Saint Paul Seminary

| SPSF Celebrates the 112th Foundation Anniversary of the Society of Saint Paul

Silang, Cavite — On August 20, 2026, the Saint Paul Seminary Foundation (SPSF) and the Society of Saint Paul (SSP)–Silang Community celebrated the 112th Foundation Anniversary of the Society of Saint Paul through a Eucharistic celebration and community lunch.

The Holy Mass, offered in honor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, was presided over by Rev. Fr. Norman Melchor Peña Jr., SSP, and concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Leopoldo Botavara III, SSP; Rev. Fr. Micha Miguel Competente, SSP; and Rev. Fr. Ronel Soriano, SSP, together with the members of the community, aspirants, and students of Saint Paul Seminary Foundation.

In his homily, Fr. Norman reflected on seminary formation and community life through the concept of symbiosis, emphasizing how each member of the community contributes to and grows with the others. Drawing from the Gospel account of the parable of the wedding banquet, he also connected the invitation to the banquet with the reality of vocation—an invitation that calls each person to respond generously to God.

The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a community lunch at the seminary refectory, providing an opportunity for the community to celebrate together in thanksgiving for the Society of Saint Paul and its continuing mission.

Happy 112th Foundation Day to the Society of Saint Paul!

Today, we celebrate 112 years of the Pauline mission, founded by Blessed James Alberione on August 20, 1914, in Alba, Italy.

The Society of Saint Paul is a religious congregation of priests and consecrated lay members who, inspired by Saint Paul the Apostle, dedicate themselves to proclaiming Jesus Christ through the modern means of communication.

Our mission is to “live and give Jesus Christ, the Master, Way, Truth, and Life, to the people of today.” From the printing press to cinema, radio, television, audiovisual media, and now digital communication, the Paulines continue to use every means available to bring the Gospel to as many people as possible.

The Society of Saint Paul is part of the Pauline Family, founded by Blessed Alberione, together with the Daughters of Saint Paul, Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Apostoline Sisters, four secular institutes, and the Association of Pauline Cooperators.

Today, the Paulines are present in 38 countries, serving the Church through publishing, bookstores, journalism, audiovisual production, multimedia, digital communication, formation, and other apostolic works.

As Blessed James Alberione taught, our mission is to “do everyone the charity of truth.”

May the Pauline mission continue to bring Christ to the world through every means of communication. May we always be faithful to the spirit of our Founder and to the example of Saint Paul.

Happy Foundation Day, Society of Saint Paul!
Viva San Paolo! Viva la Famiglia Paolina!💙📖📡

Know more about the Society of Saint Paul: [www.paulus.net]

MEMORIAL OF SAINT HELENA

Today, we remember Saint Helena, a woman whose faith, devotion, and love for Christ became a powerful witness to the Church. Her life reminds us that true greatness is found not in earthly glory, but in faithfully seeking Christ and embracing the Cross.

May Saint Helena inspire us to remain steadfast in faith, to treasure the Cross of Christ, and to recognize the presence of God in every journey of our lives.

May the example of Saint Helena lead us closer to Christ and strengthen our hearts to carry our own crosses with faith, humility, and hope.

Saint Helena, pray for us!

MEMORIAL OF SAINT CLARE OF MONTEFALCO

Today, we remember Saint Clare of Montefalco, a woman whose life was deeply centered on Christ, prayer, sacrifice, and faithful love. Her profound devotion to the Passion of Christ reminds us that holiness begins with allowing Christ to dwell deeply within our hearts.

Saint Clare teaches us to carry Christ not only in our prayers, but also in the way we live, serve, and love others. May her example inspire us to remain faithful to the Lord and to keep our hearts fixed on Him amid every challenge.

As Saint Clare beautifully expressed:
“I have Christ crucified in my heart.”

May Saint Clare of Montefalco teach us to embrace Christ more deeply, to persevere in faith, and to make our hearts a dwelling place for Him.
Saint Clare of Montefalco, pray for us!

