admission

Message to the CSQC Personnel
During the Mass and Turn-Over Activity
May 13, 2009
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

During the deliberation of the different pastoral activities and alignment of personnel, the Father Provincial assigned me to take over the pastoral responsibility of Claret School of Quezon City as School Director. I just kept silent then because I knew the great task involved in being part of the ministry of thousands of people in the school community: personnel, teachers, students, parents, alumni, and the beneficiaries of the community outreach program.

However, I found great consolation in realizing that I will not be alone after all in this ministry. I have the full support of the Provincial Council and the rest of my brothers in the congregation; the trust and confidence of the school administrators; and the high regard of the Claretian educators who embrace the spirit of Saint Anthony Mary Claret. We are also blessed with the presence of Fr. Santiago Gonzalez, CMF, the first and the longest-serving School Director who served this school from the time it was founded in 1967 until 198I.

I requested Fr. Gonzalez to preside over today’s Holy Eucharist as our way of showing gratitude and recognition to the invaluable service and dedication of all those who have been instrumental in the foundation of this ministry of education. Moreover, the presence of the Provincial Superior, the Spiritual Directors, the outgoing School Director, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Priest shows that we can work as a team. Plus with your collaboration and everyone’s concerted effort, we can carry out this ministry together.

With all sincerity, I thank each one of you for accepting the great task which we have been called for as educators.

In 2006, when I was elected Prefect of Apostolate and member of the Provincial Council of the Claretian Congregation and at the same time, concurrent member of the Claret School of Quezon City Board of Trustees. My first task then was to revitalize the Association of Claret Schools in the Philippines, Inc (ACSPI) in order to carry out the noble objectives of the group. This is actually an offshoot of the 1st Congress of the Claretian Educators that was held in Sto. Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The following year, I was assigned as Spiritual Director to the Claret College of Isabela in Basilan, my involvement in the Justice and Peace movement. It was then when I witnessed how the school can be an agent of dialogue and change. When the Province pushed for the active participation of the school’s Board of Trustees, I have come to understand more the challenge in taking seriously the school apostolate.

On July 21-29, 2008, I was sent as a delegate of the Congregation to the 2nd World Congress of Claretian Educators in Vic, Barcelona, Spain. It was during this congress when I met Fr. Miguel Mialet, CMF, one of the pioneers of CSQC. In that conference, without even asking for my name, his first question was: “How is the school?” This gave me the impression of his eagerness to hear about the school which he helped to put up and which must have brought back to him the memories of his education ministry.

The theme of that Congress was “The Identity of the Claretian Educator in the Light of the Charism of Claret in Education.” There were three main issues discussed in the congress: first, was the charism of Claret in education; second, the identity of a Claretian educator; and third, the role of Claret schools in the field of evangelization.

At this point, I would like to lead you into reflections in the light of today’s Gospel taken from John 15:1-8. Jesus spoke to His disciples in three pictures. First, “I am the true vine”. Second, “My Father is the vine grower”. Third, ”You are the branches”.

First reflection: “I am the true vine.” The charism of Claret in education can really be traced from the condition of His time. He was born in the rural context which calls for a direct evangelization. That is why the first task of the Claretian educator is to catechise the people. There is a need for evangelization. Saint Anthony Mary Claret got involved in publication in view of faith instruction. He wrote books such as the Instruction on the Schoolboy, Instruction on the Schoolgirl, and Vocation of the Youth. For Claret, “a good Christian instruction guarantees good education.” A true Claretian education is always connected to Jesus who is the true vine.

“As long as you remain in me and I in you, you can bear much fruit; but apart from me, you can do nothing.”

