Bishop Ataviado, Fr. Femie Gohetia and Fr. Rey Matunog with the 1993 Graduates
Bishop Precioso Cantillas, Fr. Johnrey Sibi and Fr. Jerome Dejarme with the Seminarians. The New and Bigger Seminary Bus (Back).
Foundation
The Pope Paul VI Minor seminary was founded on August 15, 1970 by the late Most Rev. Vicente T. Ataviado, DD, the first Bishop of Maasin. It was named Pope Paul VI In commemoration of the said Pope’s visit to the Philippines in 1970.
While the building was under construction, and the first seminarians were still housed in the Bishop’s Residence, the Rev. Fr. Vicente S. Lora took charge of the boys as the first Rector. Returning to his home Diocese, Fr. Cipriano Hadlocon, then rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary, Palo, Leyte, completed the unfinished term of Fr. Lora. (1970-1971).
The next school year (1971-72), a newly ordained priest was appointed Rector of the seminary. Fr. Arfeo Sescon served the seminary as Rector from 1971-1974. Assigned to a parish, he was replaced by Rev. Fr. Edito Gan, who was rector for the first half of the school year 1974-1975. His term was continued by Rev. Fr. Felix Paloma who took care of the seminary up to the middle of the school year 1975-1976. Rev Amado Olayvar was then tasked to run the seminary; he was later assisted in 1976-1977 by the newly ordained Rev. Fr. Juanito Arreglo.
The shortage of priests in the Diocese of Maasin made the Bishop assume the office of Rector starting the school year 1977 to 1982. He was assisted by the major seminarians (on regency) who took care of the day to day administration of the seminary. The first seminarian-in-charge was Sem. Wilson de los Reyes( with Sem. Celso Moreno) in 1977-1978. Then came Sem. Felix Fortuna in 1978-1979; Sem. Patrick Paraiso in 1979-80; Sem. Santos Sabondo, Jr. in 1980-81; Sem. Jose Bardos and Sem. Gil Palacio in 1981-82.
In 1982-1983, Rev. Adelfo Briones was tasked to run the seminary until his ordination to the priesthood. Fr. Felix Fortuna continued the term of Fr. Briones who was transferred to Maasin Cathedral. Fr. Lito Narit came and served for two years- 1984-1985; 1985-86. When Fr. Narit left for parish assignment, Fr. Rogelio Lumbre became rector for one year 1986-1987. Despite his full time wok as parish priest of a nearby paris, Msgr. Olayvar took the challenge of running the seminary with a resident major seminarian on regency to take care of the daily affairs of the seminary. He was Sem. Romeo Mangya (1987-88) and he was succeeded by Sem. Yul Kilat (1988-89).
Starting school year 1989-90 until the present, the seminary has been blessed with resident rectors who served for at least two years: Fr. Nicholas Lagumbay (1989-92); Fr. Eufemio Gohetia (1992-1994); Fr. Leopoldo Suarez 1994-1995);Fr. Dennis Cagantas (1995-1997); Fr. Plutarco Rodriguez (1997-99); Fr. Roel Handayan (1999-2001); Fr. Oscar Cadayona (2001-2005).
In school year 1978-79, the seminary started receiving college students, with a view to encouraging late vocations. Appropriately, this department is termed “pre-college”, wherein the candidates have to go through an intense preparation in all aspects of seminary formation before they would be recommended for philosophical studies in Palo or Cebu.
The over-all structure of Pope Paul VI Minor Seminary is quite innovative compared to the other traditional high school seminaries which have their own academic curricula. Our seminary sends its students to the local catholic school, St. Joseph College, which is co-educational. The seminarians undergo the same academic training that other high school students receive and, needless to say, the atmosphere is more congenial for normal psychological and emotional development. They have however, remedial and special classes in Latin, English, Public Speaking and other subjects essential for higher ecclesiastical studies.