SJVTS JUNE 2010 CALENDAR

Congrats President Noynoy!

Your TIME has come.  Congratulations to the Republic of the Philippines' newly and popularly elected President BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III. 


Congratulations as well to all peace-loving Pinoys who had not given up on the country, who trooped to the polling precincts -- despite the initial hassles -- to cast their sacred votes.  We all move on and continue the more important work of nation building.


Kudos also to our SJVTS seminarians, priests, religious sisters and lay friends who volunteered their services to ensure fair and honest elections.  Despite the initial glitches, we must all say that the automated elections -- "miraculously" worked.  The automated counting of balots was surely unprecedented in Philippine history.  Imagine this:  at 7PM of Election Day, election results were aready posted on the COMELEC website.  Less than 24 hours after polling precincts closed, losing candidates had already conceded defeat.  Wow ... indeed!  Apparently ... WE CAN!  And no doubt about it ... KAYA NATO! 


Congratulations again everyone!  PEACE!   

St. John Mary Vianney: "Come, Follow Me"

St. John Mary Vianney:
"Come follow Me"
Acrylic on Canvas
25"x30"

New SJVTS Rector

St. John Vianney Theological Seminary - Cagayan de Oro welcomed news last Easter Sunday of the appointment by the Jesuit Provincial of Rev. Fr. Celerino Reyes, SJ as the new rector of the seminary.  Father Reyes is not new to Cagayan de Oro having been assigned to the city from 1984-1986 as high school teacher at the Xavier University High School.  He returned to Cagayan de Oro for the second time from 1991-1993 as Vice Rector of SJVTS and Director of the Spiritual Pastoral Formation Year Program.


Father Cel graduated from the Ateneo de San Pablo in 1973 and the Ateneo de Manila University in 1977 with a Degree in Business Management.  He finished his MA in Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University and Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Loyola School of Theology.  Father Cel also holds a Doctorate in Ministry from the University of Toronto. 
Prior to being assigned to SJVTS, he was Executive Director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Manila.  He arrives in Cagayan de Oro and begins his official duty on May 25.  Welcome back Father Cel.

New Ministry Year Batch

MINISTRY YEAR SEND-OFF

Shortly before the school year ended, SJVTS sent off its latest batch of MYers (or seminarians going on to Ministry Year).  The 22 seminarians will be deployed in many parts of Mindanao as teachers, campus ministers and retreat directors.  Shown above are pictures taken after they had received their MY Crosses.  The past semester, the seminarians had taken the course "Principles and Methods of Teaching" with Fr. Dhems Berondo, Jr.  Last March, they listened to more inputs and took part in teaching workshops conducted by Dr. Amphie Vedua-Dinagsao, Ms. Glenda Demata and Ms. Lera Faye Cotiangco -- all affiliated with Xavier University High School.  A 3-day retreat given by Fr. Gil Escalante fittingly capped the seminarians' Pre-Ministry Year Program.

FAREWELL TO A SAINT!

Hmmm ... WHAT AN ORDINARY WAY TO DIE!  This may perhaps be how Fr. Angel Antonio, SJ wished it.  Last February 24, a typical Wednesday morning ... Father Angel was simply proceeding with his weekday routine, that is waking up early, putting on his soutane and passing by the dim halls of the SJVTS faculty building and walking slowly down ... down the usual flight of stairs enroute to the seminary chapel.  The past three years since Father Angel was assigned to the seminary,  seminarians talked about how they often catch him as one of the first to begin his prayers in the chapel each morning.  He has become a symbol of PRAYER for almost everyone in the community.

Only a month ago, Father Angel just celebrated his 84th birthday.  Other than his coughing and occasional arthritis concerns, his health was perfect ... or at least, we never heard any major complaints from him (not about his health nor about anything). 

Then came the accident.  He must have tripped or missed a step.  He fell and hit his head first on the pavement.  The accident happened much like a  motorcyclist falling off  his bike sans a helmet.   An x-ray of his head needed  no further description from the medical doctors.  His right eye was severely damaged, blood was creeping into his brain.  Hmmm ... a missionary, made tough by more than 45 years in Zamboanga, can easily get over this.  We were trying to convince ourselves. 

Father Angel finally expired and surrendered his soul to his Creator the third day after the accident.  We will surely miss your gentle and quiet presence, Father Angel.  Keep us always in your prayers, please ... we beg you!  Til we meet again!    

NEW SJVTS CORPORATE VIDEO

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW ST. JOHN VIANNEY CORPORATE VIDEO. This video is being issued in time for the seminary's 25th Anniversary celebration this year. You may catch the video on youtube.com or click on the url below:

PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdMkIHA2kTA
PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP_btAF8okI

Thanks to Sems. Eric Cantones/ Roimar Montezo for the upload.