Thomasian priests from all over the country attendees the 83rd University of Santo Tomas Alumni Priests’ Association Homecoming held on February 20 and 21, 2018 at the Ballroom of the Paredes Building. This year’s homecoming event was hosted by the UST Faculty of Sacred Theology Batch 1993.
With the theme, “Thomasian Priests: Renewed ServantLeaders for the New Evangelization,” the celebration was an opportunity for the alumni to get together and reflect.
The opening Mass was celebrated at the Santîsimo Rosario Parish by Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, D.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. This was followed by a dinner program held at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
The opening remarks were delivered by UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio
V. Dagohoy, O.P., while UST Central Seminary Rector Rev. Fr Quirico T. Pedregosa, Jr., O.P., gave the welcome remarks.
Certificates of recognition were given to thirty-one jubilarians and two new Bishops, Most Rev. Mel Rey Uy, D.D., the Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena and Most Rev. Danilo Ulep, D.D., Bishop of Batanes. The awarding ceremony was followed by an acceptance speech delivered by Most Rev. Dennis C. Villarojo, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu, on behalf of the awardees. The Catacomb Band and the UST Singers performed.
On February 21, 2018, a conference talk that centered on the theme was delivered by Rev. Fr. Cielito Almazan, OFM, Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Province of San Pedro Bautista, at the Central Seminary Gymnasium.
The closing Mass celebrated at the Central Seminary Chapel by Most Rev. Mel Rey Uy, D.D., the Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena. The jubilarians were treated to a lunch at the Central Seminary Gymnasium, followed by the oath-taking of the newly ordained priests. To cap the two-day event, Rev. Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P. gave the closing remarks and words of gratitude.
