PAX Info Part IV
Friday, 23 July 2010 06:50 | 
Author: Pax Peter Marlon H. Exmundo (Pians) | 
Nota Bene:
The reason notes from this series is interspersed with reference to the Alliance of Christian Ex-Seminarians (ACES), particularly in the early parts is due to the fact I originally proposed for the establishment of this group worldwide. In March 2008, the group of Ricky Ribo decided to name it to the Philippine Alliance of X-seminarians, as this alliance is conceived in the Philippines. ACES might eventually become a reality when the alliance spread worldwide. PAX is then a pioneer in the establishment of this organization, and will eventually become the mother national alliance.
Objectives of the Alliance
In my discussion with some priests, bishops, Pians, and other ex-seminarians, I have mentioned to them the following objectives for the formation of this group: 1. Closer ties/Networking - To save money on lodging I sometimes stay in the seminary or in the rectory in places where I don't have a close friend or relative, including the residences of the bishops of Bacolod and San Carlos (in 2004). I could not have done it if I don't know the priests and the bishops and if they don't rust me. Some Pians were able to forge partnerships with other ex-seminarians simply because they are ex-seminarians. This will also benefit the globe-trotters, when they could find a hospitable home and company abroad.
This closer tie could translate to better economic opportunities (employment and business) and better networking opportunities (business, social, political, etc.). Most of us join organizations (social, civic, religious, professional, etc.) not only because of common beliefs, identity, and purpose we share with them, but also because of the networking potentials they could offer to us, by expanding our network of friends and associates. The alliance could offer each exseminarian of an alumni association to know and reach out to other exseminarians from other alumni associations not only locally, but also internationally.
Most of the ex-seminarians we knew and care about are those who studied in the same seminary we came from, our co-alumni. Even ex-seminarians who were sent by their “mother seminaries†to regional and national seminaries―like St. Joseph Regional Seminary in Iloilo City and the Ecclesiastical College of the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila―where they were able to mingle, study, and live with those from other seminaries tend to focus mostly on their co-alumni, forgetting that the other ex-seminarians are also their “co-alumni†in the regional and/or national seminary; and that by studying in either or both of these seminaries they were in fact alumni of two or more seminaries. In addition to this, there are some who have studied in at least two seminaries, for some reasons of their own. These are cases of “multi-alma mater†ex-seminarians, and could not be ignored and denied.
Even though they retain the “one alma mater mentality†these ex-seminarians were able to use the ties, familiarity, and friendship they have forged in the years they been together in a “common†seminary.
We are aware that lots of ex-seminarians are successful in their careers who could assist the less fortunate among us. Among us, Geoffrey Martinez has helped a lot of Pians when he hired them in his company. The last executive director of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT), the precursor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), was an ex-seminarian. There are some employers who immediately hire persons upon learning that they are ex-seminarians. If some companies will almost immediately hire us by the mere knowledge that we are ex-seminarians, how much more if the owner is an ex-seminarian himself or a sibling or parent of one. This has been the case with Caritas Health Shield. Some companies are made up of people from the same fraternities and/or sororities. We could do the same with ours. This is the same with other institutions and organizations, including the military, the police and the government. If we will examine closely the socio-civic organizations another reason why they could entice or recruit new members and why majority of their members actively participate in their activities is the networking opened to them and the economic opportunities that follow.
This form of “instant alliance†and trust extend beyond the economic realm. It also extends in the socio, civic, religious, professional, and political realms. Friendships and alliances are easier to forge between and among ex-seminarians simply because of their common identity and for what some may call as “lukso ng dugo.â€
Through the Alliance or ACES we could unite all ex-seminarians from all seminaries while retaining their identity or bond with their mother associations. The alliance could act as a databank or secretariat of all ex-seminarians, which can be accessed by any ex-seminarian or non-ex-seminarian who would like to look for another ex-seminarian in a place he is not familiar with, without going through the tedious process of contacting the seminary in the locality or the diocesan chancery, which in all likelihood does not have a complete record of the ex-seminarians living in the locality. This is specially true in localities where there are several seminaries.
The alliance could act as a coordinator of the various activities involving the associations, and as a single voice or spokesperson on common issues. Because of this alliance could become a strong force, which I will further discuss below. The alliance could act as an arbitrator whenever conflicts arise between or among associations. By being an unbiased mediator, the alliance could restore peace, understanding, unity, and harmony among all associations.
2. Better participation in governance — In the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, and Romblon a number of Pians have won in the elections. Though they may have won on their own and some other factors, the assistance extended to them by the Pians in their locality cannot be and were not disregarded. After they have won they tried their best to live and introduce in their positions and to those who are under them the Pian ideals. If we could do this in our own localities, we could replicate it in other localities if there is enough unity and strength among the ex-seminarians living there who are not inhibited by their baronial prejudices. In this way, they could be instrumental in forging a more just and moral society as taught by the Church.
There is a common saying that states “in unity there is strength.†By uniting, we could become a moral force in society; influence the conduct of politics, the formulation government policies and their execution; and make our voices heard loudly and clearly.
Until now, Catholics have to rely on the national bishops conferences in their country and the bishops of their dioceses for guidance on moral issues affecting their lives and in speaking out against abuses by the government. Hardly, if ever, does a seminary alumni association ever participate in these discussions of these issues. Most ex-seminarians prefer to keep silent, not out of deference to the bishops, but mostly because of the lack of coordination.
Is it not now the time to assist our religious leaders by lending a hand, by actively participating in the issues affecting our fellowmen not only as a concerned human being, but in unity with our fellow ex-seminarians. In doing so, those in power could ignore us just like the way they could not ignore the national conferences of bishops.
3. More vocations (Vocation in Action) — We are aware that at least eight out of nine seminarians will not become a priest. If this ratio will be similar in each batch and each seminary, we could say that there will be more seminarians who will become priests in a batch if the number of seminarians in that batch is bigger. We have already seen this trend in SSPX over the past fifteen years. But what will trigger or encourage more young men to enter the seminarian you may ask. As ex-seminarians, we know that “becoming a priest†though the usual reason given is just one of the “real†reasons why a parent wants his/her son to enter the seminary. If parents and boys will realize that it “pays†to be an ex-seminarian more will enter the seminaries. The preceding two reasons, though how mundane they may be, will trigger this. As I have also mentioned, it will be easier for us to accomplish what we have been trained for of serving our neighbor through apostolates if we have closer ties with other ex-seminarians. This will then increase the visibility and improve the image of the ex-seminarians, thus also improving the image of the Church and the hierarchy which has been badly tarnished by recent scandals. This improvement in the visibility and image will also be instrumental in increasing vocations. Thus, we, by our apostolates and closer ties can become “vocations in action.†Of course, any drastic increase in vocation in the Archdiocese of Capiz will be a terrible headache as to how it can be accommodated considering that more 200 seminarians are now studying in SSPX when it was built to accommodate less than 150, unless a new building is constructed.
Boys and men enter the seminary for a variety of reasons, but networking is one of them because this word has hardly entered the common lexicon, or maybe because we hardly associate the seminary as a possible potential venue for creating a network of future friends and associates. This is due to the fact that the opportunities and reach of the alumni association of the seminary are limited. By creating an alliance of ex-seminarians, we drastically expand the opportunities and reach, and thus the networking capabilities of each ex-seminarian. This expanded networking opportunity could become one of the major reasons for recruitment of candidates to the seminary. While this new reason will look too mundane and will make the entry to the seminary too artificial, it has a great potential of increasing vocations to the priesthood.
Helping our fellow ex-seminarians (and other persons with similar persuasions) win an election is not enough. After helping them win we have an obligation to morally support them achieve their goals and programs as leaders. Most ex-seminarians who won strayed from the path and have become part of the system instead of reforming the system due to the lack of support from their peers. Therefore, helping them win in an election is only the first step.
