The Seminario Mayor de San Carlos (SMSC) held the Closing Ceremony of the Parish Intervention Family Collaborator (PIFC) Course for Batch 9 at the St. Charles Borromeo Chapel, SMSC.
This strengthens the seminary’s mission of forming not only future priests but also lay collaborators in the Church’s mission.
A Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Msgr. Roger Fuentes (Vicar General) preceded the graduation ceremony. He was joined by the SMSC priest-formators led by Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili (Rector), Fr. Jeffrey Uy (PIFC Program Director), and other visiting priests.
In his homily, Msgr. Roger underscored that the PIFC program is a concrete expression of the Holy Spirit at work, embodying the spirit of synodality and the Archdiocese’s 2026 pastoral thrust of becoming a Listening Church.
He reminded the graduates that authentic listening is a ministry of healing—one that gently uncovers the layers of pain and difficult experiences that often distance people from recognizing the goodness within themselves.
As they return to their respective communities to accompany individuals and families on their journey toward healing, he urged them to always listen to God first, allowing His voice to guide every act of service and compassion.
“A good listener is the one who feels that ‘I am listened to,’ and that ‘I am good,’ that ‘God loves me.’ That is the starting point. We can all be effective listeners if inside ourselves we have God already. If we know we are good, and that God loves us, therefore, we can also help others see that goodness in them,” said Msgr. Roger.
85 graduates received their Certificates of Completion, while facilitators, lecturers, volunteers, and participating parishes were presented with Tokens of Appreciation.
PIFC is a 72-hour program that deals with the fundamental theories and principles of counseling and their application to the pastoral ministry. Its basic framework is psycho-spiritual in three dimensions: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and metapersonal.
The program is divided into four parts: understanding personality, basic helping/counseling skills, assessment tools, and spiritual direction and discernment. It also focuses on four levels: individual, pre-marital, marital, and familial.
The program will provide hands-on opportunities to learn the different counseling techniques, observe how they are being used, and experience using them under supervision. The course is a staggered session. Sessions are held at Seminario Mayor de San Carlos.
The facilitators and lecturers include priests, registered psychologists, psychometricians, and guidance counselors.
Applications for the 10th Batch of the Parish Intervention Family Collaborator (PIFC) Course are now open. Interested applicants may visit the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos (SMSC) for their interview, profiling, and enrollment.
Enrollment is open until July 18, 2026.
For inquiries, you may contact the official Facebook page of the SMSC: https://www.facebook.com/SMSC1783