THE IGNATIAN Festival 2015 carries the theme “AMARE ET SERVIRE: Pagmamahal at Paglilingkod sa Paraang Ateneo (Love and Service, the Ateneo Way)” as the celebration runs from July 15 to August 15.

The Office for Mission and Identity (OMI) and Office of Alumni Relations (OAR) spearheaded the month-long event, which is now on its fourth year.

The festival is comprised of activities aimed at deepening the different university sectors’ knowledge of their identity as Ateneans, as well as the values exemplified by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

St. Ignatius is the founder of the Society of Jesus and patron saint of the Ateneo.

The Society of Jesus is a religious order that engages in evangelization and apostolic ministry.

A launch mass was presided by University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ on July 15 at the Church of the Gesù to officially commence the festival.

The following days were marked with retreats, talks on spirituality, and reflection and community-building activities organized by the various units for their respective members.

The Ateneo and Jesuit communities also gathered in the Ateneo High School Covered Courts on July 26 for a mass to commemorate the feast of St. Ignatius.

The feast day of St. Ignatius is celebrated on July 31.

Ignatian spirituality basics

This year, the OMI and OAR decided to focus on two significant values of Ignatian spirituality: Love and service.

According to OMI Director Miriam Delos Santos, the theme has multiple meanings, one of which is a “callback to the basic principles of Ignatian Spirituality.”

“The first week [of the Ignatian Festival] begins with the principle and foundation, which is that God loves us,” Delos Santos said, referring to “Popcorn with Iggy Presents ‘The First Principle and Foundation,’” a talk on spirituality for the central administration offices held on July 18 at the Faber Hall Function Room.

Delos Santos added, “So, from that [realization of the] love [of God], parang you can’t help but move or be moved from that love, which results [in] service.”

She said that “AMARE ET SERVIRE” was inspired by the pastoral visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in January.

During the pastoral visit, 40 representatives of the Society of Jesus visited the Pontiff, and sang him a song of the same title composed by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ.

Vice President for Social Development and University Formation Council Chair Jaime Hofileña said that it is important for participants to return to the essence of love and service due to the continuousness of their mission in society.

“For generations, newer generations, there’s always work to do, to serve others in the world,” Hofileña said.

He stressed the need to render service to the peripheries by assisting them in various aspects, with livelihood and spiritual development among them.

New tradition?

For this year’s Ignatian Festival, the organizers created what Delos Santos described as an “experiment,” in the form of the university-wide gathering on July 22.

Lasting the entire afternoon, all office work was suspended to give way for reflection, sharing, and community-building among all employees of the Ateneo.

Delos Santos stressed the formative nature of the entire festival, which was materialized through the assembly of administrators, faculty, and staff for a spiritual cause.

Delos Santos said, “I think ‘yung special talaga this year is that the goal for deeper formation is very obvious because even with the theme itself, love and service is the core of our formation in Ateneo.”

She stated that the outcome of the gathering will determine if it turns into a staple amongst the annual festival’s activities.

Review for alumni

In an interview with The GUIDON, OAR Director Norberto Bautista, SJ shared that love and service form the basic definition of Ignatian Spirituality, thus making the celebration a “refresher course” for the alumni.

“Actually, ang importance is for them,” Bautista said. “I mean, if you want to attend mass, a talk, [a] recollection, or retreat, mag-aattend ka kasi importante iyon para sa ’yo (I mean, if you want to attend mass, a talk, a recollection, or retreat, you will attend it because it is important to you).”

He said that Ateneans often lose sight of the values they must uphold as members of the community after they graduate.

“Iyon ang nami-miss nila pagbalik sa Ateneo: ‘Yung values na natutunan nila (That is what the alumni miss when they come back to the Ateneo: The values that they learned),” Bautista added.

Bautista hoped that the activities were helpful in enlivening the spirits of the alumni, especially in the midst of their present endeavors.

Back to basics

According to Delos Santos, Ignatian Festival 2015 was meant to be simpler but deeper.

“We’re not gunning for a lot of activities. In fact, we’re hoping for not as many as last year’s, but [to have] more meaningful [ones],” she said.

Hofileña said, “[The organizers] attempt[ed] at a lower-key type of activities, pero ‘yung mga activities na talagang pag-iisipan ‘yung talagang dadamahin mo ang epekto ng mga tatalakayin (The organizers attempted at a lower-key type of activities, but ones that really employed deep thought, introspection, and reflection of the matters that were discussed).”

He further explained that formation is a vital component that rounds up Atenean education.

“[Education in the Ateneo] is not just [about the] intellectual [aspect], it’s not just the competence in your chosen field. What’s important is what’s inside you,” Hofileña said.