SVD Postulancy

Good evening everyone!

From March 16–20, 2026, here in the Postulancy, we postulants will have a five-day retreat for vocation discernment. During these days, we will spend time in silence, prayer, and reflection as we listen more deeply to God’s call in our lives.

After the retreat, we will make an important decision about whether we will continue pursuing the vocation to the priesthood. Because of this, we humbly ask for your prayers during this meaningful time of discernment.

Please include us in your prayers and ask the Lord to guide our hearts and minds so that we may clearly know His will and choose the path that He truly wants for us. Your prayers and support mean a lot to us in this journey of faith.

Thank you very much, and may God bless you all.

February 22, 2026

1st Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection - Matthew 4:1-11

In today’s Gospel, I would like to reflect on three points that resonated with me: temptation, commitment to a goal, and the nature of the goal itself.

Like Jesus in the Gospel, I have also encountered temptation. Perhaps the question I should ask is: What is my temptation? However, I realize that the focus should not only be on identifying my temptations, but also on how committed I am to my goal. Jesus encountered temptation, yet He remained fully committed to God the Father, obeying and trusting Him no matter what the challenges were. I hope I can be like that too.

This led me to ask: What should my goal be? I once devoted myself to the wrong goal, which brought harm to me and even to my neighbor. This experience taught me how crucial it is to discern whether a goal is truly good or not. Jesus’ purpose was to bring salvation to all, which I believe is truly good.

For me, I hope to become a religious person someday who can serve God wholeheartedly. I am not entirely sure if this is truly my goal, because in the past, I did not desire this. Perhaps my temptations were stronger then.

But over time, through faith in God and seminary formation, my mindset has changed. I have come to realize that happiness is not found only in married life or relationships with the opposite s*x; it can also be found in being a celibate follower of Jesus. For now, my only wish is that this goal is truly good and that I may be able to achieve it.

- Post. Wendel Cuizon

February 15,2026 - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Reflection (Mt. 5:17-37)

Bakit masarap ang bawal? Why is it easier to break the rules than to follow them?

A seminary can sometimes feel almost no different from the New Bilibid Prison. Countless rules seem to limit our freedom. At times, it feels as though every second of my life is dictated by regulations. Because of this, breaking even a single rule can feel strangely liberating. Yet in truth, these rules are not meant to confine us; they are meant to form and shape us for a greater purpose.

Bakit masarap ang bawal? The allure of breaking rules often arises from a sense of being restricted. When we view rules merely as limitations, rebelling against them can feel liberating. However, rules are meant to protect and guide us, not to imprison us. They are like traffic lights: they may appear restrictive, but they keep us safe and help us reach our destination.

The readings and the Gospel this Sunday invite us to look at God’s commandments more deeply, not merely to follow them to the letter, but to understand their spirit. True freedom is not the ability to do whatever I want, but the courage to do what is right. God’s commandments and moral teachings are not walls that prevent us from exercising our freedom. Rather, they are guides that enable us to live out authentic freedom by freeing us from the chains of sin that enslave us.

- Post. Ricardo Cuizon II

February 8, 2026

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reflection - Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

For a long time, I heard those words as a command, something to prove, something to live up to. Now, I hear them as a promise, something already true.

As the panganay, I lived what Filipino love quietly expects: to help, to provide, to sacrifice without complaint. I worked so my siblings could study. I carried responsibilities never spoken but always understood. I told myself this was gratitude for Tatay and Nanay, a way of repaying the years they carried me.

It was meaningful. But it was heavy.

There were days I felt like salt dissolving unnoticed in water. I smiled when needed. I endured in silence so my family would not feel my struggles. I thought holiness meant emptying myself without limits. I believed being salt meant disappearing for others.

But salt that disappears completely cannot preserve anything.

When I entered postulancy, formation slowly became healing. It was not only about discipline or routine, it was about remembering who I was. During our month of family immersion, I returned home not as provider, not as the strong eldest who carries everything, but simply as a son.

A reclaimed son.
A beloved son.

At this time, I spoke of what I had long hidden. I allowed myself to cry before them. And they listened, not with expectation, but with love. In that sacred encounter, I realized I never had to earn my place in our TAHANAN. I was already loved.

That was the moment my saltiness returned, not sharper, not bitter, but purer.

