By Br. Juvelan Paul N. Samia, SDB
Photos by Br. April Jerome Quinto, SDB

Parañaque City, Philippines, June 8, 2015

Mass of the Holy Spirt

Celebrating the memorial of Bl. Stephen Sándor (June 8), the Don Bosco Center of Studies (DBCS) Parañaque, an affiliate of the Università Pontificia Salesiana (UPS), commenced the Academic Year 2015-2016 with the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco community chapel. Present at the celebration were the academic authorities of DBCS, professors, and students of the Institute of Theological Formation (ITF) and the EAO Salesian Brothers Formation. Rev. Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB, Provincial Superior of the FIN Province, presided over the Holy Eucharist. Together with him were professors and priests from the different congregations whose students of theology are enrolled in DBCS. In his homily, Fr. Paul emphasized the significance of this academic year in which the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth is being commemorated. He told the students of theology that their respective charisms were not diminished in any way when they study in DBCS, but rather are better enriched and enhanced by the spirit of St. John Bosco and of the other congregations. He presented St. John Bosco as an outstanding example for all those who seek to better understand the faith through study, prayer, and zeal in the pastoral ministry, especially of the marginalized. He concluded his homily by quoting Pope Francis’ warning against what he calls “theological arrogance” which separates the study of theology from a life permeated by prayer and service. After the homily, in accordance with the requirements of Canon Law (CIC 833) and in conformity to St. Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Ad Tuendam Fidem, the professors of theology, led by Fr. Anthony Dung Ngoc Nguyen, SDB, MaTH, SThL, SThD, Vice Dean for ITF, recited the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity. At the end of the Mass, Fr. Anthony introduced the different members of the DBCS community to one another, and officially declared the Academic Year 2015-2016 open.

Launching of the Revitalized DBCS Research Office and Website

Fr. Vicente Cervania, SDB, SThL, Director of the Institute of Catechetics and Youth Ministry (ICYM), informed the DBCS community about some updates regarding the DBCS research office and the efforts to cultivate a research culture among the professors and students of theology. He said that the DBCS administration is proactively responding to the mandate given by the FIN Provincial Chapter (2011) to configure DBCS as a Center for New Evangelization. In line with this, the researches to be undertaken and prompted by the office and the entire academic community will focus on three key areas: (1) youth, (2) family, and (3) culture. One important tool for this endeavor is the new website of the DBCS Research Office dedicated to New Evangelization (research.dbcs.edu.ph). Ms. Divina Solano of the Research Office presented the features of the website to the community.

Organizational Meetings

After the presentation, the DBCS community had the traditional picture taking usually done at the beginning of the Academic Year. This was followed by the simultaneous meeting of DBCS academic authorities with the representative formators from the different congregations and the election of batch officers of the students of theology.

DBCS Composition for the Academic Year 2015-2016

It is interesting to note that for this academic year 2015-2016 the DBCS-ITF community is composed of members from 9 congregations, 2 dioceses, and the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.

• Salesians of St. Jon Bosco (SDB)

• Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ (CSS)

• Franciscan of Our Lady of the Poor (FLP)

• Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFMConv)

• Order of the Servants of Mary (OSM)

• Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus (RCJ)

• Servants of the Paraclete (sP)

• Redemptoris Mater Missionary

• Religious Tertiary Capuchins of Our Lady of Sorrows

• Diocese of Monterey, USA

• Diocese of Parañaque, Philippines

The students hail from 5 continents (Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America) and from 15 counties, namely:

• The Philippines

• Timor Leste

• Vietnam

• Thailand

• Indonesia

• Pakistan

• Korea

• Burma (Myanmar)

• Papua New Guinea

• Kenya

• Nigeria

• Congo

• Brazil

• USA

• Italy