PAX Info Part III
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 08:53 | 
Author: Pax Peter Marlon H. Exmundo (Pians) | 
Before proceeding to part III of this series let me clarify the comment of Romy Florencio.
a. The Officers of Pax, as reported in Part II, were "elected" in the interim for the purpose of (1) Incorporating Pax with SEC, and (2) to serve as interim officers pending the calling of a convention where the general assembly shall elect the officers after adopting the by-laws.
b. The June 30, 2010 meeting has called for the convening of convention, hopefully on December 8-12, 2010 to give all prospective members the chance to voice out what they thought what Pax should be.An ad hoc committee was created for this purpose.
c. This series is intended to help the members in that direction and to solicit for more comments and sugggestions so that the By-Laws that will be adopted during the convention will truly reflect the sentiments and ideas of the members. THE TRAITS THAT BIND US
“The seminary years are devoted to formation and discernment. Formation, as you well know, has different strands which converge in the unity of the person: it includes human, spiritual and cultural dimensions. Its deepest goal is to bring the student to an intimate knowledge of the God who has revealed his face in Jesus Christ. Such study can at times seem arduous, but it is an indispensable part of our encounter with Christ and our vocation to proclaim him. All this is aimed at shaping a steady and balanced personality, one capable of receiving validly and fulfilling responsibly the priestly mission. The seminary years are a time of journeying, of exploration, but above all of discovering Christ. It is only when a young man has had a personal experience of Christ that he can truly understand the Lord's will and consequently his own vocation.” (Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the seminarians in Cologne ― Saint Pantaleon on Friday, 19 August 2005, during the XX World Youth Day).
This speech of Pope Benedict XVI sums up the various decrees concerning ecclesiastical seminaries, and defines what seminarians are regardless of the type (diocesan or religious) and level (minor/high school) or major, which is further subdivided into philosophical and theological) of seminary we studied in.
Aside from the nature of the discipline, training, and studies we have undergone as seminarians what further distinguish us from other alumni are the legalities which govern the regulation and governance of the seminaries. As I have mentioned in paragraph 3 of Part IX of Quadrivium (Relationship With The Hierarchy), though an alumni association is an association composed of former (preferably) graduates of an educational institution, it (a seminary association) is not an “ordinary” alumni association because the seminary is not an ordinary educational institution created and incorporated solely under national laws and regulated by the appropriate government agencies such as the Department of Education and the SEC, but was also created under the laws of the Church and regulated by the Vatican, which is a sovereign state independent of the Philippine government or any government thereat, and administered by a bishop through his priests. Further, its purpose is not only to “educate” but also to train boys and young men for the presbytery and the future leaders of the Church — regardless of the motive of the seminarian for studying there. Because of its nature, former seminarians have special and closer relationships with the hierarchy and the activities of the association cannot be divorced from them. This is the bond which binds the lay ex-seminarians with the hierarchy (the ordained ex-seminarians) .
The training, discipline, studies, purpose of our education, the legalities governing the institution of the seminaries, and our relationship with the hierarchy or the ordained ex-seminarians are the common traits which bond each ex-seminarian (ordained and lay). These common traits overrules the superficial differences which distinguish us from each other such as: (1) the language or vernacular commonly spoken among the seminarians and their folk; (2) the dominant culture and beliefs in the seminary; (3) the provincial, regional, diocesan, and/or national character and location and groupings of the seminaries and the seminarians; and (4) other differences.
DEFINITION OF WHAT IS AN EX-SEMINARIAN
When I presented this proposal to Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo on May 20, 2007, and to the Vicar General of Capiz, Msgr. Vicente Hilata, on May 23, 2007, their common reactions to the composition of this proposed group, is that it will be made up of persons who are not members of the clergy. Because of this, I would like to echo what I have written in Quadrivium as follows:
“Under our by-laws an ex- or former seminarian is defined as “anybody who had studied and stayed in the Seminary of St. Pius X for at least one year.” Some would like to liberalize this definition by dropping the phrase “for at least one year”, which I beg to disagree. Nevertheless, this definition does not distinguish who is a lay ex-seminarian or a priest, what is important is that he had studied and stayed in SSPX for at least one year — or for some, even for only one day. Meaning as long as one has met this definition he is an ex-seminarian whether he became a priest or not.