Jesus did not say, “Become salt.” He said, “You are salt.” My presence, authenticity, and healed heart are already flavor for others.

And the light? For years it glowed faintly beneath responsibility and fatigue. In formation, I learned that light must first be received before it can be given. Tatay and Nanay’s blessing became the oil that fuels my flame.

Now, among brothers of different cultures yet one PINTIG in vocation, I shine not by strength, but by presence.

Salt regains its taste when it is allowed to rest in the hands of God.
Light shines brightest when it remembers it was first lit by Love.

Today, I no longer fear losing my flavor, because I know who I am.

I am salt, not because I suffer, but because I love.
I am light, not because I am strong, but because I was first loved into brightness.

- Post. Johnzell Capacia

February 1, 2026

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 5:1-12

The gospel today talks about Jesus’ sermon on the mount or commonly known as the Beatitudes. One of the Beatitudes that says “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God,” rings a different tone for me and eventually strikes me. After reading the gospel I asked myself, “Where do I see God?”

Last December, I went home to have my vacation with my family. This vacation was different from my previous vacations. It was different because of these 3 magic words: Thank you, I am sorry, and I love you.

Before we went home, our formators gave us a task to do something during our vacation as part of the family immersion program of the postulancy. We needed to say 3 magic words to our family and relatives. At first it was awkward and uncomfortable but when I was able to finished those words especially the ‘I love you’ part, it felt like I was in love again for the first time. It has been a long time since I said “I love you” to someone and I felt happy to say it again.

I felt blessed because despite having an imperfect and simple family who encountered many unfortunate experience in the past the love for each other and the desire to seek God remains in us. Seeing them express their love for me and other members of the family in different ways makes me realize that love is always with us because God is always in our hearts despite of imperfections and the fact that we are all sinners, sets and example of this greatest love of all which is the love of God. Maybe I cannot see God physically, but in many ways, I already saw God through the love of my family and of other people.

If I would be asked what love is, I would refer to the first letter of John (1 John 4:7-21). Personally, I always carry in my heart this biblical phrase, ‘God is Love.’ It may be short and simple but it carries with it a powerful message for us all. May this first day of the month of February, as it is considered for us Filipinos as the month of love, remind us that God always loves us and He is with us always despite of the imperfections and cracks of our humanity.

St. Joseph Freinademetz once said, “The only language that can be understood by all the people is the language of love.”

- Post. Joswil Calixtro

January 25, 2026

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Reflection - Matthew 4:12-23

This Sunday is particularly special since it is National Bible Sunday. I, as an aspiring to become an SVD Missionaries, am being shaped to be a man of the word, to be sent to proclaim the word, and become the word in mission.
In the synagogues, Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah declaring the year of the Lord’s favor:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”
In this moment, Jesus is not just reading the text, but is making it come alive. For me, as a postulant, this is a huge challenge. I am coming to realize that a vocation is so much more than just the knowledge of scripture or the teachings of the Church. It is about the Word of God taking flesh in me. I, too, like Christ, will proclaim the Word, and my life will say, this scripture is fulfilled today.

Such awareness is indeed fulfilling. It is true that, before I go out and preach, the Word must evangelize me, and as I said, it must even unsettle me. It invites me to embrace a daily conversion, dismantles all my coping mechanisms, and brings to the surface all my deficiencies. There are days when I feel the gap between who I am and who I am supposed to be as a prophet, and yet, it is this very gap that nurtures my growth. The Word, I suppose, is the only of its kind that won’t be disappointed when I am not perfect, because it is simply part of my very own nature.

National Bible Sunday is a time for me to ask God to give me the grace to keep my focus on His Word, and to keep me muted when what I preach is not a reality in my life. May my lacks be silenced so that my faith can be amplified. May the Scriptures continue to transform my heart and my vocation, and send me out to wherever I need to go. May my life, like the title of the hymn, “pulse” the words of the prophet, to preach good news to the needy, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and to give life to the world.

