The Philippine Jesuit Province celebrates this year the Golden Jubilee of its theologate which, in the five decades since it was established, has contributed to the intellectual and spiritual growth of 17 bishops, about 1,200 priests, 1,500 religious sisters and brothers, and 800 laypeople.
The Loyola School of Theology began as an institute of philosophy and theology, established on July 12, 1965 by Fr Horacio de la Costa SJ, then Provincial of the Philippine Jesuit Province. After one academic quarter at San Jose Seminary, it moved to the Ateneo de Manila University and became what is now the Loyola School of Theology (LST).
Today, LST is the primary Jesuit theologate teaching in the English language within the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific. It offers an Asian Theological Programme that seeks to respond more effectively to contemporary evangelical challenges by promoting a contextual approach to theology for the service of the Church in Asia and beyond.
The Loyola House of Studies (LHS) was opened at the same time, as a house of formation for Jesuits, and in the last 50 years, approximately 400 Jesuit scholastics have called it home.
On September 12, 2015, exactly 50 years from the day Loyola House of Studies and Loyola School of Theology were inaugurated by His Eminence Rufino Cardinal Santos in 1965, a sizeable crowd composed of Jesuits, LST students, faculty, alumni, benefactors and friends gathered at the LHS lobby to be part of another historic moment. With Acting Provincial Fr Bill Abbott SJ leading the rite, an exhibit marking the occasion was opened and blessed. The Jubilee exhibit, conceptualised and executed by Jesuit Scholastics Madz Tumbali and Martin Licup, generated a positive response from all present even though it is a work in progress. The first instalment included images from the inauguration, portraits of past rectors and presidents, and profiles of select LST faculty members.
From the exhibit, everyone moved to the Oratory of St Ignatius for the Eucharistic celebration that opened the Golden Jubilee Year for LHS and LST. His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle presided over the Mass joined by His Excellency Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao. Both are alumni of San Jose seminary and Loyola School of Theology. In his homily, the Cardinal recalled the friendship between Jesuits and Josefinos, especially during those days when they stayed with the Jesuit community in Loyola House of Studies before the completion of the seminary.
During the celebratory dinner that followed, Fr Jose Quilongquilong SJ, rector of LHS and president of LST, launched the 50+50 Golden Jubilee Endowment Fund for the support of both institutions. To cap the evening’s activities, the Jesuit scholastics offered a song to the Blessed Mother.
This was but the beginning of the year-long celebration themed “Leading and Serving through Theology”. Among the activities planned are a homecoming day for LST alumni on November 18, an LST-LHS benefactors night on November 28, and an international theological symposium in March or April next year.