Don Bosco Missionary Seminary

Don Bosco Missionary Seminary (DBMS) is a Salesian House run by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB). It is located in Lawaan III Talisay City Cebu, Philippines. It was established to provide a Formation House for the Salesian Province of Mary Help of Christians (FIS) in the Philippines.

Organization

The Don Bosco Missionary Seminary organizational structure consists of four sectors: Aspirantate, Novitiate, Don Bosco Center for Lay Adult and Youth (DBCLAY), and Don Bosco Retreat House. Each sector is headed by a directing Salesian who in turn answers to the Rector of the House.

Mission Vision

We, at DBFC, are a community of Christ’s disciples, who offer a high quality of Christian and religious formation, especially to candidates to Salesian life through updated programs and processes that integrate human, spiritual and salesian values. Impassioned by the love of God and our zeal for souls, we carry on this mission with our lay mission partners by a joyful witness of our consecrated life, our animating presence with the young, and in an atmosphere of family spirit and fraternal sharing.

We envision… a community of well prepared formators dedicated in living the Da mihi animas, coetera tolle; a constant growth in the number of well-selected candidates increasing in perseverance, committed to serving the Church and society; a center for formation and renewal equipped with complete and high quality facilities; an active and well-coordinated educative pastoral community through a working SEPP.

History

A light on a hilltop, that is just what Don Bosco Missionary Seminary or DBMS is. Strategically located on a hilltop in Lawaan, Talisay, Cebu, it augurs for the south a seminary from where shall come forth missionaries bearing the light of the gospel.

DBMS rose up from an event so insignificant that the date almost slipped into oblivion. It was June 19, 1974. On the way back from an excursion, Fr. Edgardo Espiritu SDB, then rector of Don Bosco Boys Town, and a couple of boys dropped by the Sacred Heart Seminary. Signs of its closure were evident. Plants had grown wild, doors were locked, the chapel alone was open. Almost in the manner of St. John Bosco, the visitors joined together in a "Hail Mary".

That was the start of it all.

For this small group of boys became the kernel of the Don Bosco Missionary Seminary. For two years, the small group was housed in Don Bosco Boys Town but the growing number of seminarians prompted the superiors to look for better accommodations. Upon the advice of Don Eddie Aboitiz and the encouragement of Fr. Provincial, the superiors sifted through the facts and carried out negotiations. Finally on March 17, 1976, the Salesians occupied Lawaan.

The former Sacred Heart Seminary traces its origin way back in 1951 when Very Rev. Fr. Theodore Keet MSC, superior of the Society of the Sacred Heart, appointed Fr. Aor Steyger to open a seminary in the big convent of Opon, Mactan. A steady increase in the number of seminarians led to its transfer to Lawaan, Talisay in 1954. Fr. Antonio van Odyck collected the needed funds to start the construction work under the supervision of Bro. Hartog. On October 11 of the same year it was solemnly blessed by his Grace, Msgr. Julio Rosales. In 1959, a nice modern chapel with basement space for recreation hall was annexed to the building.

However, in 1966 fire caused by electrical wiring gutted down the wooden building. The chapel alone remained standing. A plea for assistance met generous response from the diocese and from Rome. In due time, a far bigger building of concrete rose over the ashes.

In 1968 the seminary opened its high school facilities to externs. Thus it served the educational needs of the area until in 1973, under the directorship of Fr. Pedro Arguillas, the seminary was transferred.

It was then that in Don Bosco Boys Town a new seminary was opened to serve the provinces of Southern Philippines. Just as a seminary was closing down, another one was coming up.

The seminary in Don Bosco Boys Town started in 1974 with 26 boys. Although it was entrusted to the care of the Boys Town community, 3 Salesians were directly in charge: Fr. Edgardo Espiritu, Fr. Aguedo Palomo and Bro. Mario Baclig.

The next school year, 1975, saw changes in the seminary staff to meet the rapid increase in vocations. Fr. Jaime Carmona, Bro. Tony Hopida and Bro. Eligio Santos teamed up with the 3 Salesians to handle the 46 major and minor seminarians.

Finally in the summer of 1976, the seminary branched out into two seminaries: one for candidates to the priesthood - the DBMS in Lawaan - and the other for the Salesian brothers - the SBS or Salesian Brothers Seminary in Don Bosco Boys' Town.

ectors and Offices

College Aspirantate

The Aspirantate of Don Bosco Missionary Seminary was once known as the College Seminary. It superseded the high school aspirantate when the Salesians decided to close down the high school aspirantate. The College Aspirantate was installed in Don Bosco Missionary Seminary last 2004. Don Bosco Formation Center, as it was named, was established in Don Bosco Technology Center for the formation of Salesian Brothers. It now serves as a formation center for Salesian vocations in college and in young professionals.

acred Heart Novitiate

The Sacred Heart Novitiate houses the novices from the north and south Philippine Salesian Provices (FIN and FIS), China and Japan Provinces, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea Mission Territories.

Don Bosco Retreat House

The Retreat House is found atop a hill, secluded from the noise of the city. It was built for providing affordable and reasonable accommodations for retreatants especially the poor. The Salesian community of DBMS caters to the needs of the retreat house.dfsf

Don Bosco Center for Lay Adults and Youth

DB-CLAY is one of the offices established by the Provincialate to cater to the needs of the province. It was established to cater to the formation of lay people. This includes lay youth and workers in the different Salesian settings of the province.

Mission-Vision

Don Bosco Center for Lay Adults and Youth is a Salesian Institute of formation for Lay Adults and Youth to become Christ-centered, empowered servant leaders, living witnesses and agents of transformation in the family, society, and the Church.

DB-CLAY commits itself to provide a Holistic Christian formation inspired by the spirit and example of St. John Bosco, to develop:

* Lay People to respond to the call of holiness;
* Members of the Salesian Family to grow in their Salesian vocation;
* Salesian lay mission partners to depen their involvement in the Salesian mission;
* Youth to grow into empowered servant leaders

alesian Community

The Salesian Community of Don Bosco Missionary Seminary is in charge of the administration of each Salesian House. The Provincial in-charge of the Salesian setting is responsible for the appointment of Salesians into the administrative functions of the house.

For the school year 2007-2008 the Salesian Community of DBMS includes the following:

* Fr. Roneldo Vilbar, SDB - Rector
* Fr. Godofredo Atienza - Novice Master
* Fr. John Cardinal, SDB - Prefect of Discipline to the Aspirants
* Fr. Randy Figuracion, SDB - Vocation Promoter
* Bro. Louie Damasian, SDB - Brother Assistant to the Aspirants
* Fr. Fidel Orendain, SDB - Social Communications Head
* Fr. Amelito Racelis, SDB - Administrator, Catechist to the Aspirants

ee also

Don Bosco

Salesians of Don Bosco

External links

* [http://sites.google.com/site/dbformationcenter DBFC Official Website]

* [http://www.angelfire.com/dbz/dbms DBMS Official Website]

* [http://www.donbosco-fis.org/ Salesians of Don Bosco FIS Province]

* [http://www.sdb.org Salesians of Don Bosco Official Website]