This definition of what an ex-seminarian is apparently unique to the Pians. Two former non-Pian ex-seminarians, one from St. Vincent Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City and another from the Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod City limit this definition to those who did not become priests. It seems some Pian priests share this definition. For me, the definition under the by-laws is the correct one. Our founding national president, Atty. Ceferino “Doy” Patiño, who incidentally was one of those who drafted the by-laws, defended this definition by saying that anybody who studied in a seminary for a minimum period (one year) so that he could immerse in the spirit of the seminary community and form friendships with his contemporaries, becomes a seminarian, therefore once he later left it he becomes an ex-seminarian, whether or not he graduated from it and for whatever reason/s.
Therefore, by this definition the members of the hierarchy, including the Pope, are also ex-seminarians. The only difference between “lay” ex-seminarians and the hierarchy is that they were the few “chosen” by the Holy Spirit among the many who were “called”. Thus, we could also call the hierarchy as “ordained” ex-seminarians. Another reason why I prefer this “loose” definition is to accommodate those who were ordained but later on decided to join the rank of the laity (former or laicized priests) and those who decided to remain as religious brothers in a religious order.”
Since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, women are allowed to study philosophy and theology in some seminaries ― though they are not qualified and allowed even to be installed in the minor orders. Though most of these women are nuns, there are some non-religious women who were allowed to do so. This post-conciliar admission of women in the seminaries should be taken into consideration in making the final definition of what is an ex-seminarian. Because, if we will base the qualification of what is an ex-seminarian as someone who has studied in the seminary for at least a year or who has completed a course or term in the seminary, these women can also be considered as “ex-seminarians.”
My talk with Archbishop Lagdameo was brief, thus I was not able to discuss with him the above definition. Luckily, partly because of our friendship and our common identity as Pians, I had a long discussion with Msgr. Hilata regarding this matter. Though he agreed with the above definition, he is uncomfortable with the suffix “ex” as something that was “ex”tricated or removed from the source. So we simply agreed to find a better term that can be commonly assigned to all former seminary students regardless whether they were ordained or not, or ordained but later on decided to live as laymen.
from
WALKING TOGETHER
27th of May 2007
a. The Officers of Pax, as reported in Part II, were "elected" in the interim for the purpose of (1) Incorporating Pax with SEC, and (2) to serve as interim officers pending the calling of a convention where the general assembly shall elect the officers after adopting the by-laws.
b. The June 30, 2010 meeting has called for the convening of convention, hopefully on December 8-12, 2010 to give all prospective members the chance to voice out what they thought what Pax should be.An ad hoc committee was created for this purpose.
c. This series is intended to help the members in that direction and to solicit for more comments and sugggestions so that the By-Laws that will be adopted during the convention will truly reflect the sentiments and ideas of the members. THE TRAITS THAT BIND US
“The seminary years are devoted to formation and discernment. Formation, as you well know, has different strands which converge in the unity of the person: it includes human, spiritual and cultural dimensions. Its deepest goal is to bring the student to an intimate knowledge of the God who has revealed his face in Jesus Christ. Such study can at times seem arduous, but it is an indispensable part of our encounter with Christ and our vocation to proclaim him. All this is aimed at shaping a steady and balanced personality, one capable of receiving validly and fulfilling responsibly the priestly mission. The seminary years are a time of journeying, of exploration, but above all of discovering Christ. It is only when a young man has had a personal experience of Christ that he can truly understand the Lord's will and consequently his own vocation.” (Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the seminarians in Cologne ― Saint Pantaleon on Friday, 19 August 2005, during the XX World Youth Day).
This speech of Pope Benedict XVI sums up the various decrees concerning ecclesiastical seminaries, and defines what seminarians are regardless of the type (diocesan or religious) and level (minor/high school) or major, which is further subdivided into philosophical and theological) of seminary we studied in.
Aside from the nature of the discipline, training, and studies we have undergone as seminarians what further distinguish us from other alumni are the legalities which govern the regulation and governance of the seminaries. As I have mentioned in paragraph 3 of Part IX of Quadrivium (Relationship With The Hierarchy), though an alumni association is an association composed of former (preferably) graduates of an educational institution, it (a seminary association) is not an “ordinary” alumni association because the seminary is not an ordinary educational institution created and incorporated solely under national laws and regulated by the appropriate government agencies such as the Department of Education and the SEC, but was also created under the laws of the Church and regulated by the Vatican, which is a sovereign state independent of the Philippine government or any government thereat, and administered by a bishop through his priests. Further, its purpose is not only to “educate” but also to train boys and young men for the presbytery and the future leaders of the Church — regardless of the motive of the seminarian for studying there. Because of its nature, former seminarians have special and closer relationships with the hierarchy and the activities of the association cannot be divorced from them. This is the bond which binds the lay ex-seminarians with the hierarchy (the ordained ex-seminarians) .
