Despite the presence of typhoon Egay, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal presided the Concelebrated Mass that marked the inauguration of the St. John Mary Vianney Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests last August 15.
Along with 15 other prelates, Rosales led the blessing of the 3-storey structure, whose construction was spearheaded by the CBCP Commission on Clergy since July last year. Within a year’s construction, the facilities include 58 bedrooms, 3 conference rooms, and a chapel.
“This is definitely the first of its kind in the Philippines and probably the first in Asia,” Rosales told the media.
Constructed in accordance with resolution of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, the St. John Mary Vianney Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests will serve as a “national center for renewal, where priests can come for an extended period of overall priestly renewal, especially after 15 or more years in the ministry.”
As regards the center’s name, CBCP Commission on Clergy director Msgr. Chito Bernardo said it is just appropriate for the center be named after the patron saint of the priests.
“It is hoped that during their stay in this center, the priests-participants will be inspired to aspire for the quality of life that this patron had shown in his lifetime, especially the apostolic zeal in the ministry combined with holiness and simplicity of life,” Bernardo said.
Meanwhile, Rosales said the inclusion of Galilee in the center’s name suggests a strong sense of discipleship.
“Galilee is where discipleship started and will be restored. Here, every priest will have a Galilee to start from and look forward to,” Rosales said.
The services offered in the center include an Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR) for priests, a 3-month community life experience for deeper integration and processing of issues and needs; an Integrated Renewal Program (IRP) for Priests, a 5-week live-in experience of updating and renewal for priests 10 years and above in the ministry; and an AIR for Formators, a 2-month live-in experience for seminary fathers with focus on Human Formation training skills.
Other programs available are the Residency Program for the young clergy who have served for one to five years and the Value-Clarification Program for the junior clergy who have served for six to 10 years in the ministry. The center likewise caters to clergy serving for 18 to 24 years in the ministry, clergy serving for 25 years and up, and for the senior clergy who are about to retire.
Bernardo said the first batch to use the center and its facilities arrived last August 18 and is set to stay until this October. (Kris Bayos - CBCPNews.com)
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