In the Philippines, there are over 100 dioceses and archdioceses, most of which have their own seminaries. Let us make the seminary in the Diocese of San Carlos, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City. and St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City as references to estimate the number of seminarians in the Philippines. According to Bishop Advincula, the sole seminary in his diocese is a major or preparatory seminary with about 30 seminarians. Last year the seminarians in St. Vincent Ferrer is about 120. For the past few years, the average number of seminarians in St. Pius X is 200. By averaging the number of seminarians in these three seminaries for the sake of simplicity and reference (I hope it’s that simple) the average number of seminarians per seminary is about 116. Multiply this by 100, and there are about 11,600 more or less seminarians in the Philippines alone, not including those in the religious seminaries. From this figure we could already make a rough guess how many ex-seminarians are there in the Philippines (about 500,000 more or less). That is a big resource and force which is simply left untapped.
(A recent survey showed that there are 7,406 priests in the Philippines. Base on the average 1:12 ratio of ordinations per number of seminarians there are about 88,872 exseminarians in the Philippines alone.)
Oftentimes, after we left the seminary, aside from fulfilling our religious obligations, we often shun the rectory, and only go there on some business, just like other Catholics. As former seminarians, we have a more special relationship with the clergy especially with the priests assigned in our parishes. A relationship that is higher, stronger, and more special than our other fellow parishioners. Because of this we must also establish better and closer relationships with the parish through our apostolates and by giving them our moral support.
However, most of us hardly know each other in the parishes or in the community we live, especially in an urbanized or densely populated place where people hardly know each other. We are only aware of the former seminarians from our alumni associations. Even in this case, there are times when we are not aware of our co-alumnus unless he is living in the same street and we happen to meet him.
I hope with the establishment of this alliance this situation will be greatly reduced under a system I will discuss under part VIII of this letter.
A fourth objective, Vanguards of the Church, can be added. With the scandals and crises plaguing the Church brought by internal and external and controllable and uncontrollable factors, the exseminarians can be helpful in solving or mitigating these problems. This objective shall be discussed tomorrow under the heading “RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HIERARCHYâ€
from
WALKING TOGETHER
27th of May 2007
Marlon
The reason notes from this series is interspersed with reference to the Alliance of Christian Ex-Seminarians (ACES), particularly in the early parts is due to the fact I originally proposed for the establishment of this group worldwide. In March 2008, the group of Ricky Ribo decided to name it to the Philippine Alliance of X-seminarians, as this alliance is conceived in the Philippines. ACES might eventually become a reality when the alliance spread worldwide. PAX is then a pioneer in the establishment of this organization, and will eventually become the mother national alliance.
Objectives of the Alliance
In my discussion with some priests, bishops, Pians, and other ex-seminarians, I have mentioned to them the following objectives for the formation of this group: 1. Closer ties/Networking - To save money on lodging I sometimes stay in the seminary or in the rectory in places where I don't have a close friend or relative, including the residences of the bishops of Bacolod and San Carlos (in 2004). I could not have done it if I don't know the priests and the bishops and if they don't rust me. Some Pians were able to forge partnerships with other ex-seminarians simply because they are ex-seminarians. This will also benefit the globe-trotters, when they could find a hospitable home and company abroad.
This closer tie could translate to better economic opportunities (employment and business) and better networking opportunities (business, social, political, etc.). Most of us join organizations (social, civic, religious, professional, etc.) not only because of common beliefs, identity, and purpose we share with them, but also because of the networking potentials they could offer to us, by expanding our network of friends and associates. The alliance could offer each exseminarian of an alumni association to know and reach out to other exseminarians from other alumni associations not only locally, but also internationally.
Most of the ex-seminarians we knew and care about are those who studied in the same seminary we came from, our co-alumni. Even ex-seminarians who were sent by their “mother seminaries†to regional and national seminaries―like St. Joseph Regional Seminary in Iloilo City and the Ecclesiastical College of the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila―where they were able to mingle, study, and live with those from other seminaries tend to focus mostly on their co-alumni, forgetting that the other ex-seminarians are also their “co-alumni†in the regional and/or national seminary; and that by studying in either or both of these seminaries they were in fact alumni of two or more seminaries. In addition to this, there are some who have studied in at least two seminaries, for some reasons of their own. These are cases of “multi-alma mater†ex-seminarians, and could not be ignored and denied.
