Diyosesis ng San Pablo

San Santiago Apostol Parish

Lingkod ng Dambana
Paete 4016, Laguna

Dear Reverend Father De Los Angeles,

May all things be sanctified!

The Formation Team consisting of Mr. Rowell Ybañez, Mr. Exequiel Gatchalian, and
Rev. Fr. Philip James Baided, guided by you, our Cure, seeks to form anew the parish’s Knights
of the Altar (Lingkod ng Dambana). Recent incidents acted like a “magnifying glass” that
showed the urgency for character formation in the young men of the church organization.

Thus, the theme, “Esto Vir! - Be a man!” for this program is fitting for the wholistic
needs of these young boys in the Knights of the Altar. The theme was taken from the first
chapter, ‘Character’, under the first published spiritual book of St. Josemaria Escriva, “The
Way”. The complete adage from The Way no. 4 is:

Don’t say, “That’s the way I am- it’s my

character.” It’s your lack of character. Esto vir!- Be a
man!”

The formation program shall be virtue-oriented, for “virtutes” make us men, men of God.
In addition, virtues are the soil and ground on which we build the castle of our sanctity. We shall
try to instill virtues in our proposed means of formation, especially the theological and cardinal
virtues.

The target date for the Installation/ Investiture/ Recognition for the Ministry of Altar
Servers is on the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, September 8, 2022. From the months of June
to September, there are fourteen Saturdays starting from the 4 th of June to the 3rd of September.
These Saturdays shall be used as days of formation for the Knights of the Altar. In addition,
Saturday is the day of Our Lady.

The means of formation for the Altar Servers shall be:

1. Seminars
2. Laborandum
3. Excursion
4. Team Building Activities
5. Prayer
 Diyosesis ng San Pablo
San Santiago Apostol Parish
Lingkod ng Dambana
Paete 4016, Laguna

ON SEMINARS
“An hour of study is an hour prayer for the modern-day apostle.” -The Way no. 335
The young boys shall undergo seven formation seminars. The seminars shall be given every
other Saturdays at the Parish Hall at 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. The topics of the seminars are as follows:
1. Imitating Christ in Virtues (Taken from Grade 9 lesson)
2. Norms of Piety (Taken from Norms of Piety by J.M. Muntadas)
3. The Purpose of Man’s Existence (Taken from The Faith Explained by Leo J. Trese)
4. The Ten Commandments (Taken form Grade 7 lesson)
5. The Catholic Church (Taken from The Faith Explained by Leo J. Trese and Grade 8
lesson)
6. The Mass Explained (Taken from The Holy Mass Explained by Cormac Burke)
7. Practicum

These seminars seek to introduce the Knights of the Altar into practicing prudence and
faith. After the seminars, the Knights of the Altar shall proceed to the church and attend
Holy Mass.
ON LABORANDUM
“The exterior is reflected by interior.”
The Laborandum shall be done in the morning and it shall be an activity that instills in
the young men to exert effort in something worthwhile, and in our situation, in cleaning their
environment. This activity is a fitting opportunity for practicing virtues, especially that of
Fortitude, Diligence, Justice, and Industry. The young men will mainly clean in the parish church
unless there is a place that requires urgent cleaning.
ON EXCURSION AND TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” -Ps
132
In the course of the formation program, with the approval of the Cure and under the
guidance of the parent-adviser, the organization shall go on an excursion to Tatlong Krus via
Brgy. Ilaya de Norte, and do team building activities. We shall need the help of the youth or the
Katoto in conducting the team building activities. The activity shall be done on the last Saturday
before the target date, specifically on September 3, 2022. The activity seeks to instill the virtues
of Fraternity, Charity, and Temperance.
 Diyosesis ng San Pablo
San Santiago Apostol Parish
Lingkod ng Dambana
Paete 4016, Laguna

ON PRAYER
“Sanctity without prayer? I don’t believe in such sanctity.” -The Way no. 107
The care for the interior life of the Knights of the Altar is of the utmost importance.
Prayer shall be always integrated in the activities. Before seminars, the Knights of the Altar shall
pray the Rosary in the church. After the seminars, the attendees shall then proceed again to the
church to prepare for Holy Mass. Gospel sharing shall also be done before the seminar and the
sharer shall be assigned beforehand. The sacristans shall be required to memorize and take to
heart the basic prayers and responses in the Holy Mass. Cultivating their interior life should
instill in them the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

THE TIMELINE:
JUNE 4: Seminar- Imitating Christ in Virtues
JUNE 11: Laborandum
JUNE 18: Seminar- Norms of Piety
JUNE 25: Laborandum
JULY 2: Seminar- The Purpose of Man’s Existence
JULY 9: Laborandum
JULY 16: Seminar- The Ten Commandments
JULY 23: Laborandum
JULY 30: Seminar- The Catholic Church
AUGUST 6: Seminar- The Mass Explained
AUGUST 13: Laborandum
AUGUST 20: Seminar- Practicum
AUGUST 27: Excursion
SEPTEMBER 3: Installation/ Investiture