By Arabella Balderama
A province-wide mass, presided by Very Rev. Fr. Primitivo E. Viray of the Society of Jesus (SJ), commemorated the Solemnity of St. Ignatius de Loyola on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at the Ateneo Junior High School Covered Courts.
The festivity also honored the 50th anniversary of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ’s pivotal directive—the call to be persons with and for others.
Additionally, it was streamed online via Radyo Katipunan on Facebook and JesCom TV on Youtube for those who could not participate onsite.
Several families attended the Eucharistic Celebration themed “Heeding the Spirit in our Time and in One Another”, with Fr. Roberto Ezekiel Rivera, SJ delivering the homily.
The homily revolved around reflections about three people: St. Ignatius de Loyola, Brother Hesus Oscariz—former guidance counselor and football coach in the Ateneo Grade School, and Jose Antonio “Johnny” Salvador—former principal of the Ateneo Junior High School.
Rather than St. Ignatius’ cannonball moment, Fr. Rivera focused on the former’s conversion process in 1537, along with his companions St. Francis Xavier and St. Peter Faber, all of whom decided to discern God’s will in Venice.
On the other hand, Fr. Rivera highlighted Brother Oscariz and Sir Johnny Salvador’s love for service during their time in Ateneo, emphasizing their perseverance as they overcame their accustomed challenges and touched the hearts of many Ateneans.
“Panatag po ang kalooban namin, kaming mga Hesuwita, dahil parami nang parami kayo na mga anak ni San Ignacio, daughters and sons of Ignatius, sharing his spirituality and service. Filled with faith, hope, and love, we carry on as bearers of the Ignatian mission, for we realize it is not ours but a trust and a summon from Christ himself,” Fr. Rivera remarked as the homily approached its conclusion.
Before the celebration ended, a tribute video was shown for Jesuits celebrating their Jubilees as priests and members of the Society of Jesus.
Attendees also got the chance to visit food and ice cream stalls available after the Eucharistic Celebration. Various Jesuit organizations also had booths during the event and were able to share their advocacies to the attendees.
The following contributors were present during the festival:
- JesCom TV
- JesCom
- Sacred Bread
- Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
- Institute of Social Order
- John J Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues
- RMT-CEFAM
- Center for Ignatian Spirituality
- Emmaus
- Philippine Jesuits
- Philippine Jesuit Aid Association Inc.
- UP PGH Chaplaincy
- Christian Life Community in the Philippines
- Jesuit Volunteers Philippines Foundation Inc.
- Erda Foundation
- Philippine Jesuit Prison Service
Similarly, the University announced that there would be no classes and office work on Monday, July 31, in observance of the Feast Day of St. Ignatius.
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