Prayer for Vocations

Rector's Circular 5-2012

Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz

28 September 2012

Circular Letter 05-2012

Dear Fathers, Parents, Guardians, Seminarians and Friends,

“Ego Catholicus sum et animo prompto paratoque pro Deo mortem obibo.
Si mille vitas haberem, cunctas ei offerrem.”

Filipino Catechism has these words upon the death of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Filipino proto-martyr which can be translated as, “I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for the Lord; If I had a thousand lives, all these I shall offer to Him.”  May the faith and martyrdom of the first Filipino Saint, whose feast we celebrate today, inspire us in following and serving the same Lord.

By happy coincidence, there is another good news.  On October 21, 2012, a second Saint who is also Filipino will be canonized, Blessed Pedro Calungsod – a sacristan and catechist!  He offered his life in order to save the life of a missionary priest, Blessed Diego Sanvitores in Guam.   Blessed John Paul II declared, “In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger, Pedro would not forsake Fr. Diego, but as a good soldier of Christ preferred to die at the missionary's side.”  St. Pedro Calungsod, pray for us!

Also today, we remember in a very special way our dear Archbishop, we fondly call Father Soc.  We thank God for the gift of a wonderful, fatherly and saintly shepherd of souls in our Archdiocese.  His great love for the seminarians is manifested by his very personal approach and knowledge of them.   He said that if we open his heart, the seminary will be in it.  Our seminary community prays for him and keep him very close to our hearts, too.

As a personal note, I end my 7 years at the Lay Formation Center also today.  I thank God for the gift of ministry to an important area in the life of the Church in the Archdiocese.  I shall now be a fulltime Rector of the College Seminary.  It is really difficult to maintain two houses, now I have only one and I shall work harder, with your cooperation, to make the seminary a better home.  Heaven is where God is – Where God is, is Heaven!  Help us make the seminary “God-ful…” heavenly.

The seminary aims at forming men of virtue, of human excellence and goodness
of character, founded on psycho-emotional integration, and modeled on Christ’s example
of authentic humanity. Seminary formation aims at forming men with a deep understanding of the mysteries of the faith, a capacity for ongoing theological reflection, and pastoral skills and competence, in the context of Church and society in the Philippines and Asia, for the sake of the mission of evangelization. (From Pastores Dabo Vobis and the Updated Philippine Program for Priestly Formation).

The above mentioned description of seminary formation tells us that our future priests must be well-integrated and also knowledgeable.  All the aspects of seminary formation are important and it is necessary to maintain some balance.  While spiritual and human formation is very important, it does not mean that physical or academic formation is not important.  The last two weeks of the semester are crucial in our seminary program this year.  We shall have evaluations about our community life, but it is also the period for final examinations.  Let us please support and keep our seminarians in prayer.

Finally, as the Procurator of the seminary, I may be embarrassed to do this frequent reminder but I am obliged to.  Our accounts payable as of today is more than one million and ninety-four thousand pesos.  Since our seminary is non-profit, we cannot continue to provide for the needs of the seminarians without sufficient funds.  Please understand our situation for the common good of the community.  Pay in full immediately or at least one half of your remaining bill and the rest before the final exams.

On October 14, our seminarians will be home for their semestral vacation which will be until November 4.  During this period all medical and dental appointments must be scheduled, and if possible personal or family visits and trips done.  Our second semester will be short and filled with activities and programs which I am sure you and your seminarian-son would not want to miss.  This includes our Philosophy Week (November) and Musical-Drama on the Life of St. John the Evangelist (February).  We also anticipate your presence to our Prayer Sessions when there will be Family Recollections and Spiritual Conferences.  These are all upcoming and let us already at this point prepare and seek God’s graces for these events.

May Mary, Help of Christians, always pray for us.

Very truly yours in Christ,

Fr. Mario Dominic C. Sanchez

Rector

Rector's Circular 4-2012

Memorial of St. Pius X

21 August 2012

Circular Letter 04-2012

Dear Fathers, Parents, Guardians, Seminarians and Friends,

Greetings of joy and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ!  I write this Circular Letter today, the memorial of St. Pius X who is known for his inauguration of the liturgical renewal and the restoration of frequent communion from childhood in the early 20^th century.  Through his intercession, may our seminary which is in the direction of the same liturgical growth especially in the area of Eucharistic spirituality be led by the Holy Spirit.

