ORSEM 2018: Renewing the Call to Magis

Orientation Seminar for College Freshmen, Transferees, and Readmitted Students

31 May to 2 June 2018

 

Welcome,dear first year students and transferees to the Ateneo de Naga University!

 

It has been two years since the Ateneo opened its gates once more to high school graduates, following DepEd’s implementation of the K-12 curriculum.In those two years, many changes have occurred in the university.The hiatus in the freshmen enrollment gave way to the creation of the senior high school department.The Ateneohas also welcomed the latest addition to its family, the College of Law, and just recently, in September 2017, the 3^rd University President, Rev, Fr.Primitivo E. Viray, SJ said farewell to the institution as he was named the new Provincial Superior of the Philippine Jesuits.

 

Therefore, this coming school year 2018-2019, with your momentous entrance to the university, we also warmly welcome our new President, Rev. Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, SJ.

 

As you enter the gate and step closer to the iconic Four Pillars, your hearts may be filled with joyous anticipation for what lies ahead, but as great things unfold for you within the portals of this institution, realize that beyond it, many developments have likewise been happening.

 

The 21^st century, dubbed as the information age[1], is now marked by a surge in technological advancements.The terms social media and new media are established buzz words as they have become staple avenues for communication.Geographical boundaries are not anymore perceived as a hindrance to communicating and reaching out to people wherever they are in the globe.  Messages can be sent and received instantaneously.Information is indeed readily available to anyone who has access to on-line resources.Mobility is possible even without physical movement as the internet has surprisingly broken down any comprehensible limits to connectivity.

 

All these developments both excite and challenge us as an institution.They provide us with a lot of unique opportunities to live out our Atenean identity and our mission to be men and women for others.

 

As we boldly open a new chapter in the history of the Ateneo, in the Ignatian tradition, we take a moment to reflect and ask ourselves: What does it mean to be an Atenean in the 21^st century?What are we now called to do?

 

The frontiers have evidently changed and taken many different dimensions.We assume that with all the improvementsglobally come the experience of greater well-being but as pointed out in the 36^th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus: “We see people enjoying the beauty of creation. We see the many ways in which people use their gifts for the sake of others. And yet, our world faces so many needs today, so many challenges. We have images in our minds of people humiliated, struck by violence, excluded from society, and on the margins. The earth bears the weight of the damage human beings have wrought. Hope itself seems threatened; in place of hope, we find fear and anger.”[2]

 

Human and environmental exploitation are deeply felt in many parts of the globe, and those who suffer the most are the many men, women, and children who are at the margins or at the crossfire of wars and other forms of violence.

So, we go back to the question, “what are we called to do?”

 

The answer is both the same as before, but different.

 

As Ateneans, we are all called to renew our commitment to Magis.

 

What is Magis?

 

Magis speaks of who we are not only as Ateneans but most especially as works of creation.Ultimately, our purpose in life is “to love, praise, revere, and serve God.”[3]Magis is an invitation towards fulfilling our life’s purpose, and we do so by striving to be “the most of who [we are] created to be.”[4]Magis is, in other words, a call to excellence, but not in a worldly sense, marked by selfish competition for profit or in a general sense, power.

 

It moves and bindsthe other core values that define the Atenean.Particularly, it prompts us to find God in all things, being clear with whom we belong to, and this search for God in the world, especially in the midst of our suffering brothers and sisters, propels us to live out our faith in the promotion of justice.In this direction, we likewise learn to extend our personal care (curapersonalis), aware that each of the persons we serve has been given the same dignity we received from the Creator.

 

These core values expressed in the vision and mission of the university, as well as in the profile of the Ateneo graduate, which you will understand and embrace eventually,are also clearly translated and articulated in the core competencies which each of us must manifest.As individuals charged with the mission towards magis, we endeavor to care for and develop ourselves for us to be fully ready and able to do God’s bidding (self-management).Aware that the work entrusted to us requires that it be done for and with others, we must also recognize the need for communication and collaboration with fellow Ateneans and our many partners and stakeholders.Through discernment which is also a crucial characteristic of our way of life as persons formed in the Ignatian way, we also listen intently to where the spirit drives and sends us as we adapt to the current context of our mission for which we become leaders, responsible and accountable for our actions.

