Malipayong Pag-uli, Mga Kabs! A Celebration of Brotherhood at the ReMaSe Alumni Homecoming 2026

As the familiar Cebuano greeting “Malipayong Pag-Uli mga Kabs, Dayon Kamo!” echoes through the halls of (ReMaSe) St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao, one can almost hear the joyful footsteps of former seminarians returning to the place they once called home. From August 10-12, 2026, former seminarians who have finished their formation and alumni priests who are serving faithfully in their dioceses across Mindanao are returning for a three-day celebration of get-together and reminiscing about the cherished memories shared that endured bond of brotherhood.

The celebration will be spearheaded by host batches 2010, 2011, and 2012. This year’s homecoming will reflect the theme: “Gathered as brothers, Sent as Shepherds: Witnessing Christ in the Age of AI.” The event highlights the enduring bond of brotherhood formed in the seminary while reflecting on the Church’s mission in a rapidly changing world shaped by technological advancements and artificial intelligence.

The first day begins with the arrival and registration of participants. Upon arrival, alumni priests will be assigned to their rooms, offering them a unique opportunity to relive their seminary days. The day continues with a Holy Mass at 5:00 in the afternoon, followed by dinner and a welcoming program prepared by the seminarians of ReMaSe.

The second day of the gathering will commence with Lauds and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. There will be an input or conference will provide spiritual and pastoral reflection, particularly in relation to the theme of witnessing Christ amid contemporary challenges. The day will also include a business meeting, updates, and the election of officers, which will be headed by the Alumni Association President, Rev. Fr. Rene Ribac of the Archdiocese of Davao. The meeting will focus on strengthening the alumni association and its future direction. In the afternoon, recreation and fraternal bonding will take center stage through basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, offering moments of joy and friendly competition. In the evening, the alumni will gather for a community rosary, which will be held in the seminary’s quadrangle inside the Main Building. The community prayer is an offering and entrusting their ministries and brotherhood to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A Socio-Night program will culminate the day, where alumni priests, including the seminarians, will dine and bond together and will share a festive atmosphere of storytelling, music, and laughter that will once again bring brothers together.

On the Third and Final day, the day will start with a Holy Mass. It will be a Mass offering of thanksgiving for the Lord, the Good Shepherd, who has blessed the Church of Mindanao with Shepherds according to His own heart. The Mass will also be the sending forth of alumni priests who will be heading back home to their respective dioceses, carrying the treasured memories that they once again recalled and embraced.

Indeed, it was an experience of gratitude and joy. This year’s homecoming is not only a mere reunion of people who finished their theological studies in the seminary, but a reunion of hearts.

The three-day celebration is a feast of brotherhood and the enduring call to be witnesses of Christ in every age and time. An unforgettable gathering that helped them be formed as Pastores Secundum Cor Christi, Shepherds according to the Heart of Christ. As the gathering closes, this warm greeting will always remain and awaits “Malipayong Pag-Uli mga Kabs! Dayon Kamo!” (Sem. John Darrel Rillo | CY4)