STF Brochure

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How Can I Help? In many ways. Firstly by praying for priestly vocations. Then by discovering possible candidates to the priest- hood among your relatives, children of friends, etc. Finally by contributing to the scholarship fund of STF. What is STF? STF is a young institution (incorporated in Manila in 1987) initiated by lay people who desire to offer to secular priests the opportunity to upgrade their forma- tion through a forum for their priestly concern.>. STF's main objectives are as follows: • Promote vocations to the priesthood in the different dioceses of the Philippines. • Extend all possible assistance for the spiritual well being of the priests, in order to help them persevere in the ministry. • Foster a climate of study and reflection among the clergy, for the continual upgrading of their theological knowledge. Promote an intense life of piety and of union with God. • Encourage a spirit of fraternal affection and mutual help among the diocesan priests. • Instill in the lay people a sense of responsibility to- wards their pastors. How is it done? STF operates through a permanent project, the Theo- logical Centrum (Te), a forum for secularpriests. TC is active in organizing seminars, encounters, discussions, as well as theological and spiritual conferences for secu- lar priests. It also engages in publications primarily to the clergy. STF is run by a Board of Trustees. The day-to-day operations ofTC are entrusted to an Executive Commit- tee. FUNDING The deficit of STF operations is covered by donations from persons of all walks of life. Address your donation to STUDIUM THEOLOGIAE FOUNDATION, INC. 5th Floor, Quad Alpha Centrum Bldg., 125 Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City Tel. No. 635-611 3 Telcfax 634-8 S90

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About Studium Theologiae Foundation, Inc.

Transcript of STF Brochure

How Can I Help?

In many ways. Firstly by praying for priestly vocations. Then by discovering possible candidates to the priest­hood among your relatives, children of friends, etc. Finally by contributing to the scholarship fund of STF.

What is STF?

STF is a young institution (incorporated in Manila in 1987) initiated by lay people who desire to offer to secular priests the opportunity to upgrade their forma­tion through a forum for their priestly concern.>. STF's main objectives are as follows:

• Promote vocations to the priesthood in the different dioceses of the Philippines.

• Extend all possible assistance for the spiritual well being of the priests, in order to help them persevere in the ministry.

• Foster a climate of study and reflection among the clergy, for the continual upgrading of their theological knowledge.

Promote an intense life ofpiety and ofunion with God.

• Encourage a spirit of fraternal affection and mutual help among the diocesan priests.

• Instill in the lay people a sense of responsibility to­wards their pastors.

How is it done?

STF operates through a permanent project, the Theo­logical Centrum (Te), a forum for secularpriests. TC is active in organizing seminars, encounters, discussions, as well as theological and spiritual conferences for secu­lar priests. It also engages in publications ad~ssed

primarily to the clergy. STF is run by a Board ofTrustees. The day-to-day

operations ofTC are entrusted to an Executive Commit­tee.

FUNDING

The deficit of STF operations is covered by donations from persons of all walks of life.

Address your donation to

STUDIUM THEOLOGIAE FOUNDATION, INC. 5th Floor, Quad Alpha Centrum Bldg.,

125 Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City

Tel. No. 635-611 3 Telcfax 634-8 S90

An Urgent Task Urging a Response

An urgent need for men ... who will carry on the Church's tradition in Holy Orders ... isacutt!yfeltin the Church oftoday. The words ofthe Lord echo in our ears as an urgent invitation: "Lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for the harvest: Pray there­fore the Lord ofthe harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

We must respond to this invitation with afaith that is filled with hope. For without specific, habitual, insistent, and trustful prayer, true work for vocations cannot exist. Our prayer must be filled with an interior willingness to collaborate actively in the promotion of vocations..."

JOlIN PAUL II Message for the World Day

of Prayer for Vocations 24 April 1988

...A Response that Needs the Combined Efforts of All

The need for a bener trained clergy is strongly felt in our country. Many efforts have been launched by the bier­archy to solve tbis problem. And yet, the need does not abate, but becomes even more pressing, because of the difficulties the Church has to confront in these modern times.

In some places catechists are prepared to fill the gap brought about by the shortage of priests. Even trained lay ministers are constituted to temporarily meet this shortage. But the reality is that only those in sacred orders can carry out the priestly ministry. Thus, the need to foster and to help bring to maturity more priestly vo­cations.

Ever since the Second Vatican Council, the laity has become more conscious of its responsibility. in the life of the Church. Laymen are urged to lend their active cooperation to promote priestly vocations. This can be done, for instance, by supporting initiatives to provide the clergy with a good ministerial training.

High Standards of Ministerial Training for the Filipino Clergy

The Studium Theologiae Foundation, Inc. (STF) col­laborates with the Roman Athenaeum of the Holy Cross (Rome) and with the University of Navarre (Spain) by offering scholarsbips to Filipino priests and seminari­ans, fro~ any diocese ofthe Philippines, who are sent by their Bishops to take further studies in:

• Sacred Theology • Ecclesiastical Philosophy • Canon Law

leading to the degrees ofbachelor, licentiate and doctor­ate, at the Roman Athenaeum or at the ecclesiastical fac­ulties of the University of Navarre. All academic degrees conferred by those institutions have full canoni­cal validity (i.e., are recognized by the Holy See as qualifying to hold teaching positions in seminaries and Ecclesiastical Universities and Colleges).

Where Do They Stay?

The Filipino priests who benefit from the STF scholar­sbip may avail, if they so wish in agreement with their bishops, of the residential facilities set up to look after their spiritual and material well being.

The seminarians are exposed to the bigh standards of scientific, spiritual, and human formation by forming part of International Seminaries (Sedes Sapientiae in Rome, and Bidasoa in Pamplona, Spain).

Who Manages the Ecclesiastical Faculties and International Seminaries?

The Personal Prelature of the Holy Cross.and Opus Dei looks after the doctrinal and spiritual orientation of the Roman Athenaeum of the Holy Cross in Rome, and of the University ofNavarre, as well as ofthe International Seminary Sedes Sapientiae in Rome and Bidasoa in Pamplona, Spain. This is carried out in a spirit ofservice. to the Universal Church and to all local churches.

Will the Scholars Come Back?

The diocesan seminarians and priests availing of the scholarship are always committed to come back to their diocese to minister under the jurisdiction oftheirbishop. The courses take two to four years, depending on the specialty, degree, and previous preparation. Average duration of their stay abroad is three years.

Is it Worthwhile to Send Filipino Scholars to Those Institutions?

It is an investment: a way of building the future of the Church in the Philippines, as well as in the entire Asia, since the Philippines is the only country in this part of the world where Catholics are majority.

The Scholars will:

• Acquire a deep scientific formation in their own disciplines, that will allow them to help train future formators for the diocesan seminaries in the Philip­pines. This has a clear multiplier effect, since we are training the trainers.

• Be taught to follow the guidance of the Magisterium of the Church in matters offaith and morals, always in union with the Pope and their own bishops. Fidel­ity to the perennial doctrine of the Church is stressed.

• Be given a solid spiritual and pastoral formation, stressing the importance of one's life of piety, of union with God, as the foundation of the priestly ministry.