Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros, D.D. presided over the community Mass of the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary and blessed the newly inaugurated seminary library in Guiguinto, Bulacan. (Photo: Allem James Alba / Vincent Ian Planas)
GUIGUINTO, Bulacan, July 29, 2016 – Last July 17, Sunday, the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary community rejoiced at the fulfillment of a long-aspired dream – the inauguration of its new, state-of-the-art library.
Malolos Bishop Jose F. Oliveros, D.D., together with the Malolos Bishop Emeritus Cirilo R. Almario, Jr., D.D., founder of the major seminary, headed the inauguration and blessing of the library at 11:30 a.m. The prelate also presided over a community Mass at the Immaculate Conception Theologate Chapel with the Seminary Formation Team, seminarians, parents, sponsors, and other guests present.
The search for God
During his homily, Oliveros mentioned two important matters: the value of families supporting the education and formation of future priests and the value of imparting knowledge. He said it is formation in the home that first enkindles in children the sacred calling which allows them to recognize a vocation to the priesthood.
He presented to them the image of Martha and Mary of Bethany who were the characters in the Gospel that Sunday, expressing the value of prayer and work in the life of the family. He also connected the value of meditation presented by Mary of Bethany to the value of imparting the wisdom of God through knowledge as found in books and as experienced in life.
With this, he stressed that the new educational establishment should drive both priests and seminarians to strengthen their connection to God.
Center of Learning in Bulacan
In his thanksgiving address, Fr. Emmanuel Cruz, seminary rector, expressed his gratitude to both Oliveros and Almario who supported the renovation of the seminary library.
He also said the dream of having a new library came from two motivations. First, he wanted to improve the library as a way for thesis researchers to further expand their work within seminary bounds without depending on university and ecclesiastical libraries outside the seminary. Second, he wanted to help in building a seminary library to be a center of learning not only in Bulacan but even in the region. (Kendrick Ivan B. Panganiban | CBCP News)