While the 2025 Christmas holiday has ended, 2026 and our second school semester are now underway.
Greetings from Manila, Philippines!
Following a one-month break during the Christmas season of 2025, the scholastics at the Loyola House of Studies (LHS) have been busy not only with their usual classes and assignments at both Ateneo de Manila University and the Loyola School of Theology (LST), but have also been involved in the many programs scheduled for the first few weeks of the new year. These have included a Triduum Recollection on the vows, a sub-community villa, a thanksgiving mass for our benefactors, and a prayer concert.
Indeed, before the second semester officially began on January 5, 2026, the LHS scholastics began the year by having a Triduum Recollection on our religious vows with the theme “Life, Leadership, and Legacy.” This recollection was guided by Fr. Jonny Go, SJ. Through his reflection points, which invited us to reflect on the vows through the lens of Jesus’ temptation in the desert (cf. Lk. 4:1–13), Fr. Jonny highlighted three main points.
First, the vow of poverty invites us to practice self-diminishment so that we may live with a broader perspective in the spirit of the ‘tantum quantum’—using all created things only insofar as they help us toward our ultimate goal: to praise, reverence, and serve God alone.
Photo: Sch. Felix, SJ at the Manila Ocean Park.
Second, the vow of obedience invites us to practice self-dethronement so that we may become free to be sent to whatever mission is given to us. Finally, our vow of chastity challenges us to prioritize people above our ego and our need for social acceptance, approval, and affection. After having a prayerful and fruitful recollection for three days, we ended our Triduum with the renewal of our vows. Personally, I found this recollection to be deeply grace-filled, because it not only reminded me about my vocation in the Society of Jesus, but also became a moment of renewal of my deepest commitment to God.
After having a wonderful three-day recollection, we began our sub-community villa (i.e., time for recreation together) from January 8 to 10, 2026. The villa this semester was quite unique because we decided to have a stay-in villa instead of going away. Although we still attended some classes during the villa days, it did not diminish our excitement, because during the weekend we went out as a community to explore some places in Manila, such as seeing different aquatic creatures at Manila Ocean Park, having fun trying various rides at Star City, and exploring Filipino dishes around the city.
Photo: Sch. Felix, SJ (on the right) with other scholastics at the Manila Ocean Park.
As I reflect on this stay-in the villa, my heart is filled with deep gratitude, not only for all the activities we shared, but also for the communal joy we encountered as brothers in the Society of Jesus. The reality is that when lectures begin, everyone becomes busy with classes and papers. We tend to focus on our studies and have only a few opportunities to talk, mostly during mealtimes. Yet, during the villa, we truly spent time together and shared joyful moments as a community. Although the villa lasted only three days, the grace of joy and friendship we encountered and shared continues to endure in our hearts.
Finally, as the villa ended, we proceeded to other major events, such as Misa-Kainan, a thanksgiving Mass and dinner with our benefactors—a meaningful opportunity to express gratitude for their generous hearts—and a prayer concert at the end of the month as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of LHS and LST.
In general, although this month was undeniably busy, it left me with a sense of having received abundant blessings and deeply meaningful experiences. As the second semester begins, I move forward with renewed commitment, gratitude, and readiness to continue the mission entrusted to me.
Written by: Sch. Felix Coutinho, SJ