User:Sbi osb/St. Benedict Institute, Vigan City

ST. BENEDICT INSTITUTE, VIGAN CITY
2700 Ilocos Sur, Philippines www.sbivigan.org.ph

HISTORY
The Saint Benedict Religion Teachers’ Formation Center, now the Saint Benedict Institute (SBI) is a catechetical institute which aims to train and form well-integrated and empowered lay catechists/pastoral workers who in turn will form and train the community towards mature Christian faith. SBI was founded in 1964 by the Benedictines of the Eucharistic King due to the pressing and increasing demand for Benedictine Sisters to work in the catechetical ministry in both schools and parishes through the initiative of Rev. Mother Scholastica Alber, OSB, the then, Dean of Mission and the sub-prioress, in collaboration with Fr. Jaeger, OSB, a German Benedictine priest, who came to visit the Abbey in July of 1964 and informed the community of MISSIO AACHEN’s willingness to help this kind of project. Through the financial assistance of Missio Aachen with its bishop, Most Rev. Heinrich Goertz, the moral support of Rev. Fr. Paul Brunner, S.J. and Rev. Fr. Matthias Heghmans, SVD, the rector of the then Immaculate Conception Major Seminary, the seemingly impossible dream became a reachable star and began to offer a two-year course Certificate in Religious Education (CRE).

In 1966, fifty (50) student-catechists who were the first recipients of the scholarship graduated. In July 9, 1970, the Institute was granted government recognition and since then, it operated as the Religious Education Department of the Divine Word College of Vigan. To date, in its 47 years of existence, SBI has produced 1,605 alumni (including 70 Religious Sisters, 11 priests, 6 Religious Brothers and 6 Seminarians).

To increase the competency of the catechists and in pursuant to the Philippine Commission on Higher Education requirements to teach both in public and private schools, SBI started to offer a four-year course BSED (Bachelor of Secondary Education) major in Religious Education, in Jubilee 2000. Hence, there is also a need for administrators and faculty members to go for continuing education in order to meet quality standard of the two programs namely; the CRE and BSED.

Up to this time, parishes and schools (both public and private) continue to appeal for the services of SBI graduates but the Institute cannot grant the requests of some parishes and schools due to the limited number of graduates. Moreover, there are still young people in the Philippines who are aspiring to enroll at SBI but they cannot afford to pay the required contribution due to poverty. In her part, the Institute is seeking financial assistance from local and foreign benefactors to help these young people.

The Saint Benedict Institute is the only existing catechetical institute in Northern Philippines catering to 16 dioceses.

Vision
We envision well-integrated and empowered catechists/pastoral workers who forms and train the community towards mature Christian faith.

Mission
Guided by this vision, the team of formators embrace the tasks of: •	facilitatiing renewed integral formation of the student-catechists, agents if socio-spiritual transformation; •	collaborating with the local churches in their pastoral thrusts; •	buiding community among student-catechists and the formators; •	continuing spiritual and educational formation of the graduates of the two-years course, Certificate in Religious Educations (CRE) and; •	graduates of the four-year course, Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSED), major in Religious and Valued Education.

Commitment
Through the impression of St. Benedict, the Christian Educator and our Patron Saint, we commit ourselves to implement the vision-mission of this institute at the service of the church.

1.	Academic Program
SBI offers two programs:

a.Certificate in Religious Education (CRE)
This two-year course is completed in four (4) semesters and two (2) summers with one-year apostolate which is required for a graduate to receive the Missio Canonica at St. Benedict Institute.

b.Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in Religious Education (BSED)
The BSED major in Religious Education course is completed in four (4) semesters and two (2) summers upon completion of all necessary requirements for the CRE including the one-year exposure in mission apostolate.

2.Pastoral Immersion Program
To strengthen their vocation and increase their social awareness, the students are expected to participate in the following: a.Yearly one-month pastoral immersion program arranged by SBI with the parishes that request for such; b.Week-end exposure arranged by SBI in connection with their socio-pastoral laboratory program in Barangay Pantay Fatima as approved by the Archbishop and the Parish Priest of Vigan City; c.Exposure organized by the individual professor in connection with a particular subject area. They are also expected to develop the following values such as adaptability, flexibility, commitment, self-confidence, initiative, leadership, creativity, community life, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, perseverance, courage, compassion to the local community, enhanced credibility and dynamism.

3.Spiritual Life
The intellectual development the student undergoes is balanced with psycho-spiritual formation. Therefore, students are required to board and lodge in the institute. Until he/she finishes his/her course, the student’s spiritual life is nourished and fortified through community and spiritual exercises such as daily Eucharistic celebration, meditation, spiritual reading, adoration, community prayer, monthly recollection and confession, Bible sharing, Bible services, regular spiritual direction and annual retreat. Daily schedule includes actual living of what they have learned and what they will have to teach after graduation. He/she experiences a religious atmosphere wherein a strong “family and community spirit” is created and the Benedictine Spirituality “ORA ET LABORA” is imbibed. These contribute to his/her healthy spiritual, social and civic development necessary for a future “Herald of Christ.”

4.Community Life
SBI is a home away from home for the student who automatically becomes a member of this community. Since the institute is a boarding school, its operation and maintenance is undeniably difficult to sustain. However, the values inculcated of SBI’s stay-in lifestyle are seen to far outweigh the monetary considerations. To strengthen and enhance their spirit in community life, the students are:

a.Divided into groups called Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) wherein they take turns in preparing for liturgical celebrations, in cooking, in cleaning, in preparing community programs and recreations, in serving at meal time etc.

These activities become good venues in developing and enhancing their talents and skills in reading, singing, acting, playing musical instruments and in arts to become effective leaders and team players/members.

b.Performance of Ecological Activities Ecological activities are also scheduled to teach them protect and preserve the ecosystem by solid waste management; and to bring back the integrity of creation by planting vegetables, trees and raising livestock such as chicken, hogs and fishes.

-	Gardening does not only provide safe and nutritious food sources but also allows them to commune with nature. -	Defray the cost of marketing.