Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS) is a diocesan college seminary, located in Taloto, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines.

Overview The seminary was established in 1950 by Julio Rosales, Bishop of Tagbilaran, in implementation of Canon 1354, no. 2 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law.1917 Code of Canon Law JGray.org. Retrieved 22 December 2006.

It was first administered by the Divine Word Missionaries for a contract period of 10 years. IHMS has educated hundreds of diocesan and religious priests as well as lay alumni that served in different capacities in the Philippines and abroad.Paring Bol-anon, USA 1996 Reunion Program Intro

History On August 22, 1948, the cornerstone of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary was laid down, coinciding with the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. By July 16, 1949, the pillars of the building were constructed, and in 1950, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Minor Seminary was officially founded. In 1960, the diocesan clergy took over administration from the SVD, and the following year, the college department was opened. The minor seminary was gradually phased out in 1989. The seminary celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1990. On August 22, 2000, the Golden Jubilee was commemorated with the theme "Mary and the Priesthood and Evangelization." In June 2010, the Minor Seminary (High School Department) was reopened Administration Rectors of the Immaculate Heart of Mary SeminaryRev. Alphonse M. Mildner, SVD, 1950 – 1954 Rev. Fr. William Van Kuijik, SVD, 1954-1960Fr. Pelagio Dompor †, 1960–1972Fr. Fernandez †, 1972 – 1979Fr. Zacharias Jimenez, 1979-1983Fr. Clarito Rara, 1983-1984Most. Rev. Onesimo Gordoncillo, 1984-1985Fr. Alfredo Baquial, 1985-1988Fr. Bernardo Rañoa, 1988-1989; 1991-1994Fr. Cirilo Darunday, 1989-1991Fr. Avelino Vale, 1994-2000Fr. Victor Bompat, 2000-2001Fr. Martin Lupiba, 2001-2009Fr. Crisolito Geangan 2009-2012Fr. Jose Ramon Oncog, 2012-2016Fr. Valentino Pinlac, 2016-2018Msgr. Harold Parilla, 2018-2021 Fr. Absalon Florenosos, 2021-2025

Msgr. Efren Bongay, 2025-Present Rector – Rev. Fr. Absalon B. Florenosos MA Procurator – Rev. Fr. Garry Nathaniel G. Guiritan MTH Prefect of Discipline Discipleship Stage– Rev. Fr. Rommel H. Anico MA Spiritual Director Discipleship Stage – Rev. Fr. Bernadine Jade Dionne V. Balite MAPM Academic Dean Discipleship Stage – Rev. Fr. Jose Zeno Vincent O. Gucor MAT Prefect of Discipline Propaedeutic Department – Rev. Fr. Rey Carlo P. Sajulan RN Spiritual Director Propaedeutic Department - Rev. Fr. Expedito G. Rubio Jr. MA Prefect of Discipline High School Department – Rev. Fr. Christian Josua G. Florenosos MFMC Spiritual Director High School Department - Rev. Fr. Garry Nathaniel G. Guiritan MTH Registrar – Mrs. Bernadette Aguillo Cashier – Ms. Merce Lysa R. Balijon Disbursing Officer - Mr. Eusebio Varquez Bookkeeper - Mrs. Zoila E. Jimenez Music Director – Rev. Fr. Bernadine Jade Dionne V. Balite MAPM Principal High School Department – Mrs. Maria Annalissa J. Babera PhD

Traditions

Escudo or escutcheon

The shield, called escudo or escutcheon of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, its history and meaning was drafted by Bernard Fuertes. It was drawn and finalized by popular Tagbilaran artists, Ric Ramasola and Tony Arat in 1961.Bernard Fuertes. The Escudo or Escutcheon of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

The escudo or escutcheon has five (5) major elements. The "base" represents God's omnipotent power and grace protecting or shielding Mary from original sin– represented by the monogram "M". The "Flaming Heart" represents Mary's loving and maternal concern for the seminarians and professors of the seminary. It is surrounded by "Twelve Stars" -- adapted from her appearance to St. Bernadette of Lourdes in France telling her that "I am the Immaculate Conception," hence the title, Immaculate Heart of Mary, is adopted. Over the "escudo" is an open book representing the search for knowledge by the seminarians through diligent studies. It is highlighted by the "Burning Torch" representing the "lumen Christi," or the light of Christ, which is always given to those who earnestly seek for knowledge and truth.

The search for knowledge goes along with the cultivation of the following good habits (other authors call them virtues) that an IHM seminarian should endeavor to ultimately internalize such as Pietas or Piety means the habit or virtue of rendering respect and obedience not only to God's commandment and those of the Church but also to the laws of the State. Further, it means giving due respect and honor to both religious and civil superiors. Piety must be founded on the virtue of humility, without which the former would be nigh, impossible to achieve.

Scientia or Science, especially divine science, is the result of a continuous search for knowledge under the aid of divine guidance; Sanctitas or Holiness is a virtue that is a must for all, most especially for seminarians and God's ministers. According to traditional theology, it is a habit of not being involved too much in worldly affairs, although in reality living in the world. It corresponds to the pursuit of knowledge. The more unworldly have attained a higher degree of science and sanctity. That is why St. Thomas Aquinas is called the "Angelic Doctor" because he attained the highest degree of these virtues. He is thereby honored by the Church and made the Patron of Catholic schools.

