HISTORY

Soon after the establishment of the Diocese of Malolos in 1962 under its first Ordinary, Bishop Manuel del Rosario, D.D., the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary was opened, named after the patroness of the Diocese, the Immaculate Conception. It was humbly housed in the old convent of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Bulacan, Bulacan.

In the same year, the first batch, composed of sixteen (16) students, was accepted to undergo seminary formation under the guidance of Fr. Ramon Vera and Fr. Elisseo Carreon as the Rector and the Prefect of Discipline, respectively. Assigned in the seminary to assist in the formation program were Msgr. Angel Pengson and Msgr. Honorio Resurreccion. The seminary, popularly known as ICS, gradually sank its root and gained ground.

Hence, the following year there was a great increase in the seminary population, which rendered the old convent small to accommodate them. It was decided to transfer the seminary in Tabe, Guiguinto, Bulacan, which today remains as its site. In that same year, Frs. Tomas Mariano and Bartolome Bernabe were assigned as additional members of the faculty. In the middle of the school year, Fr. Rufino Reyes succeeded Fr. Ramon Vera. Two more priests were added to the existing set of faculty in the person of Frs. Deogracias Iniguez (now bishop of Iba, Zambales) and Teofilo Rustia.

On July 25, 1963, then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Msgr. Carlo Martini blessed the new building of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary which was to shelter the incumbent set as well as the seminarians entering the institution in the years to come. In the following school year, the population showed a marked increase into seventy-two, which was four and a half times than original number.

During the first decade of existence, ICS experienced development and improvement both in its faculty and students' population as well as in its structures and facilities. An annex building was constructed. Its upper floor served as residence of the formators and the lower ground for the refectory and kitchen. Later, a semi-circular chapel rose as a prominent edifice in the seminary grounds. To cater to the growing needs of the seminarians, classrooms were constructed separate from the main building. The site used to be occupied by these classrooms was turned into the present Science Laboratory, Computer Room and the Library. Enrollment swelled and the government recognition of the complete classical high school was obtained in May 1967. Religious women, Sr. Mercedes Llanderal and Sr. Lourdes Legunas of the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph, which was yet a secular institute then, came to ICS upon invitation from Bishop Manuel del Rosario, D.D. to see to the house management, ancillary services and even later in teaching some subjects. Since then, seminary apostolate has become one of the expressions of the charism of the Dominican Sisters as they give an active witness to the love of Christ.

The Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary like any ordinary establishment and institution, encountered hardships and difficulties. With the unfailing providence of God, she was able to overcome all these trials. Much like a wounded soldier, ICS had better base and a stronger foundation every time she faced mounting obstacles, thus various experience served as its masters and teachers. Through the years, the lmmaculate Conception Minor Seminary has served her purpose as an initial institution for honing priestly formation. To this date, she has graduated 589 alumni, 66 of which have been turned out as priests to the Diocese of Malolos and nearby dioceses.

Since its inception, eleven rectors cared for and to of the seminary:

1962-1963: Msgr. Ramon Vera

1963-1964: Fr. Rufino Reyes

1965-1970: Msgr. Feliciano Palma

1971-1975: Msgr. Deogracias Iñiguez

1975-1978: Fr. Luciano Caiman

1978-1980: Fr. Danilo delos Reyes

1980-1984: Fr. Domingo Salonga

1984-1986: Fr. Angelito Santiago

1986-1989: Fr. Narciso Sampana

1989-1995: Fr. Manuel Villaroman

1995 (November to June, 1996): Fr. Virgilio Ramos

1996-presentFr. Arsenio Tuazon, Jr.

As she walks through the portal of the Third Millen the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary has finished her infancy and adolescence. She has matured into adulthood through thick and thin. She has formed and develop. good number of young boys inclined to the priesthood men desirous of being followers of Christ in the future. She has catered to the spiritual, intellectual, physical and psychological formation of these young men seeing to their maturity and suitability as good candidates for the priesthood.

Today, ICS faces the world with her head held up high, o-mining ground for priestly vocation and secondly as an established secondary educational institution. With sixty seven (67) seminarians she is charged to nurture and form, her administration consists of Frs. Arsenio Tuazon, Jr. Edmar Estrella, Alberto dela Cruz and Manuel Santiago as Rector, Prefect of Discipline, Procurator and Spiritual Director respectively.

VISION

"To b prepared follow Christ the Redeemer with generous souls and pure hearts"

(Decree on Priestly Formation, Optatam Totius,3)

The immaculate Conception Minor Seminary is a college-preparatory school for young men who are thinking seriously of pursuing studies for the priesthood. It is conducted by the diocesan priest with the aid of an experienced Catholic Lay Faithful. The students under the direct supervision of the superior together with their parents playing their appropriate part, should live lives to their age and mentality.

MISSION

" To protect and develop the seeds of a priestly vocation,

so that the students may more easily recognize

it and be in a better position to respond to it."

(Pastores Dabo Vobis,63)

In line with this exhortation, the Minor Seminary leads in timely and gradual human, cultural and spiritual formation for the young person to embark on the path of the Major Seminary with an adequate and solid foundation.

Thus, the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in recognition of these Church documents, has as its purpose to help discover for an individual of a very tender age whether a true vocation exists. It does this by providing the proper atmosphere in which the small seeds of vocation will grow slowly but continuously with time.

SEMINARY FATHERS

Msgr. Bartolome Santos

Rector (794-4209)

Fr. Isidro Rodriguez

Prefect (794-4219)

Fr. Sonny de Armas

SD-Procurator (794-4218)

Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary -1962

Bo. Tabe, Guiguinto, Bulacan

Principal's office: (044) 794-0040