Ministries installed to love and to serve

“Amare et Servere” (to love and to serve) was the theme that beautifully captured the Installation to the Minor Ministries of the fifty (50) seminarians of the Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (REMASE), last July 20, 2013, 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon,  at the San Pedro Cathedral. Twenty-six (26) first year theology seminarians, [24 diocesan and 2 from the Apostles of Jesus Crucified (AJC)] were installed as lectors; while twenty-four (24) second year theology seminarians, [23 diocesan and 1 from the Society of Divine Vocation (SDV)] were installed as acolytes. This installation is part of the training and formation of the major seminarians of REMASE wherein the seminarians at the first and second levels of theological formation, would be able to give and offer themselves to the service of the Church by faithfully exercising their ministries as lectors and acolytes, in preparation for their future priestly ministry.

Archbishop Romulo G. Valles of the Archdiocese of Davao, who was the presider of the mass challenged in his homily those who were installed, “to take seriously the task assigned to them as lectors and acolytes of the Church.” According to the archbishop, “it (being lectors and acolytes) is not about being handsome or being intelligent… it is all about the Word of God and always the Word of God. The challenge therefore is to make the Word of God become fully alive in the life and faith of the people, especially today when there are so much noise and distractions that could endanger the faith of many.”  This important rite of installation to the minor ministries is more memorable because it is within the year-long golden jubilee celebration of REMASE.

After the Mass, the seminarians grouped themselves by diocese to have a moment of celebration with their fellow seminarians and some priests from their respective dioceses. The twenty-one (21) theology seminarians of the Archdiocese of Davao were overwhelmed with joy when their beloved archbishop, Arch. Romulo Valles, graced their gathering with his presence, along with the REMASE Rector, Msgr. Abel C. Apigo, and several priests from the archdiocese. The archbishop then challenged his major seminarians to get involved in the promotion of diocesan vocation by helping the vocation director of Davao, Rev. Fr. Hover Jocson in an intensive campaign for more vocations.

By Sem. Cristopher Alcayde/Contributor