ICYMI | Batch 1 SSP Perpetually Professed Retreatants Join SPSF Seminarians for Pauline Visit and Agape

The first batch of the annual retreat of the perpetually professed members of the Society of Saint Paul (SSP) Philippine-Australia Province visited the Saint Paul Seminary Foundation (SPSF) on August 13, 2026, as part of their annual retreat activities the Pauline visit with the seminarians.

The perpetually professed members joined the SPSF seminarians for the Pauline Eucharistic Visit and Vespers, where Sem. Fr. Jones Balaba reflected on the Gospel of Matthew 18:21–19:1, focusing on the importance of forgiveness in community life, particularly in religious communities. He emphasized the immensity of God’s mercy and encouraged the seminarians and religious to extend the same mercy and forgiveness to one another.

Following the Pauline visit and Vespers, the SSP members, seminarians, and aspirants gathered for an agape and fellowship dinner. In his opening remarks, Rev. Fr. Norman Melchor Peña Jr., SSP, PhD, Rector and Dean of Studies of SPSF and Director of the Centre for Pauline Spirituality and Animation, highlighted the significance of the gathering in helping the aspirants become acquainted with the members of the Society.

Fr. Norman also encouraged the SSP members and the seminarians to recognize the continued life and mission of the Society despite the challenges it faces. He reminded the aspirants that they are not merely the future of the Society but its present hope.

The fellowship continued with performances prepared by the seminarians. All seminarians presented a dance number, while Sem. Jails Gregorio serenaded the gathering. The first-year seminarians and senior high school seminarians also performed the songs “Awit ng Paghahangad” and “I Will Sing Forever.”

The evening concluded with the seminarians, from the fourth-year class down to the senior high school level, introducing themselves to the perpetually professed members. The interaction provided an opportunity for the members and aspirants to know one another more personally and to strengthen the bond of fraternity within the Pauline family.

The annual visit forms part of the continuing relationship between the perpetually professed members of the Society of Saint Paul and the formation community of SPSF, bringing together generations of Paulines in prayer, fellowship, and shared mission.

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY🌹✨

Today, we celebrate the glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven—the fulfillment of God’s promise and the hope of our own destiny in Christ.

The Assumption reminds us that Mary, who faithfully followed her Son on earth, now shares fully in His glory. May her example inspire us to live with our hearts fixed on Heaven and to journey faithfully toward the Lord.

As Blessed James Alberione beautifully reminds us:

“The Assumption is a celebration that brings thoughts and desires of Paradise that are not easily forgotten. Paradise is beautiful and makes you smell its perfume even here.”
—FSP 31, 151

May Mary, Assumed into Heaven, lead us closer to her Son and awaken in us a deeper longing for the eternal joy of Paradise. 🙏🏻💙

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, pray for us!

"Wisdom establishes that friendship with God."

On August 12, 2026, the Saint Paul Seminary Foundation hosted D'Way: Discernment and Dharma — an academic dialogue between Medieval Thomistic thought and Hindu Dharma at the Tanghalang Timoteo Giaccardo.

Dr. Moses Aaron T. Angeles, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at San Beda University, delivered the keynote, "The Question of God and the Language of Being in the Scientia Divina of St. Thomas Aquinas."

One line from his talk captured the room:
"For Thomas Aquinas, the path of wisdom is the path of establishing pursuit and friendship of God... Imagine, if you want to befriend God, it's the path of wisdom. It's the friendship that we establish with God... The reason why Apollo declared Socrates as the wisest, because Socrates' life of wisdom makes him a friend of the great Apollo. And that's the reason why Thomas here is telling us that wisdom establishes that friendship with God. That's why your degrees in philosophy are not just that. It makes you a friend of God."

A reminder to every seminarian and student of philosophy: the pursuit of wisdom was never about credentials. It's a friendship worth living for.

ICYMI | D’Way: Thomistic Scientia Divina and Hindu Dharma; SPSF and CAS-SBU Sign MOA

SILANG, CAVITE — Saint Paul Seminary Foundation (SPSF) and the College of Arts and Sciences of San Beda University (CAS-SBU) formalized their academic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) during D’Way: Discernment and Dharma, an academic dialogue on Medieval Thomistic Thought and Hindu Dharma held on August 12, 2026, at the Tanghalang Timoteo Giaccardo.

