Tagaytay City—Last September 28, 2023, during the fourth day of the ASPAC Zonal Meeting held at the SVD Laudato Si’ Farm last September 25 to 30, 2023, SVD mission secretaries gathered at Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS) for an evening of spiritual reflection and fellowship.
The event was a meaningful occasion that brought together mission leaders from the Asia-Pacific Zone of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
The evening commenced with a solemn Holy Mass held at the DWIMS Chapel, presided over by Rev. Fr. Albert Ziem, SVD, a DWIMS licentiate graduate and doctoral student.
In his homily, Fr. Ziem focused on the feast day of San Lorenzo Ruiz and drew inspiration from the Gospel of the Day, highlighting the importance of John the Baptist's mission. He emphasized the relevance of DWIMS in the context of missionary work, guided by the virtue of San Lorenzo Ruiz.
The Mass choir, composed of deacons from the SVD Tagaytay Community in their fourth year of formation, provided a beautiful musical backdrop to the worship service. The attendees included ASPAC mission secretaries, DWIMS resident students, lay partners, postulants, and SVD Tagaytay Community confreres.
Following the Holy Mass, Rev. Fr. Samuel "Sam" Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, Director of DWIMS, Executive Director of the SVD Farm, and Rector of the SVD-Tagaytay Community, delivered a heartfelt message. Fr. Sam expressed his hope that DWIMS would be promoted by the ASPAC mission secretaries in their respective provinces, encouraging them to send students to study at DWIMS, thus fostering the growth of missionary work in the region.
The event continued with inspiring testimonies from DWIMS alumni. Rev. Fr. Stephen Pakit, SVD, shared his experiences as a DWIMS licentiate student from Myanmar, while Ms. Sylda Teves, an alumna of DWIMS CMS, recounted her educational journey at the institute.
The evening culminated in a delightful dinner soiree, hosted by Rev. Fr. Severo "Jong" Biton, Jr., SVD, Vice Rector of Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay (DWST). The gathering was filled with camaraderie and cultural exchange, as members of DWIMS and the SVD Tagaytay Community showcased various entertaining performances, offering a taste of the rich diversity within the SVD mission.
The ASPAC Zonal Meeting at DWIMS provided an opportunity for mission secretaries to strengthen their connections and deepen their commitment to the missionary work of the SVD in the Asia-Pacific region. It was a day marked by spirituality, reflection, and a sense of unity among those dedicated to the SVD mission.
As the event came to a close, the mission secretaries left DWIMS with renewed enthusiasm and a shared sense of purpose, ready to continue their vital mission work.