The Caceres Commission on Missions held its Training-Workshop for the Caceres Mission Teams last March 22- 24, 2012 at the Caceres Catechetical Center, Basilica Compound, Naga City. Attended by 36 seminarians, the said Training-Workshop started with an overview of the Summer Mission Program.

Rev. Fr Andrew Recepcion, Mission Director, welcomed the seminarians, first year and third year students of both the Holy Rosary Minor and Major Seminaries. This year, the said group will be dispatched to two Parishes, the Parish of St. Joseph in Cagliliog, Tinambac, Camarines Sur and the Parish of St. Anthony Abbot in Tapayas, Balatan, Camarines Sur.

With a focus on house-to-house evangelization, the Training-Workshop included topics such as New Evangelization in our Parishes addressed by Ms. Myrna Bermudo, Mission Spirituality exhorted by Rev. Fr. Gerome Pelagio, Starting Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) discussed by Mrs. Ofelia Manalo, Organizing Barangay Pastoral Councils and Services tackled by Rev. Fr. Fidel Bagayaua, and Organizing the Parish Youth Ministry presented by Mr. Miko Elaurza. Orientations to the Parishes were conducted by their respective Parish Priests, Rev. Fr. Augusto Federico of the Parish of St. Joseph and Rev. Fr. Marlo John Arnante of the Parish of St. Anthony Abbot.

In addition, a solemn Eucharistic Celebration was held for each day. The celebrants were Rev. Fr. Jomar de Hitta, Assistant Mission Director, Rev. Fr. Marcus Emmanuel Real and Rev. Fr. Andrew Recepcion.

As a concluding activity, the Mission Team Planning was held on the last day. The seminarians will be dispatched on April 10, 2012 (Tuesday).

A Eucharistic Banquet will be offered for them at eight o’clock in the morning of the said date at Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Archbishop’s Residence, Naga City. Prayers for the fullness of the mission are requested. If anyone wishes to contribute to the said noble cause, in cash or in kind, the Archdiocese’s Office for Missions may be reached at (054) 472-7045.

20 young men from the Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary were invested at the Church of St. Joseph, San Jose, Goa, Camarines Sur last March 26, 2012 (Monday), on the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Held at nine o’clock in the morning, the solemn investiture was included in the Holy Eucharistic Banquet celebrated by Most Rev. Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. D.D., Archbishop of Caceres.

In his homily, the Archbishop focused on several principles necessary in preparing the candidates as they pursue the call to Priesthood. “First, learn about God through prayer. People need to see the correlation between what is taught and what is done. Second, seek God above all. You are chosen by God and by this you respond to the choice He has made for you. Third, you will have to learn about yourselves. You cannot know God without knowing yourselves. Fourth, be inspired and serve as an inspiration to your fellow seminarians. And fifth, always thank your formators.”

The Archbishop’s homily was succeeded by the solemn investiture rites.

The candidates recommended to take up Philosophical Studies were presented by Rev. Fr. Romeo Soto, Jr., Dean of Studies. According to Fr. Soto, the candidates were “prepared for a year and were found worthy to wear the sacred cassock.”

During the inquiry, the Archbishop asked the candidates if they were aware of the “dignity, decorum and life of commitment” with which the cassock is to be worn. In addition, he reminded them of the “responsibilities demanded by this initial commitment towards the Sacred Priesthood, which can only be met with the help of Christ.” With these words, the cassocks and surplices were blessed and given to the candidates. After which, the candle, symbol of the candidates’ “baptismal promise to let Christ shine through them” were also blessed and distributed. At the end of the rite, the newly invested Seminarians were blessed by the Archbishop.

The closing ceremony of the formation year succeeded the solemn eucharistic celebration. Rev. Fr. Romeo Soto, Jr. presented once again the candidates for graduation, while Rev. Msgr. Juan Celzo, P.C., Rector of the Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary, together with the Archbishop, distributed the diplomas and awards. The Archbishop’s Golden Medallion for Academic Excellence was awarded to Sem. John Sherwin Acampado while the Archbishop’s Silver Medallion for Academic Excellence was given to Sem. Albert Barrameda. Sem. Robert Sumigaw received the Archbishop’s Bronze Medallion for Academic Excellence.

In behalf of the graduating class, Sem. Albert Barrameda, Class Beadle, expressed the candidates’ gratitude to God, their families, formators and benefactors. Singing the graduation song and the Hymn to Our Lady signaled the finale of the ceremony. The highly momentous event was attended by the Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary community, parish priests, formators, teachers, benefactors, families, and friends of the graduates.

As children, most of us would dream of becoming members of the royal family one day. Boys would treat girls as princesses and girls would wait for their Prince Charming to arrive. For a very long time, society has placed much emphasis on the influence, power and lavish lifestyle one enjoys as a King or Queen. And even if we have outgrown this childhood dream, there would always be something fascinating and intriguing about the life within the palace walls. But let me ask you, what does it take to be a King? How do we define a King?