Your seminarian-sons are going home today, August 24, and they are expected to be back to the seminary on Sunday, August 26.  It is assumed that quality time is spent at home with their family, while not neglecting their prayer life and participation in the Eucharist in the Parish.  Please continue to monitor their health and inquire about their studies.  A word of encouragement for them will be very meaningful especially when it comes from their family.  Our graduating seminarians are going on research after the break and will be back on August 30.

Last month’s celebration of the Araw ng Wika is worth noting in this letter.  Congratulations to Dra. Ely Disimulacion for her great work in guiding the First Year Seminarians in putting up the program.  The whole community cooperated and exerted a lot of effort to show love and devotion to our beautiful Filipino language.  This annual event is a requirement in our institution by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

This coming September 23, we shall have the Investiture of our sophomore students.  There are fifteen of them: ANCHETA, Jerfey B. (ALD), BALANAG, Romeo C. Jr. (SFLU), CABRERA, Michael Angelo C. (ANS), CARIASO, John Paul S. (SFLU), DAMISIL, Fedirick T. (SFLU), DE GRACIA, Rho Derique T. (ANS), DELA ROSA, Jonar G . (ALD), DELOS SANTOS, Yrolle B. (ANS), EPISCOPE, Mark Glenn Q. (ALD), GARCIA, Arnulfo E. III (SFLU), LAGIWID, Alexander Khan S. (ALD), MAYUGA, Crispin J. (SFLU), RESPONDO, Gioraleigh D. (ALD), SUPREMIDO, Joseph B. (ALD), and TAGUM, Eart Raymund R. (ALD).

The cassock is sacred sign that is connected to baptism and a symbol of the anticipation to the future priestly ministry of these young men.  Let us pray that as they put on the cassock, they may also become new men with renewed ardor in following the Lord in their seminary formation.  There will be a recollection on September 21-22 for these seminarians to be facilitated by Sr. Maria Cecilia Payawal, PDDM.  Their parents/guardians are also invited to attend a recollection on September 22 (Saturday) from 1PM to 5PM which I will facilitate at the Lay Formation Center.

Finally, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8) is coming close.  The seminary will celebrate a Marian Music Fest to honor our patroness.  It will be inspiring to understand that St. Pius X’s motto which was “Instaurare omnia in Christo” (To renew all things in Christ) can only be realized with the Blessed Mother’s guidance and protection. 

May Mary, Help of Christians, always pray for us.

Very truly yours in Christ,

Fr. Mario Dominic C. Sanchez

Rector

Rector's Circular 3-2012

Feast of St. James, Apostle

25 July 2012

Circular Letter 03-2012

Dear Fathers, Parents, Guardians, Seminarians and Friends,

We praise and thank our Good God for the many blessings we have received this month of July 2012.  Today, for instance, is the first anniversary of the priestly ordination of our beloved brother, Fr. Dexter Z. Cariño, our Dean of Seminarians.  We also welcomed this month the Congregation of the Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM) in the persons of Sr. Mary Kristine Legaspi and Sr. Maria Cecilia Payawal, who will help us especially in our spiritual and liturgical formation.

I thank you again for being with us in the Prayer Session this month.  The Rationalists Team won the coveted cheering contest at the Pandaragupan.  With this Circular is our Archbishop’s Letter encouraging our lay faithful to pray and promote vocations to the priesthood.  Please continue to bring along your family, relatives and friends to pray for the vocation of your seminarian-sons.  Our next date is August 19.  We shall begin with the usual Holy Hour at 9:30AM.  Fr. Jasper Hebron, our Spiritual Director, will be the presider and the First Year Class is the host.  The Freshmen will also take the helm in the celebration of the “Linggo ng Wika” in the afternoon.  If you enjoyed the Pandaragupan, I assure you that the Linggo ng Wika will be equally filled with fun!

We have recently finished the repairs and improvements of the seminary facilities.  We did all these in response to our dear Father Soc’s encouragement and support.  For your information, we spent more than three million pesos.  Thanks to the Lay Formation Center and the ALD-CS for the funds.  But more than the facilities, our team of formators has also worked very hard to create a good formation program for the College Seminary.  We are trying to give our seminarians the best so that they can be at their best for the Lord and the Church.  In Bonuan, there is no room for complacency, mediocrity and laziness.  Let us therefore work together to bring out the best in our seminarians.  Yes, the mid-term examinations are next month (August 13-16).

