University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
As a Catholic institution of learning, the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi sees to it that each undertaking starts and ends through profession of faith. This was evident when the university began the S.Y. 2023-2024 through the traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit held on August 10, 2023 at the UST-Legazpi Dome.
The said Eucharistic celebration invited every Legazpi Thomasian to ask for the grace of God as they rededicated themselves to the university’s mission.
The University’s 9th Rector and President, Rev. Fr. Edwin A. Lao, OP, DBA, led the said annual event attended by the students, faculty, support personnel, and administrators.
In his homily, Rev. Fr. Lao reminded the Legazpi Thomasian community about the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
The said Rector and President highlighted how these gifts are essential to the university especially at the start of the new school year.
“As one academic community, where each has a role to play as administrators, supervisors, support personnel, faculty members, students, and shareholders, we pleace our intentions to God through the Holy Spirit to bless our endeavours at the start and at the end of the school year with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control,” Fr. Edwin said.
As final blessing, Fr. Lao prayed to the Holy Spirit to guide the Legazpi Thomasian community in facing another school year.
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the Legazpi Thomasians. Give them the fire of your love. Move and inspire each of us as we play our roles in the Legazpi Thomasian Community. Amen”, the university leader added.
The 2023 Mass of the Holy Spirit was implemented with three schedules. The first one was held at 8:30 am at the UST-Legazpi Dome with participants from the Preschool and Elementary, Junior High School, College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, College of Health Sciences, Administrators, Supervisors, and Support Personnel.
At 10:30 am, members from the Senior High School department, College of Business Management and Accountancy, and the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Fine Arts attended the mass with Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Arceo, OP, STL, PhD, Prior of the St. Raymond de Peñafort Convent as celebrant.
In the afternoon at the Peñaranda Campus, Rev. Fr. Gallardo A. Bombase, Jr., OP, led the mass for the College of Law and Graduate School.
In other news, as part of the opening of classes, the Basic Education Department conducted its Orientation Seminar. The Preschool and Elementary Department had their Orsem at the Daragang Magayon Hall while the Junior and Senior High School occupied the university dome.
This year’s speakers were the heads of offices that transact frequently with the said academic departments.