K of C holds tree planting activity in Palapad, San Fabian

14 July 2012 – San Fabian, Pangasinan. The members of the Knights of Columbus Council 5739 of the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, held a tree planting activity at the site of the on-going construction of the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary, Brgy. Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan.

The Knights of Columbus Council 5739 had  also conducted the same activity with the Olupan na Laiko-Arkidiosis na Lingayen-Dagupan l (ONLA) last 7 July 2012, as part of the celebration of the “Jubilee of the Laity” for the month of July. They also helped in digging the ground in preparation for the said activity.

Photos, courtesy of Bernie Solis and Juliet Estayo, from their Facebook accounts.

Groundbreaking Rites for the Theology Seminary held in San Fabian

by Shirley Tersol

16 February 2012 – San Fabian, Pangasinan. “The Theology seminary is an act of gratitude to those who have gone before us.” Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas said in his homily during the concelebrated  mass held for the groundbreaking for the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary. Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Msgr. Jesus A. Cabrera, Bishop Emeritus of Alaminos and more than seventy priests. The mass was held at the parish church of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr at 8:00 in the morning.

Gratitude. Proclamation. Legacy

Archbishop Villegas further said, “The Theology seminary is a proclamation of Christ’s presence among us.” It is also a “legacy that we will leave behind long after we have left this world. It is a legacy that will transcend our lifetime.”

Hundreds of the lay faithful with the religious of the Archdiocese attended the mass. The thirty-five parishes and chaplaincies sent representatives to join the celebration. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Catholic Schools also sent representatives from their faculty and student community.

Golden Year, Golden Offering

In his pastoral letter  on the opening of the jubilee year marking the fiftieth anniversary of the elevation of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan in the year 2013,Archbishop Soc gratefully and with joy, wrote to the faithful of the Archdiocese, “The Church of Lingayen Dagupan is rich and wealthy in the golden graces of God! Indeed the true treasure of the Church is the Lord who is always present amongst His people. And God has always been with us.“We entrust this year to Mary Help of Christians whose guiding hand has brought many of our young men to the altar as priests of her Son. As we now break the ground for the construction of the theology seminary, may our Mother guide us, give us courage and bring us to live for Jesus her Son.”

Motorcade to Palapad, San Fabian

A motorcade from the San Fabian Parish Church to the site of the future seminary in Barangay Palapad was held right after the Mass. The construction site was blessed and the names in the Libro na Panangaro Para Seminario were laid on the site of the future altar of the seminary chapel. A time capsule was also placed at the cornerstone of the future seminary.
A document “For Perpetual Memory” was also included in the time-capsule. It was signed by the Archbishop, his Auxiliary, the Bishop Emeritus of Alaminos, the members of the Archdiocesan Consultors, and the Mayor of San Fabian town.

The construction of the Theology seminary will  start after the groundbreaking ceremonies. It is expected that the first phase of the construction will be finished after eight months. By June 2013, the seminary will open its doors to the first batch of Theology seminarians.

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has been campaign hard for the funds to build the Theology seminary.

 
(Ms. Shirley Tersol is a regular contributor to the website. She is a member of the Union of Prayers for Vocations  (UPV) as well as of the Ministry of Social Action (MISA) of the parish. She gives regular catechism for the Pre-Baptismal celebration on Saturdays and Sundays. She is at present the teacher-in-charge of Jose N. Juguilon Elementary School, Colisao, San Fabian, Pangasinan)

Thousands welcome the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima

by Elizabeth N. Terte

11 January 2012 – San Fabian, Pangasinan. “It is truly edifying!” Mr. Carl Malburg, the present custodian of the statue, exclaimed in awe and amazement as he watched the number of devotees who visited the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, where the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima stayed on 9-10 January 2012, grew by the hour.

“The number of devotees who are coming even surpassed the devotees who come on Holy Thursday and Good Friday”, said Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, parish priest of the San Fabian. “The people have been continuously coming in and out of the parish church since Our Lady was brought in the parish church.”

Grace-Filled Visit

The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was brought to the Parish of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, from the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Dagupan City after an overnight visit. Parishioners, led by the Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, and the members of the Knights of Columbus, including the K of C Honor Guards, accompanied the transfer from Dagupan City to San Fabian, Pangasinan.

The statue was met at the foot of the Cayanga bridge by hundreds of parishioners. Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas was on hand to welcome the statue. The Mayor of San Fabian, Madam Irene F. Libunao and BM Mojamito Libunao,  joined the parishioners in welcoming Our Lady in San Fabian. Our Lady arrived in San Fabian shortly after 9:00 AM. Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza put the crown on the head of Our Lady as soon as she was brought out of the vehicle which transported her.  The Archbishop led the devotees in the procession going to the parish church.

