Quezon City, Philippines. With hearts full of gratitude, the Claretian Missionaries of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province formally welcomed 26 new seminarians into the Saint Anthony Mary Claret Seminary on August 2, 2025, a day celebrated within the Jubilee Year of Hope.
This official acceptance marks the culmination of a month-long English Camp and the beginning of the seminarians’ formational journey. At the seminary, they will be nurtured in the four pillars of missionary life: prayer, community, academics, and apostolate.
The Prefect of Formation, Fr. Mauricio T. Ulep, CMF, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Concelebrating with him were Fr. Saw Jimmy Htwe, CMF, and Fr. Eduardo Ricaborda, CMF. The atmosphere was both solemn and joyful, enriched by the presence of senior seminarians, the Religious of Mary Immaculate Claretian Missionary Sisters, and some regular mass-goers, who also joined the celebration, making the celebration solemn and joyful.
In his homily, Fr. Mauricio T. Ulep emphasized the theme of new beginnings.
“Life is full of beginnings, and today, you are beginning a new life as Claretian seminarians.”
He highlighted the timeliness of their journey starting in the Jubilee Year of Hope, urging the new seminarians to be signs of hope for the Church, the Congregation, and all of God’s people.
Fr. Mauricio encouraged them to persevere through the difficulties and challenges ahead. He advised them to remain rooted in Christ by cultivating an intimate relationship with the Lord. Addressing the senior seminarians and the congregation, Fr. Mauricio humbly asked for their prayers and support, so that the new members might witness true fraternity and synodality within the community.
Following the homily, the Rite of Acceptance took place. Each new seminarian was presented with a breviary, containing the official liturgical prayers of the Church, and a copy of the Mirror of the Young Claretian Missionaries. This handbook guides their growth in the footsteps of the Father Founder, Saint Anthony Mary Claret. As a final gesture, Fr. Mauricio, Fr. Jimmy, and Fr. Eduardo welcomed each seminarian with a fraternal embrace, signifying their official acceptance into the Claret Seminary family.
After the Mass, the community shared a joyful meal of pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup graciously prepared by several Vietnamese seminarians.
Let us pray for these new seminarians. May they be rooted in God’s love, be signs of hope, and follow Jesus faithfully and wholeheartedly on their journey.
Written by Sem. Nguyen Minh
