MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

TO ALL MY FRIENDS:

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Grace and peace in the Divine Word made flesh! While the rest of the scholastics went to their homes and our beloved deacons went to their assigned parishes, we third year SVD seminarians were privileged to stay here in DWST for the whole duration of the Christmas season. Yes, you read it right. Wala kaming Christmas vacation. Our program only allows us to have 3 weeks of vacation after the Easter Sunday. That will be next year and I am already looking forward to it. Hehehe.

I thought it would be very boring to stay here in the seminary during Christmas. Imagine a 3-storey building with only 7 occupants, 5 of which are in the third floor. Napakatahimik. Silence here was deafening. But definitely, my experience tells me that it’s great to stay here for Christmas. I had fun feeding the beloved flowerhorns and goldfishes of my brothers, cleaning the fish pond, preparing the Simbang Gabi liturgy, watching DVDs, and not to mention the tons of Christmas gifts I received. Thank God!

My classmates and I made it also a point to relax and stroll a while. Fr. Meng, our Prefect of Discipline brought us to Alabang for an eat-all-you-can. Wow! You know naman di ba, I always have a very good appetite. Indeed, our beloved tatay in the seminary knew very well our weakness. Wahahaha. Thank you Fr. Meng!

It was also very heartwarming to be reunited with my TV Mass friends. They went here for the Simbang Gabi sa TV which was broadcasted on Studio 23. I missed all their jokes and antics. I really treasure them. We also ate outside. The Mission Communications crew gave me a polo which I really appreciated. I always have fun with them and mind you, they’re inviting me for their Christmas party this December 27. Salamat!

It just dawn on me that I should have a picture with the belen (stable). I started it in Christ the King Mission Seminary where I had my regency. So, this year, I also took a picture of me and the belen. I am determined to have another one next year.

Christmas 2006 at Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City

Christmas 2007 at Holy Spirit Chapel, Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

In the Divine Word,

Frt. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD

CHRISTMAS PARTY LIKE NO OTHER

Last December 3, the Divine Word School of Theology had its one-of-a-kind Christmas party. It was my first time to experience that kind of Christmas celebration in my whole life. The studentry decided to forego of the traditional exchanging of gifts. Instead of that, every class had to choose their beneficiary for their “Pasko sa Mukha ng Mga Dukha” outreach.

We, third year students of theology, had chosen the Bahay San Jose in Tagaytay as our beneficiary.

It is an institution taking care of those who are victims of polio and cerebral palsy. In their directory, this statement can be seen: “Bahay San Jose is a heaven of angels who inspire others, each other’s lives and encourage everyone who comes in to reflect, see, accept and live life as it is despite its different faces.”

We sang Christmas songs to them.

We also feed them.

This woman played the organ which moved us all to tears. The song was “Somewhere in Time.” Awww, it was hauntingly beautiful.

Jose, a polio victim, was feeding his friend and housemate.

Felmar and Filmar had good time together.

This is one experience I could never forget in my whole life. Since my grade school days, I have been used to celebrating Christmas in the classroom but this time, we really went out of our classrooms and celebrated it with the lovely beautiful people who lived life to the full despite their inabilities.

Grace and peace to everyone. Have a happy Christmas!