Waves of White Handkerchiefs

The pupils of Longos Elementary School with their teachers were the first to welcome the statue as it passed their school. They waved their handkerchiefs, as the Longos Central Elementary School Drum and Lyre played Marian songs.

Pupils and students from the different schools in San Fabian lined up along the processional route to welcome Our Lady. They soon joined the procession in going to the parish church.

Students from the Archdiocesan School of San Fabian, St. Blaise Christian School, West and East Central Elementary Schools and the San Fabian National High School joined the hundreds of parishioners during the procession.

Archbishop Soc: “San Fabian as Center of Formation of Priests”

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, presided over the Mass welcoming Our Lady in San Fabian.

Archbishop Soc revealed why of the many parishes in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, it was only in Dagupan and San Fabian that were visited by Our Lady of Fatima.

“San Fabian will soon become the center of formation of our priests”, Archbishop Soc said. “Next month we will start the construction of the Theology Seminary in Palapad (San Fabian). Before Jesus will come, Mary has to come first.”

The Theology Seminary in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

The Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan has assigned a lot in Barangay Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan measuring twenty seven thousand square meters as the future site of the theology seminary.

A pious lady architect who has been a recipient of the papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Architect Susana Castillo, has made the design for the future seminary. Once completed, it will be able to accommodate eighty seminarians who can also take their classes in theology within the same compound.

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has already two formation houses for future priests: the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan and the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

A massive fund raising campaign is being undertaken by the Archdiocese for the construction of the Theology Seminary which is to begin next month.  The Theology Seminary is envisioned to be finished and fully operational by June 2013.

Unending Flow of Devotees

Since the arrival of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the morning of 9 January, it was observed that there had been continuous flow of devotees visiting and venerating Our Lady. Many had observed that it was like the number of people who go to the church during the Holy Week, or during the fiesta of the town.

Families come to pray in front of the image of our Lady. “It is very touching to see children being led by their parents as they kneel and pray the rosary in front of Our Lady”, Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza observed.

Visit to Tandagan, Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan

A farewell Mass was celebrated on 10 January at 2:00 PM, by Rev. Fr. Genaro Jijune Herramia, the Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Before the image was transferred to the next place to be visited by Our Lady, the Pilgrim Virgin Image was brought to Tandagan, Palapad, San Fabian, at the location where the Theology Seminary will be built. A short prayer was led by Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza. Marian Songs were sung during the short procession to the topmost part of the hill where the future chapel will be built.

“The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima may leave us, but she will always remain in our hearts.” Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

Our Lady of Fatima visits Tandagan, Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan, the site of the Theology Seminary in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagpan

This hill is where the Chapel of the Theology Seminary will be built.

Photos and pictures courtesy of  Judys Apilado, Violeta Omiles and Weng Nicer (from their Facebook accounts. – ed)

 

(Elizabeth Terte is a member of the Union of Prayers for Vocation (UPV)of the Parish of St. Fabian. She is also a member of the Parish PREX Secretariat. She is at present the Head Teacher of Palapad Elementary School – ed).

PRAYER FOR THE THEOLOGY SEMINARY

Construction Project

Generous and loving God

Your blessings are beyond measure

And your love is constant and pure.

Bless our vision of a theology seminary

For the Church in Lingayen Dagupan,

Bless the work we have begun

Bless every priest and seminarian.

I promise to set aside everyday

An amount for the seminary

I will not get tired of giving

Until this vision is fulfilled

I will encourage others to give

I will beg others to pray.

I will not stop dreaming and hoping

That you loving God will make it happen.

Use me to make it happen.

May we have the new seminary,

When we celebrate our golden!

Amen!

---------------------------------

Pikakasi para Theology Seminary

(Construction Project)

O Dios a mabonlok tan maaro

ag-nasukat iray bendision Yo

mansiansia tan masuri so panangaro Yo.

Bendisionan Yo iyan pilalek mi ya sakey a seminario na theology

para say Simbaan na Lingayen-Dagupan.

Bendisionan Yo so kimey ya ingapo mi.

Bendisionan Yo so balang sakey a pari tan seminarista.

Isipan ko ya mangipireg ak ed inagew-agew

a kantidad para say seminario.

Ag ak nakesawan ya mangiter

anggad sayan pilalek mi so nagamuran.

Tanguyoren ko ray arum ya mangiter.

Mikasi ak ed arum ya mandasal ira.

Ag ak ontonda ya man-pilalek tan man-ilalo

ya Sikayo O Dios ko so manumpal ed saya.

Usar Yo ak pian nasumpal iya.

Oy la komon ta sayan seminario so nasumpal la

no sikami so masilibra na kuma-limamplon taon na arkidiosis mi.

Amen.

ALD launches Fund Drive for the Theology Seminary

9 December 2011 – Dagupan City. “We need priests because we need Christ.” Hundreds of parishioners from the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan listened to the homily of Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas in a holy mass to launch the fund raising project for the construction of the theology seminary of the Archdiocese. The launching of the fund raising project was one of the three events celebrated by the whole archdiocese.