Second Reflection: “My Father is the vine grower." A Claretian educator is best known for his commitment to serve and to allow himself or herself to be pruned, the submission to the formative process of an educator. Thus, the task of education means a pastoral responsibility. We are not only teachers, but educators as well. We are not only workers, but missionaries. We are here not only to strive and gain power, but to serve and love. Claret, in his letter to the Queen of Spain, wrote: “We do not leave the task of education into the hands of the speculators as if a merchandise...” He took the opportunity of power as the Confessor to the Queen not for himself, but in the service of mission in the field of education. He pushed for the education of the poor and abandoned children as pastoral intervention with ecclesial and missionary dimension. Jesus is our greatest mentor and teacher for He shows us the ultimate obedience to the Father by submitting to die on the cross to teach us the highest form of love.

Third Reflection: “You are the branches.” The task of Claretian education is evangelization. The school exists to evangelize. It is good to know that Claret School of Quezon City has embraced the value expressions of compassion, humility, excellence, empowerment, respect and service (CHEERS). Compassion means to have the passion to carry out the task of Christian education beginning from the administration down to the rank and file employees. Humility means being humble enough to accept our own weaknesses and to move on with the strength of reconciliation. Excellence penetrates our way of leadership, our commitment to service, and the manner of educating our students. Empowerment is not power struggle, but power sharing through leadership by example. Respect for life instills respect among ourselves and to the entire school community. We have enough good and committed people to inspire those in the state of mediocrity and discouragement. Service is not only what we can give to others but to be aware of the reason of our foundation, our philosophy of education, our tradition of excellence, our commitment to this ministry of education and our task of evangelization.

This School Year 2009-2010, our main thrust is “Integrity, Commitment and Change.” Let us make integrity as the foundation, commitment as pillar, with the vision for change.

Today, as we mark the start of a new school year with this Eucharistic celebration, we begin a great enterprise!

Jesus said: “My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit: it is then that you become my disciples.”

Message to the CSQC Students’ General Assembly
June 9, 2009

When St. Anthony Mary Claret founded the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, his opening challenge to his co–founders was: “Today, we begin a great enterprise.” By saying this, he meant that we have a great task of carrying the mission. We are all part of the mission.

Claretian students, young as you are, you are counted. You are also part of the mission which St. Anthony Mary Claret had started.

In this educational institution, we welcome you first of all, as students. But beyond being students, we welcome you as persons willing and capable of formation. We are here not as your superiors to check on your faults, but as your parents, to guide you in your journey through life. As your mentors, we are here to lead you, to form you in our pursuit of one vision, one mission and one direction. We all belong to one Claretian family, something which we are proud of.

This school year, the thrust of the school is “Integrity, Commitment and Change!” Let us commit ourselves to achieve these goals concretely.

Integrity is not only expected among administrators and teachers, but also of the entire school community. The philosopher Albert Camus once said, “Integrity has no need of rules.” But in Claret School of Quezon City, we are guided by these words: SCIENTIA MAXIME CUM VIRTUTE translated as KNOWLEDGE IS BEST WITH VIRTUE. This motto embodies the search for knowledge and promotion of intellectual growth which is made more sublime with the practice of virtues. “Ang isang Claretianong estudyante ay matalino at magalang, magaling at may malasakit sa kapwa.”

Commitment is a call for each one of us to strive to follow Christ as we pray, work, and endure for the greater glory of God. Commitment entails responsibility. If love is a human need to be with others, responsibility is also a human need to be for others. Being committed demands the fulfilment of being with others and for others. Thus, we expect you to show fidelity to the school policies and share equal duties and responsibilities towards the smooth operations of our institution.

They say that the best Change is the change from within. While it is true that “change begins from us”, it is also true that “change from others can inspire us”. Let us commit ourselves to be responsible and help build a community where change is always possible. By so doing, let us inspire one another.

The target of Christian education is to form the values of the Gospel. For us here at Claret School, we promote the values expressions of compassion for the poor, humility to share our talents, excellence in all aspects, empowerment of the weak, respect for life and others, and service to the community, represented by the acronym CHEERS. And so I say CHEERS to all!

Welcome to Claret School of Quezon City. Welcome to the Claretian family. Let us bring our beloved institution to the pedestal marked by knowledge and virtues. As what Saint Anthony Mary Claret said, “Let us begin a great enterprise.”

God bless you all.