Dubbed as ‘I Run for Priesthood,’ the fun run aims to promote more vocations to priesthood in the Archdiocese of Davao, Dodong Ocon said in last Thursday’s regular press briefing at the city hall.
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Former seminarians in this city will organize a fun run to help address the “worsening problem of vocation crisis.”
This as the number of seminarians had been declining while only few finish education to become a priest, according to Dodong Ocon, former seminarian and one of the lead organizers of the event.
Education to become a priest or to become a seminarian usually takes four years for college graduates or eight years for high school graduates.
Dubbed as ‘I Run for Priesthood,’ the fun run aims to promote more vocations to priesthood in the Archdiocese of Davao, Ocon said in last Thursday’s regular press briefing at the city hall.
Ocon added, their event is an “act of gratitude” for their former school, the St. Francis Xavier College of Seminary (SFXCS), which made an impact in their lives during their years of formation, and for what they have become.
He encouraged former seminarians to participate in the event, including SFXCS’s batch of 1956 until the latest school year, as it also aims to generate funds for the seminary school’s renovation.
The ‘I Run for Priesthood’ gained the support of Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles who issued Circular No. 16 addressing all parish priests and chaplains of public chapels to invite everyone to join and support the activity.
Valles dubbed the event as “a noble endeavor” and expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the organizers for their untiring support for the formation of seminarians and future priests.
The fun run is set on November 18 at the People’s Park. It will start with a mass at 4 AM. Participants will run from the park passing through Quirino Avenue and to Bankerohan up to the GSIS (Government Service IN building in MacArthur Highway, Matina. From there, they will go back to the finish line at the People’s Park.
Registration has been ongoing since September. Ocon said the event is open to men, women and children with three categories: the 3K (kilometer), 5K and 10K. Registration fee is pegged at 300 pesos for the 3K category; 350 pesos for the 5K category; and 400 pesos for the 10K category. Winners will receive cash prizes with certificates of appreciation. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
