By: Alvin C. Laserna Jr.
The Batch Liberators had their Toma de Habito (Investiture) last October 12, 2022, the feast day of the seminary patroness, Our Lady of the Pillar.
Unlike the past two investitures, the seminary accepted a number of visitors, most were relatives of the new postulants.
Regardless, however, of the bulk of persons present, the Batch Liberators were focused on themselves and were feeling mixed emotions.
Bro. Heljen Lance Acha, one of the newly-invested postulants shared that prior to the Toma de Habito, he was kept on thinking of the challenges it poses and his unworthiness to take the habit.
Nevertheless, Bro. Acha said, “I was really happy upon taking the habit. I have never expected how fast the time really is.”
The brothers who were not candidates and even the people who attended the Liturgy were also affected by the event.
For Bro. Godofredo Igcalinos, a first-year college seminarian, “Seeing our older brothers taking the habit motivates me further to continue this way of life.”
Mrs. Irene Balana, a member of the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, was also strucked by the message in the homily and the event as a whole.
Mrs. Balana said, “I realized the importance and meaning of our Cofradia uniform and just like the brothers wearing the habit, I should be proud wearing it.”
Furthermore, Mrs. Balana added, “I also realized that we should be conscious that, as Catholics, we are wearing an invisible habit. We are wearing Jesus and that we should also follow His ways.”
On behalf of Fr. Bernard C. Amparado, OAR, Prior Provincial, Fr. Kenneth Joseph Onda, OAR the Provincial Vicar, officiated the investiture.
