The Pontificio Collegio Filippino (English: Pontifical Filipino College; Filipino: Dalubhasaang Pilipinong Pontipikal), officially named the Pontificio Collegio Seminario de Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (English: Pontifical College Seminary of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage; Latin: Seminarii Sanctae Mariae de Pace, et in Collegio s. Bon Voyage), is a college for diocesan priests from the Philippines studying at pontifical universities in Rome, Italy.
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| Latin: Seminarii Sanctae Mariae de Pace, et in Collegio s. Bon Voyage[citation needed] | |
| Motto | Sacerdotes Domini Vocabimini |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "...(ye) shall be named the Priests of the LORD..." (Isaiah 61:6) |
| Type | Roman Catholic Seminary; Continuing Formation Institute; Residence |
| Established | June 29, 1961 |
| Rector | Rev. Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston, S.Th.D. |
| Location | 490 Via Aurelia, Rome , |
| Affiliations | Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines |
| Website | www |
It was formally established as an institution with pontifical rights by Pope John XXIII on June 29, 1961, through the papal bull Sancta Mater Ecclesia.[1]
The current rector is the Rev. Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston, S.Th.D, succeeding Ruperto Santos who assumed office as fourth Bishop of Balanga in Bataan on July 8, 2010 three months after he became the diocese's bishop on April 1, 2010 as bishop-elect (later fifth Bishop of Antipolo since July 22, 2023).[2]
History
editCardinal Rufino Santos proposed establishing the college during the meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on January 26–31, 1959. His plan was supported by the Philippine bishops and approved by the Vatican.
On August 8, 1959, Pope John XXIII personally blessed the cornerstone for the building in the private study of his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. Cardinal Santos and Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See, José María Delgado, witnessed the event.
The following day, Cardinal Giuseppe Pizzardo laid the cornerstone on the site of the edifice in the presence of 70 cardinals, diplomats, superiors general, seminary and university rectors and other distinguished personalities.[3] Pope John XXIII blessed and inaugurated the modern edifice on October 7, 1961, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.[4]
Building
editThe Collegio is located at 490 Via Aurelia on a 238,933.44 square metres (285,762.02 sq yd) lot between the Collegio Pio-Brasiliano and the Villa Pacelli, in a suburb of Rome. The four-story building was designed by Edoardo Cherubini in a 1960s contemporary design.
Design of the crypt chapel altar
editIn celebration of the canonization of Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint, on October 21, 2012, a commemorative retablo was made by Filipino sculptor Wilfredo Layug from Betis, Guagua, Pampanga[5] for the chapel at the crypt of the Collegio. It depicts both Calungsod and the first Filipino saint, Lorenzo Ruiz.
Ruiz was executed in Nagasaki, Japan in 1637, while Calungsod was killed together with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in 1672 in Tumhon, Guam.[5] In the mural of Calungsod, Layug carved the image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Patroness of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino.
Both relleba (relief murals) of the retablo depict both saints being tortured by pagans to force them to renounce their faith.
The angels are Filipina women garbed in baro and saya (native Filipino blouse and skirt), done in estofado, a detailed carving style that gives the image the look of real clothes.[5] Bamboo is a constant motif in the retablo.[5]
Older coats of arms
editReferences
edit- ^ Pope John XXIII, Apostolic Letter Establishing the Pontifical Filipino College Sancta Mater Ecclesia (29 June 1961), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 53 (1961), 608-609. De Pontificio Collegio pro sacrorum alumnis Philippinis in Urbe condendo sub titulo « de Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje », cuius Statuta approbantur.
- ^ Vatican picks new Filipino college rector, www.ucanews.com
- ^ A document deposited in the cornerstone testifies that His Eminence, Giuseppe Cardinal Pizzardo, suburban Bishop of Albano and prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities, solemnly laid the cornerstone of the new College-Seminary, dedicated to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, destined to welcome the Filipino young men who, endowed with science and strong faith, under the shadows of Peter and the tombs of the Martyrs, will one day go back to their country to diffuse this treasury of faith to those under their care.Cf. Pontificio Collegio Filippino Archived 2005-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, www.rc.net
- ^ Pope John XXIII spoke of the mission of Pontificio Collegio Filippino during the inauguration saying: This Pontifical Seminary therefore is both a Roman and Philippine College; for here, that is, near the Chair of Peter and the summit of the Church, your young ones divinely called to take on sacred functions, will draw faith and science from the genuine and rich font. Fully imbued with this they shall return to their people as beloved heralds of truth. That is why these buildings destined for the formation of your students of sacred sciences will be like channels by which the catholic life will be promoted among you and the bond by which the Philippines, a Nation so very dear to us, will more intensely be linked with the supreme magisterium of the Church. Cf. Ibid.
- ^ a b c d "Rome tableau shows images of Filipino saints".