Pastor Bonus Seminary

03/05/2026

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER | May 3, 2026

First Reading:
Acts 6:1-7

As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Responsorial Psalm:
"Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you."
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

Second Reading:
1 Peter 2:4-9

Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone, and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.

You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises" of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Gospel:
John 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father."

02/05/2026

02/05/2026

PAPAL REFLECTIONS ON EASTER
Pope Benedict XVI
Bishop of Rome [2005 – 2013]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Gospel of this Sunday, the Fifth of Easter, proposes a twofold commandment of faith: to believe in God and to believe in Jesus. In fact, the Lord said to his disciples: “Believe in God, believe also in me” (Jn 14:1). They are not two separate acts but one single act of faith, full adherence to salvation wrought by God the Father through his Only-begotten Son.

The New Testament puts an end to the Father's invisibility. God has shown his face, as Jesus’ answer to the Apostle Philip confirms: “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). With his Incarnation, death and Resurrection, the Son of God has freed us from the slavery of sin to give us the freedom of the children of God and he has shown us the face of God, which is love: God can be seen, he is visible in Christ.

St Teresa of Avila wrote: “the last thing we should do is to withdraw from our greatest good and blessing, which is the most sacred humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (cf. The Interior Castle, 6, ch. 7). Therefore, only by believing in Christ, by remaining united to him, may the disciples, among whom we too are, continue their permanent action in history: “Truly, truly, I say to you,” says the Lord, “he who believes in me will also do the works that I do” (Jn 14:12).

Faith in Jesus entails following him daily, in the simple actions that make up our day. “It is part of the mystery of God that he acts so gently, that he only gradually builds up his history within the great history of mankind; that he becomes man and so can be overlooked by his contemporaries and by the decisive forces within history; that he suffers and dies and that, having risen again, he chooses to come to mankind only through the faith of the disciples to whom he reveals himself; that he continues to knock gently at the doors of our hearts and slowly opens our eyes if we open our doors to him” (Jesus of Nazareth II, 2011, p. 276).

Saint Augustine says that “it was necessary for Jesus to say: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ (Jn 14:6) because once the way was known, the end remained to be known” (cf. In Evangelium Iohannis Tractatus, 69, 2: CCL 36, 500), and the end is the Father. For Christians, for each one of us, hence, the way to the Father is to allow ourselves to be guided by Jesus, by his word of truth, and to receive the gift of his life. Let us make St Bonaventure’s invitation our own: “Open, therefore, your eyes, lend your spiritual ear, open your lips and dispose your heart, so that you will be able to see, hear, praise, love, venerate, glorify, honour your God in all creatures” (Itinerarium mentis in Deum, i, 15).

Dear friends, the commitment to proclaim Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6), is the main task of the Church. Let us invoke the Virgin Mary that she may always assist the Pastors and those in the different ministries to proclaim the Good News of salvation, that the Word of God may be spread and the number of disciples multiplied (cf. Acts 6:7)

[Pope Benedict XVI – Regina Caeli Address, Saint Peter's Square. Fifth Sunday of Easter, 22 May 2011. From the English language website of the Holy See, https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/angelus/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_reg_20110522.html]

[About the author: Pope Benedict XVI, born Jozef Alois Ratzinger in 1927 in Bavaria, Germany, and after studies in philosophy and theology was ordained a priest in 1951. Later he rose to prominence as a renowned theologian, university professor, and participant in the Second Vatican Council. Appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977 and later Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981, Ratzinger played a major role in Catholic theology, including guiding the preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Elected Pontiff in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II, he promoted theological renewal, ecumenical dialogue, and liturgical initiatives before resigning in 2013 and living as Pope Emeritus until his death in 2022.]

(Image Credits: Pope Benedict XVI prays during the Midnight Mass for Christmas at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican City. Franco Origlia | Getty Images 2009)

01/05/2026

On May Day, these words feel close to home for Caritas communities.

In fields, shelters, training centres and on city streets, people are doing what they can to find their place in the world of work.

It’s not always easy, but it’s where hope and dignity start to grow.