 

All these form part of our considerations as we ponder on the meaning of Magis and its significance in the recalibration of our brand as Ateneans; as we start anew, hopeful and brave, and as YOU, dear freshies and transferees, begin your journey as full-fledged members of the Ateneo de Naga community.

 

Magis in the Ateneode Naga Tradition

 

For more than 75 years, the Ateneo de Naga has been faithful to its commitment to Magisthrough its excellent academic programs, holistic formation activities, and responsive extension services.It has formed and it continues to form men and women who strive to make their Jesuit training a hallmark of their respective careers.Both in the private and public sectors, their quest for magis remains a focal point of their everyday lives.

 

The Ateneo formation, which historically started with high school students, has now extended on both sides as it is offered to pupils in the early and late childhood (preschool and grade school) and to post baccalaureate students in their graduate studies and in law school.

 

It has produced thousands of Ignatian teachers, engineers, journalists, computer scientists, digital animators, entrepreneurs, nurses, doctors and other professionals who are competent in their chosen fields, fully guided by their well-formed conscience, centered on Christ and His Gospel, compassionately committed to changing for the better.

 

You will cultivate this disposition to magisas you begin your daily life in the Ateneo.You will learn to imbibe it as you enter your classes and interact with your teachers and classmates, as you meet your new friends, as you join the different formation activities within and outside the school and as you open yourself to the many more rich experiences that you will have in your student years in the university.

 

No matter how small or great your pursuit might be, know that every circumstance you will find yourself in will be an opportunity for you to seek and respond to magis, and as you gradually and deeply become aware of this reality, you will find yourself transforming into the Atenean that you are meant to be.

 

The World that Needs our Magis

 

Despite the wonders and allures of modernity, we find ourselves at the brink of a “complex crisis” as pointed out by Pope Francis.[5]With limitations and barriers apparently lessened, if not completely removed by technology, humankind is accorded a false sense ofinvincibility.We live in an era where we consume more than we need to,without caring for the source of the goods and the people who produce them and need them more than we do.

 

Catastrophic changes in environmental conditions are now a cause for alarm.Typhoons and other natural disasters become stronger and more difficult to mitigate.Resources continue to dwindle with those already receiving less suffering from greater scarcity while powerful capitalists and economic movers control and monopolize the limited supply.

 

Also, the tools that were supposedly created to connect us are creating further divisions and are even used to advance acts of injustice and terror.As one’s ego bloats with the use of technology and the greater capacity to consume, tolerance of others and acceptance of their differences seem to diminish.This trend, taken ona larger scale, has brought about greater inequalities between the rich and the poor and has undoubtedly caused the massive displacement of vulnerable sectors across the world.

 

Wars and other forms of conflict still pervade, with tensions fluctuating among different political factions within and among nations.Millions of innocent people have lost their lives in many parts of the globe as powerful groups continue to settle the score through violence.Many more are still going to be victims if chaos will persist.

 

In the Philippines, political unrest remains a glaring reality, generated by opposing political views, and the rampant allegations of corruption and other cases of criminality met with impunity.The cry for justice becomes louder as a litany of human rights violations plague the society while there is an evident absence of due process.All these and the worsening situation of poverty are part of the major woes of Filipinos in the present time.

 

Misinformation and unethical use of new media also characterize the digital age in the country.The abuse and exploitation of individuals and groups also happen in cyberspace and are reported almost regularly in the news.Many likewise become victims of fraudulent electronic transactions.Shamefully, technology is utilized and manipulated to harm and deceive people.

 

From the 36^th Congregation of Jesuits, we learn that “… ultimately, the roots of conflict lie in the divisions within the human heart.”[6]It is observed that among the youth, a great desire for silence amidst the noise is sought in the wrong places.Many leave the Christian faith in search of a more personal kind of spirituality, but this individualistic and relative faith life can breed seclusion and intolerance, creating further isolation and division.Cases of anxiety, depression and worst, suicide also escalate with the feeling of being lost and alone.

 

Today, the many cases of violence and chaos afflicting individuals, groups, nations and the world as a whole are clear signs of the need for personal and communal healing, and as the congregation upholds, this healing can only be achieved if we reconcile with God, humanity and creation.[7]

 

These insights reveal the new frontiers where we are called to exercise and exemplify magis. The world is the large field where we are expected to carry out our mission as Ateneans, but this world is not anymore limited to the concrete and physical world we live and breathe in.With the integration of technology, the world has also taken a virtual and intangible form which, paradoxically, is more accessible to most of us.It is actually a world you are most familiar with as millennials and a world you can easily navigate as digital natives and citizens.

