St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary

St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary is a diocesan seminary founded to serve as the institution of formation of future priests for the Archdiocese of Jaro in the Philippines (established on May 27, 1865 by Pope Pius IX). It was founded in 1869 By Bishop Mariano Cuartero, O.P., the first Bishop of Jaro, in honor of St. Vincent Ferrer. The Dominican bishop who took charge of the spiritual needs and formation of the Catholic faithful scattered in a vast territory covering the islands of Panay, Mindanao (except Misamis and Surigao, which were under the bishopric of Cebu), Calamianes, Negroes and Romblon, saw the pastoral need of the seminary where future priests will be formed to serve the different parishes of his diocese.

History

Formerly called Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer, this institution was the fifth and the last seminary founded during the Spanish Regime in the Philippines. It was the first institution of higher education in Western Visayas. The administration of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary was entrusted to the Vincentian Fathers who were invited by Bishop Cuartero to take care of the formation of the future priests of the Diocese of Jaro. The pioneer group of four priests and a lay brother came in 1869 from the Vincentian Province of Madrid, Spain. Since then, the sons of St. Vincent De Paul remained in this institution until 1976 when the diocesan clergy of Jaro took over their mission.

The first seminary was temporarily located in the Bishop’s Palace fronting the Jaro Plaza. The first edifice for the seminary was constructed in March 1871, on a 22,000 square meter lot near Jaro Cathedral and the bishop’s residence. Bishop Cuartero purchased the property through the contributions of well-to-do families and individuals of the Province of Iloilo. The work was directed by one of the pioneer seminary fathers, Fr. Aniceto Gonzales, who also served as the foreman. The seminary building was finally completed in November 1874. (Commemorative Book, Archdiocese of Jaro, 1951). The square-shaped Spanish colonial building (measuring 70 meters at each side) was made of stone and wood with galvanized iron roof supported by 160 large beams. It was enclosed by a 235 meters by 110 meters masonry wall with a wrought iron gate in front of the facade of the building.(University of San Agustin Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Program,1979).

During the Filipino American War in 1899, the Vincentian Fathers and the seminarians were expelled from the building by the American soldiers who occupied the seminary. After the war in 1903, the seminary resumed its operation. The entire building was reduced to ashes in a sudden fire in 1906. as a consequence, the seminary was housed temporarily in a building owned by Don Teodoro Benedicto. The building was immediately rebuilt and was almost completely finished in a year’s time. On September 17, 1907 the seminary was again able to house 100 interns. However, the construction continued until its full restoration in 1912.

Another tragic incident happened during the World War II. On February 20, 1942 the building was completely razed to the ground by the Japanese. It was not until 1950, five years after the war, that the new St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary building was constructed on the ruins of the bombed structure. This huge task was spearheaded by Most Rev. Mariano Cuenco, D.D., J.C.D.- the first prelate of Jaro who was raised to the rank of a Metropolitan Archbishop. The project was completed in June 1954. It is the same structure that still stands at present and continues to train seminarians who will soon serve as priests of the Archdiocese of Jaro.

Notable alumni

The seminary has produced hundreds of priests and many prelates for the Filipino Church. Among them were two Archbishops of Manila, Archbishop Gabriel Reyes, and Jaime Cardinal Sin.The seminary also counts among its alumni Graciano López Jaena, a national hero of the Philippines, and the local revolutionary hero during the war for independence, Martin Delgado.

References

* Henry F. Funtecha, "The Old Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer", http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/08/.