IY seminarians and aspirants for year 2022
By Catherine Wan
Mar 5 2022
SEMINARIAN Samuel Bernard, who was tested positive with the COVID-19 after attending his father’s burial service recently and quarantined at the government’s quarantine centre, had to delay his registration for Initiation Year (IY) for the opening of the academic year Feb 6.
Bernard, 32, hails from Tuaran. He was a teacher by profession. Just as his priestly formation journey began, he suffered the loss of his father, who passed away on Jan 23 this year.
Besides his personal loss, the outbreak of the pandemic two years ago has also posed challenges to his decision for the priesthood vocation. Although half of the classes were conducted online while he was an aspirant in the Aspirant Formation House during the enforced pandemic lockdown, he has forged ahead in his journey of priesthood formation.
For new Seminarian Jeremia Dumingu, 29, the pandemic lockdown was like prison life devoid of any outdoor activities.
But these restrictions have benefited him as he struggled to overcome the challenges of the unprecedented pandemic. He found ample time to study, pray and meditate, and as a consequence, he was rewarded with a steadfast prayer life, and secured a pass in his MUET examination, which happened to be his second attempt.
Sem Samuel Bernard (left) and Sem Jeremia Dumingu
Fully aware of the struggles and challenges of the seminarians and aspirants, Archbishop John Wong urged the seminarians and aspirants to allow God’s Word to guide them. With encouraging words such as these, he spoke to the archdiocesan candidates for priesthood during the Mass for the opening of the academic year Feb 24.
He suggested three ways to allow God’s Word to guide them: 1) cut off from whatever obstructs us from coming closer to God, 2) be salt, but 3) first be salted by Jesus and have peace with one another. In sum, they are to allow God’s Word to guide them and to inspire them daily to be salt and light of the world.
The spiritual directors for IY and Aspirant Formation Houses. Fr Mattheus Luta and Fr Isidore Gilbert respectively, together with Sacred Heart Cathedral parish priest Fr Paul Lo, concelebrated the Mass with the prelate.
Archbishop Wong is giving his homily during the Mass
Also at the event were invited guests comprising volunteer MUET lecturers and some members from the OCDS from the nearby Camel community.
During speech time at the fellowship after Mass, the Archbishop thanked God for His generosity in calling 21 young men – nine from Initiation Year and 12 from Aspirancy – to be formed in different stages of formation and to partake in the building of God’s Kingdom.
Fr Mattheus informed that no proper opening ceremony was able to be organized for the past two years due to the pandemic. Even for this year’s opening, the event was postponed from Feb 18 to Feb 24 due to some aspirants undergoing quarantine.
Fr Mattheus touched on the document “Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis” concerning Priestly Formation.
There are four stages, namely, propaedeutic stage or initiation year stage, the stage of philosophical studies or discipleship, the stage of theological studies or configuration, and the pastoral stage or vocational synthesis, said the spiritual director.
He concluded on a hopeful note that the seminarians would be formed to be “a priest after the heart of Jesus”, that is, to be another Christ (Alter Christus), and asked for continuous prayer for the seminarians.
