HISTORY

The Immaculate Conception Major Seminary started out as an Institute of Formation in June of 1983 throug the efforts and inspiration of Most Rev. Cirilio R. Almario, Jr. D.D. It is here where both high school and college graduates undergo a sturdy spiritual formation which is an initial preparation for entering the major seminary. thus, the institute of Formation was created to absorb professional men, high school gradutes, and even undergraduate college students who have felt the call of our Lord.

Fourteen young men were received into the institution under the guidance of its first Rector, Msgr. Fernando G. Gutierrez who laid the rules and by-laws of the community. he asked the formators of different pre-college seminaries for some ideas to enhance the spiritual and academic life of the seminarians that is adaptable for the Bulakeños. The result of Msgr. Gutierrez's competence proved to be faithful and he was able to pioneer the first stage of pre-college seminary training.

The construction of the college seminary buildings began in November 1983. Bishop Cirilo Almario, Jr. , then Bishop of Malolos, withstanding all odds. pushed through with fund raising campaigns. The following year, in the month of June, Msgr. Gutierres was appointed rector of the college seminary. Fr. Mar DJ Arenas, on the other hand, took his place as the second director of the Pre-College seminary (now called Propaedeutic Year) which continues to yield a great number of seminarians in the major seminary.

Works were still piled up as the chapel was totally bare, but the rooms were already furnished to house the first batch of seminarians coming from all over Bulacan and other dioceses who applied and were admitted. the 30 seminarians had to contend with the noise created because of the continuous construction done in September 1984. On the 4th day of December, jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila and the late Most Rev. Bruno Torpigliani, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, blessed the college seminary building. Bishops from other dioceses, the Malolos clergy, religious sisters and the laity who were mostly benefactors, sponsors and friends of the seminary came to witness this momentous event.

The annex building slowly took its form after months of arduous work to serve its purpose for the school year 1985-1986. Its second floor with 36 rooms, in its finished-touches, was able to accommodate the old-timers while the 18 newcomers were billeted in the main building. Upon its completion in November of 1985, it was blessed and inagurated by the former Papal Nuncio, Most Rev. Bruno Torpigliani. History repeated itself in the ICS compound. The occasion was no less festive and memorable as the first celebration. It was, indeed, a time to sing and remember, of thanksgiving and great rejoicing for the people and clergy and the Diocese of Malolos.

Truly the resplendence of the main and annex buildings had been a fascinating site but the picture was not yet complete. after a short respite, the construction of the third and final phase got under way in order to be ready for the school year 1986-1987. The ground floor of the second annex building was used as a social hall for the community programs, lectures and symposia.

In the same year, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports gave Immaculate Conception Major Seminary its full recognition as a Collge conferring Degree in Bachelor of Arts (Classical Ohilosophy). The school year ended but the building was not totally finished. And so in summer of 1987, construction again began to completely realize the proposed diocesan college seminary.

With the college seminary fully finished, it housed in its formators: Msgr. Fernando Gutierrez, Rector; Fr. Peng Sulit, Spiritual Director; Fr. Rannillo Trillana, Prefect of Discipline; Fr. Moning Ignacio, Procurator; Fr. Danny Bermudo, Dean of Studies and Msgr. Sabino Vengco; professor.

Nineteen graduates marched during the college seminary's first graduation in 1988.

Constructions however did not stop. Bishop Almario incesantly aspired for a Theology Department that would accommodate the increasing number of seminarians of the Diocese who wanted to continue further studies in Theology. By February of 1992, the building was blessed and inagurated by the Most. Rev. Gian Vicenzo Moreni, former Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. Its first graduates were ordained on February 28, 1992. Today, after the full recognition by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 1994, the Immaculate Conception Seminary Graduate School of Theology confers Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Right now the seminary has, in her roll, 112 graduate-priests assigned in different dioceses such as Bulacan, Antipolo, Bataan, Tarlac and Military Ordinariate.