DWST Semicentennial Lecture Series 2: The Eucharistic Theology of Vatican II as a Recovery from the Early Church, Prospect in Mission

Speaker: Fr. Aris Martin, SVD, SSL
Lecture Date: July 19, 2013
Venue: Aula Magna, Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City
Photos: Eline Santos

Speaker: Fr. Aris Martin, SVD (SThL Gregorian University)

Launching of DWST Semicentennial

The 3rd ALAP Award

The Arnoldus Library is once again offering an academic paper award. Now on its third year, the Arnoldus Library Academic Paper Award (ALAP Award) is given to the student who has written the best academic paper for the school year 2012-2013.

The ALAP Award comprises a plaque of recognition from Divine Word Seminary and a cash honorarium of P5,000.00 courtesy of Natalia Amarante Fund being administered by Fr. Dominador Flores, SVD.

The award will be presented at the Graduation Ceremonies on March 23, The aim of the award is both to reward excellence and to encourage students to write academic papers with high quality. Who is eligible? • A bona-fide student of Divine Word Seminary who has submitted his or her academic paper on time to the Dean’s Office and whose grade given by the moderator is not lower than 95%.

The academic paper includes term, synthesis and other research papers submitted in fulfillment of a course offered for the SY 2012-2013. The M.A. thesis is not covered by the ALAP Award.

Procedure: 
The chairperson of the Award Committee—Fr. Randy Flores, SVD—will check over the academic papers submitted at the Dean’s Office. He will then select three potential winners from which the Award Committee will choose the best.

The criteria of the short list are:
(1) the paper’s final grade
(2) the form and style: footnotes, bibliography, English, and the like; based on Turabian, 7th edition
3) content: he novelty of the study; the use of sources; the logical flow of the arguments
(4) effective conclusion:  not just a simple summary; but an articulation of what the readers can learn from the paper.

Due Date:  Deadline for the short list: Monday, March 11, 2013 before 5:00 p.m.
Place of submission: Dean’s Office

For more information: See Fr. R. Flores or write to rrandy33@yahoo.com

Past awardees:
1. Mark Ramos (SVD)
2. Jacob Uzoanya (Paraclete)

The Bible and Its Traditions: An Invitation

Please visit www.bibest.org

Public lecture on the four Gospel accounts of Jesus by Fr. Jim Nisbet at Divine Word Seminary

Fr. Raul Caga sings for Wordnet Productions

Wordnet Productions Weekly TV Schedule SWEET SURRENDER December 30, 2012  SWEET SURRENDER         Imagine a priest who not only prays but has a talent to compose and sing! That is the story of Fr. Raul Caga, SVD. Fr. Raul is from the Philippines, a country made up of over 7,000 islands and 85% Catholic. He comes from a religious family of ten children. Now he is a professor and teaches moral theology. But he has decided also to use his musical talent to bring people to Christ.  It is an extraordinary life for a priest. He gives concerts and even has an album. In this interview by Fr. Mike, Fr. Raul tells us of his three goals -1. to be a priest; 2. to use his talent to help encourage vocations to religious life and the priesthood; and 3., to raise funds for the seminary. His music helps him to do all three things very well. In this program, Fr. Raul sings My Sweet Surrender and a second song in his native language that proclaims God is Fulfillment of My Life. You won't want to miss Sweet Surrender on TBN Sunday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 a.m. ET (4:30 a.m. PT), On The Church Channel (TCC) Tuesday, January 1 at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT), and later on our website www.wordnet.tv.  Click HERE for our DECEMBER Newsletter now!  Last week's show: BIRTHING JESUS TODAY    BIRTHING JESUS TODAY      There is a very special guest on this show today. Lupe visits with Fr. Mike to hear about how Jesus is born in us at Christmas time. She doesn't quite understand it, so Fr. Mike explains that God loves us so much that Jesus comes to live in us. He explains what that means and how we can bring Jesus to the world. St John the Baptist is a model for what we should do. We start by loving others and listening to them. Then we share our own story with them.  Lupe agrees that she can do that and invites us to join her. As a very special treat, Jose Feliciano sings Feliz Navidad in Wordnet's own studio.  Then the show ends with Tatiana singing Gloria In Excelsis Deo.       iGodToday : Daily Reflections App iGodToday with Fr. Mike Manning     The Vatican Observatory Foundation presents the first-ever App from any division of the Vatican. Start your day with insightful reflections of faith, inspiration and spirituality presented by the Vatican Observatory Foundation and delivered on screen by Father Mike Manning, recipient of the Pope's award of excellence. These daily reflections are inspired by scripture, using God's uplifting message as a guide in your daily life, supporting the Foundation's mission of scientific research, education and discovery. Features of the App ·    Daily video reflections with Father Mike Manning ·    Features uplifting messages of hope and      faith and practical topics for daily   living ·    Daily scripture passages as extras ·    Reflections on major events of the day as extras ·    Mark your favorite reflections for later reference ·    Download your favorite reflections and extras for      offline enjoyment. Click Here To Get The App  We Believe WE BELIEVE... ...in the powerful voice of Catholic Television; however, this art form is expensive.    Please consider a tax deductible donation to Wordnet Productions. You can make a donation on this site: www.wordnet.tv  or mail a contribution to:   Wordnet Productions   532 North D Street,   San Bernardino, CA 92401 For more information, please call 1 888 496 7363  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Quick Links Wordnet WebsiteNewsletter Archive Planned Giving Upcoming Shows Saving Sirens with Tommy Neiman Voice in the Desert Fr. Mike Manning, SVD Life Ignited with David Trujillo Lisa Project with Lachelle Crivello Faith to Follow: Peter & Andrew Fr Mike Manning, SVD Faith to Follow: Nathaniel & Philip Fr Mike Manning, SVD Education that Works Cristo Rey Schools TV Listings TBN Sundays 6:30 a.m. EST (3:30 a.m. PT (KTBN) Trinity Broadcasting Network - Wednesday, 8.30 am PT     - (TCC) The Church Channel - Tuesday, 8.30 am PT   - Dish & DirectTV Satellite - Check listing for KTBN and TCC   - All U.S military bases, submarines and ships around the world   - Catholic Cable Stations: Fresno, Detroit, Rockville Centre, Yonkers, and Dubuque.

