Story and Photos By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
“We remember who became the instrument so that we are now priests.”
Rev. Fr. Amadeo Lucero, OAR was both nostalgic and inspiring when he delivered his homily during the Thanksgiving Mass that marked the 25th Inaugural Anniversary of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos Formation House (STV-R), December 7, 2021.
ForSOAR de Filipinas Comes Home to STV-R
The solemn celebration of STV-R’s Silver Anniversary reunited the Former Seminarians of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (ForSOAR de Filipinas). Several of the ForSOAR de Filipinas members came all the way from Cebu to formally turn-over the Php 300,000 donation for STV-R’s sound system project.
In his short speech, Mr. John Henry Caballero, beadle of STV-R Seminarians Batch 1997, recognized the important role of Augustinian Recollect formators and lay teachers in helping them become successful individuals even though they did not become priests.
“We want to hear good homilies thus we call our brothers” to help in procuring and setting up a new sound system for the chapel, Caballero said. He mentioned in jest that the sound system is also 25 years old and will now have to retire.
Together with sub-beadle Atty. Jan Michael Cagulada, Caballero handed-over the ForSOAR donation to the present STV-R community—Rev. Fr. Vicente Ramon, Jr., OAR (house prior), Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR, (vice-prior) and Rev. Fr. Renier Alviola, OAR (Monteagudo Recoletos administrator).
ForSOAR members also formed a choir and sang the Thanksgiving Mass songs to pay homage to the home that saw their teenage years as minor seminarians.
The Augustinian Recollect Formators
Rev. Fr. Emilio Jaruda, OAR, presided over the Thanksgiving Mass. Fr. Jaruda was the principal at Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos when STV-R was inaugurated, while Fr. Lucero was procurator. Rev. Fr. Lino H. Agunod (+) was the house prior. The late Rev. Fr. Rafael Cabarles, OAR was also among formators of STV-R.
Meanwhile, Fr. Ramon expressed his gratitude to the ForSOAR, the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity of San Carlos City and the Recollect Augustinian Youth (RAY de Tomas) for joining in STV-R’s celebration.
Fr. Ramon also declared that within STV-R’s 25th year, it will host the National ForSOAR de Filipinas Convention that will gather all former OAR seminarians of STV-R and Casic
iaco Recoletos Seminary (Baguio City).
The Challenge at 25
To wrap up his homily, Fr. Lucero challenged the former and present lay and religious members of the STV-R community.
“Has any one changed his or her life because of you? Have you ever given a good example?” He asked and then he applauded the men who were once the boys who first occupied STV-R as minor seminarians.