- Post. Francis Vincent Bulias

January 18, 2026

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Reflection - John 1:29-34

As we celebrate the Feast of the Sto. Niño here in the Philippines, this Gospel serves as a deep reflection of every person's soul, reminding us that the "greatness" we seek is found only by stripping away our adult pretenses to embrace the radical dependence and holy "littleness" embodied by the Infant Jesus.
In the early stages of postulancy, the soul often feels like a construction site. We arrive at the seminary with suitcases packed not just with clothes, but with ambitions, certainties, and a subtle, perhaps unconscious, desire for spiritual "stature." We want to be the ones who pray the longest, understand the theology the deepest, and serve the most selflessly. We want, in the secret chambers of our hearts, to be "the greatest." It is into this quiet storm of ego that the Gospel of Matthew speaks with a piercing, counter intuitive clarity. Jesus does not offer a lecture on leadership but rather, He offers a living icon of dependency like that of a child.
To "turn and become like children" is the primary labor of my formation right now. Digging deep into my soul, I realize that my adult identity is often a fortress built to protect me from being vulnerable. I have spent years learning how to be self sufficient, how to project confidence, and how to hide my needs. Yet, the Gospel suggests that the gate to the Kingdom is too low for a man standing tall on his own merits. I must learn the "holy descent." This "turning" is a painful but necessary stripping away of the masks I wear even before God. It is a realization that before I can ever be a father to a parish or any community, I must first learn to be a son to the Father.
Humility, as this gospel suggests, is not a feeling of worthlessness, but a radical honesty about one’s size. A child does not pretend to be the source of their own life rather, they look to the parent for everything like food, protection, and identity. In this stage of my formation, I am discovering that my "greatness" does not lie in my future or current talents, but in the depth of my poverty. When I stop trying to "be someone" in the eyes of my formators or my peers, I finally have the space to be who I actually am: a "little one" whose entire existence is a gift from God.
This interior search also reveals how I view others. Jesus warns us not to despise one of these little ones. In the silence of the seminary I often catch myself judging the weaknesses I see in my brothers. The same weaknesses I despise in myself. If I cannot look upon my own fragility with the tenderness that God shows a child, I will never be able to look upon the brokenness of the world with the heart of Christ. To despise the "little" parts of my own soul which are the parts that are still afraid, still selfish, or still unformed, is to despise the very place where God wishes to dwell.
Ultimately, the Gospel reminds me that the "angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." This is the goal of the long years of formation ahead. It is not to become a religious professional, but to cultivate a gaze that never leaves the Father’s face. As a postulant, I am learning that the more I embrace my own littleness, the more I am lifted up. The descent into humility is actually the ascent into the Divine life. By becoming small enough to be held, I find that I am finally great enough to enter the Kingdom.

- Post. Ancel Zeus Bellen

In this beautiful season of love, the Postulants joyfully celebrate a Christmas party together with the Lee Family, sharing laughter, faith, and gratitude as one community. This celebration reminds us that Christmas is not only about the party, but about togetherness, generosity, and the love that unites us all.

One of the 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award honorees is Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD.
Together with the SVD Postulants, we celebrate this meaningful achievement. Fr. Flavie’s life of service and compassion inspires many to serve others with faith and love. This award is a reminder of his dedication to helping the poor and living out the mission of the Church.

January 11, 2026

The Baptism of the Lord Gospel Reflection - Matthew 3:13-17

The Gospel today reminded me of the people who were waiting with hope. At the beginning of a new year, my heart is filled with expectations, yet also with uncertainty. I know that not all my hopes will be fulfilled in the way I imagine, and this teaches me to trust more deeply in God. Still, I continue to make plans and set intentions, offering them to the Lord and praying that this year may be blessed and fruitful according to His will.

As I meditate on the meaning of baptism, I am reminded that preparing myself is not enough unless I allow God to truly transform me. Like the water of baptism, my efforts may cleanse the surface, but only God’s grace can purify my heart. John the Baptist’s words call me to humility and repentance, inviting me to surrender my life more fully to the working of the Holy Spirit.

When I contemplate Jesus being baptized and praying, I feel called to deepen my own life of prayer. Jesus began His mission in communion with the Father, and this inspires me to begin this new year by placing everything before God, my dreams, my struggles, my fears, and my hopes. In prayer, I learn to listen, to trust, and to allow God to guide my steps day by day.

The moment when heaven opens, and the Father proclaims, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” touches my soul. It reminds me that God’s love reaches even sinners and that, through His mercy, I am called His child. This truth strengthens my spirit, reminding me that my worth is not measured by my achievements or failures, but by God’s unchanging love.