The training, discipline, studies, purpose of our education, the legalities governing the institution of the seminaries, and our relationship with the hierarchy or the ordained ex-seminarians are the common traits which bond each ex-seminarian (ordained and lay). These common traits overrules the superficial differences which distinguish us from each other such as: (1) the language or vernacular commonly spoken among the seminarians and their folk; (2) the dominant culture and beliefs in the seminary; (3) the provincial, regional, diocesan, and/or national character and location and groupings of the seminaries and the seminarians; and (4) other differences.
DEFINITION OF WHAT IS AN EX-SEMINARIAN
When I presented this proposal to Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo on May 20, 2007, and to the Vicar General of Capiz, Msgr. Vicente Hilata, on May 23, 2007, their common reactions to the composition of this proposed group, is that it will be made up of persons who are not members of the clergy. Because of this, I would like to echo what I have written in Quadrivium as follows:
“Under our by-laws an ex- or former seminarian is defined as “anybody who had studied and stayed in the Seminary of St. Pius X for at least one year.” Some would like to liberalize this definition by dropping the phrase “for at least one year”, which I beg to disagree. Nevertheless, this definition does not distinguish who is a lay ex-seminarian or a priest, what is important is that he had studied and stayed in SSPX for at least one year — or for some, even for only one day. Meaning as long as one has met this definition he is an ex-seminarian whether he became a priest or not.
This definition of what an ex-seminarian is apparently unique to the Pians. Two former non-Pian ex-seminarians, one from St. Vincent Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City and another from the Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod City limit this definition to those who did not become priests. It seems some Pian priests share this definition. For me, the definition under the by-laws is the correct one. Our founding national president, Atty. Ceferino “Doy” Patiño, who incidentally was one of those who drafted the by-laws, defended this definition by saying that anybody who studied in a seminary for a minimum period (one year) so that he could immerse in the spirit of the seminary community and form friendships with his contemporaries, becomes a seminarian, therefore once he later left it he becomes an ex-seminarian, whether or not he graduated from it and for whatever reason/s.
Therefore, by this definition the members of the hierarchy, including the Pope, are also ex-seminarians. The only difference between “lay” ex-seminarians and the hierarchy is that they were the few “chosen” by the Holy Spirit among the many who were “called”. Thus, we could also call the hierarchy as “ordained” ex-seminarians. Another reason why I prefer this “loose” definition is to accommodate those who were ordained but later on decided to join the rank of the laity (former or laicized priests) and those who decided to remain as religious brothers in a religious order.”
Since the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, women are allowed to study philosophy and theology in some seminaries ― though they are not qualified and allowed even to be installed in the minor orders. Though most of these women are nuns, there are some non-religious women who were allowed to do so. This post-conciliar admission of women in the seminaries should be taken into consideration in making the final definition of what is an ex-seminarian. Because, if we will base the qualification of what is an ex-seminarian as someone who has studied in the seminary for at least a year or who has completed a course or term in the seminary, these women can also be considered as “ex-seminarians.”
My talk with Archbishop Lagdameo was brief, thus I was not able to discuss with him the above definition. Luckily, partly because of our friendship and our common identity as Pians, I had a long discussion with Msgr. Hilata regarding this matter. Though he agreed with the above definition, he is uncomfortable with the suffix “ex” as something that was “ex”tricated or removed from the source. So we simply agreed to find a better term that can be commonly assigned to all former seminary students regardless whether they were ordained or not, or ordained but later on decided to live as laymen.
from
WALKING TOGETHER
27th of May 2007
| September 05 Reading & Meditation 05/09/2010 | Romy Florencio Daily Reading & Meditation |
| September 04 Reading & Meditation 04/09/2010 | Romy Florencio Daily Reading & Meditation |
| September 03 Reading & Meditation 03/09/2010 | Romy Florencio Daily Reading & Meditation |
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