The church hall at St Kevin’s, Eastwood, was filled with the aroma of freshly steamed dumplings, as young adults from the Chinese Catholic Community Incorporated (CCCI) lovingly prepared traditional recipes for their elders and special guests this past Sunday.
The delicious offerings, though, were more than just a meal—they symbolised the community’s commitment to nurturing future church leaders.
On 30 March, the CCCI launched its second fundraising campaign to raise $168,000 to support seminarians throughout their seven-year formation journey at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd.
The launch began with Mass celebrated by Fr Gerard Kelly (CCCI Spiritual Director) and culminated in the celebratory lunch, which saw the young second-generation Chinese youth, seminarians and elderly Chinese benefactors come together in the spirit of tradition and renewal.
“It’s always good to get to know the people who help us specifically, and them knowing who they’re supporting in our priestly journey,” second-year seminarian Patrick Laurente said.
Members of the CCCI Young Adults Group had been perfecting their dumpling-making skills since last year in preparation for this special fundraising event.
Just as each family’s dumpling recipe carried its own unique signature—some with chives, others with coriander, some with chilli, others without—the diverse backgrounds of seminarians supported by this initiative reflect the rich multicultural tapestry of our Catholic community.
“Priests are our future, and they’re so important and vital to the church,” Harold Pon from the CCCI emphasised. “We’re really proud to continue supporting and working with the archdiocese. To see priests from so many diverse cultures coming through is very heartwarming and uplifting for us.”
During the event, seminarian Patrick, who is half Chinese and half Filipino, shared his powerful testimony.
“None of us would be where we are now if it weren’t for benefactors like the CCCI,” he noted, explaining how their support helps seminarians focus on their vocation without financial concerns.
Patrick recounted how World Youth Day Panama in 2019 became a pivotal moment in his faith.
“It was a big moment of reversion back to the faith after feeling quite lost for some years,” Patrick explained. “I realised that the Catholic Church is still very much alive and that there are many young people who love their faith and are on fire about it.”
It was Patrick’s first meaningful encounter with young seminarians, which took him by surprise.
“It was the first time I realised that there are young men who actually want to be priests. It inspired me to discern God’s purpose for my life,” he said.
“The church is never a one-man island. It’s always a community of faith, and it’s a foretaste of heaven that we have people like the CCCI, always being there, together for each other.”
The fundraiser wasn’t just about collecting donations—it was a celebration of faith, culture, and community. The CCCI’s commitment to supporting seminarians reflects their understanding that just as recipes are carefully passed from one generation to the next, so too must our faith.
“We just want to help serve the Lord, to evangelise the Gospel and for a community like ours, priests are really important and we’re just really happy, you know, to be able to contribute to building the future leaders and our priests of the church,” said Harold.
As plates of dumplings were shared among attendees, the message was clear: this community is invested in cultivating the future of the church—one seminarian, one dumpling, and one act of generosity at a time.