SVD seminary in Tagaytay celebrates 50 years of 'Grace upon Grace'

The Divine Word Seminary - Tagaytay (DWST) is marking its 50th anniversary or Semicentennial this year and has chosen the theme: Grace upon Grace to celebrate its harvest of over 3,000 alumni coming from and fanning out to communities in the Philippines and around the world.

 

The DWST is a school of theology owned and administered by the Society of the Divine Word (Latin, Societas Verbi Divini or SVD) in the scenic city of Tagaytay in the Philippines. 

 

It is a mission seminary whose primary purpose is to prepare missionaries for both the Philippine and foreign missions. Its students, consisting mostly of seminarians preparing for the priesthood, come from a cluster of 18 autonomous affiliated houses of formation.

 

Semicentennial celebrations began on June 13, 2013 with a mass with Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of the Diocese of Imus presiding. The kick-off also had the first monthly theological symposium with Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD of the Diocese of Sorsogon. Both activities were held at the Holy Spirit Chapel at the DWST.

 

The monthly theological symposia will be held until March 2014. On September 21, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director-general Edicio dela Torre will deliver the keynote on "DWST and the Social Dimension of the Gospel: Implications for New Evangelization."

In March 2014, the DWST will have its grand alumni homecoming. The speaker on March 11 is Rev. Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD, who was Superior General from 2000 to 2012.  CNN senior Vatican analyst John L. Allen Jr. is the scheduled speaker on March 12. Allen is also a senior correspondent of the US-based National Catholic Reporter.

 

Updates for alumni, friends of the SVD and the general public are available on the Semicentennial Facebook page. 

 

The SVD is an international congregation of missionary priests and brothers. It was founded on September 8, 1875 in Steyl in the Netherlands by diocesan priest Arnold Janssen, who was canonized on October 5, 2003. The SVD has over 6,000 missionaries worldwide.

St. Arnold Janssen is also the founder of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters and of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters.

Rev. Fr. Heinz Kulüke is the current Superior General of the Divine Word Missionaries. He was the Superior of the Southern Province of the SVD in the Philippines (2005 - 2012) with its headquarters in Cebu City. Kulüke was University of San Carlos' Vice President for Academic Affairs (1997-1999) and Rector of the SVD Community at the USC (1996-2005).

 

The first SVD missionaries arrived in the Philippines in 1909. The first group of Tagaytay pioneers arrived at DWST on September 12, 1963.

 

An entry in the seminary's House Chronicle described Tagaytay back then:

 

"It is a dead city for there are very few people living here and very few houses. Perhaps it’s because of banditry and “hold-ups” which have occurred not too infrequently in the past. However the place itself is famous for its cool climate - much cooler than Manila but milder than Baguio. Indeed, it is a place conducive to prayer, study, and meditation. And, perhaps, this is one of the reasons why it has been chosen as the seedbed of the Major Department of the Philippine SVD. Tagaytay City is also noted for its scenic spots, e.g., the panoramic, breath-taking view of Taal Lake with its famous volcano standing majestically in the midst."

 

DWST offers the following degrees: (1) a four-year theology course; (2) Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus or S.T.B. – diploma comes from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome; (3) M. A. in Theology; (4) A.B. in Theology; and (5) Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS) directed mainly to the laity.

 

DWST also hosts a house of formation for the theology seminarians of the SVD-Philippines—the SVD Scholasticate.  - www.facebook.com/divinewordseminary50years