S T F N E W S L E T T E RSTUDIUM THEOLOGIAE FOUNDATION, INC. (PHILIPPINES) • ISSUE TWENTY TWO

“And now let us begin this journey, bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which is the one that leads all the churches in charity. A journey of fraternity, of trust between us. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the world so that this might be a great brotherhood. I hope that this journey of the Church that we begin today, and in which my Cardinal Vicar here present will assist me, will be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.” ~Pope Francis, March 13, 2013

(from “Michael”Journal, March/April 2013 issue)

On Wednesday, February 27, 2013, over 150,000 faithful gathered on Saint Peter’s Square to attend the last audience of Pope Benedict XVI (who officially resigned the following day). On this occasion, the Holy Father gave words filled with hope for the future of the Church. Here are a few excerpts:

I have always known that the Lord is in that boat (of the Church), and I have always known that the barque of the Church is not mine but his. Nor does the Lord let it sink; it is he who guides it, surely also through those whom he has chosen, because he so wished. This has been, and is, a certainty which nothing can shake. For this reason my heart todays overflows with gratitude to God, for he has never let his Church, or me personally, lack his consolation, his light, his love.

We are in the Year of Faith which I desired precisely to reaffirm our faith in God in a context which seems to push him more and more into the background. I should like to invite all of us to renew our firm confidence in the Lord, to entrust ourselves like children in God’s arms, certain that those arms always hold us, enabling us to press forward each day, even when the going is rough. I want everyone to feel loved by that God who gave his Son for us and who has shown us his infinite love. I want everyone to feel the joy of being a Christian. In one beautiful morning prayer, it says: ‘I adore you, my God, and I love you with all my heart. I thank you for having created me and made me a Christian…’. Yes, we are happy for the gift of faith; it is our most precious possession, which no one can take from us! Let us thank the Lord for this daily, in prayer and by a consistent Christian life. God loves us, but he also expects us to love him!(...)

“Anyone who accepts the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and completely to everyone, to the whole Church… The ‘always’ is also a ‘for ever’ – there can no longer be a return to the private sphere. My decision to resign the active exercise of the ministry does not revoke this. I do not return to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences, and so on. I am not abandoning the cross, but remaining in a new way at the side of the crucified Lord. I no longer bear the power of office for the governance of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, in the enclosure of Saint Peter. Saint Benedict, whose name I bear as Pope, will be a great example for me in this. He showed us the way for a life which, whether active or passive, is completely given over to the work of God(…)

“Dear friends! God guides his Church, he sustains it always, especially at times of difficulty. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the one true way of looking at the journey of the Church and of the world. In our hearts, in the heart of each of you, may there always abide the joyful certainty that the Lord is at our side: he does not abandon us, he remains close to us and he surrounds us with his love. Thank you!” ■

“The Lord does not let the barque of the Church sink”

Benedict XVI appearing for the last time in public as pope in Castel Gandolfo, February 28, 2013. (Photo from “Michael” Journal March/April 2013 issue)

Pope Francis, with Cardinal Hummes and Cardinal Vallini, cardinal Vicar of Rome, exiting the Sistine Chapel after his election. (Photo from “Michael” Journal March/April 2013 issue)

Popes Francis and Benedict XVI, praying side by side in the same pewon March 23, 2013 at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

CARDINAL BERGOGLIO ELECTED TO THE

PONTIFICATE“I announce to you with great joy.

We have a Pope!”

Pope Francis on Priests and Seminarians“You are seminarians, novices, young people on a vocational journey, from every part of the world. You represent the Church’s youth! If the Church is the Bride of Christ, you in a certain sense represent the moment of betrothal, the Spring of vocation, the season of discovery, assessment, formation. And it is a very beautiful season, in which foundations are laid for the future.”

