The St. Francis Xavier Seminary’s 2022 Opening

Last August 10, Wednesday, Archbishop Romulo Valles celebrated Mass at the newly rebuilt St. Francis Xavier College Chapel to mark the start of the 2022-2023 School year opening. It was followed by the Board of Trustees yearly meeting. I feel that the newly reconditioned chapel will be big pilgrimage/ Tourist attraction starting this year for 3 reasons:

1. The solemn aura of the chapel has beautifully changed since the repairs/ remodeling under one of Davao’s best architects, Iluminado Quinto Jr.
2. It is the only seminary chapel in Mindanao with a relic of St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the Seminary, of Asia and of missionaries which the Davao Jesuits graciously gave through the efforts of Archbishop Valles.
3. The changes are obvious but the imprints of the past remains. It’s like being in a special hallowed place of worship because of the soft, pleasant colors tender lights; a safe haven for prayers, peace, solace and hope.

The Seminary chapel is open to the public. Classes in the St Francis Xavier College Seminary and the Regional Major Seminary began on August 12, 2022 and the signs are looking good. St Francis Seminary had more than 190 seminarians before the March 2020 lockdown. In 2021, there were only 102 seminarians.

During our August 10 board meeting, Rector Fr. Orly Angelia said have 126 enrollees thus:

FIRST SEMESTER ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023