Email Updates   If you enjoy these email updates and would like to have them sent to your friends, please invite them to go to our website (www.wordnet.tv) and click on "Register With Us" on the top right of the page to add the details.

Time for Change in Tagaytay

Time for change in Tagaytay

DWS Alumni Shirt on Sale for a Cause (SVD-ALS)

Proceeds go to: SVD-ALS (Alternative Learning System for Out-of-School Youth).










Price: Php 300
good quality
Sizes: Inches
Small : Width - 19 ; Length - 27
Medium : Width - 20 ; Length - 28
Large : Width - 21 1/2 ; Length - 29
XL : Width - 22 1/2 ; Length - 30
2Xl : Width - 24 ; Length - 32
Shipment to your place is very much possible.
Please contact: Hay CP no. 09228734333  (Philippines)
email: ehaylene@yahoo.com

SVDs elect Heinz Kulüke as new superior general

The 17th General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word has elected Fr. Heinz Kulüke as the new Superior General of the Divine Word Missionaries.

Fr. Kulüke was born on September 29, 1956, in Spelle, Germany. He was the 2nd child of August and Paula (born Westers). After his schooling in Spelle and Hopsten, he took up studies in electrotechnic in Spelle and Rheine. After a year of Military service in the Air Force, he did some further studies in Electrical Engineering at Bielefeld.

In 1979, he joined the SVD and did his novitiate in St. Augustin, Germany and made his first vows on May 1, 1981. At the completion of his studies in Philosophy and Theology, he was ordained priest on March 9, 1986 at St. Augustin. He was appointed to the SVD mission in the Southern Province of the Philippines. His first mission was in Agusan del Sur, Mindanao. After three years in Agusan, he did his Masters in Philosophy at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. From 1990-1992 he taught Philosophy at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines. In 1992, he went to Rome for his doctoral studies in Philosophy, which he completed in 1994. Since 1994, he is a professor of Philosophy at the University of San Carlos.

Fr. Kulüke was the Superior of the Southern Province of the SVD in the Philippines with its headquarters in Cebu City. He was elected to the office of the Provincial Superior in 2005 and re-elected in 2008 and again in 2011 for an exceptional third term. Earlier, he was the Vice-Provincial of the province from 1998-2005. Along with his teaching assignment at the University, Fr. Kulüke has held the office of the Vice-President for
Academic Affairs (1997-1999) and was the Rector of the SVD Community at the University of San Carlos (1996-2005) [SVD Generalate news].

Catholic Biblical Association of The Philippines 13th Annual Convention

Adele Reinhartz has been named the next General Editor of the Journal of Biblical Literature. Her term (three years, renewable for a second term) will begin in 2012. She succeeds James C. VanderKam upon completion of his second term.

As JBL editor, Reinhartz will be an ex officio member of the Research and Publications Committee. She will work with the 39-member JBL editorial board, as well as the SBL publications staff, to produce four annual issues. Reinhartz is Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, University of Ottawa, where she was also appointed associate vice-president, research, in 2005. Her awards and achievements include the following: President of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (1997-1998); Prize for Mentorship, SBL Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession (2003 and 2010); Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio Residency (2004); Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (inducted in 2005); and Fellow at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study (2011-2012). Reinhartz’s research includes early Christianity and Judaism, Johannine studies, Bible and film, and feminist biblical criticism.

In addition to her awards and her distinguished publishing record, including Caiaphas the High Priest (University of South Carolina Press, 2011), Reinhartz has served the members of the Society of Biblical Literature in many capacities. She has been an Annual Meeting Program Unit Chair, a member of the Research and Publications Committee, and an editorial board member of JBL.

Reinhartz also represents membership on Council, SBL’s governing board. Please express your appreciation and welcome to Adele Reinhartz as she takes on the leadership of a journal, first published in 1881, that has become the premier serial in biblical studies, representing the wide range of research methodologies SBL members practice. Please also express your thanks to Jim VanderKam for his exceptional commitment, service, and standards of excellence. Jim will be honored in the 2011 Society Report and during the JBL Editorial Board Luncheon at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco [from SBL write-up].

Randolf Flores is a priest of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). He teaches Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew at the Divine Word Seminary–Tagaytay and is a visiting lecturer of the School of Christian Studies of the University of St. Joseph in Macau, China. He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture (SSL) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome (1999); he is the past President of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (2008-2011) and Editor of the Diwa: Studies in Philosophy and Theology.

Talk on Jesus and Judaism by Prof. Adele Reinhartz

Adele Reinhartz is the author of numerous articles and several books, including “Why Ask My Name?” Anonymity and Identity in Biblical Narrative (Oxford, 1998), Befriending the Beloved Disciple: A Jewish Reading of the Gospel of John (Continuum, 2001), and Scripture on the Silver Screen (Westminster John Knox, 2003). Her latest book is a study of the Jesus movies, entitled Jesus of Hollywood (Oxford 2007). She is currently working on several projects: a book on Caiaphas the High Priest, in history, historiography, and culture, a project on the Johannine community (with support from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) and, as part of the Loeb Consortium on Organ and Tissue Donation, a study of films involving organ donation and transplantation (with support from the American Academy of Religion). Adele was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in 2005.
More information on A, Reinhartz here.

Click here for more info on the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP)

Certificate in Theological Studies 2012-2013 - enrollment going on!

visit: www.ctstagaytay.blogspot.com

Download the new brochure (2012-2013) here.

Download the updated Course Description here.

Download the new list of professors here.

Contact:

Write to:
ctstagaytay@yahoo.com


Mailing Address
Ms. Bing Kasilag
CTS Program Coordinator
Divine Word Seminary
SVD Road, Brgy San Jose
Tagaytay City, Philippines

Divine Word Seminary Information
Tel. 046-4131253; Fax: 046-4131251
Text (SMS)-- Bing Kasilag - 0915-7884117

Video projects of DWST students

1. On the Wisdom of Solomon

Academic Calendar for School Year 2012-2013

Oliver Ramos Jaramilla (1975-2012)

We mourn the death of Oliver (April 18, 1975 - Feb 25, 2012), DWST worker. This morning, on his way this morning to the SVD seminary to work, he was hit by a delivery van; was pronounced DoA. I thank the Lord for his friendship and loyalty to me, for the numerous times he lent a hand to DWST, CTS, SVD-ALS, etc. The Lord's ways are inscrutable. "The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).

TRA to host First Tagaytay Youth Day

Arnoldus Library announces call for entries for its Second ALAP Award

THE SECOND ALAP AWARD

The Arnoldus Library is giving out its second Arnoldus Library Academic Paper Award (ALAP Award). The ALAP Award comprises a plaque of recognition from Divine Word Seminary and a cash honorarium of P5,000.00 courtesy of the Fr. Dominador Flores, SVD Fund.

