December 13: KANNAWIDAN
on ICST Christmas Party
The rest of the ICST community joined
the Ilocandia Formation Community to celebrate KAPIHAN III. With the theme
KANNAWIDAN,
which means a celebration of culture and tradition, the members of the
community ushered in the Christmas season celebrating love and friendship
within the ICST family, making seminary life more meaningful. It brings
the members of the community the reality of EMMANUEL - that
God truly lives in them. We congratulate the Ilocandia Formation Community
for their effort to make this event a reminder of God’s presence in the
ICST community.
December 14: ICST COMMUNITY GOES
CAROLING
The whole community of ICST traditionally
goes out for caroling to raise funds for the seminary. It is also an annual
activity to spread the joy and spirit of the Christmas season with all
the people who have helped ICST in many ways and whom God continuously
inspires to support the whole ICST community. In singing the Christmas
carols, we praise and thank God for all the blessings our community has
received through our generous friends. Rest assured that you, our dear
benefactors and friends, will always be included in our prayers.
December 16-24: ICST CELEBRATES
MISA DE GALLO
Although the seminarians are away
from the seminary at this time of the year, the spirit of Christmas was
kept alive within the walls of ICST through the traditional misa de gallo.
With Rev. Fr. Nick A. Vaquilar and Rev. Fr. Felix Costales who celebrated
the novena masses, the faithful prepared for the birth of Christ.
January 5: Rector’s Day and ICST
Theolympics ‘09
After a long and meaningful Christmas
vacation the ICST Community came back to the seminary and eagerly started
the gift of new life in the year 2009 with the first community celebrations
of the year. These were the RECTOR’S DAY (the 15th Priestly Anniversary
of the Beloved ICST Rector) and Theolympics 2009 (the sports festival for
the 2nd Semester of the School Year 2008-2009). The occasions made a difference
in the seminary community through the sharing of experiences and talents
in the thanksgiving for the gift of vocation through the eucharistic celebration,
and the short program and sumptuous meal that followed.
January 12: BATCH ’83 Celebrates
25th Priestly Anniversary in ICST
Many are called but few are chosen,
yet God’s grace still gives reason for His priests to celebrate, in thanksgiving,
the meaning of priestly life. Among all the ordained members of the Batch
’83 class, five priests paid respect to their Alma Mater by celebrating
their Sacerdotal Anniversary with the ICST community. They remain full
of enthusiasm in their vocation and this has inspired the seminary community
to persevere. Their presence affirmed the ministry of those who have been
chosen by God to serve.
Their anniversary begun with celebration
of the Holy Mass and was followed by a simple dinner at the grotto.
January 26-27 INNILIW 2009
Traditionally, INNILIW is a time
to reminisce the joyous events that happened during the formation years
in ICST. It has also become part of the culture of the seminary community
where alumni come together to draw inspiration from each other's experiences.
The get-together is an opportunity for all Alumni to renew their fraternal
bonds to serve as a source of strength as they continue to live out the
mission-vision of their alma mater. With the theme A Grateful Heart
Remembers, this year's INNILIW saw the alumni encountering and inspiring
each other to continue their lives as servants of the Lord.
The event had three highlights: tribute
to the jubilarians of ICST, launching of the Catholic Theological Society
of Northern Luzon (CTSNL), and celebration of the 100-year anniversary
of Philippine SVD Priests in Missionary Service. There was also a sports
festival where all the alumni coming from different ecclesiastical territories
met to play tennis, basketball and badminton. After the games came the
opening mass presided over by Most Rev. Joseph Amangi Nacua, OFM,Cap, DD,
the Bishop of Ilagan, Isabela. The program and fellowship followed right
after the eucharistic celebration, where the alumni and some SVD priests
enjoyed each other's company while reminiscing old times in ICST.
The two-day occasion was made even
more special with the presence of some respected former formators and professors
of ICST and SVD priests of Northern Luzon, who had helped the seminary
reach its mission-vision. We especially mention the energetic resource
speaker of INNILIW 2009, Rev. Fr. Stephen Bevans, SVD, who delivered a
talk on A Century of Mission, Abra 1909, Edinburg 1910, and Missionary
Thinking Today. His presence and those of the SVD priests who had generously
given their time to participate in this annual gathering truly brought
joy to all the alumni. Among the SVD Priests who made it to the occasion
are: Rev. Fr. Jerome Adriatico, Rev. Fr. Leonardo Mercado, Rev. Fr. William
Van Kuijk, Rev. Fr. Dionisio Miranda, Rev. Fr. Michael Padua, Rev. Fr.
Manuel Bongayan, Rev. Fr. Edgar Javier, Rev. Dominador Ramos, Rev. Fr.
Gil Manalo, Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Jimenez, and Rev. Fr. Dominador Fernandez,
SVD, Indeed, the seminary owes them its identity. Without them ICST would
not fully realize its mission as the instrument of pastoral service in
the Northern Luzon Church.
The INNILIW 2009 ended with the celebration
of the Holy Mass, presided over by Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, Auxiliary
Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. After the Holy Mass, agape followed.
