(The message given by Bro. Christopher Jed Cerera, OFM at the Closing Exercises on the 26th of March 2022)
Peace and all good!
Commencement ceremonies are significant events in the lives of all students. It affirms our devotion and achievement as competent learners. It is designed to mark the end of one phase of one’s life and the beginning of the next. It is also a time of transition – an advent of a new person as well as a new reality outside the four walls of the classrooms. This institution has conceivably prepared us, like cultivated and fertilized humus, for the world that awaits, to be planted by the seed of people’s experience of faith and hope – for them to grow and bear fruit. Therefore, today, we officially become agents of communion and partakers of Holy Trinity’s Mission.
Theology without practice is faith without works. It is purely an intellectual acrobat. It is distant. It is cold. It is lifeless. Henceforth, SATMI tried its very best not only to teach to become good theology students – that we could explain with clarity technical terms in theology, and that we could quote great theologians like Rahner, Schillebeeckx, Von Balthazar, and Ratzinger’s with ease and pride, but most importantly, SATMI formed us to become “theologians” ourselves. Theologians are not only producers of theological ideas but the ones who help give birth to the new theologies in the life and struggles of the people we serve.
The passage in the Gospel of St. Luke narrates to us the summary of our theme (Grateful to Serve) and the life that awaits us. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Lk 4:18-19). And in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, “now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:17-18). The Spirit is present to give us freedom, not to dominate ourselves and others, but to lead us in every step in rendering loving service through the various ministries that await us.
At this moment, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you on behalf of my co-graduates. I remember the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict IV addressed to Pope Francis on the occasion of his 65th priestly anniversary recalling the single word in the ordination memorial card of his friend Berger, a single word written in Greek: Eucharistomen. This word, in all of its facets, expresses everything that can be spoken at this time. Eucharistomen is also about human gratitude.
And so, foremost, our deepest gratitude to our Trinitarian God, the source of wisdom and understanding, the ground of our beings, and of all human relationships.
Our gratitude to SATMI for effectively preparing us in a spirit-filled environment in which we advance in theological and missionary zeal. To our very energetic, luminescent and witty SATMI Director Fr. Edilberto Cepe, CSsR, our brilliant and vibrant Dean of Studies Sr. Miriam Alejandrino, OSB, and to our esteemed professors for journeying with us in our academic endeavor, who in one way or another inspired and encouraged us to understand and be critical with our Catholic doctrines but remain unquestionably loyal to our Holy Mother Church. I would like also to convey my heartfelt thanks to our commencement speaker, Rev. Fr. Roque Rebito, SM who despite his busy schedules has found time for gracing us with his presence on this occasion imparting us beautiful words of wisdom and inspiration.
To our formators who co-journeyed with us in the religious path and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s directions and promptings. To our families and friends who have lovingly encouraged us to keep going especially when we encountered academic pressures and vocational crises. To our benefactors who are always there to support us morally and financially. To the faculty and staff who have been very patient and kind to meet our needs here at SATMI. To all the people at the peripheries – the true locus theologicus. To all of you, thank you, thank you very much for your untiring support in various ways that bring us to this point.
May the Lord bless us all.