History of INP Formation Program

1968 Formands (High school and 2-year Course Collegians) at the Santiago

Seminary Formation House with Frs. Morin and Ross and Bros. Lenny and Gonzaga

Ten years after the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette set foot on Philippine soil, the formation program in the Vice-Province has begun.

To trace back what had happened during these years, it was on May 11, 1957 that the first Filipino La Salette was ordained to the Priesthood: Fr. Jose Nacu, MS.

The decade of the 50's also marked the first profession of vows of Fr. Efren Musngi, MS, Fr. Francisco Maliwat, MS and Fr. Rutillo Mallillin, MS, all of whom had their formation in the United States.

In 1963, to accommodate the unprecedented increase of young recruits for the religious life, the Minor Seminary Building was erected at Barangay Malvar, Santiago City, towards the back of the University of La Salette, High School Department. There were 35 seminarians, composed mainly of high school students and a few taking the two-year Associate in Arts pre-degree at the then la Salette College, who were under Fr. Joseph Norman Ross, MS. (Among those in the first batch are Fr. Romeo Gonzales, MS, Bro. Maximo Ramirez, MS and Fr. Enrique Lapuebla, MS). Prior to the Seminary's foundation, the minor seminarians were housed at the St. James Parish Convent, also in Santiago City, Isabela. However, Novitiate was done at Center Harbor, New Hampshire, USA and Philosophy and Theology done at Ottawa, Canada.

1968 marked a dramatic change. That year, the last batch of seminarians for "stateside-training" was sent to the USA for Philosophy, Novitiate and Theology. The group included Fr. Orlando P. Sapuay, MS. Local training of future La Salette Missionaries thus begun.

In 1969, the College/Philosophy component was transferred to Baguio City. The fourth floor of the Patria de Baguio Hotel was converted into a seminary.

The following year it was moved to the St. Francis Hall at the Bishop's Residence. The Directors were Frs. Joseph Gosselin and Salvador Pico.

The "renewal mentality" of Vatican II and the Ottawa, Canada experience motivated the INP to opt for diversified preparation for Theology. As such, 12 collegians took up courses in the Behavioral Sciences and/or Philosophy either at the St. Louis University or at the University of Baguio. Among those in the group who started at Baguio and are now priests are Fr. Constante Dannug, MS, Fr. Efren Tomas, Fr. Manuel Medina, MS.... Seven years later, the College Formation setting was transferred to Santiago City for various reasons

On September 19, 1969, coinciding with the anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette, Frs. Jose Nacu, Joseph Gosselin and Salvador Pico sent a report on Seminary Education to Rome, Italy during the meeting of Mission Territories. The four-phased report gave an overview of the local formation structures and orientations from 1965 to 1970.

In 1970, a Seminary Consortium was formed at the SVD Seminary in Tagaytay City (south of Manila). As a result, the decision to recall the seminarians studying abroad was taken. All preparation and studies from thereon would transpire in the Philippines. Henceforth, all seminarians will be trained locally. Thus, in 1971, the Scholasticate Program began in Tagaytay City. Frs. Orlando Sapuay and Romeo Gonzales were among the 7 scholastics under the directorship of Fr. Santiago Ner, MS. The Villa Analee, overlooking the scenic Taal Volcano, was rented as their residence. In 1973, the first batch of formands under the Novitiate program started. It was on the same year that the Scholastic formation was transferred to the Silang shrine complex. By 1975, a simple structure was built towards the left of the driveway to accommodate 4 scholastics and the Philosophy students.

Ina ng Pag-asa (Mother of Hope) Province | Missionaries of our Lady of La Salette

41 Betty Go Belmonte, Barangay Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City 1112 | Philippines