ONE of the oldest institutions in our country is the University of San Jose-Recoletos. The Augustinian Recollect was one of the earliest, if not the earliest religious group, which spread Christianity in our country.
Then, Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos founded in 1947—thereafter a University in 1984—had its mission of inculcating Quality Christian Community Oriented Education, moving “Forward,” “to a New World to a Better Youth,” in step with the dynamic vision-mission of education, inspired by St. Augustine.
The school’s leadership passed on 16 rectors to presidents, and the value immersion had produced countless successful alumni spread all over the globe. This year, 2020, the current university president, Rev Fr. Cristopher Maspara, OAR, sees challenging times, and his message delivered during the launch of the USJ-R Christmas ID, is a footnote of hope after a crisis. He painted how 2020 had been one of the “bleakest times” in human history, and why Christmas is the perfect time to look for the “brilliant star” which shone the night Baby Jesus was born, breaking the darkness to shed the light, the new dawn of hope.
Christ came upon us in the midst of the pandemic. Trying times, indeed.
Fr. Maspara inspired the Josenians to feel the presence of Christ, “magsadya kitang tanan... Josenians must celebrate Christmas,” out of gratitude for what God has done for us, and exalt His love for mankind.
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USJ-R Christmas ID
“Christmas is a Time of Love”
Words and Music by Fr. Leo Aparas, OAR
Performed by the Josenian Faculty, Administration, Staff and Students
The world is in need of love
The world is in need of people’s helping hands
Would you care and reach out
to someone in need in this season of love?
We all have pain in our hearts
When trials have come in this lowly land
But still we see the light
That sparks in the sky, and shines from up above
Refrain:
Christmas is a sign of joy
Christmas is a sign of hope
Christmas is a sign of our trust in God
Christmas is a time of love
Coda:
Together we will bear the pain in our hearts
We’ll move forward together to meet the Holy Child
Christmas is a sign of joy
Christmas is a sign of hope
Christmas is a sign of our trust in God
Christmas is a time of love
Christmas... is a time of love...
It’s a time of love.