According to the world-wide web, a King is a male monarch who holds by life tenure, the chief authority over a country and a people. Most of the time, his appointment is through genealogy or hereditary right. Accompanied by his crown, scepter and robe, these highly priced accessories signify his authority, power and treasure.
King of the Jews, the words written on the tablet on the cross of Jesus. For many people, these words have various meanings. For the High Priests, this was an insult for Jesus, used to ridicule him for the crime he has committed. For his followers, however, those words were written in recognition of the authority he has as the Son of God.

Putting ourselves in the shoes of his followers, let us ask ourselves then what made them so convinced that he is indeed the King of the Jews? Was it not that his experiences were the exact opposite of what a royal King is?

A King is usually treated with respect and adoration. Jesus, on the other hand, was insulted, hurt and crucified like a criminal. A King is usually given a crown to symbolize the wealth that he possesses. Jesus, however, was adorned with a crown of thorns, to emphasize his nothingness and that he died a poor man. A King holds a scepter to signify his authority to rule a people. This is the symbol of his office as the head of a kingdom. Paradoxically, Jesus was given scourges to stress his punishment as a criminal. And lastly, a King is usually clothed with a robe to symbolize his royalty. Jesus was also given a robe, but a piece of cloth coming from the soldiers who mocked him to signify his status as a criminal.

Carefully studying this situation, one would see that Jesus indeed represents a different image of a King, one that is far from the ideal image for his experiences were the exact opposite of those who were crowned to rule. Yes, he was treated differently, but his life gave a new meaning to the word, King.

The tablet with the text, King of the Jews, manifests the image of a servant King who would endure everything for His people. Jesus’ suffering signifies his being prepared to sacrifice to prove his love for his people. The thorns imposed on his head stressed his willingness to endure pain so that His people may be spared from sin. The scourging that he went through shows that he can suffer just to give his people a chance to renew themselves. And ultimately, the cross, which was originally used for criminals, became the symbol of his love for us, which was characterized by the offering of his own life for our salvation. His death on the cross is the eternal source of hope of many.

Thus, my dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate Holy Week, let us ask ourselves, if our King chose to suffer just to prove his love for us, in what manner can we show our love for him in return? Following the example he had set for us may be manifested through accepting the cross given to us for doing so will lead us to understanding the pain endured by our Lord. In turn, through pain we shall grow to become better persons for others; and the realizations brought forth from the experiences of pain will deepen our faith to God, thereby creating a personal relationship with Him, knowing that He will never abandon us.

In conclusion, let me quote to you the poem, Footprints in the Sand. The man who complaint to Jesus said, “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you the most, you would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My Son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trials and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

My dear brothers and sisters, may this Season of Lent serve as a reminder for us that there is something more than the crosses we carry than pain and suffering they bring. Let us keep in mind that they provide for us an opportunity to realize that God is with us. May we remain like children for all time, ever-dependent on the one King that rules our hearts forever, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

13 and major seminarians78.

Objectives:

1) To understand our Faith in the light of Christ’s Way of the Cross.

2) To reflect on the Paradoxical Characteristics of Faith based on the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC # 141-159).

INTRODUCTION:

To highlight the preparation period for the Opening of the Year of Faith. The reflection will focus on the understanding of the Paradoxical Characteristics of Faith.

FIRST WORD: “Ama, patawada sinda huli ta dai ninda aram kun ano an saindang ginigibo (Lk.23:34).”

Faith: A Gift, yet Our Doing. Focus: An Pagtubod: Sarong Gracia nin Dios asin satong; Pagsimbag sa Diosnon na Balaog.

SECOND WORD: “Sa katotohanan, sinasabihan taka:ngonian man sana makakaibahan taka sa Paraiso.”

Faith: Reasonable, yet Beyond Natural Reason. Focus:An Pagtubod: Dalan sa Pagmidbid sa Dios sa oro-aldaw Niatong Pagkabuhay.

THIRD WORD: Babae uya an saimong Aki… Uya an saimong Ina.

Focus : Mary: Model of Faith : Si Virgen Maria, Modelo kan Satong Pagtubod.

FOURTH WORD: Dios ko, Dios ko, tadaw ta pinabayaan mo ako.

Faith: Certain, yet Obscure Focus: An Pagtubod: Sarong hararom na Pagsarig sa Dios sa tahaw nin Pagtios asin Pagsubok sa buhay

FIFTH WORD: Napapaha Ako.

Faith: Free, yet Morally Obliging Focus: An Pagtubod: Sarong Talingkas na Pagsunod asin Pakikipagkatood sa Diosnon na Pagkamoot

SIXTH WORD: Natapus na

Faith: An Act, yet a Process. Focus: An Pagtubod: Sarong Pakipagnumpungan asin Habang-buhay na Pagbaklay para sa Dios, an Kagtao nin Buhay.

SEVENTH WORD: Ama, sa saimong kamot idinodolot ko an sakong Espirito.

Faith: As Personal, yet Ecclesia Focus: An Pagtubod: Pagdusay kan bilog na Buhay sa Kabotan nin Dios asin sa Simbahan, an Banwaan nin Dios.