Campaign essential in formation of new priests

Like many Catholics who grew up in the Greater Toronto Area from the late 1970s onward, Fr. Scott Birchall, rector of St. Augustine’s Seminary, cannot remember a time when ShareLife was not part of his experience of the Church.

“I saw something that’s always been part of my life growing up in the Church and in elementary schools,” said Birchall. “I remember even having little ShareLife tins that we used to bring home, and you’d put change in it, then you’d bring it to the (collection).”

Fr. Kevin Belgrave, director of the seminary’s Institute of Theology and Lay Spiritual Formation, remembers well giving to ShareLife during the three special parish collection weekends throughout the year. As he grew older, Belgrave became more aware of ShareLife’s impact on the community. Rather than generating awe, its extensive record of service just seemed entirely natural.

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“ShareLife was simply a normal part of what it meant to be Catholic,” said Belgrave. “This is what we do.”

The passage of time and their respective experiences leading up to their current work as formators at the seminary have deepened both Birchall and Belgrave’s perspective. Birchall’s time as a seminarian illuminates why ShareLife is essential.

“(The funding) made the seminary easier, not having to worry about how I am going to pay $350,000 or what the fees would have been without support of ShareLife,” said Birchall. “ShareLife helps to eliminate that and allows guys just to focus on where God is calling them, where the Lord is leading them and how the Holy Spirit is shaping them.”

“There’s no way we could give the seminarians the kind of formation opportunities they have — the schooling, setting, the retreats, the pastoral opportunities — were there not an enormous number of dedicated, lay faithful Catholics who gave of what they earned to support the seminary,” said Belgrave.

Birchall has been immersed in the pastoral ministry of vocational discernment and formation for nearly a decade. He began in 2017 as director of discipleship formation at Serra House to spiritually guide seminarians in the philosophy and undergraduate studies stage of their journey. In 2021, he was appointed director of pastoral formation and field placement. In March 2025, he was named rector.

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His first 18 months in this position have accentuated the importance of ShareLife even more than before.

“ShareLife is our biggest contributor, and it is an essential aspect,” said Birchall. “You can even talk to the previous rectors. They always tell you how ShareLife is essential to the operations of the seminary. Without ShareLife, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to help run the formation programs that we do, and we run different programs.

“For example, ShareLife is not just supporting priestly formation, but it also supports our permanent diaconate formation program. It also helps the lay formation program that we run out of the seminary, which trains (lay pastoral associates).” 

The Institute of Theology offers degree programs that invite laypersons to study alongside seminarians in a Master of Theological Studies, a Master of Religious Education or a certificate program of a shorter duration. These educational pathways for lay Catholics are complemented by the Spirit & Life talks and retreats.

An encouraging sign is how the well-documented revival in Christianity, particularly among young people, and it is manifestly visible to Birchall and his colleagues at St. Augustine’s.

“I can tell you it’s almost like an amazing transformation,” said Birchall. “I always tell people every time I visit parishes, ‘hey, your prayers for vocations are working. I’m seeing an influx of guys who are applying.’ ”

Nearly a decade ago there were “six to eight guys” applying to the seminary and about “five or six getting in,” said Birchall.

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Comparatively, this past year saw 26 applications, and 17 were invited into the seminary. There were also 17 entrants into St. Augustine’s last year and 15 the year before.

Some, of course, discover the life of a priest is not for them, but time in the seminary proves meaningful anyway for men who opt for married or single life, said Birchall, and helps them “get to know their faith, grow in virtue and develop great Catholic relationships.”

(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Campaign essential in formation of new priests".