REMASE marks 50

The first Major Seminary in Mindanao is celebrating its 50th year of forming future priests after Christ’s own heart.

The missionaries of the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec, Canada, popularly known as the PME Fathers came to Davao in October of 1937 in order to do missionary work at the request of Bishop Luis del Rosario of Zamboanga.

The PME Fathers came in order to help the members of the Society of Jesus who were stationed in Davao whose number was insufficient to answer the pastoral needs of a huge area covering Davao, Tagum, Mati, and Digos.  These places were still part of Zamboanga diocese during that time.

The work of evangelization of the PME Fathers grew rapidly until Davao became a Prelature in 1949.  With the growing number of pastoral needs the PME Fathers thought that it was the right time to establish a seminary in order to develop the local clergy of Davao.  The plan was materialized in 1956 when the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary was established.  After eight years, to be exact July 11, 1964, that the Major Seminary was established.  It was named as St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary.  It was in 1972 that it was given a status as a Regional Major Seminary covering the whole area of Mindanao. It came to be known as the “St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao or SFX-REMASE.”

REMASE turns 50 this July 11, 2014 with the theme “REMASE @ FIFTY: WE RECALL, WE MARVEL, WE SERVE!”  For the past fifty years we recall the many blessings from the Lord, we recall the hard work of the PME Fathers (1964-1976), the SVD Fathers/Brothers (1976-1993), and the Diocesan Clergy (1993 up to the present).  In addition, we marvel at the graciousness of God who continues to shower His blessings to this institution.  Finally at fifty (50), we continue to challenge the seminarians and the alumni to SERVE with passion the local church here in Mindanao.

In this Jubilee Year with her eight hundred one graduates (801) with seven (7) bishops and more than seven hundred priests we continue to take the challenge of the Church to spread the good news of salvation to God’s people.  On her Golden Jubilee it should not only be priests who should consider the “Seminary as the Heart of the Diocese” but it should be also the consideration of all the Lay people.  To all of you who support REMASE – thank you so much!  God will be the one to return in hundredfold the blessing that you share to the Seminary!  HAPPY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY!. (Front page photo by Brenda Milan)