Diploma

(An excerpt of the Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, D.D. During his Homily at the Baccalaureate Mass at St. Francis Xavier College Seminary, Catalunan Grande, Davao City, May 21, 2025.)

Now nalipay ko kay atong Gospel reading today it says, first line, Jesus said to His disciples, what stage diri sa seminary, what stage, discipleship stage. My dear mga igsuon, naa may mga marka dinha College Seminary, mura mag academic, diploma, college. Pero pila ka tuig na, di pa dugay, ang tinuod nga ngalan nga naghatag og core nga style sa pagpuyo dinhi, discipleship stage.

Therefore, kining mga bata dinhi sa seminaryo, sa ingon nako long formation. Kini nga stage sa seminaryo , college, discipleship stage. Murag student, teacher, sumusunod. Tag along. Getting familiar with Jesus because, now I’m looking at you, and I know you know what I am saying, because to become a priest dili needed ang diploma. Mag-unsa man ang imong diploma nga summa cum laude, pinaka summa cum laude, pinaka bright, learned about Jesus but really does not know who Jesus is. That is not needed to become a priest. Learning helps, greatly helps but not the bottom line. That’s why dili academic year but formation year. Kini nga five years, years of discipleship. Close mentoring. Knowing the teacher. And, better so admiring sa teacher, becoming in love with the teacher that you would now copy him.

That’s why pagkahuman diri, unsay sunod? Configuration stage. Mapareha namo sa teacher. Pero karon mura pa mog very excited, buotan nga teacher. But by now, to His disciples ingon siya, ang hagit niya sa iyang mga disciple murag border na ni sa configuration, remain in me, wa siya moingon nga keep the diploma in me, ang iyang gipangayo personalan. Remain in me and as I remain in you. Kon mao na bright gyud ta kay gilaliman ka si teacher I will remain in you. Lahi sa ubang diploma. Remain in me as I remain in you.

Then, nindot kaayog picture. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, what fruit? You know to be fishers of men, to serve the Church, to bring people closer to Christ. Ang old formula to save souls. But ingon siya just a branch cannot bear fruit on its own. You cannot catch people with that beautiful diploma, just a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine.