The Vatican II in its Decree on the Priestly Teaching, "Optatam Totius" comes out with a clarion teaching that the duty of fostering vocations pertains to the whole Christian community, which should exercise it above all by a fully Christian life. In minor seminaries erected to develop the seeds of vocations, the students should be prepared by special religious formation, particularly through appropriate spiritual direction, to follow Christ the Redeemer with generosity of spirit and purity of heart. Under the fatherly direction of the superiors, and with the proper cooperation of the parents, their daily routine should be in accord with the age, the character and the stage of development of adolescence and fully adapted to the norms of a healthy psychology. Nor should the fitting opportunity be lacking for social and cultural contacts and for contact with one's own family. Moreover, whatever is decreed in the following paragraph about major seminaries is also to be adapted to the minor seminary to the extent that it is in accord with its purpose and structure.

Major seminaries are necessary for priestly formation. Here the entire training of the students should be oriented to the formation of true shepherds of souls after the model of our Lord Jesus Christ, teacher, priest and shepherd. They are therefore to be prepared for the ministry of the word: that they might understand ever more perfectly the revealed word of God; that, meditating on it they might possess it more firmly, and that they might express it in words and in example; for the ministry of worship and of sanctification.

Hence in this manner it is a blessing to say that our diocese is gifted with both the Minor Seminary, which fully pertains to our diocese, and the Major Seminary, which is an inter-diocesan one comprising of seven dioceses.

St. Joseph's Minor Seminary :

21st of January, 1846 is a memorable day for St. Joseph's Minor seminary, for it was on that day, it was founded in Karumathampatty by Rev. De-Gelis the then Pro-Vicar and the Priest in charge of the Mission. The year 1859 saw shifting of this institution from the small village to the town Coimbatore. In the beginning the seminarians were obliged to stay in thatched sheds. However Rev. Fr. Jellis had the honor of putting up a building, the present North-South building of the Minor Seminary. A few years later in 1880, Rev. Fr. William added the East West Block.Fr. Arulnathar had a source of being the first ever-native priest ordained in this seminary in 1883. Till 1890, the Seminarians learnt Philosophy and Theology in this Seminary. When a Major Seminary was established in Pondicherry, this Seminary was made a Minor Seminary. The year 1928 saw the complete structure of the present seminary with an addition of a refectory and dormitory put up by Rev. Fr. Perriere. From 1999, the students of minor seminary started attending colleges to obtain Bachelor's Degree.A special block was built to accoumodate them. After the Minor seminary studies, students are sent to Major Seminaries in Coimbatore,Bangalore and Chennai.

Good Shepherd Seminary, an Inter - Diocesan Major Seminary, is situated in a calm and serene place at myleripalayam, 16 Km away from the city of Coimbatore. This Major Seminary is the first of its kind in Tamilnadu, in that it has been entirely undertaken and staffed by the Diocesan clergy.
Positively reacting to the long - felt need to start another Major Seminary in Tamilnadu with the view to train priests to work in the dioceses of Tamil nadu and in the course of time to prepare missionary priests for north India, Africa and other places where there is death of priests, the Bishops of Tamilnadu requested the Holy See for permission to begin the Good Shepherd Seminary at Coimbatore. The Sacred Congregation for Evangelization, in its decree dated May 8, 1982, graciously gave approval for the proposed new Major Seminary. In its Rescript approving the statutes of the new Major Seminary, dated December 21,1983, the whole purpose and ideal of the entire venture was beautifully summarized and pin- pointed: “In fact, the Statutes present in extremely sound and deeply spiritual picture of seminary formation, insisting on those aspects which should produce priests of profound commitment to Christ, to their vocation and to the Church, which is ever to remain their Mother .” It is for this reason that the new seminary was called after Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, so that it would be the seed- bed of future Good Pastors.
The foundation - stones for the six blocks to be built for the living quarters of the future seminarians were blessed and laid on October 15, 1983, by the Six Bishops( of Pondichery, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Salem, Ootacament and Coimbatore) who form the Board of Administration. Almost eight months later, on June 17, 1984 at 4.30 p.m. in the presence of Rev. Fathers, Rev. Sisters, Rev. Brothers, lay - friends and well - wishers the Good Shepherd Seminary was inaugurated and solemnly blessed. Ever since some new buildings were coming up every year. After the phased growth of long years, the Seminary was officially inaugurated on June 29, 1992. From 1997 the Bishop of Dharmapuri has joined the Board of Administration.
The students live in the six blocks which are called as Nivases. The Philosophers live separately in two Nivases, so do the Deacons in a Nivas. The Theologians live in the other three Nivases. Each Nivas has a staff member as animator. In each Nivas there is a small chapel with the Eucharistic Presence which is a great helpto the seminarians to develop a deeper union with the Eucharistic Lord. “ The training given in this seminary will help the seminarians to see the paschal Mystery, the supreme expression of the love, that Christ, the good pastor has for men sacrificing himself for them. He loved them to the end.”

The Philosophy programme lasts two years. In the first year, besides the philosophical subjects special care is taken for the spiritual formation of the student and his initiation into various aspects of seminary training.

The Philosophy curriculum includes courses in Western and Indian Philosophy, Experimental Psychology, Catechetics, Sacred Scripture, Selected Social Sciences, and the study of languages.

What is desired is that a student should be able to think for himself and that he should acquire an adequate grasp of the intellectual trends in India and abroad and that he should be proficient in Tamil and English. He should also demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of the Bible and other relevant religious subjects and the ability to do scientific work as a non - professional.

The four years of Theology include the study of the commonly accepted theological disciplines during the first three and half years, and a full experience - oriented pastoral course during the second and half of the fourth year.

Before beginning the theology programme, the candidates is expected to have completed at least one year of regency, understood as some form of direct apostolate.

All through his theological training, the student devotes his week - ends to direct ministry in parishes. This pastoral ministry is an integral part of his theological formation.

Contact address - Rev. Fr. Rector,
St. Joseph's Minor Seminary,
Post Box No. 6,
Coimbatore 641 001
Tamilnadu,S.India.
Phone - 0422 - 2300153

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