Tagbilaran Diocese Website

The Birth of IHMS In Chronicle

Through the energetic and untiring efforts of its first Bishop, the archbishop of Cebu, His Excellency Julio R. Rosales, D.D., the small diocese of Bohol was able to build its own Seminary.

Unfortunately for the Diocese, in January 1950, when the building of a rather big and modern-planned Seminary was just about half-finished, the bishop was elevated to the Archdiocesan Seat of Cebu. Greater responsibilities laid upon the shoulders of the new Archbishop made it impossible to continue with the same solicitude to work for endeared project, the completion of the Diocesan Seminary in Tagbilaran.

Yet, the remaining for the time being the Apostolic Administrator of Bohol, His Grace, the Archbishop was bent on opening the first year Latin beginning the current scholl year 1950-51.

The Society of the Divine Word, which had finally accepted the generous offer of the Bishop to administer the Seminary, was duly informed and on June 10, 1950, Fr. Alphonse M. Mildner, S.V.D. was appointed through the cablegram by the Very Rev. Father General, as the first Rector of the newly-to-be-opened Seminary. Fr. Provincial appointed two more Fathers in the persons of Fr. Victor Tunkel and Fr. Simeon Valerio to assist Fr. Mildner.

On June 15, Fr. Mildner presented himself to His Excellency, the Archbishop, who had been waiting anxiously since he was determined to open classes by July. He encourage Fr. Mildner to open all means in July even if it had to be done in the Convent of Tagbilaran until the new building would be so far completed.

When fr. Mildner on the 19th of June arrived in the new place, he was rather disappointed; the new Seminary was still very much under construction. Since practically only four walls standing, he urged the Engineer Vicente Cabrera, to hurry up the work. Soon the roof was on, and, night, great progress was witnessed so much so, was founded hope that by July 1st some rooms would be available for the first seminarians to enroll and stay right away in the building.

According, letters were sent out to all the parish priests, apprising them of the fact that their own Seminary in Taloto, barrio of Tagbilaran, would open its portals to new seminarians. The clergy showed great interest and the response to these circulars was very gratifying. Soon the first applicants arrived. It was hard to find the new Rector who stayed most of the time, in the small Rectory of Taloto next to Barrio Chapel. But whoever made his way out, was also impressed by the imposing building that made steady progress in its completion.

For two weeks to finish even one half of the building were not enough. Soon it was realized , July 1, even before the public schools would open, the Seminary of Bohol would begin to function. It was therefore decided to start in the Rectory of Tagbilaran, which had been for the last three years, the Palace of the Bishop of Bohol.

With the view of the future Seminary, the rooms were prepared: 40 beds – purchased by the Bishop long ago from the American Army. The place was cleaned and put-up. A few pieces of furniture had been made and were borrowed from the Holy Name College. All done in haste. Through the fore sight of the Archbishop, china ware and kitchen utensils were given by generous benefactors. And – when July 1st came, the “Seminary” was waiting for the Seminarians to come. There were ten certain, those were the old-timers, who had spent one year in Cebu and were to be able the nucleus of the Seminary of Bohol. About 20 others had come and taken home application papers. But on the eve of July 1st the palace was overcrowded with a large boisterous crowd of about 35 youngsters from practically all parts of the island.

When, the following morning, Sunday, July 2nd, Fr. Rector and so big a group of Seminarians marched into the cathedral, the good people of Tagbilaran could not believed their eyes. It has come true, Tagbilaran had its own SEMINARY.

Despite of the poor accommodation in the Palace, the boys soon felt at home and were all in good spirits. In spite of some well-meant advises not to open in the Palace, (since the poverty and the lack of even the essentials might discourage many a young man, only one left, and he, on account of very poor mental capacities, whereas) a number of new joined the group bringing the total enrollment to 40.

July 3, 1950 marked the first school day of the New Seminary. Fr. Mildner was still alone; yet that morning the newcomers began the first declension of the Lingua Aurea Latina, English and Religion followed afterwards he went to the airfield to fetch the other two Fathers who were supposed to arrived from Manila. Another disappointed awaited him; only Fr. Simeon Valerio arrived. Fr. Tunkel, the other man appointed, had still to train his successor in the intricacies of the House Procure in Manila, Christ the King Seminary.

Since, it was easier already, Fr. Valerio, an hour after his arrival, stood in the classrrom teaching the second year Latin.

July 4th - Independence Day. The Seminarians were making their first excursion to the Seminary site in the Taloto.

July 5th brought the third man from Manila, Fr. Victor Tunkel, who took over the Procure and the First Year Latin Scholars.

July 7th was the first Red-Letter-day od the New Seminary. His Excellency, the Archbishop, had come to pay his first visit Fr. Rector and Fr. Valerio made their Professio Fidei and pronounced the Anti-modernistic Oath before His Grace, and with his blessings and the encouragement who was overjoyed at the realization of his big dreams, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary began its course.

July 15th saw the exodus of the Seminary from the Palace to the new building in Taloto, a few kilometers outside the capital city of Tagbilaran. the Palace proved to be too small for so big a community; the water system of the town did not function and the rain was rare so Plans were then made for an early transfer. Kitchen, Dining room, Study hall, Dormitories and one Father’s room were made ready. With youthful enthusiasm, the boys carried all the Seminary belongings to the trucks and accompanied them to the new Seminary where again they unloaded them to the location. It was a heavy day’s work, yet everybody helped and shared the burden and the joy to be at home at last.

There was no room yet for the Chapel in the Seminary, so the whole community made use of the nearby Barrio Chapel. For nearly three weeks, the Taloto Church was the Seminary Chapel; morning, noon and night, the boys went over to have their Mass, their visit and their benediction.

Although the workmen were still busy with the main work to finish the second phase of the building, regular classes were held at some portions inhabited by the Seminarians. Handicaps were felt especially in the dining rooms where only a pingpong table served as main table with benches borrowed from the Church. It all gave the impressions and the joy pioneers’ days and in acknowledgent, it must be said that all the boys showed a real spendid spirit of cooperation and sacrifice. There was never a grumble against the daily hour and on Thursday, three hours of manual work was imposed. Soon the whole surrounding began to change its change its appearance; all the lumber, the stones and empty can and barrels in front of the building were removed, the grounds levelled as far as it was possible; and some landscaping began.

When His Excellency indicated that he had planned to bless the building on August 22nd, the work was doubled and everybody tried his best to make the house “ready” for the big event.

Since August 2nd , Mass was said in the Seminary but the Blessed Sacrament was kept in the Chapel only at the beginning of the Novena in preparation for the Blessing.

Every afternoon during the Novena, the Rosary and Dedication to the Blessed Virgin were recited. The great interest of the people in the Seminary was shown by the great crowd that attended this Novena.

At last the GREAT DAY, August 22, 1950, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, arrived.

His Excellency had arranged everything down to the least detail, so to make it sure of its success. In the morning, Rev. Fr. Herman Kondring, the Provincial Superior of the SVD Fathers, who had come from Manila to be present for the occassion, sang a solemn High Mass assisted by Rev. Fr. Simon, SVD, Director of the Tubigon High School, and Rev. Fr. Neuhofer, SVD, Director of the Catholic School of Inabanga. The Seminary Choir, for the first time in their history, sang a two-voices Mass under the direction of Fr. Valerio.

Breakfast was served only for the Seminarians and for some Minor and Major Seminarians who had come from Cebu.

A banquet at 12:00 in the Seminary brought for the first time all the Bohol Clergy into the Halls of the Seminary.

At 3:00 p.m. the solemn procession from the provincial road to the Seminary started and to the surprise of everybody, an eminent procession made its way to the New Seminary Building. Estimated sum as high as 5,000 but moderately counted there were certainly 3000 visitors that day to see the CROWNING WORK of His Excellency to His so dear Seminary of Bohol.

The program and the blessing according to the Roman Ritual was simple but impressive. The speeches of Fr. Rector, Mons. Yap, and especially of His Grace, The Archbishop, during the rites would be remembered long by thousands of the good Catholics who had come to sponsor and witness this occasion.

Had the days before the Inauguration been very active, the time that followed was marked by the great stillness and peace in the Seminary. All the work was stopped, the noise and activity of more than fifty workmen had ceased. The “finishing touches” were left for two carpenters. day after day, they worked unceasingly but too many touches were left for finishing and so even then the Seminary was still “under construction”. A special handicap that was felt more than anything else was the lack of water. Even though a little electric pump had been installed in the course od September-October, the engine often did not function and- the water tower was not yet ready. Finally by Christmas, the tower was completed but due to careless work on the part of the plumbers, one pipe had been broken and it took some more days to find the leakage. At last January 20th, the Seminary had for the first time the comfort of RUNNING WATER even up to the second floor.

Electric installation was planned to be ready the day after the transfer from Tagbilaran, But it was on the Day of the Inauguration that for the first time the Seminary machine provided the house with light. The Engine, a German Diesel, pre-war type is not too bad, but often truant. Another handicapped for the Seminary was the absence of a suitable means of transportation. The Seminary, so far away from the town, is entirely dependent upon the public transportation. which was very irregular then. Since all our needs, especially the kitchen supply must be brought in from Tagbilaran, a jeep or similar vehicle was imperative. His Excellency has tried his very best but on January 23rd that the Seminary was provided with a Jeep. “The Seminary Jeep has a puncture in its tire”

The classes were be held regularly and the devotions and spiritual exercises were kept in the way as other SVD Seminaries were administered: was the welcome song. Three days before the Feast of Christ the King, Fr. rector preached the Retreat to the boys - for many it was the first Retreat in their life. A deemed to do id best by himself and prepare them for further advancement in years to come when other priests may give them the Retreat.

Nov. 30 - Dec 3 - during the Eucharist Congress. the Seminarians helped greatly in making this Diocesan Congress a success. During the Holy Hour, the High Mass, and especially during the Pontifical High Mass, they furnished the singing to the astonished and praise of the faithful.

Christmas vacation approached and at the request of His Grace, the boys were permitted to spend ten days in their respective homes. On January 2nd 1951, they all returned happy and contented - homesick for the Semniary. The following day you saw them again with their books - regular classes were on again.

On the feast of Epiphany, a very impressive Christmas Cantata was presented and a raffle was held which brought every Seminarian some Christmas gift and a few very happy hours.

The next day, Sunday, January 7th, Fr. rector blessed the house. All the doors were inscribed with blessed chalk - May the blessing and the meaning of the writing over every door always be with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

-Natal Issue, Our Seminary 1950