Even though they retain the “one alma mater mentality†these ex-seminarians were able to use the ties, familiarity, and friendship they have forged in the years they been together in a “common†seminary.
We are aware that lots of ex-seminarians are successful in their careers who could assist the less fortunate among us. Among us, Geoffrey Martinez has helped a lot of Pians when he hired them in his company. The last executive director of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT), the precursor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), was an ex-seminarian. There are some employers who immediately hire persons upon learning that they are ex-seminarians. If some companies will almost immediately hire us by the mere knowledge that we are ex-seminarians, how much more if the owner is an ex-seminarian himself or a sibling or parent of one. This has been the case with Caritas Health Shield. Some companies are made up of people from the same fraternities and/or sororities. We could do the same with ours. This is the same with other institutions and organizations, including the military, the police and the government. If we will examine closely the socio-civic organizations another reason why they could entice or recruit new members and why majority of their members actively participate in their activities is the networking opened to them and the economic opportunities that follow.
This form of “instant alliance†and trust extend beyond the economic realm. It also extends in the socio, civic, religious, professional, and political realms. Friendships and alliances are easier to forge between and among ex-seminarians simply because of their common identity and for what some may call as “lukso ng dugo.â€
Through the Alliance or ACES we could unite all ex-seminarians from all seminaries while retaining their identity or bond with their mother associations. The alliance could act as a databank or secretariat of all ex-seminarians, which can be accessed by any ex-seminarian or non-ex-seminarian who would like to look for another ex-seminarian in a place he is not familiar with, without going through the tedious process of contacting the seminary in the locality or the diocesan chancery, which in all likelihood does not have a complete record of the ex-seminarians living in the locality. This is specially true in localities where there are several seminaries.
The alliance could act as a coordinator of the various activities involving the associations, and as a single voice or spokesperson on common issues. Because of this alliance could become a strong force, which I will further discuss below. The alliance could act as an arbitrator whenever conflicts arise between or among associations. By being an unbiased mediator, the alliance could restore peace, understanding, unity, and harmony among all associations.
2. Better participation in governance — In the provinces of Capiz, Aklan, and Romblon a number of Pians have won in the elections. Though they may have won on their own and some other factors, the assistance extended to them by the Pians in their locality cannot be and were not disregarded. After they have won they tried their best to live and introduce in their positions and to those who are under them the Pian ideals. If we could do this in our own localities, we could replicate it in other localities if there is enough unity and strength among the ex-seminarians living there who are not inhibited by their baronial prejudices. In this way, they could be instrumental in forging a more just and moral society as taught by the Church.
There is a common saying that states “in unity there is strength.†By uniting, we could become a moral force in society; influence the conduct of politics, the formulation government policies and their execution; and make our voices heard loudly and clearly.
Until now, Catholics have to rely on the national bishops conferences in their country and the bishops of their dioceses for guidance on moral issues affecting their lives and in speaking out against abuses by the government. Hardly, if ever, does a seminary alumni association ever participate in these discussions of these issues. Most ex-seminarians prefer to keep silent, not out of deference to the bishops, but mostly because of the lack of coordination.
Is it not now the time to assist our religious leaders by lending a hand, by actively participating in the issues affecting our fellowmen not only as a concerned human being, but in unity with our fellow ex-seminarians. In doing so, those in power could ignore us just like the way they could not ignore the national conferences of bishops.
