Military MassAteneo de Manila High School
Covered Courts
30 July 2009
The first Jesuits actually arrived in the country almost 500 years ago, in 1541. While they were primarily missionaries, even then, as now, they were already deeply involved in the education of Filipinos.
It was the early Spanish Jesuits that set up Colegio Seminario de San Ignacio in 1581, the first university not only in the Philippines but in all of Asia.
However, in the eighteenth century, the Society of Jesus fell out of favor with colonial powers and Catholic royalties. They were expelled from their areas, including the Philippines, until finally, in 1773, the congregation was dissolved.
After decades of persecution and suppression, the Jesuit congregation was reinstated. On April 14, 1859, almost a hundred years after they were expelled from the country, ten Jesuits of the Aragon Province sailed to the frontier in the ship Luisita to Manila. They were supposed to do missionary work in Mindanao. Before proceeding to Mindanao, the Jesuits were petitioned by residents of Manila to set up a Jesuit school which eventually became Ateneo de Manila University.
This year, we celebrate the return of the Jesuits in the Philippines. We honor the legacy of the 150th long years Jesuit education, marked with excellence, commitment and leadership: strong characteristics of all Jesuit apostolates in the Philippines. Thus, in this new frontier of technology, post-modernism and globalization we are continuously called to engage the world through the great blessing that is our Jesuit education.
Reflecting on the words of Fr. Superior General Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, the 29th successor of Ignatius, we are challenged to sail towards the new frontiers in our modern times. We are all called to conquer the Frontier of Depth, which is best translated as the Ignatian Magis. We have been reminded that St. Ignatius has always been concerned with depth as expressed in non multa sed multum, not many but much. For St. Ignatius, it was not about the number of achievements, awards, and recognition, but the quality of learning, reflections and deeper understanding of the essentials in life.
Fr. Nicolas, SJ invites furthermore to move towards the Frontier of Universality. We have been reminded that St. Ignatius spoke of what is for the universal good. St. Ignatius has instructed his men to go where there is a greater need. Universality is recognizing that we are part of something bigger, of a greater vineyard where the Lord wants us to work in. And clearly, this It goes beyond the four walls of Ateneo. It is to synergize with other schools across the country even within Asia.
Let us then keep the frontiers of depth and universality in our minds and hearts as we build this nation through authentic piety, discipline and generosity.
+ad majorem Dei gloriam+
