The University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary as an educational institution this 2022.
This announcement was made through a press conference on January 29. This was organized by the USJ-R Alumni Association and was physically attended by members of the press, alumni, and some university administrators.
To recall, USJ-R started as Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos. It was in July 7, 1947 that it first opened its doors to welcome over 200 students.
Atty. Jonathan Capanas, the president of the USJ-R Alumni Association, shared that the Association will spotlight the achievements of Josenians from various fields to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the University.
“At 75, USJ-R has already produced so many accomplished individuals in different fields who have seriously embraced the university’s motto of caritas et scientia – love and knowledge as its guiding principle,” he said.
He added that outstanding Josenian graduates are found all over the country and even abroad.
“In fact, you can hardly find a company without a Josenian in its work force especially in the Visayas,” Atty. Capanas remarked.
This year, the USJ-R Alumni Association bared their general plans to celebrate this year which include organizing a grand alumni homecoming, launching a short film series, and conducting community outreach programs.
University President Rev. Fr. Cristopher Maspara, OAR expressed that the Augustinian Recollect community in Cebu considers the years 2021 and 2022 as years of grace because the former marks the 400 years of Recollect Missionary Presence in Cebu while the latter marks the diamond jubilee (75 years) of the school.
He said that the vision of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) has always been to evangelize or spread the faith which is why it is only later on their stay in the country that they decided to venture into the educational apostolate.
“During this year as we celebrate the diamond jubilee, we will highlight again that vision and we will continue to commit ourselves to fulfilling that mission,” he said.
In the coming years, the University President hopes for USJ-R to continue transforming students into individuals whose hearts and minds are founded on its core values and faith.
“We have geared our attention that our graduates may be at par with the rest of the world,” he added.
A 75-day countdown will commence before the actual celebration on July 7, 2022.
Written by Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad
