On September 9, 2013 the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) opened its new academic year 2013-2014. On this day, the USJ Faculty of Christian Studies organized a special program to welcome the new school year. Main numbers of the program: some remarks by the Dean of the Faculty, a sharing by a former student and a lecture by the Bishop; the program closed with the Holy Mass. The program proper was held at the hall of the Seminary of the Diocese, the Seminary of Saint Joseph, which is the place for our classes this year.
The morning program started with a prayer led by the eldest member of the teaching staff, Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP and continued with the opening remarks of Fr. Joao Eleuterio, our Faculty Dean, who gave us some important points regarding our Faculty and some relevant remarks on the document of the Vatican Theological Commission entitled Theology Today: Perspectives, Principles and Criteria. He ended his interesting and meaty intervention by telling us that we are part and parcel of the Church and committed to serve the Church.
In his interesting sharing, our former student, lay person Andrew Leong Chin Hei compared our Faculty and the Faculty of theology of the Belgian University and spoke of the positive points found in our school of theology pointing out the diversity of professors and their different theological approaches. He underlined the dedication of the students in Leuven and encouraged our own students to read, listen and dialogue. Andrew is now pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Leuven, Belgium.
Our dear Bishop Joseph Lai, DD, spoke of the situation and needs of the Diocese of Macau and encouraged professors and students to know the history of the Diocese which was founded in 1576, and also of the Seminary of Saint Joseph that was for many years the center of formation of hundreds of missionaries sent to different Asian countries. He stressed parochial work (there are six parishes and four quasi-parishes), educational undertakings (there are thirty one Catholic schools in Macau) and the social welfare program of the diocese. He invited the University of Saint Joseph to contribute in a special way to the Christian formation of the lay faithful in particular the teachers of religion.
The program of the inauguration of a new academic year closed with the Eucharistic celebration in the elegant Chapel of the Seminary. The holy Mass was presided by our Bishop. The clerical teaching staff of the Faculty of Christian Studies concelebrated with our pastor. For the first time in its history, the students of the Faculty attending the Mass were about forty five, a record for the Faculty which re-started theological studies in the year 2006.