By the way, this coming week our seminary community will be on Spiritual Retreat (July 30 to August 2).  The Marian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MMHC) will facilitate the retreat in the spirit of Mary.  We priest-formators will also be on retreat that same week.  Prayers are requested from you.  Prayers are also promised for you.

As your seminarian-sons go home for their monthly break (July 27-29), I wish to inform or remind you of the following:

·         Check their health condition.  It is advisable for parents to have PhilHealth, just in case your seminarian-sons would have need for it.

·         Understand that the subscription for the Link (MHCCS magazine) is important to support because the school publication has an irreplaceable part in the formation of future priests.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Very truly yours in Christ,

Fr. Mario Dominic C. Sanchez

Rector

LET US PRAY FOR VOCATIONS

ARCHBISHOP SOC's Circular for PROMOTING PRIESTLY VOCATIONS

July 4, 2012

Memorial of Saint Anthony Zaccaria, priest

Circular 2012-20

RE: Promoting Priestly Vocations

My dear brother priests:

One of the special graces that we ask from the good Lord as we celebrate our golden jubilee as a Metropolitan See in 2013 is that He will bless us with a new springtime for vocations to the diocesan priesthood in the archdiocese. Hence, we have made available the 30day retreat program for all our priests and the opening of a new theology seminary, God willing by June 2013. Indeed all renewal eras in Church history were always preceded by the sanctification of priests.

Along the same spirit, we shall have monthly Prayer Sessions for Vocations at the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan Gueset according to this schedule: July 22, August 19, September 23, November 18, December 16, January 20, February 17 and March 23 the whole morning. We hope these prayer sessions will lead to an increased awareness of the need to pray for vocations.

Please encourage your youth leaders and the members of various parish organizations and ministries to attend. All the mandated organizations must make it a priority to pray for vocations and contribute to the burse for the poor seminarians on a regular basis.

The young men who wish to pursue the priesthood may also take the entrance examinations in the afternoon of these dates. This year, the archdiocese is blessed with forty four college seminarians and eighteen theology seminarians. The Lord of the harvest answers our prayers.

I entrust this matter to you for your personal attention and action. Thank you for your usual fraternal cooperation.

Sincerely yours,

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS

Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

Rector's Circular 2-2012

 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

29 June 2012

Circular Letter 02-2012

Dear Fathers, Parents, Guardians, Seminarians and Friends,

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ and greetings from Bonuan Seminary!  Thank you very much for being with us during the first general assembly of parents and guardians last Sunday, June 24, 2012 on the occasion of our first Prayer Session for Vocations.

The “Prayer Session” in the seminary is a very important event in our program of formation.  It is the occasion when families gather together to pray for the precious vocations of their seminarian-sons and celebrate Holy Eucharist together.  I invite you again to bring your family and even your relatives and friends who would like to support your seminarian-son in his vocation to join our Prayer Session this coming July 22, 2012 at 9:00 AM.

During our assembly, I promised to include in this letter the most important details of our meeting.  Here are the ten (10) points which I discussed with you:

1.       The priestly vocation is a beautiful mystery of God’s love.  The seminary is the locus of priestly formation.  Only those who are aspiring to be priests are admitted to the seminary.

2.       Growth to holiness, i.e., in intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ and the perfection of charity, is the goal of spiritual formation.

3.       Human formation has to develop well-integrated persons characterized by maturity in terms of self-discipline and obedience.

4.       Academic formation gives emphasis to the cultivation of one’s philosophical thinking
in a Christian way.

5.       Being a “Church of the Poor,” the seminary lifestyle should be SIMPLE, only equipped with what is necessary.

6.       Accompaniment is our way of doing formation in the seminary.

7.       The college period in the seminary formation is characterized by freedom and responsibility.

8.       Bonuan Seminary considers as goal the development of the mind and the heart.  The drive for excellence and the creative use of one’s talents are encouraged.

9.       The Family, especially the parents, should support their family member in all areas of formation.

10.   Bonuan Seminary is our Home. We are a Family.  You are always welcome in the seminary.

These details are based on the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary “Rule of Life.”  We hope and pray that you will continue your role as our companions in the formation of these sons of yours.