Libro na Panangaro para Seminario

The  Fund Raising drive will provide for the initial fund for the construction of the Theology seminary.  It will focus on the “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”. The initial drive is also an awareness drive regarding the construction of the new Theologate. It will tap the majority of the faithful of ALL the parishes, chaplaincies, pastoral stations and schools of the Archdiocese.


Each parish/chaplaincy/pastoral station/school shall be given a common “book”, “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”. The book will contain the names, address, amount given and signature of the donor. The book after the campaign will be placed in the cornerstone of the new building. There is no fixed amount to be donated. The book will be offered during the 16 February 2012 Eucharistic Celebration opening the Golden Jubilee celebration of ALD. The archdiocese will celebrate its golden jubilee on 16 February 2013.

It is an appeal to history and posterity: that each one with their donation shall become part of the history of the seminary. The donors will be enshrined in the cornerstone.
“It is not the amount that matters. It is the love we have for God, for the church that matters the most”, Archbishop Soc further said in his homily.
A further more widespread fund drive will follow after the initial drive, “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”.

Why Theology Seminary?

Archbishop Soc said we need priests because we need Christ. We need the seminary to form priests who will give us Christ!

The Archbishop mentioned that 400 hundreds after the first Augustinian friars came to Pangasinan, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan will build the first theology seminary in Pangasinan. “We need to form priests from Pangasinan, for Pangasinan, in the culture of Pangasinan. We need to form priest with the clergy of Pangasinan, among the people of Pangasinan”.

A Legacy that will transcend our lifetime.

The Archbishop encouraged the people to share and to help build the theology seminary. “It is an opportunity given to you today to become part of the construction of the seminary. It is not always that we are given this opportunity. It is  a legacy that will transcend our lifetime. We will all pass away, but the seminary will remain beyond our lifetime, forming priests of Pangasinan  who will be  ever ready to give Christ to you!”

Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan

The Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan has assigned a lot in Barangay Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan measuring twenty seven thousand square meters as the future site of the theology seminary.
A pious lady architect who has been a recipient of the papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Architect Susana Castillo, has made the design for the future seminary. Once completed, it will be able to accommodate eighty seminarians who can also take their classes in theology within the same compound.
The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has already two formation houses for future priests: the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan and the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City.

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan comprises sixteen municipalities and two cities including the capital town of the Province of Pangasinan. It has a Catholic population of one million two hundred thousand composed of thirty three parishes. There are only fifty nine diocesan priests and twelve religious priests ministering to the huge Catholic population.

As of the year 2011, there are one hundred three high school seminarians, thirty-two seminarians in philosophy and eighteen seminarians in theology. The nearest theology seminary is three hundred kilometers away from the archdiocese in Vigan City, the Immaculate Conception School of Theology.

Blessing of patronal statues

The blessing of the statues of the patron saints of the different parishes of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan took place before the eucharistic celebration. The slight drizzle could not hold back the enthusiasm of the parishioners from the different parishes to witness the blessing of the statues of their patron saints. The statues were put on the perimeter fence of the St John Cathedral. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has 36 parishes, chaplainces and pastoral stations.


Launching of Archbishop Soc’s Book

After the mass, the book of Archbishop Soc entitled “Stewards of Christ” was launched. The book is a collection of homilies, talks and conferences since he arrived in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in 2009. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has embarked on a Stewardship Program since then involving the different parishes, chaplainces, pastoral stations and schools of the archdiocese. Archbishop Soc has consistently been giving stewardship talks to groups of lay leaders who he calls the “School of Lay Leaders”. These lay leaders have been attending lectures and conferences given by Archbishop Soc himself since 2010.

Archbishop Soc personally signed the books bought after the mass. The sale of the books will go to the construction of the theology seminary.

Target Cost: PhP 50 Million

The Archdiocese is raising the seed funds necessary for the start of the seminary construction project from the Catholic lay faithful and clergy of the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan. There is a remarkable enthusiasm among of the Catholic faithful with regard to the project. The fund drive hopes to raise five million pesos (PhP5M) from the Catholic faithful as the initial fund for the project. Obviously and understandably, this seed money will not be enough. The fund drive will need  to raise fifty million pesos (PhP50M) for the completion of the project. Archbishop Soc said, “Every donation no matter how small is a gift for the future of the Church. “
To kick off the fund drive, the clergy of the Archdiocese led by the Archbishop were the first to sign the “Libro na Panangaro para Seminario”. The Olupan na Laiko na Arkidiosis na Lingayen-Dagupan (ONLA) facilitated the initial signing and collection of donations after the mass.

The statue of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr, before its blessing and unveiling. The statue is located at the corner of Burgos and Jovellanos Sts., Dagupan City.

(This photo courtesy of Marytizx Apilado Lacambra)