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Curé of Ars Catholic Church is working with Fr. Ben Shahzad from Karachi, Pakistan to raise money for a new St. Pius X Minor Seminary building. Click Here to see the video. Donations are tax deductable and can be made payable to Curé of Ars. Please put St. Pius X Minor Seminary in the memo line of your check also ensure your name and address are included for tax purposes and mail to: Curé of Ars
9401 Mission Road
Leawood, KS 66206. July 22nd, 2010Local Catholics Support Vocations Overseas
By Kara Hansen ~ Leaven Staff Leawood — Father Benjamin Shahzad has a problem many would love to have: He has so many young men applying for the seminary he has to turn some away.
The rector of St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Karachi, Pakistan, has filled his current seminary building with five bedrooms to a maximum capacity of 24 seminarians — up from the eight who were there when Father Shahzad was first appointed rector six years ago. With financial help and spiritual support from parishioners at Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, Father Shahzad is realizing his dream of a new, larger seminary with enough space to accommodate 45-50 seminarians. “Our people have responded well in the past and we have practically built the new seminary ourselves,” said Msgr. Charles McGlinn, pastor of Curé of Ars. “We want to do the best we can for them.”
Each summer, Father Shahzad spends time at Curé of Ars. He lives in the rectory, celebrates Masses, and attends parish functions. He also shares the progress and goals of the seminary in Pakistan, updating parishioners on how their support is being used. “Pakistan is an anti-Christian place and can be very hostile toward Christians,” said Msgr. McGlinn. “If something happens in the world that is contrary to Islam, there is often a backlash of violence toward Christians. The fact that there are so many young men wanting to become Catholic priests in this environment really says something, and they deserve all the attention and help we can give them.” Now, Father Shahzad is requesting support to furnish the nearly completed seminary building with necessities. Items include chairs, tables, cupboards and classroom items, as well as other necessities.
In response, Curé of Ars is hosting a Christmas party in July in the parish vestibule after Masses the weekend of July 24 and 25. There, parishioners and visitors will have the opportunity to review the list of needs at the seminary and assist by becoming an “angel for Karachi.” For more information, call the Curé of Ars rectory at (913) 649-1337. Reprinted with permission from The Leaven. July 19th, 2010Fr. Ben is planning to arrive at Cure' August 1st. BE AN ANGEL FOR KARACHI AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
“MERRY CHRISTMAS” 
FURNISHINGS NEEDED FOR PHASE 1 (Items highlighted have been donated) | #Needed | $ per Item | $ Total | Donated | Large Tables (4x8) | 1 | 240.00 | 240.00 | | Medium Tables (2x4) | 2 | 80.00 | 160.00 | 80.00 | Small Tables (2x2) | 2 | 20.00 | 40.00 | | Teachers Tables (2x4) | 2 | 87.00 | 174.00 | . | Classroom Study Tables (18x24x30) | 25 | 40.00 | 0.00 | 1,000.00 | Student Room Study Tables (18x24x30) | 27 | 34.00 | 918.00 | | Library Tables (3x3) | 0 | 80.00 | 0.00 | | Dining Tables (42"x96") | 4 | 120.00 | 480.00 | | Office Table (3x6) | 1 | 267.00 | 267.00 | 267.00 | Office Bookshelf & Computer Table (4x6) | 1 | 214.00 | 214.00 | 214.00 | Ironing Tables (16"x30"x48") | 4 | 27.00 | 108.00 | | Guest Rooms Tables (5x3) | 0 | 107.00 | 0.00 | | | | | | | Bed w/ mattress - Seminarian (42"x72") | 27 | 147.00 | 3,969.00 | | Bed w/ mattress - Guest (4x6 1/2) | 0 | 147.00 | 0.00 | | Bed w/ mattress - Rector (5 x 6 1/2) | 1 | 334.00 | 334.00 | 334.00 | | | | 0.00 | | Sofas | 3 | 467.00 | 1,401.00 | 467.00 | | | | | | Plastic Chairs | 50 | 7.00 | 350.00 | | Wooden Chairs | 87 | 34.00 | 2,958.00 | 748.00 | Chapel Stools (15"x15") | 24 | 27.00 | 648.00 | 648.00 | Large Wall Cupboards (8x10) | 4 | 467.00 | 1,868.00 | 1,401.00 | Med. Wall Cupboards (3x10) | 27 | 214.00 | 5,778.00 | | | | | | | Stove | 1 | 5,334.00 | 5,334.00 | | Dishes, silverware, pots & pans | 0 | 2,000.00 | 0.00 | | Freezer | 1 | 467.00 | 467.00 | 467.00 | Fridge | 2 | 400.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 | | | | 0.00 | | Water Cooler | 2 | 334.00 | 668.00 | | | | | | | White Board | 2 | 40.00 | 0.00 | 80.00 | | | | | | Book Shelves | 2 | 2,334.00 | 4,668.00 | | Books | 0 | 10,667.00 | 0.00 | | TV 42" | 0 | 1,800.00 | 0.00 | | TV 29" | 0 | 534.00 | 0.00 | 534.00 | DVD Player | 0 | 80.00 | 0.00 | | Projector | 0 | 800.00 | 0.00 | | Washing Machines | 2 | 467.00 | 934.00 | | Irons | 4 | 34.00 | 136.00 | | Computer Top (36') | 12 | 192.00 | 2,304.00 | 2,304.00 | Computers | 12 | 200.00 | 2,400.00 | 2,400.00 | | | | | | Altar & Tabernacle (3x3 12 x 6) | 1 | 534.00 | 534.00 | 534.00 | Sacristy/shelves | 1 | 400.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 | Carpet (35x35) | 1 | 867.00 | 867.00 | 867.00 | Generator | 1 | 5,334.00 | 5,334.00 | | Curtains | 0.50 | 5,667.00 | 2,833.50 | |
July 6th, 2010UPDATE: Fr. Ben is planning to arrive at Cure' August 1st. St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Karachi had another successful year! Eleven new first-year students entered the program last fall, and all eight third-year students are moving on to the major seminary in Lahore.   
