St. Alphonsus Theological & Mission Institute Foundation, Inc.

𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐌𝐈 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 | 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

With hearts full of gratitude, the SATMI Community joyfully celebrates the conclusion of the School Year 2025–2026 through a meaningful and memorable closing ceremony. The celebration begins with a Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Fr. Edilberto B. Cepe, CSsR, 𝑆𝐴𝑇𝑀𝐼 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟, together with Fr. Neil J. Badillo, OFM, 𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠; Fr. Sonny Umbac, CSsR, 𝑅𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟; Fr. Renee C. Dean, OFM, 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙; and Fr. Tran Van Cai, OFM.

This Eucharistic celebration serves as a moment of reflection and thanksgiving for the countless blessings, experiences, and growth shared throughout the academic year. It is a time to honor the dedication of the administrators, professors, staff, and students who have journeyed together in faith, learning, and service.

Following the Mass, the community gathers for a fellowship dinner, providing an opportunity to celebrate achievements, strengthen bonds, and share in the joy of another year completed. The evening stands as a testament to the spirit of unity, collaboration, and gratitude that defines the SATMI community.

As the school year comes to a close, may this celebration inspire renewed commitment, deeper faith, and continued service in the mission we all share.

𝐌𝐀𝐘 𝟓
𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐌𝐀'𝐀𝐌 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐒!
𝑆𝐴𝑇𝑀𝐼 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟

𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐌𝐈-𝐅𝐈 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟗 | 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐬

In our time, both in the Philippines and across the globe, the human family stands at a crossroads marked by uncertainty, suffering, and deep longing. Ongoing wars—such as the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and the recent war in Iran—continue to devastate lives, displace communities, and fracture already fragile hopes for peace. Closer to home, our people endure recurring climate-related disasters, widening economic inequalities, and the persistent wounds of corruption and injustice. The cries of the poor grow louder, even as their voices are often drowned out by misinformation and disinformation that distort the truth and erode trust. Meanwhile, our common home groans under the weight of ecological destruction, underscoring the urgency of care for creation as powerfully articulated in Laudato Si’

Amid this complex and often painful landscape, we are compelled to ask: 𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒? 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑤𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒? These are not merely abstract or speculative questions. They arise from the depths of lived experience: from communities struggling to rebuild after typhoons, from families fractured by migration or poverty, and from young people searching for meaning in a world that often feels unstable and uncertain.

This ninth volume of 𝑆𝐴𝑇𝑀𝐼 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑔 (2025-2026), with its theme “𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤: 𝐿𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑠,” enters precisely into this existential and theological terrain. Rather than offering facile answers or detached reflections, the contributions, gathered in this volume seek to uncover and articulate forms of hope that emerge “from below”—from the lived realities of suffering, resistance, and resilience among God’s people. In doing so, they invite us to rediscover hope not as a distant ideal, but as a dynamic and transformative force rooted in history, community, and faith.

𝐅𝐑. 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐎 𝐁. 𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐄, 𝐂𝐒𝐒𝐑, 𝐒𝐒𝐋
𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟-𝑖𝑛-𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑒𝑓

𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑 (𝐕𝐢𝐚 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦)

The St. Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute (SATMI), in consortium with Ateneo de Davao University, respectfully invites you to attend the 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐂. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳

Date: Saturday, 25 April 2026
Time: 1:45 PM

Via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 784 693 6284
Passcode: Synodality

Join us this afternoon. Thank you.

The administrators, faculty, student council, and staff conducted their second strategic planning session, facilitated by Mr. Sergio V. Opeña, Ph.D., Assistant Director of SATMI.

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐞́𝐫𝐢𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐂𝐒𝐒𝐑

The SATMI community had the privilege of welcoming Rogério Gomes, Superior General of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), for a meaningful conference that gathered members for a time of dialogue on the Redemptorist mission.

The gathering marked a significant moment for students, professors, and staff to listen to the insights and pastoral reflections of the Superior General, who currently leads the worldwide Redemptorist congregation. His visit offered the community an opportunity to engage more deeply with the congregation’s present direction and priorities as it continues to respond to the pastoral challenges of the modern world.

The conference also provided an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share reflections on their experiences. The event concluded with heartfelt gratitude for the visit of Fr. Gomes and for the encouragement he extended to the community. His words continue to inspire a renewed missionary zeal and a deeper commitment to serving those most in need, in fidelity to the Redemptorist tradition and the Gospel mission entrusted to the congregation.

𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲

✨ 𝐇𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧! ✨

“𝑯𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆; 𝑯𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒏, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.” — 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 𝟐𝟖:𝟔

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the triumph of hope over despair, and the promise of new beginnings. May your heart be filled with joy, peace, and everlasting light.

𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲

We pause in quiet reflection, remembering that even in moments of darkness and waiting, hope remains alive. May this day strengthen our faith as we prepare for the promise of new light. 🕊️

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲

On this Good Friday, we pause to reflect on sacrifice, love, and grace. May this day bring peace to your heart and remind you of the power of faith and hope. ✝️

𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

On this sacred day, may we remember the power of humility, love, and hearts filled with gratitude and faith.

Let us pause, reflect, and keep our hearts grounded in faith.