The award will be presented at the Graduation Ceremonies on March 31, 2012 to the student who has written the best academic paper (term paper or synthesis paper) for the school year 2011-2012 as determined by an Award Committee chaired by Fr. Randolf Flores, SVD.

The aim of the award is both to reward excellence and to encourage students to write academic papers with high quality.

Who is eligible?
• A bona-fide student of Divine Word Seminary who has submitted his or her academic paper on time to the Dean’s Office and whose grade given by the moderator is not lower than 95%.
o The M.A. thesis is not covered by the ALAP Award.
o Academic paper means the annual term paper or the synthesis paper only.

Procedure:
• The chairperson of the Award Committee will check over the academic papers submitted at the Dean’s Office. He will then select three potential winners from which the Award Committee will choose the best. The criteria of the short list would be:
o (1) the paper’s final grade
o (2) the form and style
 footnotes, bibliography, English, and the like
 based on Turabian, 7th edition
o (3) content
 the novelty of the study
 the use of sources
 the flow of the arguments
o (4) effective conclusion
 not just a simple summary
 but an articulation of what the readers can learn from the paper.

Due Date
• Deadline for the short list: March 9, 2012 before 5:00 p.m.
• Place of submission: Dean’s Office

For more information: See Fr. R. Flores or write to rrandy33@yahoo.com
For the winner of First ALAP AWARD, click here.

Megatrends and Mission: Symposium on the Theology of Mission

Speaker:  Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD 
               Former missionary to Samoa and Fiji
               SThD - Gregorian University
               Faculty: DWST, UST, ICST-Vigan, and ICLA
Student Reactors : Mark Mojica, Luca Vinati, and Mark Ramos
             
Place: Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines
Date: February 23, 2012
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Registration: Free
Contact: dwstagaytay@yahoo.com.ph

Talk on Second Corinthians by Prof. Raimund Bieringer

Simbang Gabi 2011: Homilies

This year's Simbang Gabi homilies (2011) are coming from SVD Philippine Northern Province. Thanks to the SVD-PHN missionaries who contributed and to Fr. Robert Ibay, SVD who collected them. Please click on the link Simbang Gabi 2011 Homilies.

Ukay-Ukay sa SVD Tagaytay part 2 (U2.2) - Garage Sale

‎"One person's junk is another's treasure." - Early Xmas Ukay-Ukay (garage sale) sa SVD-Tagaytay on Nov 5-6, 2011 (Sat & Sun) - for the benefit of SVD-ALS program. Come,buy and/or share. By (buy) sharing what you no longer need, you help save the environment; you help your neighbor; and you help our SVD-ALS (out-of-school) learners.

Mass with Archbishop-elect Chito Tagle, SVD-ASPAC formators, and SVD-ALS

Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City (Cavite), Oct 17, 2011--This morning, the newly appointed Archbishop of Manila, Chito Tagle, presided at a mass with around 200 postulants (candidates for admission to religious congregations) who are ending their modular classes.  Bishop Chito has been, for many years, the rector of the major seminary of the Diocese of Imus (Cavite)--Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol (TMP) and thus a resident of  TMP. He preferred to stay in this seminary whose seminarians study at Divine Word Seminary. Since he became the rector, Since 1982 till the first semester of this school year,  the Bishop has also been teaching theology here (Systematic and Theology of the Priesthood).

Here's today's editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that attempts to analyze the appointments of new archbishops and its implications on the Catholic Church and on the Philippines. Please click on this link.

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The SVD formators (rectors, prefects and novice masters) of the Asia-Pacific Region (ASPAC) are also around for a one-week meeting (17-20 Oct). Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD Superior General will give the keynote address. Of the four zones of the SVD (Africa, Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific), ASPAC has the biggest number of seminarians and brothers in the novitiate and in temporary vows (1,208 in the SVD Catalogus 2011).

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

Some former CTS students of DWST are coming up again with another garage sale (Ukay-Ukay). The proceeds will go the SVD-ALS program. This program has benefited more than 200 out-of-school youth in and around Tagaytay. The learners attend daily modular sessions in the SVD-ALS center inside  DWST's  compound to prepare them for the accreditation and equivalency tests. For this year's tests, the date is set on October 23 (this Sunday) in Trece Martires City. If you are interested to help in the garage sale, please text this number: 09176284849. 

Today's edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer carries a news on the ALS programs being supervised by the Arnold Janssen Catholic Mission Foundation. Please click on this link.