(Excerpt of Pope Francis’ Homily at Mass with Seminarians, Novices, and those Discerning their Vocations, St. Peter’s Basilica, 7 July 2013)

“A good priest can be recognized by the way his people are anointed: this is a clear proof. When our people are anointed with the oil of gladness, it is obvious: for example, when they leave Mass looking as if they have heard good news. Our people like to hear the Gospel preached with ‘unction’, they like it when the Gospel we preach touches their daily lives,

when it runs down like the oil of Aaron to the edges of reality, when it brings light to moments of extreme darkness, to the ‘outskirts’ where people of faith are most exposed to the onslaught of those who want to tear down their faith. People thank us because they feel that we have prayed over the realities of their everyday lives, their troubles, their joys, their burdens and their hopes. And when they feel that the fragrance of the Anointed One, of Christ, has come to them through us, they feel encouraged to entrust to us everything they want to bring before the Lord: ‘Pray for me, Father, because I have this problem’, ‘Bless me Father’, ‘Pray for me’ – these words are the sign that the anointing has flowed down to the edges of the robe, for it has turned into a prayer of supplication, the supplication of the People of God.”

(Excerpt of Pope Francis’ Homily at Chrism Mass, St. Peter’s Basilica, Holy Thursday, 28 March 2013) ■

Top Photo: Filipino seminarians of Colegio Eclesiástico Internacional “Bidasoa” with Fr. Jimmy Liao, Executive Director of Theological Centrum. Bottom Photo: Filipino priests who graduated in Sacred Theology at the University of Navarre in June 2013.

Fr. Joseph Tan with H.E. Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D., Archbishop-Emeritus of Cebu. (Photo from CARF Boletin Informativo, June 2013)

“Every Catholic should be a means of communication”(Translated from “Cada católico debe ser como un medio de comunicación” by Fr. Joseph Tan,

CARF Boletin Informativo, June 2013)

Letter from an AlumnusReverend Father Andrei Uy of the Diocese of Daet, Graduate of the Pont. Univ. of the Holy Cross (1995)

It has been seventeen years since I was ordained a priest. It all started with an invitation to a center of Opus Dei in 1981 while I was having a tough time studying medicine. It was a big help since I was helped in my studies and, at the same time, I got to know my faith better, not knowing that it will lead me to priesthood. Through the help of a priest of the Work, I was able to get a scholarship to study for priesthood in Rome in 1990, after working for four years as a physician in our provincial hospital.

I came back in 1995, after five years in the Collegio Ecclesiastico Internazionale Sedes Sapientiae, studying two years of Philosophy and getting the bachelor’s degree in Theology in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. I was ordained a deacon in July 16, 1995 and a priest in December 30, 1995 at the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral in Daet by Bishop Benjamin Almoneda. Afterwards, I made rounds of the seminary, parishes and the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. It was pastoral work

My name is Joseph Tan. I am in my first year of study at the Faculty of Institutional Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. I am 47 years old and 21 years as a priest.

I am aware that the Church cannot, at this time, ignore the media in the spread of the Good News.

Upon returning to my country, I will strive to teach seminarians everything I'm learning in Rome and help them better communicate the Church.

I can say that more than the ability to handle digital technology, create programs for the website of the diocese and understand how the public opinion in relation to the Church works, that social communication projects should lead to a certain kind of spiritual path, which commits all the faithful to live, day by day, the life of Christ.

Every Catholic is a living Gospel and a means of communication for those who are near and to others around the world. ■

Fr. Raul Marino Sagles, Associate Director of Theological Centrum, giving a study circle to Formation Year seminarians of San Carlos Seminary.

Msgr. Carlos Estrada (seated, center), Vicar of Opus Dei for the Philippines and Indonesia, together with priests and seminarians during the fellowship in celebration of the feast of St. Josemaría Escrivá, June 27, 2013.

The Seminarian and New Evangelization

His Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, D.D. (second row, center), Archbishop-Emeritus of Manila, graced the annual Seminar for Seminarians held last May 20-23, 2013 at Latag Study Camp, Lipa City Batangas. Some of the resource speakers and guests during the seminar included Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan, Fr. Russell Bantiles of the Archdiocese of Davao (second row, 3rd from the left), Fr. Jomel Ian de la Cruz of the Diocese of Masbate (second row, 3rd from the right), Fr. Raul Asuncion, Asst. Chaplain of Anihan Technical School (second row, 2nd from the right), Fr. Johnpaul Menchavez, Chaplain of Amber Study Center (first row, 1st from the right), Fr. Emil Laraño, Fr. Cecilio Magsino, and Fr. Jerry Gaela.

