Although the British expelled the Carmelites in 1789, the unpredictable history of the Bombay Seminary had miles to go. In 1791 the British recalled the Carmelites and the Bombay Seminary was reopened at the Vicar’s residence at Fort. Next in 1794, the British introduced the turbulent Double Jurisdiction.

The Vicar Apostolic, Dom Pedro D’Alcantara, found himself stranded amidst stormy seas. Foreign missionary support was impossible. To meet the need of acute clerical shortage Dom Pedro was determined to establish a proper seminary to foster local vocations.

‘A seminary is needed for the formation of good priests…,I shall make every effort I can for the erection of a Seminary. At present the young candidates and aspirants to the priesthood come to the residence of the Bishop where Father Raphael Cicala teaches them the Roman Catechism, the Council of Trent, liturgy and moral theology. After lectures they return home and make no great progress in their studies or in piety, the spirit of which they generally lose at home through distractions and intercourse with lay people.” (cf. Gense, 1960)

However the make-shift Seminary at the Vicar’s residence did meet with some success. By 1825, Dom Pedro had ordained around eighteen priests. In 1819 the single minded and strong hearted Dom Pedro applied to the British for ‘leave to establish a proper Seminary.’ The grant he sought was finally approved in 1828. The Government assigned a monthly subsidy of Rs 150 to the Bombay Seminary.