Ground breaking for the new seminary  
Construction of the new seminary is in full swing!   
  
“CHRISTMAS IN JULY”
FURNISHING ST. PIUS X MINOR SEMINARY
KARACHI, PAKISTAN The weekend of July 24/25, our vestibule will be transformed into a Christmas Party to help furnish the newly constructed Minor Seminary in Karachi, Pakistan! Each of us has the opportunity to be an “Angel for Karachi”. It is exciting to be this close to the end of our goal, and we are grateful to all of you who have/will support our efforts. When Fr. Benjamin Shahzad became Rector for the Minor Seminary six years ago, there were 8 seminarians. In telling his story to Msgr. Charles, our pastor said, “We’ve got to do something to help you, to help the Church.” Since then, each year, the number of young men seeking ordination to the priesthood has grown. Now there are 24, and the five bedroom house they live in is bursting at the seams! Because of your generosity in the past, the newly constructed seminary, with a small chapel in its garden center, will accommodate 45-50 seminarians! The building is near completion, now the task is to furnish it. In the vestibule, you will find a list of the items needed. We are hoping that you and your family will be generous in helping meet the needs. We have not just built a building, we are building the Church, the Kingdom of God, in Pakistan. The families of these seminarians make great sacrifice to release their sons to the priesthood, the seminarians courageously proclaim their faith in a predominantly Muslim population, and take risks every day to continue to live and learn their faith. They have given so much already – let us be generous too. These priests of their future and ours will be fed, housed, taught, and ordained from this place, because of your support, tangible and intangible. February 10th, 2009A newsletter from St. Pius X Minor Seminary Click Here July 23rd, 2008The Church in Pakistan comprises of Six Dioceses and One Apostolic Prefecture . We have seven shepherds who are entrusted with a flock of a little over one million faithful members who form less than 1% of the population of Pakistan . Where, 98% are Muslims. Our Church is young only 120 years – it can be called a simple, poor and oppressed but full of vitality and courage. In the past, our Church was held in high esteem for her educational and medical services. But today we carry out our mission in a hostile and conservative Islamic era that is increasingly extremist, intolerant and militant. There is growing pressure to enforce the Shariah or Islamic way of life. Islamic laws like “blasphemy law” have brought death and misery to many innocent people. And it continues to threaten our religious freedom. There is also a trend of forced conversions to Islam by certain religious extremist groups. Christians are treated as second class citizens! In spite of all these dangers, physical persecutions, discrimination and hardships, our bishops and priests are carrying out their pastoral ministry and give hope and courage to their helpless flock. We believe that to suffer for the faith is to share in the work of Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us power and grace to live as disciples of Jesus and be his witnesses in Pakistan . Great things are happening….This year is the Golden Jubilee of Our Urdu Bible. To mark this occasion the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan has announced the celebration of the year of the Bible. The most of our Christian people can’t read the Bible but they have listening hearts and they listen to the Word of God with great joy. Our love for the Word of God has blessed us with more vocations. Last year there were 21 seminarians in the minor seminary. Six of them are moving to the Major Seminary, after finishing their three years of formation in the minor seminary. 15 of them will return after their summer vacations and we are hoping for 10 new seminarians in the fall. As the Rector of the Minor Seminary and the Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Karachi, it breaks my heart to have to turn away some of the young men because we have not much place to accommodate all of them. Our present minor seminary building has only five bed rooms for 21 seminarians, with no play ground or place for their physical exercises. A very small library has limited resources. We have vocations but not enough place to accommodate all who want to become catholic priests to serve God and his people in Pakistan . On the 7th of April, 2008 the Archbishop in the presence of the priests, religious and people of Karachi , blessed the ground on which the new Minor Seminary will be built. We haven’t started the construction work as yet but we hope to begin the construction of the new Minor Seminary in October of this year. In future months I hope to keep you updated on our progress and to introduce you to our seminarians that you graciously help support. God Bless You,
Fr. Ben April 14th,, 2008
Article from Union of Catholic Asian News 
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