Mission Office holds Pre-Fielding Seminar for seminarians

By Myrna S. Bermudo

The Archdiocesan Commission on Mission and Evangelization (ARCOM), held a Pre- Fielding Seminar for the Conference of Caceres Seminarians (CONCAS) at the Santos Hall, Holy Rosary Major Seminary on June 7.

Forty-four CONCAS members were prepared for the Peregrinatio pro Christo, a mission program for seminarians immersing them into different places within the archdiocese. The program aims to strengthen the Catholic faith through apostolate and evangelization.

The 44 seminarians will immerse in Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Parish in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur and St. Peregrine of Laziosi Parish in Sto. Domingo, Calabanga.

Fr. Danilo Vargas and Fr. Jhonan’z Vibar, parish priests, oriented the seminarians on the situation of their respective communities and their expectations of the apostolate. Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Parish has 19 barangays and 3 sitios. Meanwhile, St. Peregrine of Laziosi Parish has 9 barangay and 5 sitios. The seminarians will be at these parishes from June 8 to July 10.

Prior to the orientation given by the parish priests, the enthusiastic seminarians were welcomed and given instructions by Fr. Gerome Pelagio, ARCOM director.

“To gather data for their pastoral plan of St. Peregrine parish and catechesis for the parishioners of Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Parish for the increase of the involvement and participation in the activities of the parish are the goals of the peregrination this year,” Fr. Pelagio explained.

During the pre-fielding seminar, home visitation as a method of evangelization was discussed by Myrna Bermudo. Julma Narvadez presented methods in Planning and Organizing. Fr. Jhun Oliva facilitated a conversation on divorce, a pressing issue.

Caceres Archbishop Most Rev. Rex Andrew Alarcon, DD, presided the send – off mass on June 8. Major Seminary Rector Fr. Joey Gonzaga, seminary formators Fr. William Santiago and Fr. Xavier Amoroso, and Fr. Pelagio concelebrated.

“Peregrinatio pro Christo is the Latin word for “adventuring or travelling for Christ,” Fr. Pelagio said. “This is the name given by the Legion of Mary for one or two – week mission trip or apostolate. Peregrinatio is primarily evangelization for the vast majority.”

“For decades, the summer mission program in the Archdiocese of Caceres has been dubbed as Peregrinatio pro Christo,” Fr. Pelagio added. “With this mission program, the lay, together with the seminarians are given a unique opportunity to take part in the missionary apostolate in the church.”

Fr. Pelagio narrated that “Peregrinatio pro Christo started in the Archdiocese in the 1960s. It was temporarily halted in the 1990s then in 1995, the archdiocese had a Quadricentennial mission where priests, sisters, catechists and seminarians participated in the missionary activity. In 2002, there was revival of the mission teams composed of Caceres seminarians. The pandemic suspended the yearly activity but the program resumed in 2023.

Send-off mass after the Pre-Fielding Seminar for Peregrinatio pro Christo mission apostolate. Caceres Archbishop Most Rev. Rex Andrew Alarcon, DD, presided the mass on June 8. Major Seminary Rector Fr. Joey Gonzaga, seminary formators Fr. William Santiago and Fr. Xavier Amoroso, and Fr. Gerome Pelagio, mission director, concelebrated. (Photo: Kennedy Tercenio)