Twenty-four diocesan seminarians from different dioceses spent the 4-day seminar in an atmosphere of prayers, conferences, talks, pilgrimage cum excursion, and sports. The Seminar for Seminarians is an ongoing program of Theological Centrum for diocesan seminarians.

Priests who attended the annual Retreat for Diocesan Priests held on November 25-28, 2013 at the Makiling Conference Center, Calamba, Laguna. Some STF Alumni also attended the said retreat.

Activities for Priests and Seminariansorganized by Theological Centrum

caring for souls and administering the sacraments. Thanks be to God for the exposure I had in the center of Opus Dei during my college days, where I learned much about sanctification of ordinary work (which is study for a student) and the need of every Christian to develop his interior life. I brought to the priesthood these good habits, including mental prayer which I do when I was still studying and practicing my profession. Before Mass, I always try to do the usual 30-minute meditation which helped me much to give better homilies that hopefully could touch the hearts of the faithful and lead them to live their faith well. I also encourage them to do the examination of conscience and to go to confession. It’s easy to be overtaken by work as you do pastoral work and forget about the more important union with God which could happen to any layperson or member of the clergy. Thanks be to God for the teachings of St. Josemaria. These helped me much to avoid falling into the trap of activism.

Preaching or teaching is another very important work that is so much needed especially in our secularized society. Giving doctrine to our brothers and sisters in the faith helps much so that they do not only live as nominal Christians but be enabled to live their faith fully. One way is through the homilies, talks and recollections when I am invited to help. Some souls also come for counseling. There is also a regular confession in my present assignment. People can also just send a text message to set an appointment for confession. Another way of evangelizing is through the radio. We have regular radio programs such as the recorded gospel reflections 6 days a week and a live “Life is Beautiful” program every Saturday at 7 pm. Some listeners send questions via text message which I or any of my two lay partners would answer. People are hungry for knowledge about the faith, and only faith can give answers to the nagging questions of life. ■

Rev. Fr. Paul O’Callaghan (seated, center) together with priests and seminarians during his visit to the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology (Palo, Leyte).

In a recent visit to the Archdiocese of Palo, a professor of a pontifical university in Rome gave a series of talks to seminarians and priests touching on the personality of the new Pope and crisis of morality in today’s world. Rev. Fr. Paul O’Callaghan, a professor of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome visited the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology (SJEST), Palo’s major seminary, last July 25-27 and gave a series of talks to clergy and seminarians.

For Fr. O’Callaghan —an Irish priest and a member of the Prelature of the Opus Dei— the visit to Palo was a dream come true.

“I am happy to see my former students who are now priests,” he said.

In a talk he gave to the theology seminarians, Fr. O’Callaghan expounded on the three predominant aspects of the Pope’s personality —“the Pope is a man of government, a man close to the people and a mystic” – which he explained beautifully yet in a clear and concise manner.

The next day, he gave another talk on “Christian Morality and Priestly Celibacy” which was attended by theology seminarians, SJEST priest formators and some priests in the archdiocese and suffragan dioceses who were either alumni of University of Navarre, Spain or the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome.

In this talk Fr. O’Callaghan explained the roots of the crisis of morality in today’s world and the importance of priestly celibacy in the life of the Church.

Fr. O’Callaghan’s visit was one of the activities which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology and the 75th year of the erection of Palo as a diocese.

(The author, Ryan A. Salvacion, is a seminarian from the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology of the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte)

Pontifical university professor gives talks to Palo seminarians, clergyby Sem. Ryan A. Salvacion

Rev. Fr. Christian Conde (Diocese of Naval), a graduate of the University of Navarre (2011), was ordained to the priesthood last November 29, 2013. Together with him in the photograph are his mother and his sister.

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Rev. Peter Ayaso (3rd from right, Pont. Univ. of the Holy Cross, 2011) and Rev. Niño Escalora (4th from right, Univ. of Navarre, 2011)of the Archdiocese of Palo, together with 5 others, were ordained to the priesthood by Most Rev. John F. Du at the roofless Metropolitan Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord last Nov. 25, 2013, weeks after the devastation of the supertyphoon Yolanda.