Administrative Focus

SCHOOL YEAR 2007-2008

            The following is a list of concerns based on the consultations, evaluation, recommendation, and observations from the past School Year 2006-2007 as raised by the Faculty and Staff, seminarians, and Priest-formators. Under this list, they are considered as the administrative concerns of the St. Joseph Seminary College for the School Year 2007-2008. The administrative concerns are simply defined as those issues, events, activities, persons, and challenges that catch the attention of the administration and are or should be given proper discernment and action by the community as a whole. These concerns act as the focus of the School Year. The list found hereunder are posed for the administration as reference for any other decisions it would make that might have bearings within the school year.

1. THE PRACTICE OF RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM. Responsible Freedom is an emergent idea that continues to toy the consciousness of seminarians whenever they are faced with situations that call for them to make a little sacrifice in favor of formation (waking up early, punctuality, obedience, basic courtesy, etc.). Responsible freedom, however, has to be understood in the perspective of value formation. In this sense, the seminarians have to first understand the importance of formation in view of the Priestly ministry and how they would be able to situate and enter into it according to their own dynamics. Responsible freedom, on the other hand, is not the enjoyment of absolute freedom because there is no such thing as freedom that is limitless. Freedom is translated in that the formand is given the freedom to understand, picture out, value, and enter into formation face to face with his own dynamics with utmost accountability. Of course, not all will find it easy to educate and transform the sub-culture already present in the individual system. But, nonetheless, each seminarian has to be responsible over the efforts he would exert in order to join and fit into formation. In this sense, the formators act as guides for him to fare through his own priestly training. The formator is not an outsider, a competitor, or a watchdog who keeps watch all of what the seminarians do. The seminarian and the formator do not compete against each other on who lives the right life in formation. They, however, have their own distinct roles to play and at the same time complement with each other. Inasmuch as the formator is a companion (one who accompanies him to maturity), the seminarian has to allow himself to be accompanied with. The formator has to make certain dynamics in order to reach out (to be available) to the seminarian because this is the starting point of convincing the seminarian that the formator is really sincere in the area of his formation.

2. THE NO PERMIT NO EXAM POLICY. Attached to the concern on responsible freedom is the NO PERMIT NO EXAM POLICY. This policy co-relates with the development of the seminarian’s sense of accountability and obligation. The formators want to inculcate in the formands that everything is not for free. And whatever grace we received from others had to be acknowledged with gratitude. These values are two sides of the same coin. It is the aim of this policy that the seminarians develop in themselves the sense of being accountable. The seminarian is accountable to the benefactor as to how he spends the money he receives  much as he is accountable to the seminary in as far as who are the people behind his financial provisions. This attitude has to develop in him a sense of gratitude and responsibility (to update, to inform, to thank, to visit his benefactor). The seminary wants to see to it that its name is not being used to collect money from generous benefactors. It has to protect its integrity and name relative to all of these matters. Hence, it wants to know the names of seminarians’ benefactors. On the other hand, the policy also wants to develop in the seminarians the sense of obligation…that they have an obligation to the seminary: first, to pay on time and to inform their benefactors on the schedule of fees, second, to be aware that if it had not been for the seminary, it would have been their parents’ obligation to pay for the school fees outside, and third, to be extra responsible over financial management. This has a future implication in the priestly ministry in as far as remittances are concerned to the Diocesan Finance Office and the Chancery.

3. THE PRACTICE OF BASIC COURTESY. It has been the concern of the Seminary that seminarians practice basic courtesy. Although this is a common practice even outside the seminary…in the Filipino culture…it is emphasized in seminary formation since as future Pastors, they would act as witnesses to what they preach. Hence, the seminarians have to spearhead in living out good manners and right conduct. Over and above this basic value, basic courtesy plays an important role in forging up a good and harmonious relationship among equals which is the springboard in implementing programs. In the Seminary, this is vital since all members contribute to the larger relationship scale in the community. In other words, our bond has to be seen in the bigger picture…as to how it makes the Seminary more effective as a formation house. Hence, it is helpful and healthy that relationship ties in the Seminary are bonded by courteous and dignified individuals. And if there are differences, they are easily patched up privately with all respect and secrecy.

4. KEEPING A HEALTHY SEMINARY ENVIRONMENT. The seminary is part of the macrocosm. It is not a separate entity or detached from the environment where it is located. Hence, it is also affected by environmental problems that haunt people and society as a whole. Environment is a fast emerging problem. That is why, the seminary would want to promote a healthy surrounding. It promises to clean up and dispose of garbage properly: never to burn garbage, recycle, make a compost pit, plant vegetables, herbal, and medicinal plants, and segregate wastes. On the other hand, keeping a healthy Seminary environment also involves keeping a healthy relationship with others…especially with people in the Seminary community. The Seminary upholds that the effective implementation of programs begin with a healthy relationship. In its most basic term, it delves with the way we relate with others with the practice of respect, of camaraderie, of good manners and right conduct, of honesty, and of total regard over the dignity of others while keeping our dignity in consideration as well.