 

All these thoughts might be overwhelming for you, but as you share in the mission of reconciliation, know that you are most certainly not alone.With all your fellow Ateneans, from the freshman students entering Ateneo just like you, to the other students across educational levels, to the faculty and staff, administrators, alumni/ae, also to the Jesuits of the Society and their collaborators, the call to this mission reverberates.

 

Magis in the 21^st Century Mission

 

Despite the apparent darkness and confusion that characterize our world, we are assured that indeed “God labors in [it].”[8]God has initiated the work of reconciliation, in which He calls us all as Ateneans to partake, through the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross.This is what we profess as His followers.

 

This is our source of hope as we undertake our mission in these times, with all the opportunities and challenges that are locally and globally present.Again, Pope Francis admonishes us not to settle for what we see happening around us.

 

Through the academic and formative programs which will be offered to you in the Ateneo, you will gradually become immersed in the current realities that will confirm the need for reconciliation.Bear in mind that everything that you will encounter will be a direct or indirect invitation for you to respond to magis, but for you to sort things out clearly, discernment is necessary.

 

Discernment can be understood profoundly as determining God’s will through one’s experiences, whether sublime or ordinary.This can be tantamount to listening intently to the voice of someone you love and heeding what s/he is saying and most especially, what s/he wants you to do.As you will know, it will not be easy listening to God’s voice, with all the internal and external noise that can rival it, but with persistent and sincere prayer and through the activities you will have as part of your spiritual growth, it can be heard with clarity.

 

The mission, as discerned by the Jesuit fathers of the 36^th congregation, has already been well defined and articulated, but your contribution to its fulfillment is yet to unfold as you journey in the Ateneo.

 

Again, do not be discouraged or daunted by the enormity of the scope or the difficulty of the task ahead.Remember, you will not journey alone.You are with the entire Ateneo de Naga community, brave and hopeful that as the Lord began His work, through us and with us, He will ultimately be the One to complete it.

 

Right now, what you need to do is to reciprocate our warm welcome with your own warm smile and discover in your own simple but grace-enabled way, the ways in which you can respond to what will be, from here on, a resounding call to magis.

 

 

Rationale and Objectives

 

The Orientation Seminar (ORSEM) for Freshman, Transferee, and Readmitted students has three main objectives:

 

1. To orient freshmen and transferees about the Ateneo de Naga as a Catholic, Filipino, and Jesuit university in order that they may come to an appreciation of Ateneo education and understand what it means to them personally;
2. To orient freshmen and transferees on academic expectations and policies of the University and their Home Departments, in order that they may have an overview of their academic life, and begin to plan and set goals for their studies; and
3. To orient freshmen and transferees on the formation given in the University through the different formation and support offices, in order that they may begin to appreciate the totality of their person, and the personal development that shall be supported in the university.

 

In line with these objectives, and the mandate of the College Guidance Center – to promote balanced development, to help students manage their academics, and to help promote a supportive academic atmosphere – the ORSEM is designed such that through various lectures, activities, and exercises, the freshmen and transferees are able to:

 

1. Articulate a personal vision in relation to the Mission and Vision of the University, Core Values, and the Profile of the Graduate.
2. Articulate personal growth goals for themselves, in line with their personal vision and academic goals.

 

At this point, it is necessary to stress that these are initial articulations, and are ideally to be revisited and enriched at various points in their stay in the University.Some structures already existing that may help to monitor growth are the College Ignatian Formation Program and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) under the Office of Mission and Identity&Ignatian Formation Center, the academic advising structure of the Home Departments, and the implementation of the Ignatian Formation Program.

