Secretariat Bulletin comes back to UST, 'now online'
August 8, 2016
by Gian Paolo Mayo
by Gian Paolo Mayo
Poster by Mac Norhen Bornales
FORTY-EIGHT years after the decline in the print media, the University of Santo Tomas Pax Romana’s official publication returns today but now in a new media platform.
In line with the celebration of the Feast Day of St. Dominic de Guzman, the Faculty of Arts and Letters Pax Romana initiated the revival of the Secretariat Bulletin as an online newsletter.
The online newsletter now showcases Sunday Gospel Reflections of the Pax Romana – AB Unit and other religious news from AB, UST, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
The Secretariat Bulletin also contains feature stories of people and places in “The House of God” section. Eucharistic Celebrations and updates from the UST Pax Romana Central Coordinating Council are included as well.
The online newsletter also serves as a one-stop-shop for prayer requests, organization communication, and interactive reflection. Contributors of the Secretariat Bulletin are members of the Pax Romana Artlet Community, alumni, priests, and other members of the faculty.
Flashback from late 60’s
The UST Pax Romana Secretariat Bulletin (1955-1968) was known as the official publication of the UST Pax Romana from 1955-1968.
The Secretariat Bulletin became the response of the organization in the growing demand for manuscripts of the monthly conferences of the organization. After the first conference series, which was titled “The Catholic Education in Catholic Schools for all Catholic Youth,” the organization gathered all the talks in one green pamphlet which was distributed to administrators, faculty members and students of the University.
Copies were also sent to various members of the Filipino Catholic Church and to the Pax Romana Secretariat in Switzerland. The Secretariat Bulletin contained the minutes and discussions of the monthly conferences. It also contained the radio broadcasts of UST Pax Romana when it aired in a local radio station.
The Secretariat Bulletin was recognized and approved by the Rector Magnificus Rev. Fr. Jesus Castañon, O.P. on August 1, 1956. The Rector made it clear that the publication was primarily doctrinal, giving food for thought that concerned the spirituality in the University.
He also said that the publication of the organization was distinct in objectives with The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas. Fr. Castañon averted any future conflict with the two publications.
The appeal of the Secretariat Bulletin to the students, faculty members and administrators of the University was evident in the number of copies produced in its first three issues.
The first issue produced 4,000 copies, the second rose to 8,250. But the third issue set the limit in the number of copies per issue, with 10,000 copies. The publication dominated for a decade until the organization fell short in funds that brought the Secretariat Bulletin to a halt in 1968.
In line with the celebration of the Feast Day of St. Dominic de Guzman, the Faculty of Arts and Letters Pax Romana initiated the revival of the Secretariat Bulletin as an online newsletter.
The online newsletter now showcases Sunday Gospel Reflections of the Pax Romana – AB Unit and other religious news from AB, UST, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
The Secretariat Bulletin also contains feature stories of people and places in “The House of God” section. Eucharistic Celebrations and updates from the UST Pax Romana Central Coordinating Council are included as well.
The online newsletter also serves as a one-stop-shop for prayer requests, organization communication, and interactive reflection. Contributors of the Secretariat Bulletin are members of the Pax Romana Artlet Community, alumni, priests, and other members of the faculty.
Flashback from late 60’s
The UST Pax Romana Secretariat Bulletin (1955-1968) was known as the official publication of the UST Pax Romana from 1955-1968.
The Secretariat Bulletin became the response of the organization in the growing demand for manuscripts of the monthly conferences of the organization. After the first conference series, which was titled “The Catholic Education in Catholic Schools for all Catholic Youth,” the organization gathered all the talks in one green pamphlet which was distributed to administrators, faculty members and students of the University.
Copies were also sent to various members of the Filipino Catholic Church and to the Pax Romana Secretariat in Switzerland. The Secretariat Bulletin contained the minutes and discussions of the monthly conferences. It also contained the radio broadcasts of UST Pax Romana when it aired in a local radio station.
The Secretariat Bulletin was recognized and approved by the Rector Magnificus Rev. Fr. Jesus Castañon, O.P. on August 1, 1956. The Rector made it clear that the publication was primarily doctrinal, giving food for thought that concerned the spirituality in the University.
He also said that the publication of the organization was distinct in objectives with The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas. Fr. Castañon averted any future conflict with the two publications.
The appeal of the Secretariat Bulletin to the students, faculty members and administrators of the University was evident in the number of copies produced in its first three issues.
The first issue produced 4,000 copies, the second rose to 8,250. But the third issue set the limit in the number of copies per issue, with 10,000 copies. The publication dominated for a decade until the organization fell short in funds that brought the Secretariat Bulletin to a halt in 1968.
Gian Paolo Mayo was the President of the Pax Romana AB-Unit from 2015-2016. He is currently taking his Masters Degree in History at the UST Graduate School