When Hermana Fausta dreamed of having a place like Sacred heart in which to give the young the education that will enable them to transform society, she had no idea at all of how this dream will turn out; for her, the dream is enough.

Cordians, do you realize that by choosing to be part of the Sacred Heart Community – you have become the fullness (kaganapan) of her dream? … you have also become “carriers” of her legacy.

To celebrate a 125th anniversary is to proclaim a Jubilee 5 times over… in times past, long before Sacred Heart College came to birth, across centuries and through changing season and events that changed the course of human life – there is one unchanging event that continues to define life up to our time: the year of Jubilee.

When a Jubilee year is announced, life as it is, leaves ordinary time, ordinary ways and steps into liminal mode… into extraordinary time that signals –

Liminal and Extraordinary because life is live distinctly different , counter - culturally to the way commonly and comfortably accepted by society; all the rules by which society orders its life and values give way to ways of living and relating that reveal the nobler side of humanity… where selfishness steps aside for generosity, and God assumes His rightful place in human life.

When Hermana Fausta bravely dreamed and made her dream a reality – Jubilee happened!!! Each time a dream becomes real in people’s lives, all of life is transformed, God reigns and Jubilee happens.

Each time a human being is reconciled with God, each time forgiveness is given and received, each time personal selfishness gives way to common good, each and every time a hungry person is fed, each time a seed blooms in glorious colors, Jubilee happens. All these must have been what Hermana Fausta wanted for Sacred Heart to be… for each single person who seeks and desires to belong to Sacred Heart to do and live.

Today, how should Sacred Heart live the double gift of a Jubilee and a legacy?

1st: in and out of the classroom, in social and academic pursuits, in pastoral and outreach activities, through your word and witness of life, teach the young WISDOM and develop in them a CRITICAL CONSCIENCE, so that amidst the opulence, the success and pleasures that life offers, they will choose to live lives of integrity, justice and truth. Help them to build their lives on the rock that is God… not on the shifting sands of power, position and connection.

2nd: encourage the young to grow in MAGNANIMITY of HEART…give them opportunities, and create circumstances that will enable them to develop, other than academic excellence, different strengths like forgiveness, compassion, generosity, other-centeredness, self-sacrifice – values deemed foolish in a word that recognize and accept violence and abuse of power as means to get what one wants. Society measures strength in terms of an individualism that bows to no one and excuses selfishness as valid means to the glorification of self. By the witness of your lives, teach the young that failure and suffering are essential to growing in real strength.

3rd: challenge the young to break free from the SLAVERY of WORLDY EXPECTATIONS: success, image-building, eternal youth, and sexual liberation; popularity, acceptability, and pleasure without limits and without cost. All these are passing illusion… glitter often blinds and always fades. The world today is obsessed with power. Teach the young through their experience of you as mentors that in gentleness there is power; in vulnerability there is strength; and in powerlessness is real power because then the power of God shines forth. These are eternal truths even if all the world consider them foolishness.

4th: inspire the young to EMBRACE CREATION… and reclaim our broken connection with Mother Earth… more importantly, use every chance, every lesson, every activity to proclaim and assert the truth that the Creator continues to re-create life through and in us. We are co-creators with God… and we cannot afford to be irresponsible. Teach them to recognize the face and the footprints of God in the land, in the waters, in human persons… in time used or wasted…

Every time a Cordian ( whatever his/her age, grade, position, be she/he parent, teacher, alumni, leader) CHOOSES to live the values of JUBILEE, the dream of Hermana Fausta happens all over again, it is made real and possible again… and proclaims again and again that JUBILEES are meant to be lived, not only celebrated. Then transformation begins in ever widening circles of influence and witness to the world.

And so my dear friends, a 125th anniversary celebration – 5 times a Jubilee , brings joy and sacred responsibility… if Sacred Heart College is serious in its intent to transform lives here, now and beyond, then I wish you the courage and the fortitude to live the vision of Jubilee not only this year – but as a way of life… then you will truly become a force for transformation, a challenge and a reminder to the world that there is an alternative way of LIFE… you will not always be appreciated, you may not always be understood… but then being real and authentic had never been acceptable to whose who would rather live comfortable yet mediocre lives. I am sure you know what Hermana Fausta’s choice would be if she were here today to celebrate this Jubilee.