JESUS WALKS WITH US: 14th Seminarians Association of the Archdiocese of Davao (SAAD) Gathering

The Seminarians Association of the Archdiocese of Davao (SAAD) gathering was successfully celebrated at Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary on April 22, 2023. The said event was spearheaded by the Vocation Director, Rev. Fr. Ronald Arcillas, and the Davao seminarians president, Sem. Harold Jhon Gimeno, and his officers with the support of the entire Commission on Vocation team and vocation promoters, and attended by seminarians from grades 11–12, propaedeutic year, discipleship stage, configuration stage, pre-deacons, and returnees.

This gathering of seminarians has already become a tradition in the Archdiocese and began 14 years ago, in 2009. This initiative has continuously built a relationship among contemporaries in the Davao Diocesan Seminaries. Accordingly, the celebration has three major purposes: (1) to establish healthy friendship among the Davao seminarians; (2) to establish friendship with the diocesan clergy of Davao (since they were also encouraged to join); and (3) to establish a well-rooted support among the Davao seminarians as brothers journeying towards priesthood.

The celebration started with the Holy Mass presided over by the Most Rev. George Rimando, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Davao, and concelebrated by priests in the Commission on Vocation Team. The homily circles around the chosen theme of the gathering, “Jesus Walks with Us,” from the Gospel of Luke. The bishop stresses that the resurrected Jesus is truly walking with us towards our vocation to the priesthood. The homily concluded with an emphasis that the priesthood is not really the terminal point, but rather, the terminal point is eternal life with God.

Following the holy mass, there was a sharing in several groups, conducted by the pre-deacons, with the aim of getting to know each other and preparing us for our seminary life. During the sharing, we were all challenged to be joyful models of our vocation to the priesthood and religious life. A question-and-answer session followed, which mainly centered in the context of the seminary, with an astounding prize during lunch. Then, the sports activity followed, wherein the seminarians played a basketball match with great joy, which strengthened their camaraderie. This activity served as an initiative of the seminary’s basketball varsity in solidarity with the Archdiocese of Davao’s Commission on Vocation in promoting the vocation to the priesthood. Hence, a friendly game with the Davao clergy versus the seminarians occurred. The court was filled with triumph, loud shouts, and joy as they also cheered for the playing teams. Truly, such a game was exceedingly effective as they got to interact with each other. Thus strengthened the bonds inside the four corners of the seminary and aided in promoting vocation. At the end of the day, the whole seminary and the seminarians’ hearts were filled with delight and gratitude because of the fun-filled experience and opportunity.

The moment that we said yes to God was not only an opportunity to follow Christ but also an avenue for us to know ourselves better and be grateful to have each other as our companions because of its dynamic characteristics. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 13 and following, tell us about the story of Jesus, who walks with his disciples to Emmaus. This Gospel account was a great experience of faith and joy in His presence. As seminarians, may we also experience the same joy of encountering God in our lives, encountering Jesus who walks with us. (Sem. John Ian Recorte, DY1)