WELCOME OUR NEWLY ARRIVED FIRST YEAR THEOLOGIANS

SJVTS REFECTORY/ KITCHEN PROJECT

Dear Friends in the Lord,

Greetings of peace from your brothers and friends here at ST. JOHN VIANNEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. As you may know, the seminary celebrates its 25th Founding Anniversary this year.  Truly, we have been overjoyed by the recent episcopal ordination of our very own alumnus Bishop Jose Araneta Cabantan who belongs to our first batch of graduates. Recently, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila also had gifted the seminary with a life-sized statue of our patron, St. John Mary Vianney. The year 2010 continues to prove itself as a true period of celebration for all of us here in Cagayan de Oro.

As we celebrate our anniversary however, we note also how 25 years of existence had taken its toll on our facilities.  The state of our seminary facilities continues to depreciate. Much as we thank you for the prayers and assistance that you have given the seminary in the past,  our crucial work for the Church in Mindanao stirs us to humbly BEG for more assistance from you and your community. Please spare us additional financial help if possible.

Specifically, you may help us by supporting our “RECONSTRUCTION FUND,” a fund dedicated to defraying costs for various seminary projects and the reconstruction of facilities. Most immediate for us is the renovation of our most regularly used SJVTS kitchen and refectory. For your reference, some 80 seminarians, priests and lay personnel gather at least three times a day for meals in our common refectory. Your help will go a long way in ensuring better health for your future pastors through the more hygienic preparation and sharing of meals.

 

Architect's Perspective: Right photo shows the architect's rendition of the improved SJVTS refectory. Repainting and floor re-tiling consist the planned improvements. The seminary will make do with its old yet still usable fixtures (i.e., tables/ chairs).

 

Incidentally, in appreciation for your possible contribution, we will gladly include your name or an advertisement material from your community in a Special Souvenir Program which we will publish in time for our 25th Anniversary Celebration and Grand Alumni Homecoming in August 2010.

We would very much appreciate whatever help or suggestion that you may wish to share with us. Please get in touch with us through the following:

  

               FR. BUTCH ZAYAS                (Cel. No. 0927-705-7978)

NOTE: Please make all payments payable to: ST. JOHN VIANNEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (Reconstruction Fund) or deposit donations to Bank of Philippine Islands – CDO Main Branch with Account Number: 2041-034958.

DAGHANG SALAMAT!!!

 

BUILDING ASSIGNMENTS FY 2010-2011

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.