Prayer-rally against RH bill set on Friday in Tagaytay

Prayer-rally against RH bill set on Friday in Tagaytay

Church groups set anti-RH bill rally on Sept.16 in Tagaytay

TRA members at the prayer rally for Cory Aquino
before she passed away

The Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) will hold a prayer rally on Friday, September 16, in Tagaytay City in protest against the passage of the controversial reproductive (RH) bill.

TRA, an association of more than 70 seminaries, religious houses, retreat centers, schools and monasteries located in Tagaytay and its environs, said the prayer rally will be held from 2:00 - 5:00 pm starting with rosary processions from various locations in the city. The processions will lead to the Lourdes Church where a talk on the RH bill will be delivered to be followed by a mass with Bishop Chito Tagle, the bishop of the Diocese of Imus.

"This event is a collaborative expression of our collective stand against the passage of the RH Bill now debated in the Senate," TRA chairperson Fr. Sam Agcaracar, SVD, main organizer, said in his letter to the members of the association. "Since Tagaytay City is often dubbed as the Vatican City of the Philippines because of its exceptionally big number of religious houses; and also, since it is used to be called a 'character city' by the local government, it is just right to express our sentiments against the bill that many Catholics now perceived as immoral," said former TRA chairperson, Fr. Randy Flores, SVD.

The event with the theme, Lakad-Dalangin para sa Pagpapahalaga ng Buhay, will proceed as follows: 2:00 PM - start of the rosary procession” to Lourdes parish (note: Clusters 1,2 and 3 will assemble near Ina ng Laging Saklolo Parish; Cluster 4 at the SVD Road corner; Clusters 5 and 6 at the Magallanes Drive; Half of the Lourdes parishioners will join clusters 5and 6 and others will wait at the Rotonda area. Please coordinate with your respective barangay captains and officials for the traffic).

3:00 PM - short talk on the RH Bill at Lourdes Parish.

4:00 PM - Holy Eucharistic Celebration

The organizers also announced that "every community and cluster is encouraged to provide a streamer to highlight the theme during the rosary procession," and that each house is asked to encourage also their lay workers and collaborators to participate.

 -----------------------

In relation to the opposition to the RH bill, here's a write-up from the CBCP Online on Wikileaks and US policy on Philippines' population control program:

Washington has been behind a population-control drive in the Philippines for the past 40 years, a leaked State Department cable from whistleblower website Wikileaks revealed.

The leaked cable, authored by former US ambassador Kristie Kenney, offers direct proof for the first time of Washington’s long-armed, behind-the-scenes intervention to force developing countries like the Philippines to limit their populations. Kenney’s July 31, 2008 cable welcomed draft legislation promoting artificial contraceptives, referring to the “reproductive health” (RH) bill, as well as Congress’ decision to allocate $3.38 million and $27 million in 2007 and 2008 for “contraceptive supplies” in the wake of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) decision to “phase down support for condoms, pills, injectable contraceptives and intra-uterine devices.”

“Landmark appropriations and draft legislation reflect increasing commitment within the Philippine Government to further expand and sustain programs started forty years ago with U.S. Government’s assistance through USAID,” Kenney said.

“The U.S. Government continues to be the largest donor in the Philippine population sector supporting efforts to improve local government service delivery and increase private sector contributions to family health outcomes,” she added.

Kenney noted that USAID’s funding for “population and family planning” in the Philippines had gone up to $15 million annually. “The U.S. Government continues to be a leader in population assistance to the Philippines,” she said.

USAID was also helping manufacturers lower the prices of contraceptives, she said. “In parallel, within the private sector, USAID technical assistance enables pharmaceutical companies to launch lower-priced contraceptive products, and to expand choices among consumers with more brands on the market,” Kenney said.

Echoing Henry Kissinger’s infamous National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM) 200, Kenney’s cable noted that the Philippines is already the twelfth most populous country in the world, and is “expected to double its population size by 2044.”

NSSM 200 or the so-called “Kissinger Report” – the declassified document that uncovered Washington’s coercive population control policies – identified the Philippines among several high-population-growth countries that should be subjected to depopulation to protect US commercial interests.

Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State, had warned that population growth in less-developed countries could hamper US access to natural resources.

NSSM 200 recommended a) the legalization of abortion; b) financial incentives for countries to increase their abortion, sterilization and contraception-use rates; c) indoctrination of children; and d) mandatory population control, and coercion of other forms, such as withholding disaster and food aid unless a less-developed country implements population control programs.