 

Given these considerations, there are two learning modules that are to be implemented.  These are:

 

1. Interaction Laboratory 1 – Personal Visioning
2. Interaction Laboratory 2 – Personal Growth Setting

 

 

 

Schedule of Activities

Time	Activities	Venue
Day 1: May 31, 2018 (Thursday) – Personal Visioning
7:30 – 8:00 am	Registration	Xavier Hall
8:00 – 8:15 am	Cheer Practice	University Gym
8:15 – 8:30 am	Song Practice for the Mass	University Gym
8:30 – 9:30 am	Opening Mass	University Gym
9:30 – 11:30 am	Opening Program	University Gym
11:30 – 1:00 pm	Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:15pm	Registration	Classrooms
1:15 – 4:00 pm	Interaction Laboratory 1 – Personal Visioning	Classrooms
4:00 – 4:15 pm	Transition
4:15 – 5:30 pm	Group 1 (First 25 blocks) Brief Orientation on the following Student Support Services: §  Medical/Dental Health Program §  Library Orientation §  MyADNU Online Registration/MIS Online Enrolment §  Center for the Culture and the Arts	University Gym
4:15 – 5:30 pm	Group 2 (Last 25 Blocks) §  Submission of SPRF and Parent’s Reply Slip, Cheer Practices, &Block Picture Taking	Various Venues
Day 2: June 1, 2018 (Friday) – Year Level Testing, College, and Department Orientations
7:30 – 7:45 am	Registration	Classrooms
7:45 – 8:00 am	Recap of Yesterday’s Activities	Classrooms
8:00 – 9:45am	Year-Level Testing	Classrooms
9:45 – 10:00am	Break
10:00 – 12:00nn	College Orientations	Various Venues
12:00 – 1:00 pm	Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:15 pm	Registration	Classrooms
1:15 – 1:30 pm	Transition
1:30 – 3:30 pm	Department Orientations	Various Venues
3:30 – 4:00 pm	Cheer Practice
4:00 – 4:15 pm	Transition
4:15 – 5:30 pm	Group 1 (First 25 blocks) §  Submission of SPRF and Parent’s Reply Slip, Cheer Practices, &Block Picture Taking	Various Venues
4:15 – 5:30 pm	Group 2 (Last 25 blocks) Brief Orientation on the following Student Support Services: §  Medical/Dental Health Program §  Library Orientation §  MyADNU Online Registration/MIS Online Enrolment §  Center for the Culture and the Arts	University Gym
Day 3: June 2, 2018 (Saturday) – Personal Goal Setting
7:30 – 7:45 am	Registration	Classrooms
7:45 – 8:00 am	Recap of Yesterday’s Activities	Classrooms
8:00 – 12:00 nn	Formation and Student Support Offices’ Orientations	Various venues
12:00 – 1:00 pm	Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:15 pm	Registration	Classrooms
1:15 – 3:45 pm	Interaction Laboratory 2 – Personal Goal Setting	Classrooms
3:45 – 4:00 pm	Transition
4:00 – 6:00 pm	Closing Program	University Gym
June 9, 2018 (Saturday) Parents’ Orientation
7:30 – 8:00 am	Registration	Xavier Hall
8:00 – 8:05 am	Opening Prayer	University Gym
8:05 – 8:15 am	Welcome Remarks – University President	University Gym
8:15 – 8:25 am	Message from the Vice President for Higher Education	University Gym
8:25 – 9:00 am	On Ignatian Formation Program – Executive Director of OMI	University Gym
9:00 – 9:20 am	On Payment – University Treasurer	University Gym
9:20 – 9:35 am	Important Announcement from the PTA – President of PTA Distribution of Snacks	University Gym
9:35 – 9:55 am	Open Forum/Reminders	University Gym
9:55 – 10:00 am	Transition	—-
10:00 – 12:00 nn	Meeting with the Deans and Department Chairpersons	Various Venues

 

[1] “The Evolution of Traditional to New Media,” p. 21, Teaching guide for senior high school: Media and information literacy, 2016, the Commission on Higher Education

[2] 36^th GC Decree 1, para.1, p.1

[3] ADNU Core Values and Competencies, p. 4

[4]The Immediate Experience of GOD, Karl Rahner, SJ and Ignatian Spirituality, Philip Endean SJ, 1978, p. 18 as cited in ADNU Core Values and Competencies, p. 4

[5]Laudatosi, p. 139 cited in Decree no. 1, p. 1, 36^th Congregation of the Society of Jesus

[6] Witnesses of Friendship and Reconciliation, para. 19, p. 3

[7] 36^th GC Decree 1, p. 5 & 6

[8] 36^th GC Decree 1, p. 1