5. EDUCATIONAL EXPOSURES AND TRIPS. It is the commitment of the seminary to promote more educational exposure for the seminarians as part of their integral formation. While classroom lectures are vital, they are fostered more in the fields…in actual life situation. The seminary believes that classroom lectures and instructions have to be reinforced with field exposures so the seminarians will get a broader and concrete picture of the entire learning experience. Classroom learning is one source of intellectual development, but field exposure is also another balancing factor that enriches knowledge and promotes novel discoveries. In consideration, classes have to choose those field exposures with less expenses and hassles.

6. MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS. The Seminary believes that enhancing the total person of the formand also involves developing self confidence based on actual and total capacity. Thus, to be able to achieve that goal, the seminary opens up the field of music and the performing arts as venue for development. The seminarians have to be exposed in the field of music and performing arts and present an annual stage musicale as output. This year, the Seminary presented a stage musicale entitled DELIVER US. This is the first attempt of the Seminary to appear, after several years of dormancy, on stage and claim its identity in the field of music and performing arts which it had long relegated to the sides. It hopes to continue to pursue this tradition in the coming years.

7. ADJUSTMENT IN THE FORMATION PROGRAM. The Seminary Formators agreed to make certain adjustments in the Formation Program starting this School Year 2007-2008 (see separate sheet). This adjustment proposes attention and focus for each year-level: Pre-Philosophy: VOCATION DEVELOPMENT and SPIRITUAL MATURITY. First Year: THE VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE. Second Year: CHASTITY and RELATIONSHIP. Third Year: TEAM-BUILDING AND SACRAMENTAL BROTHERHOOD. Fourth Year: INTEGRATION and PROCESSING. This adjusted program needs a fixed budget to be able to move. Hence, the Priest-formators agreed to ask the Administrative Board of the Diocese of Dumaguete to provide the Diocesan counterpart of Php 75,000.00 to the same amount which the Seminary would raise.

8. GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION.  The Seminary is preparing for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee come October 19, 2009. This is a big celebration that needs good planning and networking. 

9. THE PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES. It has been the concern of the Seminary in many years that most of its activities are not well-planned and coordinated. For this reason, many of the Seminary activities are poor in quality. That is why, for this year, the emphasis on planning and coordination of activities pose as a priority. The administration believes in the key role of advisers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation phases. Thus, for this year, the administration wishes to emphasize the role of each one relative to any particular activity: advisers, Priest-companion, seminarians, community Handbook.

10. ACTIVE SPIRITUAL WITNESSING.  The St. Joseph Seminary College is a formation house, a house of prayer, and a seedbed of vocation to the Sacred Priesthood. It stands as different from other institutions because it has a spiritual entity that radiates in all of its system. Hence, all those who partake in its programs are called to understand and follow the tenets it believes and stands for. In other words, the seminarians, the Faculty and Staff, the Personnel, and the Priest-formators are called to a life fit for the formation of future Priests in the Diocese of Dumaguete. One factor that contributes to the achievement of goals, aside from good working relationship, is the strong spiritual foundation of all. All members of the Seminary community are invited to grow spiritually mature and deepen their life of prayer so as to serve fully and with dedication. Hence, all are invited to join spiritual activities (retreat, recollection, community prayer, liturgy, etc.) and initiate certain dynamics to enhance the spiritual life.

11. CLASSROOM/PERSONAL DICSIPLINE. A very crucial area in Seminary formation is that of discipline. And one highlight that is wanting of response in Academic formation is classroom discipline. The Seminary Teachers’ role in formation is to be understood in the light of direct formation. Since they have the regular contact with the seminarians in this area, they contribute so much in molding their views, outlook, behavior, attitude, practices, etc. It is in this regard that they also have to be formed and updated in formation. In the real sense, the area of discipline covers many facets in Seminary Formation that touch all of what this list contain. But to be able to make it more concrete, the following concerns have to take priority: speak English campaign, study habits, quality assignments, classroom behavior (GMRC), right judgment, syllabi and instruction, value formation, prudence, spiritual instruction.  In this light, the Seminary Teachers have an important role to play. They are expected to point out discipline as part of their responsibility.

12. THE VALUE OF FOOD AND PROPERTY. The Seminary wholistically exists through the generosity of others. In fact, it is practically dependent on donations from benefactors and Parish contributions. Yet, as a house of formation, it does not necessarily have to emphasize about its dependence on others since it is common understanding to value things that are given to us. Over the years, it has been observed that a lot of foods go to waste. There is need to note that the food we eat comes from hard labor. Besides, many people, especially in the Philippines, do not have anything to eat. On the other hand, common practice teaches us that we take good care of the things that are under our care especially those that do not belong to us. In the Seminary, it has to be emphasized. Since we are but stewards of the goods hat we have, we need to handle and manage them with extra care. The danger, especially among seminarians, is that properties are not handled carefully because (1) they have not been taught, (2) the facilities are not found in their homes and they do not know how to care for them, or (3) because everything is provided for…and replaced immediately whenever there are damages, they do not see their value at all. Hence, the need to teach with emphasis the value of taking good care of the Seminary properties and facilities.