About October last year, I received an invitation from San Jose Seminary for a meeting that will raise funds in order to fund the renovation of the seminary. The immediate question was "Why?" We all know that the seminary has a foundation. We all know that it has burses from donors. We all know that it was stable in funds. Well, that is not anymore the situation, according to Fr. Rector. While it is true that the foundation and the burses are able to help in the operation of the seminary, the capital expenditures do not come from those but from the Society of Jesus. But an instruction came from the society early this year that nothing will be given for the capital build up due to the worldwide international meltdown. It came at a time when the seminary needed it most.
The seminary buildings are in dire need of repairs. It needed attention on pipings, wirings, structures, etc. With nothing coming from the Society, Fr. Rector has to summon the alumni. Because my experience in raising funds and construction, I was selected to be part of the committee.
Instantly, my heart was moved. This project is much much important than building a church. The seminary is a house of formation for future priests. It is an essential structure and institution for the Church. If the ministry of the priesthood will be sustained, seminaries must remain in existence. Support for it needs no justification. In fact, supporting it is a big opportunity to show our love for the Church and her mission to participate in God's work of salvation. I was inspired and motivated to actively help in see to it that this project becomes a success. I was just too glad to help and honored to have been chosen. That is the least I could do for the institution that had been primarily responsible for my becoming a priest.
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