The academic dialogue began with an opening prayer, the Philippine National Anthem, and the acknowledgment of guests and participants, followed by the opening remarks of Rev. Fr. Norman Melchor Peña Jr., SSP, PhD, Rector and Dean of Studies of SPSF.

The program proper followed with a lecture by Dr. Moses Aaron T. Angeles, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of San Beda University, entitled “The Question of God and the Language of Being in the Scientia Divina of St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Angeles began by revisiting the meaning of philosophy, contrasting the Greek understanding of philosophy as the “love of wisdom” with the Sanskrit concept of darshana, which he explained as seeing and understanding. He then proceeded to discuss the question of truth and its implications for philosophical inquiry before turning to the central place of God in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas.

The lecture focused on Aquinas’ understanding of God, including the relationship between faith and reason, the Five Ways, apophatic theology, and God as ipsum esse subsistens. Angeles emphasized that Aquinas’ inquiry does not simply attempt to construct a concept of God according to human understanding, but seeks to approach divine reality while recognizing the limitations of human knowledge.

Following the lecture, the Class of Philosophy 6 gave a presentation, followed by the reactor’s response. A round-table discussion then brought together Angeles, Dr. James Loreto C. Piscos as facilitator, and Fr. Peña, providing an opportunity for further discussion of the themes presented during the lecture.
The program continued with a presentation by Sem. Jairus Gregorio before moving to the signing of the MOA between CAS-SBU and SPSF.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Angeles for San Beda University and Fr. Peña for Saint Paul Seminary Foundation. Dr. Piscos, Full Professor VI of the Department of Social Sciences of San Beda University, and a representative of SPSF signed as witnesses.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will strengthen their academic cooperation through faculty exchange, scholarly collaboration, and future academic initiatives. The agreement specifically provides for Dr. Piscos to render teaching services at SPSF, sharing his expertise in History, Anthropology, and related disciplines.

The MOA also encourages collaborative research, academic conferences, seminars, faculty development activities, and joint scholarly publications in areas of mutual interest. Additional academic, research, extension, and formation projects may likewise be undertaken through mutual agreement.

The signing was followed by the giving of tokens to the participants and speakers. Dr. Piscos delivered the closing remarks, and the activity concluded with a closing prayer.
Through the MOA, the D’Way academic dialogue extended beyond a single scholarly gathering, establishing a formal framework for continued academic exchange between Saint Paul Seminary Foundation and the College of Arts and Sciences of San Beda University.

TOMORROW is D’WAY: DISCERNMENT AND DHARMA
A Dialogue Between Medieval Thomistic Thought and Hindu Dharma

The Saint Paul Seminary Foundation warmly invites you to D’Way: Discernment and Dharma, an academic dialogue exploring the encounter between Medieval Thomistic Thought and Hindu Dharma, particularly their respective approaches to God, being, and the search for truth.

🎙️ FEATURED TALK
“The Question of God and the Language of Being in the Scientia Divina of St. Thomas Aquinas”
Dr. Moses Aaron T. Angeles
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
San Beda University

📅 August 12, 2026 | Wednesday
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 NN (PHT)
📍 Tanghalang Timoteo Giccardo Auditorium
Saint Paul Seminary Foundation

The program will feature the main lecture, student presentations, a Round Table Discussion, and an Open Forum with the speaker and invited participants.

💻 JOIN US ONLINE
For guests who may be unable to attend in person, the event will also be available via Zoom.
🔗 Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 988 0637 1435
Passcode: 679058

Come and join us as we listen, reflect, and engage in meaningful dialogue across philosophical and religious traditions—seeking deeper understanding of God, being, and the human search for truth.

D’Way: Discernment and Dharma
Where traditions meet, questions deepen, and dialogue leads us toward truth.

Saint Paul Seminary Foundation
In the spirit of St. Paul, seeking truth and proclaiming the Gospel.