The year 1950 represents the seminary's year of foundation by Bishop Julio Rosales of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. The circlets at the base of the monogram of Mary and at the bottom of the "escudo" is an abstract or idealistic representation of the Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbum Divini) or SVD whose fathers managed the seminary for the first 10 years of its existence under the first set of professors with Rev. Alphonse M. Mildner, SVD as Rector, together with Fr. Simeon O. Valerio (ret. Bishop of Calapan, Or. Mindoro), Fr. Victor Drewes and Fr. Victor Tunkel.

St. Joseph Vocation Society (SJVS)

The St. Joseph Vocation Society or SJVS is a scholarship foundation of the Diocese of Tagbilaran and IHMS. It was established in 1960 by Fr. Felix S. Zafra to support poor but deserving seminarians. Through the years, SJVS has sent many seminarians to the seminary who were ordained priests. Most of the Paring Bol-anon have received SJVS support. Funds come mainly from ordinary people through yearly house-to-house campaign by the seminarians. In 1989, SJVS launched a one-million-peso fund campaign. The Paring Bol-anon responded to the appeal. About two-thirds of the funds have been collected. In the United States, the proceeds of PB-USA Reunion dinners and concerts all go to the trust fund. Every year, the whole Paring Bol-anon offer masses for the intentions of SJVS benefactors and donors.

Music of the Jeduthun ensemble The Jeduthun Ensemble is the Schola Cantorum or the official choir of IHMS. Conducted by a priest Music Director, the Jeduthun serves as the backbone of all choral singing within the bounds of the seminary and its traditional yearly concert performed in the capital city for the local community. From in-house performances to town fiesta gigs, the Jeduthun Ensemble's reputation as a solid, high-quality, well-arranged, and conducted choral group has easily landed them, in the past, invitations to perform in other venues outside of Bohol, like Manila, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Mindanao. The IHMS' musical practices and tradition has been the seedbed of many musical successes among its alumni in the field of music, like the pioneering acts of the ABCD Quartet of the '60s, the celebrated Singing Priests of San Francisco in mid '80s, the well-choreographed Singing Priests of Louisiana in late '80s, and the high-powered Singing Priests of Tagbilaran (SPOT) in the late '90s. IHMS has also produced many prolific songwriters whom have won honors in different songwriters' competitions outside the seminary, while some others have even chosen the field of music as their field of profession and livelihood.

To date, Jeduthun Ensemble alumni have been in varying degrees a continuing presence in the field of music locally and internationally. While some have made it in the music business (see Jimmy Borja , Arnold Zamora), many of its priest-products (see Paring Bol-anon) have also demonstrated as much propensity in their musical pursuit as artists and producers in their respective rights. Like the pioneering Singing Priests of San Francisco, who released the first ever studio-recorded Paring Bol-anon albums, Inspirational Songs (1985) and Christmas in San Francisco (1986), it did not take long for others PBs to follow suit. In 1993, Fr. Roland Pacudan released 2 musical albums of original works in Hawaii with Citizens of the World and Roads of Life (1994).Fr. Roland Pacudan authored three books, one in 2009 entitled "Secundum Ordinem Vitae and two in 2010 entitled "Ego Sum Qui Sum and "Ordo Ab Chao". While in New Orleans, Fr. J. Roel Lungay produced four compilations of original songs written by him, and with other PBs like Frs. TQ Solis, Jr. Elpidio Biliran, Jr. and Arnold Zamora, with Mass of St. Rita (1993), Dear Jesus (1994), Music Revisited, Vol. 1 (1995) and One Heart, One Mind (1996). In 1998, spearheaded by nationally known composer and arranger, Fr. Arnold Zamora, the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran released their self-titled CD, SPOT, in San Francisco, while another longtime PB, in that same year, Msgr. Floro Arcamo, also of San Francisco, with the help of long-time confrere, Fr. Rolando Caverte, and Suzanne St. John, released, too, his debut solo album of cover songs titled, Songs of Faith And Inspiration (1998). These and all others truly highlight the musical achievements of Paring Bol-anons as well as other IHMS students which had its lowly beginning as alumni of the old Jeduthun Ensemble.

Jeduthun concerts and plays Sons of Jeduthun, IHMS Silver Jubilee Celebration 1975, Bohol Cultural Center Kura sa Cogon, IHMS Auditorium and selected Bohol municipalities, 1977 Jeduthun Ensemble, Bohol and Mindanao Tour, 1978 Jeduthun in Concert, Divine Word College of Tagbilaran and selected Bohol municipalities, 1979 Confido in Domino, Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Gymnasium, January 21-23, 1983 Ite Missa Est Eukaristikon , Divine Word College of Tagbilaran. 1987 The New Generation of Jeduthun, February, 1987, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the People Power EDSA Revolution Jeduthun Ensemble in Concert, a town-to-town Concert Tour in Bohol province and including one in Davao City, 1988 IHMS Ruby Jubilee Concert, IHMS Auditorium, 1990 Everlasting Light, Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Gymnasium, 1996 Hiusatlo, Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Gymnasium, 1997 Jubilaeum 2000 - IHMS Golden Jubilee Concert, Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Gymnasium, 2000

Lagdâ sa Pamuyô The Lagdâ sa Pamuyô, literally translated as "Handbook of Rules", contains the rules of discipline that prescribe the do's and don't's in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, or what should and should not be done.

Vocation tour Vocation tour was an annual 3-day tour around the Province of Bohol during the late 1970s. All the seminarians, both high school and college, together with the faculty-priests, are divided into 3 or 4 groups with each group assigned specific towns/municipalities to visit. The entire province is covered during the tour. The parish priest would host one group and would schedule them to visit the different parochial and public schools in the town. There the seminarians would talk about life in the seminary and render a presentation to the students, inviting them to enter the seminary.

Summer apostolate