Santuario Scholarship Program
By Sem. Eugenio Navida Jr., CM
The celebration of the 350th death anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louis de Marillac attests to the continuation of the legacy of these two great saints. This is a year-long celebration for the whole Vincentian Family worldwide. The Santuario de San Vicente de Paul keeps this legacy by starting yet another program, the Santuario de San Vicente Scholarship Program. This scholarship program aims to help poor but deserving students who would become future leaders and sharers of hope to others. The Santuario draws its inspiration from our Patron, St. Vincent himself, who during his adolescent years was eager to finish his studies. Unfortunately, his poor family could not afford to send him to school. It was through the benevolence of a certain affluent man, Monsieur de Comet, that the young Vincent was able to enroll in school and finish his schooling. His studies became the doorway for his future ministry in serving the poor.
Similarly, with the scholarship program, the Santuario hopes to be able to help poor but deserving students to fulfill their dreams. Currently, the program is serving three students who are taking technical courses in college. These students are also given values and human formation training as well as English proficiency tutorial sessions by the Pre-Internal Seminarians from St. Vincent Seminary. During Sunday and other activities, they also serve as working students in the Santuario on Sundays and special events in the Church.
At present, the Santuario de San Vicente Scholarship program have Fr. Mario Colina, CM and Mrs. Nely Bringas and family as its current sponsors. Mr. and Mrs. Boy and Aida Mendoza have pledged their sponsorship come January of 2011.
The Santuario is presently looking for generous sponsors who will share in its dream to continue efforts in forming future leaders and in giving more opportunities for poor but deserving students. It would also be an opportunity for the sponsors to share their blessings with others and at the same time help defray the scholars’ expenses such as tuition fees and daily allowance.
