For the second time graduation happens at SCCS in December.  For 23 fourth year college seminarians the school year 2007-08 – and college studies for that matter – ended with the graduation rites held last December 6 at the seminary auditorium.   Seven of the 23 graduates are Camillian formands. 

The much-awaited event began at 3:00 PM with the celebration of the Eucharist.  Fr. Ivo Anselmi, MI presided at the mass. The Camillian formators, the formators of the seminarians from other congregations and dioceses, and Fr. Boy Guinit, MI, spiritual director of the Camillian seminarians, concelebrated with Fr. Ivo. 

After the Mass, the Commencement Exercises followed promptly.  A significant highlight of the rites was the keynote address given by Fr. Alejandro Enriquez from the Diocese of Malolos.  Fr. Enriquez is himself an alumnus of SCCS. 

The graduating class has chosen the batch name Kristo.  In his welcome remarks, Fr. Rey Sentillas, SCCS Rector, pointed out two dimensions of the name.  “It is a privilege,” he explained, to be called by the name of the Lord, the Anointed One, the Center of our Christian and religious life.  At the same time, he stressed that the name represents a challenge, too.  He made it clear that whatever vocation the seminarians may end up living out in the future, the challenging call remains for each one of them – that of keeping Kristo the center of their lives.

Fr. Rey’s words apply surely to the Camillian graduates.  Graduation has occasioned the parting of ways for them.  Three have decided to follow a different drum, while four are proceeding to the novitiate.  Come January 2009, the four formands will begin their four-month long pre-novitiate formation program at the novitiate in Cogeo.