Let’s GLOW Program Revisited
A program was held at the ICST dining hall on August 27, 2008 to revisit
the Let’s GLOW (Guard and Love Our World) program of the seminary. The
community listened as the SC Officers briefly explained how the Let’s GLOW
program started. Then, the seminarians watched the documentary film about
Global Warming entitled: 11th Hour. The seminarians also expressed their
commitment to support the program by signing on the Pledge of Commitment.
The Let’s GLOW program was initiated by the SC officers of the 1st semester
SY 2007-2008 headed by Leo Nedic, now a deacon, of the Diocese of La Union.
It was first launched on August 1, 2007. Let’s GLOW is a program of ICST
in response to the problem of Global Warming. As part of the campaign,
the seminary staged a musical concert last December 2007 with the title
Paraiso:
A Concert For Creation.
Community Recollection
A community recollection was held on August 29-30, 2008 at the ICST
chapel. It was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Froiland Saluta of the Diocese of
La Union. The theme of the recollection invited the seminarians to reflect
deeper about the spirituality of priestly ministry. Fr. Froiland shared
his insightful reflections about Jesus’ own ministry, ministry in the writings
of St. Paul, and ministry in the context of the local Church. Above all,
he also talked about his own spirituality and ministry. Indeed, the recollection
directed seminarians to turn to Jesus, the source and life of all ministries.
Academic-Pastoral Function on St. Paul
Every semester, the Faculty of the Immaculate Conception School Theology,
holds an Academic-Pastoral Function. For this semester, the ICST has chosen
the theme, “THE APOSTLE TO THE NATIONS: REDISCOVERING ST. PAUL IN THE THIRD
MILLENIUM” in view of the celebration of Pauline Year this 2008-2009. Fr.
Gil Alinsangan, SSP was invited as the resource speaker for the 2-day event.
It was held on September 5-6, 2008 at the Aula Magna of the Immaculate
Conception School of Theology, Vigan City.
Theolympics 2008
The vision of integral seminary formation in ICST is realized in a constant
sense of balance between the different pillars of formation: Human, Spiritual,
Intellectual, and Pastoral. Part of the human formation of seminarians
is to develop an intense sense of community. One of the many activities
that foster this sense of community is the Theolympics. This is an event
in the seminary wherein the seminarians and formators engage in a healthy
competition in the different athletic games like basketball, volleyball,
tennis, and many others. The Theolympics for this semester was held on
September 6-8, 2008 with the theme Palarong Paulino: One Body, One
Soul.
Happy Birthday Mama Mary!
September 8 is always marked with singular anticipation in ICST as the
universal Church celebrates the birth of Mary. Under the title Immaculate
Conception, the Blessed Mother is the Patroness of the home and school
of seminarians under priestly formation in Northern Luzon. It has been
a tradition in ICST that on the feast of the birth of Mary, a community
celebration of the mass is held at the grotto of the seminary. Last September
8, 2008, the community joined the universal Church in celebrating the joy
of Mary’s birth through a solemn Eucharistic liturgy presided over by Rev.
Fr. Augustus Calubaquib with the rest of the seminary formators concelebrating.
Ilocandia and Montañosa Formation Community on Educational
Tour
The Ilocandia and Montañosa formation community embarked on a
weekend educational tour last September 19-21, 2008. The activity is an
integral part of the Academic formation of seminarians. For this year’s
educational trip, the faculty proposed that the activity be an actual opportunity
for the regional groups to be acquainted more with their own local church
and culture through further immersion. It is for this purpose that the
Ilocandia formation community went to Ilocos Norte for their educational
tour. The Montañosa seminarians, on their part, took a trip to Baguio
as they tried to experience the thrill of going down the tunnel of the
PHILEX gold mining site at Itogon, Benguet.
Regional Recollection
A monthly recollection is an integral part of the Spiritual Formation
of seminarians. The activity usually involves the whole ICST community.
With the new paradigm of formation, a group recollection was introduced.
For the month of October, the seminarians had their recollection by region.
This was on October 3-4, 2008. It was facilitated by their respective spiritual
directors. Some formation communities went to some solitary places outside
the seminary for their recollections. For instance, the Montañosa
formation community went to Pug-os, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. The Pangasinan
Formation Community had theirs at San Lorenzo Ruiz Youth Center of Nueva
Segovia at Pantay Fatima, Vigan City. The Cavisa and Ilocandia communities
stayed at the seminary for their weekend recollection.
