Fray Jesse Meer E. Alipes, OAR
QUEZON CITY – The Recoletos School of Theology confronted the urgent intersection of truth, justice, and digital responsibility as Atty. Rodel A. Taton, DCL, challenged the students to exercise prophetic witness during RST Day 2025 last November 25.
“The Church’s role in the discourse is prophetic. It must defend truth and justice not only in society but also in the digital sphere, where misinformation and manipulation threaten the moral fabric of communities,” declared Taton, Dean of San Sebastian College–Recoletos Graduate School of Law, during the theological colloquium held at the seminary’s Mira-Nila Homes campus.
The colloquium, themed “A Pastoral Church: Justice in Action, Grounded in Truth,” served as the intellectual centerpiece of the annual celebration that drew seminarians, formators, and guests together under the school’s motto—Caritas, Scientia, et Sapientia (Charity, Knowledge, and Wisdom).
Church as Champion of Restorative Justice
Dean Taton outlined the Church’s distinctive capacity to promote healing in fractured communities, positioning restorative justice as central to Catholic social teaching.
“The Church also acts as a champion of restorative justice—promoting healing over retribution, reconciliation over division,” he said, emphasizing the pastoral dimension of the Church’s mission in contemporary society.
During the open forum, he elaborated on this vision: “Restorative justice emphasizes repairing harm, restoring relationships, and fostering community healing; it is a model that the Church, with its long tradition of pastoral care, is uniquely positioned to advance.”
His reflections invited the seminary community to deepen its commitment to justice rooted in truth and compassion—a call particularly resonant for future ministers preparing to navigate complex moral landscapes.
Liturgy Honors Patron of Studies
The day opened with Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Kenneth Joseph Onda, OAR, Vicar of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, honoring St. Thomas of Villanova, Patron Saint of Studies of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and patron of RST.
Fr. Onda’s homily centered on the formative discipline required for authentic Christian witness. “Make sure to learn inside the classroom of Christ,” he urged, inviting seminarians to embrace intellectual and spiritual growth patterned after the saint’s wisdom and pastoral compassion.
Intellectual Competition and Athletic Excellence
Following the colloquium, the RST Day Quiz Bee tested theological and philosophical knowledge as four-member teams representing the Cardinal Virtues—Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude—engaged in spirited intellectual competition.
The afternoon shifted to athletic contests at the Recoletos Formation Center courts, where merged teams competed in basketball and volleyball. Team Demure, combining Prudence and Temperance, swept both championships against Team Aggressive (Justice and Fortitude), claiming overall Sportsfest victory.
First-year students led a Zumba session before the matches, while the RST Student Forum facilitated parlor games that fostered fraternal bonding across formation levels.
Formation Through Community
RST Day 2025 exemplified the seminary’s integrated approach to priestly formation, blending rigorous intellectual engagement with liturgical celebration, physical recreation, and community building. The event concluded with renewed commitment among participants to embody the Recoletos tradition of charity, knowledge, and wisdom in service to Church and society.
The celebration underscored RST’s mission of forming ministers equipped not only with theological expertise but also with the pastoral sensitivity and prophetic courage demanded by contemporary challenges—from digital ethics to restorative justice—as articulated in Taton’s compelling colloquium address.
