Cor Unum Stewardship Program
The work of forming future priests is a shared responsibility of the whole Christian community. The first Synod of the Diocese of Borongan has decreed (No. 41) that โThe whole people of God in the diocese shall actively involve themselves in pooling resources for the construction and maintenance of Seminary plants.โ The papal decree on priestly training titled โOptatam Totiusโ provides that โThe duty of fostering vocations pertains to the whole Christian community, which should exercise it above all by a fully Christian life.โ These decrees have inspired the formators of the Nativity of Our Lady College Seminary (NLCS) to initiate the โCor Unum Stewardship Programโ (CUSP).
What is the Cor Unum Stewardship Program?
It is a program that intends to encourage Catholics to witness and be part of the shared responsibility of whole Christian community in the work of fostering vocations and forming future priests where, according to Optatam Totius, the renewal of the Church largely depends. In collaboration with the parents of seminarians, the parishes and the bigger Christian community in the Diocese of Borongan, this program is initiated and supervised by the formators of NLCS.
What are the objectives of the Program?
- To foster vocations to the priesthood in families which, animated by the spirit of faith and love and by the sense of duty, become a kind of initial seminary; and in parishes in whose rich life the young people take part (Cf. Optatam Totius);
- To pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life as individuals and as communities through organized liturgical activities;
- To exhort selected Catholics to pledge a fixed amount that maybe remitted monthly or annually for the formation of College seminarians and for the upkeep of the seminary. Presently, it is suggested that the pledge shall be in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Pesos (P250) monthly or a cumulative of Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000) annually.
Who can be members of this Program?
- The close friends and/or associates of the parents of Seminarians;
- Those who are recommended by the parish;
- Any Catholic whether residing in the diocese or in other geographic locations who share the same passion to help promote vocations and who are aware of their co-responsibility to help the formations of future priests;
- An application form shall be provided to prospective members that may be sent to them through a representative or through email and/or other electronic means.
What are the benefits of being members of the Program?
Aside from being sharing in the work of nurturing the vocations of future priestsโwhich in itself is a blessingโmembers shall be entitled to the following:
- The prayer intentions of all the members of the CUSP shall be included in the daily masses celebrated at the NLCS Chapel;
- With special prayers, greetings will be sent to the members on the occasion of their birthdays and other anniversaries;
- They will be given personalized certificates that will state their membership of the Cor Unum Stewardship Program.
What are the mechanics of transmittal of monthly or annual pledges of members?
- Members may remit their monthly or annual pledges to an appointed representative in their parish which maybe one of the parents of a college seminarian; they will be issued an acknowledgment receipt upon remittance;
- Members may send their monthly or annual pledges to the GCash number of NLCS that shall be provided upon membership; when using this option, the sender shall send a copy of the GCash transmittal receipt to the FB Messenger of NLCS that shall be provided upon membership;
- Members may deposit their monthly or annual pledges to the bank account of NLCS that will be provided upon membership; when using this option, a copy of the deposit slip shall be sent to the FB Messenger of NLCS that shall be provided upon membership;
- A report will be sent to the member every six months in order to make sure that all remittances are received and acknowledged.