Welcome Home Fr. Stan!

There’s no best place than home. To the culture of an Englishmen particularly in England, there is an ever so sweet phrase saying, “My home is my fortress”. After two months of vacation for the seminarians, Fr. Stan, the Rector of the Seminary spent his break in two halves: first, in the seminary preparing everything for the coming academic year and another half in his place,in Ivory Coast. Now, he is joyfully back in the Philippines for another formative year in shepherding young men.

It had been a momentous experience for us seminarians like we are in our own homes waiting for a father to come and open the door for him during the midnight. It was so overwhelming sharing the same happy thoughts about his trip, and changes in the seminary when he got arrived, vice versa. As a tradition in the seminary, he delivered a brief goodnight message- a night after his arrival. The content of his goodnight message reechoed his itineraries and experiences while having a short break. He spent couple of days in the formation house in Ivory Coast and most of the time in the parish to share life with them. Many untold stories being reminisced. As a lesson, missionary life entails many standards, but in return it allows us to experience pastoral joy along every moment we take.

            Almost all the religious and seminarians residing in St. Luigi Orione Seminary, together with the Vicar of the Community here in Montalban, Fr. Stefan Bulai fdp welcomed him with a short screen presentations and the cut-off construction papers pasted in the door of his room. We prepared very well for his homecoming as a community. Some volunteered to decorate the pavements by colorful paints, others will beautify the dormitories and the main house of the seminary especially where religious and priests dwell. The exuberant Fr. Stan, who always long to see us grab a few moments to give some clichés, a short “Kumusta kayo?” before going to bed. Now, after being refreshed in his worthwhile vacation, we hope to see him healthy and kicking while accompanying us in our academic and spiritual endeavor. Welcome at Mabuhay ka Fr. Stan!

                                                                  Sem. Pablo B. Jordan

                                                      Contributor, Incumbent Socio-Cultural Chairman