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

PAROCHIAL FEAST DAY – SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH
Sangali, Zamboanga City
May 1

The Pastor Bonus Seminary community cordially greets the ecclesial community of the Parish of the Saint Joseph the Worker, in Sangali, Zamboanga City, as they celebrate today their parochial feast day. ¡Feliz fiesta con maga parroquianos de Sangali!

The present Parish Church in Sangali is administered through the pastoral care of its Parish Priest, Fr. Rowin Lim.

Let us pray.

O God, Creator of all things,
who laid down for the human race the law of work,
graciously grant
that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage
we may complete the works you set us to do
and attain the rewards you promise.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

(Collect from The Roman Missal, Amended Latin Third Typical Edition)

¡Viva Señor San José el Obrero!

MEMORIAL OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER
May 1, 2026

The Archdiocese of Zamboanga joyfully extends its greetings to the community of the Parish of the Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Sangali, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Fr. Rowin Lim, as they celebrate their parish feast today.

¡Feliz fiesta, barangay Sangali!
¡Viva San Jose!

30/04/2026

IN MEMORIAM
+Reverend Father AMADO JOSE P. VAÑO
(30 April 1955 — 16 April 2025)
Rector, Pastor Bonus Seminary
[1997—2002; 2019—2020]

The Pastor Bonus Seminary community remembers today the Rev. Fr. Amado Jose P. Vaño, who would have turned seventy-one years old today. Father Vaño succumbed to his illness a year ago at the age of sixty-nine on 16 April 2025.

Originally hailing from Bohol, he was a former Rector of the Pastor Bonus Seminary for two terms [1997—2002; 2019—2020]. Father Ding, as he was fondly called, would minister as pastor and parish priest in his various assignments at Bolong, Mercedes, Peñafrancia Parish, Tugbungan, Ayala, and Divisoria. He was also designated as the Archdiocesan Director of the Exorcism and Healing Ministry, as well as Archdiocesan Spiritual Director of the Bukas Loob sa Diyos Covenanted Community.

Let us pray.

Grant, we pray, O Lord,
that the soul of Father Amado Jose,
your servant and Priest,
who you honored with sacred office
while he lived in this world,
may exult for ever in the glorious home in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

(Prayers for the Dead [For a Priest], The Roman Missal. Amended Third Typical Edition in English)

REQUIEM aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

[Photos from the official page of the Pastor Bonus Seminary]

29/04/2026

Pastor Bonus Seminary Ano, tara?

29/04/2026

BIRTHDAY (APRIL 30) – REV. FR. EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ

The Pastor Bonus Seminary community cordially greets our birthday celebrant, the Reverend Father Emmanuel Rodriguez (b. 1978), who celebrates his birthday on this day.

Father Rodriguez is presently the Vicar Forane for Central Vicariate 1, as well as Parish Priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish (Tugbungan). He is also the Archdiocesan Director of the Apostolate for Migrants and Itinerant People.

Let us pray.

God of all creation,
we offer you grateful praise for the gift of life.
Hear the prayers of Father Emmanuel, your servant,
who recalls the day of his birth
and rejoices in your gifts of life and love,
family and friends.
Bless him with your presence
and surround him with your love
that he may enjoy many
happy years, all of them pleasing to you.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From the Book of Blessings: Blessing on the Occasion of a Birthday)

¡Feliz cumpleaño Father Manny!

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑO, FR. MANNY!

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboanga joyfully extends heartfelt wishes to Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Rodriguez, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish, Tugbungan, and the Vicar Forane of Central Vicariate 1 as he celebrates his birthday today.

Ad multos annos, Fr. Manny!

29/04/2026

On the 4th Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday Pastor Bonus Seminary joyfully celebrated the Feast of the Good Shepherd.

In gratitude, we honor Christ as the true Shepherd who guides and sustains His flock. As one community, we also offer our fervent prayers for more vocations, that many hearts may respond generously to God’s call in service to the Church.

28/04/2026

Pastor Bonus Seminary conducted a three-day admission for our aspirants entering the formation. This period served as a time of prayer, guidance, and sincere discernment, helping them to reflect deeply on their vocation and openness to God’s call.
May the Lord continue to enlighten and strengthen them as they journey towards their chosen path.

28/04/2026