​The St. Joseph Seminary (SJS) community culminated the month of the Holy Rosary on October 31, 2020 at the SJS volleyball court at six o’clock in the evening.
 
The seminarians prayed the Holy Rosary on the first month of October until it was culminated on the 31st. The culmination of the month of the Holy Rosary started with the living rosary whereby it was prayed in different languages namely: English, Filipino, Ilocano, and Latin. Chosen seminarians from each class formed a pattern of the rosary, where one seminarian corresponded to one bead in the rosary. A Marian hymn was interspersed every mystery.
 
A Marian quiz bee was prepared by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) major seminarians. It measured how knowledgeable were the seminarians when it comes to facts about Mary. The quiz bee was held at the Fr. Carmelo Gonzales Wellness Center and was participated seminarians who were divided into peer groups. The Peer group 6 dominated the competition.  
 
Every October, the Universal Church celebrates the month of the Holy Rosary. October is the chosen month of the rosary because the liturgical feast of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is celebrated on October 7. The feast was introduced by Pope St. Pius in the year 1571 to commemorate the miraculous victory of the Christian forces in the battle of Lepanto in October 7, 1571. It is customary to pray the rosary every day in the month of October to honor and venerate the Holy Rosary which is a devotion to Mary and at the same time is centered in the very life of Jesus.

Despite being moved later than the usual due to the pandemic, the seminary pursued and celebrated the acquaintance party on October 31, 2020, at 7:00 in the evening. Themed “Iisang bangka”, Saint Joseph Seminary formally welcomed on board its new members. 

Sem. Grian Christopher Cabutaje, the general sacristan led the opening prayer. He highlighted God’s gift of friendship and prayed that all seminarians, after the party, may gain new friends and memories. The prayer was followed by a sumptuous dinner prepared by the Seminary’s kitchen.
The introduction of the new comers highlighted the event. Noteworthy were the mottos that they believe in. Their introduction led way for the community to know more about them.

Each class showcased their talents that made the night even more wonderful. Solo performances were from Nathaniel De Vera, a grade 7 seminarian, who sang the voice box defying Never Enough by Loren Allred, and Ms. Paula Valera, a new member of the faculty, with her rendition of Bakit Pa Ba?  by Sarah Geronimo. Carlo Ramos and Lil Badajos sang a duet and had their own take of A Whole New World from the hit-movie Aladdin. The Chorus Josephi, the seminary’s pride, also performed The Lion Sleeps Tonight that lulled the audience to speechlessness and then into a burst of applause. 

A Marian hymn and the final blessing which was given by Rev. Fr. Gary Rex A. Bugtong, the Prefect of Discipline, concluded the event.

​That night and the crew embarked on a new journey with laughter, friendship, and memories. 

Very Rev. Sanny Paguio, Rector, confirmed the election of the new set of Student Council of F.Y. 2020-2021 (1st Semester) on October 31, 2020 at the St. Joseph Seminary Chapel.

The right of induction was integrated in the mass after the Gospel reading when Fr. Gary Rex A. Bugtong, presented the new set of officers. They were all presented to Very. Rev. Sanny Paguio, the rector; Who confirmed them in their elections.
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The newly elected student council stood in front of everyone who serve as witnesses as they read the Act of Commitment, with dignity they solemnly swore to serve God and the community to the best of their abilities and to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the offices they hold.
After the communion, the rite of the passing of the key of responsibility was showcased with great reverence. The key is the last of all the master keys that used to open and close the doors of the Seminary, and whoever holds that key holds a great responsibility.

The outgoing general beadle, Sem. Marclorenz Ortega, gave a final speech before formally turning the responsibility to the upcoming general beadle. In his speech he says “When a task is given to you, you must do it first before you complain.” He concluded that serving as the general beadle was a great experience and a fruitful one at that, for he was not only able to serve but he grew with it as well. The key was then given to the incoming general beadle and he accepted it.

The incoming general beadle expressed his confidence in the cooperation of the seminarians. He stated that at first, he was reluctant and even doubted his ability to serve the community. But he was consoled by the thought that, The Formators saw in him the capacity in him to lead so he should as well see it. “Let the way I lead you be a matter of give and take, where I learn form you and you can learn from me.” He concluded.

- General Beadle: Sem. Alexis Janne G. Turalba
- General Work Beadle: Sem. Zuriel Job S. Parinas
- General Secretary: Sem. Gene Gabriel G. Ablaza
- General Treasurer: Sem. Marclorenz T. Ortega
- General P.R.O.: Sem. Aron Jericho B. Cantil
- General Dining Hall Beadle: Sem. Philip Neri R. Seares
- General Sacristan: Sem. Grian Christopher
- General Lights & Sounds Custodian: Sem. Marrvinne Angelo A. Bisares
- House Administrator: Sem. Tim Zedrich B. Apilado
- Grade 7 Class Beadle: Sem. Le Bron L. Gonzales
- Grade 8 Class Beadle: Sem. Yossef V. Flores
- Grade 9 Class Beadle: Sem. Jordan Kenneth James M. Magallim
- Grade 10 Class Beadle: Sem. Raven Avrille T. Boleza
- Grade 11 Class Beadle: Sem. Leonard Renn A. Barros
- Grade 12 Class Beadle: Sem. Carlo Reishigeitz L. Ramos

​Dr. Alda Bringas, the new guidance counsellor of Saint Joseph seminary (SJS) , hosted a talk on guidance and counselling for the junior high school seminarians on October 23, 2020 at the Dining Hall of SJS.
 