During Monday’s Senate debate on the RH bill pro-RH Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago admitted that the RH bill still needs to be cleaned up of all references to population control.

Acknowledging the existence of the “Kissinger Report,” Santiago said a United States-dictated policy on population control was “anathema” to herself and the other RH bill sponsor, Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Kenney has drawn the ire of the Aquino administration for another cable in which she described the late president Corazon Aquino as a “tarnished” and “weak” icon of democracy. In response, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Kenney, who is now assigned to Bangkok, was a “dismal failure” in the Philippines. (Dominic Francisco).

 -------------------

The so-called Kissinger Report or National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM) 200 Authored by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the secret US government document has been Washington’s blueprint for depopulation to ensure unhampered access to the natural resources of developing countries.

The declassified NSSM 200 states that poor countries should limit their populations to prevent anti-imperialist youth from harming US commercial interests.

The Kissinger report recommends:
1) the legalization of abortion;
2) financial incentives for countries to increase their abortion, sterilization and contraception-use rates;
3) indoctrination of children; and
 4) mandatory population control, and coercion of other forms, such as withholding disaster and food aid unless a less-developed country implements population control programs.

Thesis on Prophetic Dialogue defended

Fr. Abs Borja reading his thesis abstract

Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines, August 26, 2011---Fr. Abraham Borja, SVD (DWST alumnus 2011) successfully defended his M.A thesis entitled: "An Asian Perspective of the Prophetic Dialogue of the Society of the Divine Word." He earned the mark, Magna cum Laude.  The thesis committee was headed by Dr. Crescencia Gabihan, PhD; Fr. Alexander Muana, SVD (STL Gregorian University and the Dean of Studies); and Fr. Samuel Agcaracar, SVD (STL Gregorian University) served as members of the examination panel; thesis moderator  Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD (STD Gregorian University).  Borja will leave the country at the end of this month for his work as SVD missionary inTaiwan.

Toast to a successful thesis defense!
From right: Tess (CTS alumna), Fr. Alex (Dean), Fr. Abs
Fr. Sam, Dr. Gabijan, Fr. Lex. Fr. Raul, Fr. Randy, and Bing (CTS coordinator)

Students' Day celebrated

The invincible palosebo
 at the DWSTSA games

Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City, Philippines-- "Cross-Fire: Flaming Mission, Crossing Boundaries," this was the theme of the this year's students' day (see the explanation of the theme below). On August 18-19 the Divine Word School of Theology Students Association (DWSTSA) closed  their theology books for the time being and went down to the gym in colorful outfits to play in the different sports games--tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, sepka takraw, and more including indigenous games (palosebo, greased bamboo climbing) and intellectual games like debates and essay writing contest. Mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body).  See below for the result of the games.

******

News report from Mark Ramos, SVD:

Theology II students (Hasidim class)  headed by their class senior, Roxie Roflo, CRSP landed as the general champion for this year’s DWSTSA days held last August 18-19 at Divine Word School of Theology with the theme: “Cross-Fire: Flaming Mission, Crossing Boundaries.”

DWSTSA days is an avenue for us students of DWST to rest for a while in theological studies and celebrate friendship and solidarity in the spirit of sports. The first day begins with the enthronement of the Word of God. Rev. Fr. Alex Muana, SVD, the Dean of Studies formally opened this year’s DWSTSA days followed by the presentation of class mascot and cheers which portrays the class identity. The first day highlights the different native sports such as “batohang bola, basagang palayok, patintero and a group palosebo.” The native sports was followed by the elimination game for basketball, volleyball, lawn tennis, badminton, sepak takraw and table tennis. The day ended with the first DWST Video Fest held at Aula Magna.

The second day of the celebration started with the solemn celebration of the Eucharist with Fr Ricardo Germanetto, CRS, rector of the Clerics Regular of Somasca as the main celebrant and homilist. After the Holy mass was the academic competition composed of essay writing, extemporaneous speech, debate, and quiz bee held at the Aula Magna. Simultaneously with the indoor games such as chess, dama, scrabble, word factory and game of the general was the championship game for basketball grabbed by the Pistoi class, volleyball, lawn tennis, badminton and sepak takraw all grabbed by the Hasidim class.

