We can undoubtedly consider it a sacrilege when an institutional activity does not start with a Holy Mass. In reality, though all the world seem to turn its back on the Lordโs altar, the Saint Joseph College Educative Family preserves its members through the divine sacrifice and never fails to manifest that the perpetuation of Calvary has become second nature to her.
Year after year, each February, the institution celebrates with pomp and jubilation the anniversary of its foundation. This year is SJCโs 98th anniversary and the excitement for the coming centennial is already filling the air.
The activities started with a morning Mass at the Maasin Cathedral, offered by no less than the school president himself, the Very Reverend Monsignor Oscar Cadayona. In his homily, the good monsignor stressed the importance of recognizing Jesus just like the people at Genesareth in the gospel and that recognizing every role as essential and important is a way of building the schoolโs legacy.
This homily of his is perhaps also a lesson to learn from when legacy is continually built without the recognition of the past, as is commonplace these days. The sacrifices of those came before us which bore good fruit โ many of which we still enjoy today is a point of reflection worthy of attention.
To build a lasting legacy is like forging out of the molten steel that one has. As for us Josephinians, academic rigor and the hardships of formal education repeatedly hammers us to form something precious. And what better surface to build this legacy than a sturdy anvil โ the firm anvil of the sanctuary, upon the altar of the Lord.
________
Words: John Russel Manlangit | The Josephinian
