November 2008 Chronicles

Community Retreat

The Immaculate Conception School of Theology community engaged itself in a so-called religious encounter of the presence of God through a three-day “Community Retreat.” The said event happened on November 7-9, 2008, facilitated by an energetic and spirit-filled lay person no other than, Ms. Natividad Pagaddut. With the theme “Travel Narrative Formation of the Disciples”, as inspired by the Word of God, the seminarians were led to love the life of Christ which can be seen primarily, through understanding the giftedness of oneself, and secondly, selflessly giving oneself for the sake of service to the Church.

These two important messages were the challenges shared to us by the facilitator, which she believed are possible, yet practical, means of today’s World Transformation. Especially if we apply this in the life Church, the outcome of this reflection would make every Christian discover the identity that Christ is calling each Christian to be, likewise, the ministry that Christ is sending each individual to serve. Indeed, this retreat had given every seminarian the time to meditate on the true purpose of God in their chosen vocation, as it was shown to them by Jesus Christ in the Sacred Scripture.

New Student Council Officers for the 2nd Semester

On November 6, 2008, the ICST community elected the New Officers of the Student Council for the second semester of the school year 2008-2009. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the following seminarians were elected as the new servant-leaders of the community: 

General Beadle: Sem. Kristoffer Allan C. Soriano
Vice General Beadle: Sem. Rolly Buasen
 General Secretary: Sem. Jasper R. Hebron
 General Treasurer: Sem. Dexter Z. Cariño 
 General PRO: Sem. Loren William
 General Liturgist: Sem. Ernesto Hadjie Galiza
 General Sacristan: Sem. David Mark Taverner
 General Food Beadle: Sem. Benedict Santiago
 General Apostolate Coordinator:  Sem. Feliciano Bugtong
 General Sports Coordinators: Sem. Odilon Aranca
                                               Sem. Roel Esguera 
 Canteen Manager: Sem. Jonathan Vergara
 SEMNET Representatives: Sem. Dexter Z. Cariño
                                           Sem. Benjie Manzano
                                           Sem. Ernesto Gonzales
 BPM Representative: Sem. Kenneth Kitongan

 Class Beadles

1st year Class Beadle: Sem. Bonifacio Manaligod
2nd year Class Beadle: Sem. Reynaldo Guinid
3rd year Class Beadle: Sem. Ricky Belino
4th year Class Beadle: Sem. Francis Ofrancia

Regional Formation Community Coordinators

Cavisa Formation Community   Sem. Julius Teaño
Ilocandia Foramtion Community  Sem. Feliciano Bugtong
Montañosa Formation Community  Sem. Conrad Dangiwan
Pangasinan Formation Community  Sem. Ryan Tomelden

ICST Seminary Formators Joins the Meeting of Northern Luzon Bishops

The seminary formators of ICST went to Baguio City and attended the annual meeting of the Northern Luzon Bishops on Seminary Formation. The event was held on November 10-11, 2008, at San Pablo Seminary, Crystal Cave, Baguio City. The participating members of the convention discussed some plans and concerns that would sustain the upkeep of Immaculate Conception School of Theology, the Regional Seminary of Northern Luzon. Revisiting the Paradigm-Shift, which is the New Set-Up of Formation of ICST, was also part of their agenda. 

VIVA CRISTO REY!

On November 23, 2008, the ICST community joined the Archdiocesan Celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, in San Juan, Ilocos Sur. It was hosted by the St. John the Baptist Parish. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Most Rev. Ernesto A. Salgado, DD, the Archbishop of Nueva-Segovia. 

The celebration of the Christ the King has been traditionally done on the last Sunday in the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year. In the seminary context, this important event in the Church, shows not only signs of fulfilment and thanksgiving, but the joy and eagerness to encounter the Lord for another year of celebration. Indeed, this has given the seminary community a chance to celebrate with meaning the coming of Jesus Christ. 

Pangasinan Formation Community and Its Experiences on Educational Tour

The Pangasinan Formation Community (PFC) went to Pangasinan and engaged themselves in the so-called challenge of the new set-up of seminary formation known as the Paradigm Shift. With their enthusiasm and vibrant ways to meet the demands of the Educational Tour Program, the members of the PFC, decided to focus their purpose of visitation on three important learning-experiences, namely, Vocation Campaign, Cultural Heritage of Pangasinan, and Social-Issues. From November 28 to 29, 2008 the PFC visited the three Dioceses of the province where they discovered a lot of growth opportunities needed for an Integral Seminary Formation. True enough, their experiences  had given them the realities of the signs of the times, as well as the new approaches on how to respond to the pastoral needs of the Church in Northern Luzon.