which is really nicely designed, will be incorporated into a library,鈥� said Birchall. 鈥淪o it still has that sacred space. We鈥檙e also keeping the community elements. One of the key features of Serra House was, it had a nice community feel where people wouldn鈥檛 feel like they鈥檙e in a big institutional building. It continues that community feel where they can begin their studies in the priesthood.鈥�
The house was named after Serra International, which promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
鈥淲e are men and women who are strongly Catholic, number one; who have a deep appreciation for the priesthood and religious life, number two; and number three, what differentiates us from others is that we are men and women who are interested and have a deep concern for the priesthood and are interested in fostering and promoting priestly vocations,鈥� said Biscardi.
Serra House was originally conceived by the late O鈥橲ullivan, who had left a life of politics 鈥� he was the youngest Member of Parliament at age 20 went first elected in 1972 鈥� to become a priest in 1981. Serra House became a reality two years later with the help of the Serrans. The same year O鈥橲ullivan was diagnosed with leukemia, which eventually claimed his life in 1989 at age 37.
鈥淥鈥橲ullivan fulfilled his dream of establishing the house of discernment for mature men,鈥� said Biscardi. 鈥淏ecause of that and because of our support and emotional support 鈥� that鱿鱼视频app how we got it to be called Serra House.
鈥淲e believe that we need more priests. So we pray often every day for more priests.鈥�
With the program moved to the seminary in the interim, Birchall admits there have been challenges.
鈥淭he seminary is a great facility,鈥� said Birchall. 鈥淎nd it鱿鱼视频app great for fostering for the theology format. But as guys attend to their undergraduate studies, it can be a little bit harder to commute all the way downtown to classes.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e saying at the diocese is we recognize that there are many men who decide and discern that they want to become discerned for priesthood early on. So we say how can we help them to facilitate that discernment while also allowing them to get the undergrad degree while allowing seminarian formation to occur at the same time. So Serra House is being built downtown to offer the best of both worlds.鈥�
Serrans in Toronto work with elementary and high schools in the Toronto Catholic District School Board to introduce vocation to the priesthood to youth.
鈥淭he average age is much higher than it was when I was a high school student,鈥� said Biscardi. 鈥淚 mean, we had five priests of my parish. Now you鈥檙e looking at two. So we are very much concerned because without priests, we don鈥檛 have a Church and we don鈥檛 have sacraments.鈥