Also for your information and guidance, here is our seminary schedule from June 29 to November 4, 2012.  Please understand that we also have changes depending on certain circumstances:

June 29-July1                            (Fri-Sun)     Home Visit

July 6-7                                        (Fri-Sat)      Formation Sessions with Ate Eda

July 13-14                                  (Fri-Sat)      Apostolate Days

July 20-21                                  (Fri-Sat)      Apostolate Days

July 22                                         (Sunday)     Second Prayer Session for Vocations * Fr. Dexter Cariño, presider

                                                        Pandaragupan (Sportsfest)

July 27-29                                  (Fri-Sun)     Home Visit

July 29-Aug 2 (Sun-Thu)     Spiritual Retreat with Marian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

Aug 3-4                                        (Fri-Sat)      Formation Sessions with Ate Eda

Aug 8    (Wednesday)            Rector’s Day

Aug 10-11                                   (Fri-Sat)      Apostolate Days

Aug 13-16                                   (Mon-Thu) Mid-term Exams

Aug 17-18                                   (Fri-Sat)      Apostolate Days

Aug 19  (Sunday)                     Third Prayer Session for Vocations * Fr. Jasper Hebron, presider

                                                        Linggo ng Wika 2012

Aug 24-26                                   (Fri-Sun)     Home Visit

Aug 27-30                                   (Mon-Thurs)             Research Week for Seniors

Aug 31-Sept 1                           (Fri-Sat)      Formation Sessions with Ate Eda

Sept 7-8                                       (Fri-Sat)      Marian Fest and Outing

Sept 14-15                                  (Fri-Sat)      Apostolate Days

Sept 21-22                                  (Fri-Sat)      Recollection of Sophomores

                                                        Recollection Days for the Community

Sept 23 (Sunday)                     Fourth Prayer Session for Vocations

                                                        Investiture of Sophomores

                                                        Archbishop Socrates Villegas, presider

                                                        (Fr. Dexter’s Birthday)

Sept 28-30                                  (Fri-Sat)      Home Visit

Oct 5-6 (Fri-Sat)                      Formation Sessions with Ate Eda

Oct 8-11                                      (Mon-Thurs)             Final Exams

Oct 12  (Friday)                      Evaluation Day

Oct 13  (Saturday)                 Semestral Break begins

Nov 4    (Sunday)                     Return to the Seminary for the Second Semester

Other things we discussed and decided on during our assembly are the following:

1.       Contribution for community lunch for every person during Prayer Session.

2.       Fund-raising:  Collar pins, keychains, song books and t-shirts.

3.       Solicitation Letters for B.I.G.A.S. and for the maintenance of the seminary.

4.       Visiting day schedule:  FRIDAYS lunch time and from 4PM to 5:30PM.

5.       During office hours, you may call the seminary via landline: 075 515 5720.  We also have cellphone with dual sim:  0915 885 5151 (globe) and 0943 641 9970.  You may call or text us anytime.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

Very truly yours in Christ,

Fr. Mario Dominic C. Sanchez

Rector

FOR STEWARDSHIP....

HOLY SPIRIT MASS and INSTALLATION of FR. MARIO as new RECTOR

MHCCS Community Picture after the HOLY SPIRIT MASS

FR. MARIO DOMINIC C. SANCHEZ installed as the new Rector of MHCCS

Archbishop Soc giving the homily

RECTORS CIRCULAR 01-2012

Memorial of St. Justin the Martyr

1 June 2012

Circular Letter 01-2012

Dear Fathers, Parents, Guardians, Seminarians and Friends,

Praised be Jesus Christ!  Praise God for the 27 vocations we have this coming school year 2012-2013.  In the last ten years, this is our biggest group.  Let us pray for the perseverance of these young men:

ADVERSALO, Mark Daniel M., Dagupan City, ALD

BENZON, Jayvie R., Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, ANS

BRAVO, Rinsen Caesar B., Binmaley, Pangasinan, ALD

CABATBAT, Allan C., Calasiao, Pangasinan, ALD

CARIAZO, Jonahan RiñaL, Asingan, Pangasinan, DU

CORPUZ, Jan Baeza L., San Fabian, Pangasinan, ALD

DELOS REYES, Ezra, Calasiao, Pangasinan, ALD

DE VERA, Kenny Jay Son C., Mangaldan, Pangasinan, ALD

DIAZ, John Kennedy B., Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, ALD

ELEGORES, Mel Jay M., Dagupan City, ALD

GARCIA, Arnulfo III E., Balaoan, La Union, SFLU

GUMAPOS, Tito Jr. D., Binmaley, Pangasinan, ALD

HERMOSADO, Jimcris Joshua P., San Carlos City, ALD

LOPEZ, Galen Blaine M., Agoo, La Union, ALD

MABUNGA, Rogel Joseph F., Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, ALD

MEJIA, Adrian Nexus M., San Carlos City, ALD

ONGOSE, Mark Anthony V., Balaoan, La Union, SFLU

PADILLA, Florence P., Tubao, La Union, SFLU

PALTING, Lexter E., Binalonan, Pangasinan, DU

RODRIGO, Ferdinan Janery D., San Nicolas, Pangasinan, DU

QUINTO, Regienald F., Malasiqui, Pangasinan, ALD

SAJONAS, Jurist Christian J., Lingayen, Pangasinan, ALD

SAMSON, Benjie B., Calasiao, Pangasinan, ALD

SORIANO, Emil A., Malasiqui, Pangasinan, ALD

TADENA, John Lester V., Bugallon, Pangasinan, ALD

TULIAO, Al Cris L., Dagupan City, ALD

ZACARIAS, Leopoldo Jr. S., Alaminos City, DA

We have 18 from the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (ALD), 4 from the Diocese of San Fernando de La Union (SFLU), 3 from the Diocese of Urdaneta (DU), 1 each from the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia (ANS) and Diocese of Alaminos (DA).

The newcomers have undergone a three-day orientation seminar this week (May 31 to June 2) and we congratulate them for their cooperation, openness and determination to respond to the call of God.

Their official entry to the seminary will be on Sunday, the 10^th of June 2012 before 10AM.  They have to bring with them their complete uniforms and materials indicated in the list we sent with their acceptance letter from the seminary.  We would also like to remind all parents and benefactors to settle accounts on time.

Every month, the College Seminary holds a Prayer Session for Vocations.  This is a tradition in the seminary where parents and family members, benefactors and friends of the seminarians come together to pray for vocations and celebrate the Eucharist together.  The monthly gathering is usually scheduled on the third Sunday of the Month and it starts promptly at 9AM.  For your guidance, here is the schedule for the first semester:

                Date * Sponsoring Class * Mass Presider * Other Event

                June 24 * Senior Class * Fr. Rector * Meeting of All Parents Guardians (1PM)

                July 22 * Junior Class * Fr. Prefect * Pandaragupan (Sportsfest) PM

                Aug 19 * Freshman Class * Fr. Spiritual Director * Linggo ng Wika (1PM to 3PM)

                Sept 23 * Sophomore Class * Archbishop Soc * Investiture of the Sophomores

We hope that you can mark your calendar early so you can join us on these days.  You may invite your extended family in order to show support for the vocation of your son, and really pray for his vocation.  We also encourage young men who feel God’s call to join us in these Prayer Sessions so that they may already see the place called the “seminary” – the seed-bed of priestly vocation.

Finally, allow me to share with you the Prayer for Vocations by Blessed John Paul II:

Oh Jesus, our Good Shepherd, bless all our parishes with numerous priests, deacons, men and women in religious life, consecrated laity and missionaries, according to the needs of the entire world, which You love and wish to save.  We especially entrust our community to You; grant us the spirit of the first Christians, so that we may be a cenacle of prayer, in loving acceptance of the Holy Spirit and His gifts.  Assist our pastors and all who live a consecrated life.  Guide the steps of those who have responded generously to Your call and are preparing to receive holy orders or to profess the evangelical counsels.

Look with love on so many well disposed young people to follow You.  Help them to understand that in You alone can they attain to complete fulfillment.  To this end we call on the powerful intercession of Mary, Mother and Model of all vocations.  We beseech you to sustain our faith with the certainty that the Father will grant what You have commanded us to ask.  Amen.

Thank you very much for your attention, and we hope to see you soon in our College Seminary.  May Mary, Help of Christians guide us always.

Very truly yours in Christ,

Fr. Mario Dominic C. Sanchez

Rector