The culmination of the DWSTSA days highlights the agape – a physical manifestation of sharing and friendship among different houses of formation. Likewise, the night highlights Neo-ethic dance competition and the battle of the band grabbed by the Maskilim and Hasidim class respectively. The event was graced by the rectors of different congregations as well as a good number of priest and visitors. The Maskilim (T3) and Pistoi (T4) class landed as second place and  Sondergut class (T1) got the third place of this year’s DWSTSA days. This year’s DWSTSA days was made possible through the leadership of the DWSTSA president Dexter Priete, MSP together with his council.

Some members of the Fourth Year Theology class

Some members of the Second Year Theology Class
(this year's champion class)

At the of the opening of the games

Basketball

Breaking the pot

Photo credits (facebook downloads):
Li Qi, SVD
R. Valmores
R. Roflo
Hasidim

***********

THE THEME: “Cross-Fire: Flaming Mission, Crossing Boundaries.”

In a multi-cultural institution such as Divine Word School of Theology (DWST) “crossing boundaries” is the key to understanding other culture and people. It indicates an open rather than exclusivist stance other people who are different from us. It is an opening to share with that fire in our heart to proclaim the faith and intention to learn from one another and enriched by it. After all, as the psalmist writes, "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” (Ps 126:2-3)
The Psalm suggests the right attitude that every student of DWST should possess. It is our appreciation with the great things in us and in others that all will live in unity in the midst of diversity for “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!”(Ps 133:1) Crossing boundaries represents a mainly suitable means of supporting a better mutual understanding.

We are in an environment with diverse cultural orientation. Philippines alone is divided with so many a culture. Crossing over to these probes the richness and vitality of one’s own tradition. We try to see with their eyes and feel with their heart. For understanding is more than intellectual apprehension. It involves our sensitivity to the fears and hopes of the other. When one speaks of being sensitive and understanding others, it means that it is allowing the other to define themselves in their terms rather than ours, and certainly not in terms of our inherited stereotypes.

But crossing over does not only apply of being with the “other”, crossing over can also happened to ourselves in a manner of cross-examination of our fidelity to our vocation. With all the controversies that the church is facing at the moment, we are called now to likewise do mission to ourselves and to cross from the “other-centered” mindset, be back to ourselves and reflect in order to be in a better disposition to serve God and his people with a renewed burning zeal of service and mission. We are also called to be missionaries to our own selves so as be renewed with our commitment to follow radically Jesus the Christ, the Divine Word.

We do these by igniting the fire that is already in us. We remember that “Christ sent the Holy Spirit from the Father to exercise inwardly His saving influence and to promote the spread of the Church” (AG No. 4). This is a call of awakening the spirit that Jesus once gave us, to strengthen and guide us in our missionary activities. It is a call to become passionate individual intensified with the ideals and sublime example of the first disciples as they walked along the Roman roads to spread the Gospel of Christ full with vigor and spirit. It is a call for missionary fever that we may be essentially bound up with the Creator Spiritus who continuously creating and recreating the Church. Lastly, it is a call for that full and active response to the Spirit’s initiative as Paul and Barnabas did when the Spirit told them to set apart for the work to which he have called them (Act. 13:2).

In this regards we have “CROSS FIRE” as a theme of our DWSTSA Days for this school year. To remind us that the mission today is identified with the burning spirit of crossing boundaries in order to understand deeper the love of God manifested to others who are different from us; that we may experience the God in them with the God in us; and that we may learn from Jesus. We see that when Jesus crossed over the boundary of what was conventional in his own time, he was lifted up on the cross. His cross is of influential significance not because it shaped our salvation but because it was the fulfillment of his life’s mission. From north to south and from east to west a perfect crossing was made – a trail, where everybody from all the corners of the world can walk towards the center, Christ—that from him everyone is equipped to walk and proclaim the same Jesus throughout the world.
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RIP Fr. Redentor Corpuz (1946-2011)

DWST mourns the death of Fr. Redentor Corpuz of the Diocese of Imus. Fr. Corpuz, 65, suffered a cardiac yesterday and passed away at 2:00 this morning, Friday, Aug 5, 2011. At the time of his death, Fr. Corpuz was the Superintendent and Director of Catholic Schools in Cavite.

In memoriam. Please listen here to Kahanga-Hanga (How Wonderful [is your name]). Lyrics was written by Fr. Corpuz (music by Fr. Hontiveros, SJ).
Wake is at the Bishop's House, Casas Hall, Imus, Cavite.