In a spirit of faith and unity, the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools of Cebu System (ACSCS) celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Academia de San Pedro Calungsod, City of Naga, to mark the formal opening of the Academic Year and pray for God’s choicest blessings upon its students, faculty, and staff.
The ACSCS is composed of the following academic institutions:
- Academia de San Jose – Mandaue
- Academia de San Isidro Labrador – Talamban
- Academia de San Pedro Calungsod – City of Naga
- Academia de Nuestra Señora – Ronda
- Academia de San Miguel Arcangel – Argao
- Academia de San Agustin – Carmen
- Academia de Santa Ana y San Joaquin – Barili
- Academia de San Lorenzo Ruiz – Argao
- Academia de San Martin – Daanbantayan
- Santa Monica Academy – Pinamungajan, soon-to-be-named as Academia de Santa Monica de Tagaste
The outgoing Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma presided over the Eucharistic celebration. He was joined by Fr. Joel Oriesga (the new Chairman of the Commission on Catholic Education), Fr. Conrado Sedillo, Jr. (the new Superintendent of ACSCS), and the priest-administrators of the different ACSCS Member Schools.
Also present during the celebration were student and teacher representatives from the ten different schools.
Emphasizing the importance of education, the good Archbishop in his homily thanked the parents, administrators, and teachers who wholeheartedly and tirelessly journey with the students, impart knowledge, and form young minds.
In turn, he urged the students to give their best and attain what they hoped for.
“Make that utter sacrifice and desire to finish a career and that hope be realized. There are a lot of people who journey with you but you have to take that walk,” said Archbishop Palma.
After the Holy Mass, the good Archbishop led the installation of the new ACSCS priest-administrators.
We pray that those entrusted with the education of minds and hearts may teach the students of these academic communities how to join the discoveries of human wisdom with the truth of the Gospel, so that they will be able to keep the true faith and live it out in their lives.