The Archdiocese of Jaro held a fun run for vocation as a culminating activity for the Archdiocesan Vocation Awareness Month.
Joining the run on November 26 were lay faithful of all ages, religious from different congregations, parents and teachers of seminarians and some members of the clergy.
The fun run kicked off November 26 as the archdiocese revived its “Seminary Days” and began a Triduum for the feast of the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, November 27 to 30 at the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, Iloilo.
St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary has brought back the celebration of the feast of the Miraculous Medal usually celebrated every November 27 as one of the most important events in the seminary, a tradition instituted during the time of the Vincentian Fathers.
The Vocation fun run started at 5 o’clock in the morning, followed by a Holy Eucharist to officially open the Seminary Days 2011.
After the Holy Mass, young men and women from different schools and parishes were gathered separately for a vocation talk. The day culminated with a Concert for Vocation “The Future Calls” where seminarians, together with representatives of women religious as well as the lay institutes, performed.
The triduum was highlighted by various activities that include a “barrio fiesta”, invitational football game, and opening of the seminary doors to the public, allowing young men to go around the seminary and even join the spiritual and the academic activities of the seminarians as part of the vocation campaign. The “open house” intended to let the public, especially those who aspire to enter the seminary, experience the “ordinary” day of the seminarians.
Celebrating Masses during the triduum were Msgr. Jose Marie Delgado, PC former rector of the seminary and Msgr. Claudio Sale, seminary’s second Filipino rector.
On November 30, the highlight of the Seminary Days 2011 and of the Triduum of the feast of the Miraculous Medal, the seminary community together with the lay faithful of Barangay Seminario, held a procession around the barangay.
It was followed by the “Saludo a la Virgen de la Medalla Milagrosa” delivered by Francis Jay Jarabelo, a 4th year high school seminarian, and a Holy Mass presided by the 1st Filipino Rector of the seminary, Msgr. Jose M. Gamboa.
In his homily, Gamboa pointed out the binding force of the Blessed Mother in seminary formation; and by example, teaching seminarians to be obedient and disciplined, emphasizing that these are necessary characteristics of priests most especially in this generation and the generations to come.
After the Mass, seminarians entertained the priests with oratorical numbers and “Binalaybay”, as well as song numbers.
Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D., also graced the occasion. The day ended with a Rosary joined by family and friends, in the seminary community chapel.
This year’s Vocation Awareness Month had its formal opening on November 4 in St Paul's University, Iloilo, with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided by Archbishop Lagdameo.
Priests, vocation promoters representing different communities of Men and Women Religious of the archdiocese, and students from various schools in Iloilo joined the affair.
Lagdameo has reminded everyone through a circular that “the task of promoting vocations is the concern of all the baptized Christians and of the entire Christian community” as stated in the Acts and Decrees of the Third Diocesan Synod of Jaro.
To put this into effect the Archdiocesan Commission on Vocation Promotion (ACVP) was mandated to establish the parish committee on vocation promotion and to formulate programs to help the parishes organize and train vocation promoters.
In an interview, Fr. Alejandro Esperancilla, Chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission on Vocations and Rector of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, explained the importance and the urgency of the task of finding, encouraging and forming future priests in the Archdiocese. He observed that in the past years up to the academic year 2005-2006 the number of college seminarians in St Vincent Ferrer seminary would reach up to 60. The number was never less than 40. But this year, only 27 seminarians are in college.
Esperancilla said the archdiocese has to respond to this challenge through an all out effort of promoting vocations and supporting the seminary. This explains the establishment of programs that call on parish priests, lay organizations and movements, and other archdiocesan entities in a concerted effort in the promotion of priestly and religious vocations.
According to Esperancilla, parish committees on vocation promotion are now being initiated in the parishes of Jaro Cathedral, Sta. Barbara, Igbaras and Buyo.
Other programs for the ongoing campaign for vocations are being carried out, such as the First Friday Mass celebrated by priests from the diocesan seminary in Catholic schools as well as in public schools.
On months that have five Sundays, parishes are invited to dedicate the Mass that fifth Sunday for the diocesan seminary.
Parishioners are also mobilized to serve as “lay mentors” for the on-going formation of seminarians even while on vacation in the parish or at home. A joint scholarship program for poor but deserving seminarians “Eskolar sang Kristianong Katilingban” was established.
Esperancilla further explained that efforts are also being adopted to foster and preserve the vocation of the seminarians, such as a deeper Eucharistic life through the Solemn Benediction on Sundays aside from the daily celebration of the Holy Mass; more opportunities for seminarians to interact with priests; a deeper Marian piety through the revival of the celebration of the Miraculous Medal every November 27 as a seminary feast. (Joseph Sylvester Pampliega/Fr. Mickey Cardenas)
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