Sacred Heart Seminary.Official 4.18

The Sacred Heart Seminary was founded on June 1, 1944 by the late Most Rev. Manuel Mascariñas, DD, the first bishop of Palo, a few months before the end of the Second World War. The first administrators were the Divine Word Missionary Fathers, also know as the SVD fathers, who took the reins as administrators until 1969. Originally named Regina Pacis Seminary, the seminary was given its present name on July 28, 1946 by the Apostolic Delegate, Most Rev. William Pani.

The Sacred Heart Seminary acquired its present place, a 24 hectar lot in Palo purchased by Most Rev. Lino Gonzaga. Although the corner stone was laid sometime in 1945, the actual construction only began four years later on February 17, 1949. In May 1956 the new building was ready to be occupied. Finally, on June 11, 1956, classes were held for the first time in Palo.

Twenty-five years after the founding of the seminary, the SVD fathers saw that the diocesan priests would now be able to administer the seminary they bequeathed it to them. The diocesan clergy has been running the seminary from 1969 up to the present.

In 1986, the Pre-College Department was designed in order to cater the need of students who wanted to study in the seminary after High School outside the seminary.

On September 12-16, 1994, the seminary marked its Golden Jubilee celebration. After all these years, the Sacred Heart Seminary remains true to her task of forming young men to the priesthood, forming their hearts like Christ. Cor sacredotis cor Christi.

On November 8, 2013, the Sacred Heart Seminary experienced one of the strongest typhoon ever recorded in history "Yolanda" - Haiyan. The havoc was so huge almost all the roofings were taken out and some buildings collapsed (Auditorium & CVU hall). The High School/Administration building is currently unusable. The seminary in now in the process of rehabilitation. The cost estimate for the rehab raises up to 22million pesos worth on the structures only, excluding the High School/Admin building and Auditorium and its refurbishing.

The seminary will resume its operations and classes on January 15, 2014.

(Source: Historical Survey of the Sacred Heart Seminary, Archdiocese of Palo, by Rev. Fr. Andres Villarante, Stella Maris 1983)