“I was just like all of you, undergoing formation. I stayed in convent. I was a nun.”. Dr. Alda Bringas, a former pink sister for 9 years, said. She underwent a similar formation that the young seminarians are currently undergoing. It made her connect to them more, because she herself feels what seminarians feel inside a formation house.
 
She arranged activities that allows her to see through each seminarian, because the happiest seminarian might be the one hiding the saddest frown behind that mask. These activities include personality tests, worksheets, and modules. She stressed that guidance and counselling is important as it helps students bring out the best in themselves and understand who they really are.
 
Guidance and counselling are great ways to help students manage decisions that they would take in life, It helps them choose the best path they can take through the help of the counsellor who oversees situations, it even allows them dive deeper into their personality and discover things that they ought to know; their strengths, their weaknesses, their interests, and even their fears.
 
She talked about how guidance and counselling help the development of young people and students throughout adolescence, and it is even important to adults who are in the early and late adult-life.
 
Having a guidance counselor inside the seminary is not only ideal but essential as it helps young seminarians discern whether other vocations are right for them or priesthood might suit them better.

​The formation year 2020-2021 seems bright as the seminary welcomes new staff members and promising teachers and an esteemed professor into the faculty.
 
The Bachelors of Secondary Education, Ms. Paula Valera from Bangued ­– Filipino Major, Ms. Anthonette Gutierrez from Peñarubbia – Math major, Ms. Joycelyn Alvarez from Dolores – English major and Dr. Leticia Madriaga – Values Education and English major have their heads held high in confidence of teaching seminarians as they are now part of the faculty while Mr. Ken, the new cashier, and Dr. Alda Bringas, the new guidance counsellor, are welcomed as the new staff members of the seminary. Frt. Kris Albolote, the new assistant prefect of discipline, is also welcomed into the administration.
 
The faculty member, Ms. Melanie Mandigma, and the current formation team welcomes them with arms wide open, and with high hopes as they embark into the school year.
 
It is the mission of the seminary to form Christian gentlemen, which is why, the seminary is indeed in great need for new and outstanding teachers to help guide and enrich not only the intellect but also the hearts of every seminarian which should contain necessary Christian values needed from a Christian gentleman.

​The Student council and the administration threw a surprise program for the faculty in celebration of the World Teacher’s Day on October 1, 2020.  

In the evening, the Dining Hall of SJS shone with colorful lights and boomed with music with the first presentation from the Grade 11 who grooved to the song, “Girl in the Mirror”. their presentation broke the ice and had the formators, teachers, UST major seminarians, and the guidance counsellor of the seminary into widespread smiles and peals of laughter that echoed through the halls of the seminary.
 
The Seminary’s kitchen prepared and served the dinner. Chris Jon Gumidam (G7), Sem. Erol Bisares(G8), Sem. Ullysses Bagani (G9), and Sem. Derrick lumaang (G10) delivered a message for the teachers online.
Cyan Castañeda, also a grade 7 seminarian, sang “Close to you” online  to convey his message for the teachers.
 
Sem. Marclorenz Ortega, the outgoing general beadle thank the teachers in their role in the life and formation of the seminarians. He also stressed the thought that the great man each seminarian might become in the future will always be because of  great teachers who educated him.
 
The whole senior high department sang “You are the Reason” for the teachers to express their gratitude towards them.
 
The Student Council also organized a Short quiz bee for the faculty and formators. It was about how much they know about the seminary. The quiz bee was between the Team A, whose members were Fr. Gary Bugtong, Dr. Leticia Madriaga, Ms. Paula Valera, and Ms. Joycelyn Alvarez, and Team B, whose members were Fr. Sanny Paguio, Frt. Kris Albolote, Ms. Melanie Mandigma, and Ms. Anthonette Gutierrez. The mind-boggling quiz bee which seems easier heard than to be part with, ended after Team A winning over Team B with just a single point.
 
The Chorus Josephi also sang “Country roads” igniting sparks of nostalgia. It was made even more meaningful when the choir master, Frt. Mark Louie Martes, explained the song choice saying, “In SJS we want you to find your home, the place where you belong.”
 
Fr. Sanny John Paguio capped the program with a speech that expressed his gratitude to the teachers. He enjoined them to work together with the formators in forming and shaping children who will build a just society.