3. More vocations (Vocation in Action) — We are aware that at least eight out of nine seminarians will not become a priest. If this ratio will be similar in each batch and each seminary, we could say that there will be more seminarians who will become priests in a batch if the number of seminarians in that batch is bigger. We have already seen this trend in SSPX over the past fifteen years. But what will trigger or encourage more young men to enter the seminarian you may ask. As ex-seminarians, we know that “becoming a priest†though the usual reason given is just one of the “real†reasons why a parent wants his/her son to enter the seminary. If parents and boys will realize that it “pays†to be an ex-seminarian more will enter the seminaries. The preceding two reasons, though how mundane they may be, will trigger this. As I have also mentioned, it will be easier for us to accomplish what we have been trained for of serving our neighbor through apostolates if we have closer ties with other ex-seminarians. This will then increase the visibility and improve the image of the ex-seminarians, thus also improving the image of the Church and the hierarchy which has been badly tarnished by recent scandals. This improvement in the visibility and image will also be instrumental in increasing vocations. Thus, we, by our apostolates and closer ties can become “vocations in action.†Of course, any drastic increase in vocation in the Archdiocese of Capiz will be a terrible headache as to how it can be accommodated considering that more 200 seminarians are now studying in SSPX when it was built to accommodate less than 150, unless a new building is constructed.
Boys and men enter the seminary for a variety of reasons, but networking is one of them because this word has hardly entered the common lexicon, or maybe because we hardly associate the seminary as a possible potential venue for creating a network of future friends and associates. This is due to the fact that the opportunities and reach of the alumni association of the seminary are limited. By creating an alliance of ex-seminarians, we drastically expand the opportunities and reach, and thus the networking capabilities of each ex-seminarian. This expanded networking opportunity could become one of the major reasons for recruitment of candidates to the seminary. While this new reason will look too mundane and will make the entry to the seminary too artificial, it has a great potential of increasing vocations to the priesthood.
Helping our fellow ex-seminarians (and other persons with similar persuasions) win an election is not enough. After helping them win we have an obligation to morally support them achieve their goals and programs as leaders. Most ex-seminarians who won strayed from the path and have become part of the system instead of reforming the system due to the lack of support from their peers. Therefore, helping them win in an election is only the first step.
In the Philippines, there are over 100 dioceses and archdioceses, most of which have their own seminaries. Let us make the seminary in the Diocese of San Carlos, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City. and St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City as references to estimate the number of seminarians in the Philippines. According to Bishop Advincula, the sole seminary in his diocese is a major or preparatory seminary with about 30 seminarians. Last year the seminarians in St. Vincent Ferrer is about 120. For the past few years, the average number of seminarians in St. Pius X is 200. By averaging the number of seminarians in these three seminaries for the sake of simplicity and reference (I hope it’s that simple) the average number of seminarians per seminary is about 116. Multiply this by 100, and there are about 11,600 more or less seminarians in the Philippines alone, not including those in the religious seminaries. From this figure we could already make a rough guess how many ex-seminarians are there in the Philippines (about 500,000 more or less). That is a big resource and force which is simply left untapped.
(A recent survey showed that there are 7,406 priests in the Philippines. Base on the average 1:12 ratio of ordinations per number of seminarians there are about 88,872 exseminarians in the Philippines alone.)
Oftentimes, after we left the seminary, aside from fulfilling our religious obligations, we often shun the rectory, and only go there on some business, just like other Catholics. As former seminarians, we have a more special relationship with the clergy especially with the priests assigned in our parishes. A relationship that is higher, stronger, and more special than our other fellow parishioners. Because of this we must also establish better and closer relationships with the parish through our apostolates and by giving them our moral support.
However, most of us hardly know each other in the parishes or in the community we live, especially in an urbanized or densely populated place where people hardly know each other. We are only aware of the former seminarians from our alumni associations. Even in this case, there are times when we are not aware of our co-alumnus unless he is living in the same street and we happen to meet him.
I hope with the establishment of this alliance this situation will be greatly reduced under a system I will discuss under part VIII of this letter.
A fourth objective, Vanguards of the Church, can be added. With the scandals and crises plaguing the Church brought by internal and external and controllable and uncontrollable factors, the exseminarians can be helpful in solving or mitigating these problems. This objective shall be discussed tomorrow under the heading “RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HIERARCHYâ€
from
WALKING TOGETHER
27th of May 2007
Marlon
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| 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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