In 1983, Bishop Alberto Giraldo, PSS, became Bishop of C\u00facuta. Immediately, he asked Saint-Sulpice to found a seminary in his diocese. This house of formation began in 1986 under the direction of the first rector, Father Gregorio Le\u00f3n, PSS, who held this position until 1992. Assisted by a Sulpician candidate and two diocesan priests, he guided the community of seminarians of the first year of the philosophy cycle and the first year of the theology cycle. The students who had begun theology in previous years continued their studies at the major seminaries of Pamplona and Tunja. <\/p>\n
At the end of 1989, those who had begun their theology in this new seminary were ordained. In 1992, those who completed their two cycles in this house of formation. <\/p>\n
After the first Sulpician rector of the Seminary, Fathers Hector Epalza, PSS (1993), Diego Restrepo, PSS (1999), Norberto Fl\u00f3rez, PSS (2003), and Joaqu\u00edn Cort\u00e9s, PSS, succeeded him. The current rector, Father Jos\u00e9 Abel Sierra, PSS, has directed the house since 2012. He is assisted by one Sulpician, a candidate to Saint-Sulpice, and four diocesan priests. <\/p>\n
The community of seminarians currently numbers 79 students, 39 in philosophy and 40 in theology. There are also seven seminarians in their pastoral year. Seventy-six come from the Diocese of C\u00facuta, ten from the Diocese of Tib\u00fa, and two from Venezuela. Since the arrival of the Sulpicians at the Seminary of C\u00facuta, more than 71 priests have been ordained. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>