This Gospel invites me to see the new year as a sacred beginning, a time of renewal, healing, and deeper faith. As I allow the Holy Spirit to lead me, I step forward with trust, believing that God walks with me, renews me, and remains faithful in every moment of the year ahead.

-Post. Jun Mars C. Asnajon

January 4, 2026

The Epiphany of the Lord Gospel Reflection - Matthew 2:1-12

In the Postulancy, my faith and my whole self are truly tested. At my age and situation, I know I should already be working, especially as a fresh graduate. But here I am, continuing my formation to follow Christ even when I do not know what will happen to me. In the Gospel of Matthew 2:1–12, I see myself in the journey of the wise men, they left their homes, searched, and trusted the light even when the path was unclear.

There are three things I want to reflect on from this Gospel: following Christ, offering myself, and allowing Christ to change me. Like the wise men on their journey, I too am called to trust, give, and be transformed.

Following Christ. Am I following the right call, or did I hear it wrong? These questions live in my heart every day. Sometimes I doubt if Christ truly called me. There are days when I lose hope. In the Postulancy, I face many problems. I worry about my parents, my siblings, and their situation at home. Can I really follow Christ in these circumstances? Yet, like the wise men who followed the star because they knew whom they were searching for Christ, I continue walking, trusting that His light guides me, even when the way is unclear.

Offering Myself. One of Fr. Jong’s homilies mentioned the song “Take and Receive,” which reminded me to offer myself fully to God. It says:

“Take and receive, O Lord, my liberty,
Take all my will, my mind, my memory.
All things I hold and all I own are Thine;
Thine was the gift, to Thee I all resigned.”
I ask myself: Can I truly give myself to Him? Looking back on my five years in the seminary, I see that God has never abandoned me. Like the wise men who offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh, I want to offer my life, my willingness to be shaped by Him.

Allowing Christ to Change Me. In the Postulancy, you cannot hide who you really are; everything eventually comes out. At first, I told myself not to take formation too seriously and just “go with the flow.” But I realized that Christ was inviting me to face the hidden burdens in my heart. Slowly, He is leading me to a new path, a changed heart, a more honest self, and a deeper faith. Like the wise men who returned home by a different route after meeting Jesus, I feel that Christ is guiding me to a transformed life.

From the story of the wise men, I see that my journey is also a journey of faith and trust. I know following Christ is not always easy, and I sometimes feel doubt and worry, but like the wise men, I keep moving forward, guided by His light. I want to offer myself fully to God because He has always been faithful to me. I also let Christ change me because I know formation is about opening my heart to Him. I see that every challenge and every burden is an opportunity for Christ to work in me. By trusting Him, giving myself, and letting Him transform me, I hope I can become the person God is calling me to be.

-Post. Roberto T. Superales Jr.

December 28, 2025

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Gospel Reflection - Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

As I reflect on the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, I see my own journey as a postulant mirrored in their experience. God called Joseph to leave everything familiar and enter a place he did not fully understand. In the same way, entering postulancy has asked me to step out of my comfort zone. There are moments when the path feels uncertain, new environment, new expectations, and the slow, quiet work of letting God form me. Like Joseph, I am invited to trust that God is leading me even when I cannot see the full map.

This Gospel reminds me that obedience is not blind submission, but listening with faith. Joseph heard the message of the angel and immediately acted. As a postulant now, I am challenged to obey in daily matters, community life, schedules, guidance of formators, and the demands of prayer. Sometimes obedience feels difficult, but it is the path that opens my heart to God’s voice. Joseph teaches me to obey not because everything is clear, but because I trust in the One who calls.

Lastly, Egypt was a place of hardship, but it was also the very place God used to protect Jesus. This tells me that God can turn uncomfortable seasons into moments of grace. The struggles I face in formation, the adjustments, the inner battles, the moments of doubt, are not signs that I am in the wrong place. Instead, they can be part of God’s hidden work of shaping me. What feels like “Egypt” today may later become the place where I discover my true growth.

Today, I ask for the grace to walk with God through uncertainty, to obey with trust, and to see purpose even in hardships. May I allow myself to be led, formed, and transformed, just as Joseph allowed God to lead him on the unfamiliar road to Egypt

-Post. Mark Nhel Versoza