Vita Nostra

MARXISM AND CHRISTIANITY: CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO STOOLS “The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.” - Karl Marx And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul… but they had all things common. cf. Acts 4:32 Karl Marx and Frederick Engels saw Capitalism as an exploitation to the “working people” or the proletariat. There, they called for a revolutionary reformation with the existing socio-economic structure to ‘overthrow’ the bourgeoisie. Here, they termed it Marxism. As a process of class conflict and revolutionary struggle, Marxism is an undertaking that will result in victory for the proletariat and the establishment of a communist society and abolishment of private ownership. Engels eulogized Marxism in this way, “men must first all eat, drink, have shelter and clothing before they can pursue politics, science, art, religion and the like.” Christianity, on the other hand, is the religion of the Word of G...

AN EPISTLE TO A FRIEND I always thought you were the best I guess I always will.             I always felt that we were blest,             And I still feel that way still … If I have only one friend left, I wanted to be you. Hello there! Last Monthly Going Home when I listened to this song, I have remembered you. I seized the song with salutations and nostalgia. Yes, it was been a month that we hadn’t talked to. It was been a month of our unenviable and awkward moments. Yet, those stiff and quiet days seem to be the best days of my life. I enjoyed my life while seeing your struggles away from me. I haven’t appreciated your presence because I considered you as a ‘mental being’, as so as you to me. Our mode of life was changing and has changed us until we decided to concede each of our own pride last Seminarians’ Day. Our friendship has brought me to the extreme...

A GRAND DESIGN FOR A GREAT CREATION             The video clip Grand Design  begins with the short narration of progress in science, from Aristocus to quantum physics, emphasizing recent steps toward a “unified theory of everything.” Stephen Hawking, an astrophysicist, claims that the origin of the universe was governed by the laws of quantum physics, because in the first moments of Big Bang the universe was a particle of “quantum” singularity size. Thus, Big Bang is an extremely unstable event, actually resulting in billions of universes of which ours is only one. Thus our universe, and it’s incredible fine-tuning that enables human life, is not really unique at all. He also claims that it is simply “spontaneous creation” that explains why the universe exists. I, as a seminarian, as a philosopher and as a priest-to be, must use my faculty to think to give a counterattack to their postulates. There are so many reason...

TO 75 YEARS OF JOURNEY TO FAITH AND RESILIENCY Sem. Saturcito Velasco, Jr. T his year 2016 marks the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran. From the Christian faith has come over since 1595 here in the province of Bohol until this 21 st century, it has grown much and advanced into the erection of the twin dioceses in the province. As heart of the Diocese, the seminary official publication which is the heart of the seminary featured her mother. As we journey towards this Holy Jubilee Year of Celebration, let us have a view on what happened more than 75 years ago. Pre-Spanish Period In the seaside village of Bool, three kilometers from the center of today’s Tagbilaran City, DatuSikatuna with Miguel Lopez de Legaspi has sealed the first international treaty of friendship in Philippine territory. It has been sealed and immortalized in the diocese’s coat of arms and the province’s official seal. Spreading the first missions o...

SATURATED Sem. Saturcito Velasco, Jr. E very time I do my vocation campaign in schools, I always ask the students on how they define love. Some students say that love is like a bubblegum, when it sticks to you, I will make you crazy. Others say that love is a strong feeling towards man and woman and vice versa. Others say that love is no forever. Others say that love is God. Youth nowadays keeps on finding love wherever they go. Including me, I made my posts on my facebook and instagram but still don’t find love. If I could find love it is just ephemeral.             I remember a 50-year old churchman on one of the parishes where I was assigned. He is a lay minister, an altar server, an organist, a catechist, a speaker, a flower arranger and a meek and humble man. He’s incredible. He’s a father of three sons and a one daughter. All of his children are successful on their life. His eldest son is a seaman and ...

VOCATION TO SERVE Sem. Saturcito Velasco Jr. It has been my passion to serve our young leaders of today — kids.  I started my mission in 2010. I served as a volunteer youth catechist to the kids in our parish during summer. I preferred to teach the senior kids ages 10-12. I also served as a heart champ servant to the kids in the Couples for Family and Life- Kids for Family and Life. We went to the different mission areas of the CFC to hold a Kids Assembly. We taught the kids some songs, animations, and the basic catechism of the church. When I entered the seminary, my ministry to the kids was halted. In the seminary, service is also a part of our life, but it is not particularly for the kids. In our apostolate I have served a lot of people even those whom I do not even know. My happiness is great, but deep within me has stayed my longing to serve the kids once more. The opportunity for me came when we were planning how to celebrate the feast of our dormitory’s patron...

STORY OF MY LIFE Sem. Saturcito Velasco, Jr. I remember in my Summer Apostolate, A young “Inday” of St. James the Greater Parish in Batuan came and asked me, “Why are you a seminarian?” I had answered that question, hundreds of time before… after all, I have been a seminarian for three years… but this time, I wanted to give a better answer to a young “Inday”. “I am a seminarian.” “Yes.” I finally said, “I am a seminarian because God wants me to become a priest.” For the first time, I had felt at peace with my answer. In the past, I would say something like “I am a seminarian because I am called or because my father don’t want me to become a nun.”(Something weird) And then I would launch upon my story about when I was 11-years old. For when I was eleven, a catechist in our school began brainwashing me. I was studying at Bool Elementary School. She told me “Satur, why don’t you learn how to serve the mass?” I thought it was a good idea but the problem is wh...