Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

16 February 2012 – San Fabian, Pangasinan. “The Theology seminary is an act of gratitude to those who have gone before us.” Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas said in his homily during the concelebrated  mass held for the groundbreaking for the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary. Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Msgr. Jesus A. Cabrera, Bishop Emeritus of Alaminos and more than seventy priests. The mass was held at the parish church of St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr at 8:00 in the morning.

Gratitude. Proclamation. Legacy

Archbishop Villegas further said, “The Theology seminary is a proclamation of Christ’s presence among us.” It is also a “legacy that we will leave behind long after we have left this world. It is a legacy that will transcend our lifetime.”

Hundreds of the lay faithful with the religious of the Archdiocese attended the mass. The thirty-five parishes and chaplaincies sent representatives to join the celebration. The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Catholic Schools also sent representatives from their faculty and student community.

Golden Year, Golden Offering

In his pastoral letter  on the opening of the jubilee year marking the fiftieth anniversary of the elevation of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan in the year 2013,Archbishop Soc gratefully and with joy, wrote to the faithful of the Archdiocese, “The Church of Lingayen Dagupan is rich and wealthy in the golden graces of God! Indeed the true treasure of the Church is the Lord who is always present amongst His people. And God has always been with us.

“We entrust this year to Mary Help of Christians whose guiding hand has brought many of our young men to the altar as priests of her Son. As we now break the ground for the construction of the theology seminary, may our Mother guide us, give us courage and bring us to live for Jesus her Son.”

Motorcade to Palapad

A motorcade from the San Fabian Parish Church to the site of the future seminary in Barangay Palapad was held right after the Mass. The construction site was blessed and the names in the Libro na Panangaro Para Seminario were laid on the site of the future altar of the seminary chapel. A time capsule was also placed at the cornerstone of the future seminary.

A document “For Perpetual Memory” was also included in the time-capsule. It was signed by the Archbishop, his Auxiliary, the Bishop Emeritus of Alaminos, the members of the Archdiocesan Consultors, and the Mayor of San Fabian town.

The construction of the Theology seminary will  start after the groundbreaking ceremonies. It is expected that the first phase of the construction will be finished after eight months. By June 2013, the seminary will open its doors to the first batch of Theology seminarians.

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has been campaign hard for the funds to build the Theology seminary.

January 15, 2012

Feast of the Sto. Nino

My dear brother priests, religious sisters and parish lay leaders:

In order to get the Catholic faithful spiritually ready for the fiftieth anniversary of the elevation of Lingayen-Dagupan as a Metropolitan See, we shall open a year long preparatory period for this milestone ecclesial event. The opening of our Year of Jubilee due to take place on February 16, 2012 will have the following schedule of activities:

1. Concelebrated Mass for the Groundbreaking for the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary to be held at eight o’clock in the morning at the Parish Church of San Fabian. The officers of the parish pastoral council with the parish youth leaders and representative teachers and students from all the Catholic Schools are expected to attend.
2. A motorcade from the San Fabian Parish Church to the site of the future seminary in Barangay Palapad will be held right after the Mass. The construction site will be blessed and the names in the Libro na Panangaro Para Seminario will be laid on the site of the future altar of the seminary chapel. The deadline for the submission of the Libro na Panangaro will be on February 8, 2012 in order to qualify for the inclusion in the ground breaking rites.
3. The Rite of Opening of the Jubilee Door will start at half past four in the afternoon at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in the presence of all the parish lay leaders, members of lay associations and movements and all male fourth year students of all Catholic schools. All the catechists and Catholic school teachers are likewise expected to attend.
4. Having opened the Jubilee Door, the Photo Exhibit for the Jubilee Year will be formally opened too inside the Metropolitan Cathedral. This photo exhibit is due to go around the five vicariates for the whole year. A half hour video presentation on priestly vocation will be shown before the Concelebrated Mass at half past five in the afternoon.
5. There will be a barrio fiesta reception at the church patio immediately after the Mass open to everybody.

I entrust these activities to you with a request for your gracious presence and usual wholehearted participation. Thank you even now.

Sincerely yours,

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS

Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan