Piarists

We are a Religious Order founded in the 17th century by St. Joseph

Calasanz (1557-1648) and dedicated to evangelize through education the
children and preferably poor, therefore we profess a special fourth vow.

St. Joseph Calasanz, declared in 1948 by Pope Pius XII “Universal patron
of all Christian popular schools in the world”, has the glory of opening “the first
public popular free school in Europe” in 1597 (Von Pastor). He proclaimed the
right to education of all children and fought for it, being chased by this reason.
But he had a resounding success in his purpose as it responded to the
challenges and needs of his time.

The Pauline Congregation of Clerics Regular Poor of the Mother of God of

the Pious Schools was founded in 1617 (“Pauline” name comes from the
Pope Paul V who approved it), which Gregorio XV elevated to Religious Order
in 1621 with the current name. Soon it spread throughout Italy and central
Europe. It is currently widespread in 4 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and
America). We are more than 1,300 religious.

For more than four centuries, Piarists have always been with others at the
head of the education and today like yesterday, we care for the formation of
children, especially the most underprivileged, and for the dreams and
aspirations of youth. We don’t carry this mission out alone, we share it with
over a hundred thousand laity and with male and female religious
congregations that form the Calasanz Family

Saint Joseph Calasanz

Saint Joseph Calasanz, the founder of the first Christian popular school in
Europe and the Piarist Fathers, was born in 1557 in Peralta de la Sal (Aragon,
Spain). God prepared in the person of Calasanz a mediator to enrich the
Church with a new charismatic gift. He granted him natural gifts and the
atmosphere of a family that gave him a long and excellent Christian and
cultural training.

God called him to the priesthood, Ministry that he exerted on various

curial and pastoral missions. Nine years after being ordained a priest, he left
for Rome, where walking through the poorest neighborhood of the city he was
moved against the misery in which children and youth of the place lived. His
vocation emerged in this framework. He heard the voice of the Lord, who told
him: “Joseph, give yourself to the poor. Teach these children and care about
them”.

Joseph Calasanz, in the spring of 1597, moved by compassion toward the

poor and abandoned children, visited the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere
and in the parish of Santa Dorotea he discovered a small parochial school,
which made hatching in his heart the decisive way of his life. Thus he founded
the “first popular and free school in Europe”. His educational goal was
summarized in the slogan: “Piety and Letters”, which today we can translate
as “faith and culture”. He called his work the “Pious Schools”.

Center of his educational ideas were the respect for the personality of
each child and seeing in them the image of Christ. Through his Pious
Schools, he tried to serve the intellectual, physical and spiritual needs of
young people at his care. Calasanz was a friend of Galileo, the prominent
scientist, and attached great importance to science and mathematics, as well
as humanities, in the education of youth.

To continue his educational mission he founded the Order of the Pious

Schools, a Religious Order whose members, known as Piarists, profess four
solemn religious vows: poverty, chastity, obedience, and the dedication to the
education of the youth.

The dream of Saint Joseph Calasanz of educating all the children, his
schools for the poor, his support for Galileo’s science, and his life of holiness
in service to children and youth, won him the opposition by many of the
leading classes of society and also of much of the Church hierarchy. But
Calasanz showed exemplary patience against the problems and adversities of
life.

This charism was received by Calasanz, first of all, as the acceptance of a

new educational and evangelizing mission which was attended by his first
companions; then it resulted in a particular relationship sharing with them, in
addition to the ministry, housing, prayer and goods in a more stable
community; and finally it was completed when Calasanz and a small group of
his followers embraced a form of religious life, which strengthened and gave
unit to what they had realized and lived until then. The Church approved it as
a Congregation in 1617 and as an Order with a specific vow of dedication to
the education of the youth, in 1622, with the name of Regular Poor Clerics of
the Mother of God of the Pious Schools.

In subsequent years up to his death, Joseph Calasanz promoted the

expansion of the charism, carefully nursed the incarnation of the founding gift
and defended it against experiences and interpretations which did not
respond to the intuition of the origins.

Founder of the first Religious Order specifically dedicated to Christian

education through the school, always insisted on three features charismatic
thereof, present in germ from the beginning, explicitly affirmed in the
Constitutions of 1621 and profiled in the years of expansion and conflict:
giving priority to education from infancy, to the education of the poor and
education in piety.

He died in Rome the 25th of August 1648, convinced that his Order and
his dream would not die. And so it was, as it was declared a Saint in 1767,
and Pope Pius XII declared him in 1948 “Heavenly Patron of all Christian
popular schools”. Pope John Paul II said that Saint Joseph Calasanz took as
a model Christ and tried to convey to young people, as well as profane
science, the wisdom of the Gospel teaching them to grasp God’s loving
action.

The Piarist Fathers in the World

Since the establishment of the order in 1617, the number of Piarist

religious has increased and the area of apostolate has expanded so much so
that today, members of the Order of the Pious Schools are present in many
countries in five continents, namely: Europe - Italy, Czech Republic, Poland,
Slovakia, Austria, Spain, Belarus, Hungary, Romania, and France; Africa -
Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Gabon; Asia -
Japan, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and East- Timor; North America
- Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico,
United States and Canada; South America - Argentina, Chile, Colombia,
Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia.

The Order’s influence led to the subsequent establishment of many other

congregations dedicated to education. There are eleven religious teaching
orders now in existence that are based on Calasanz’ ideas. The founder and
order have also had influenced on many great educators , such as Saint John
Baptist de la Salle in the 18 th century and Saint John Bosco, his great admirer,
in the 19th century. The influence of the Pious Schools served as the model for
the public school systems in some European countries . The Order has
educated many important figures in modern history, including a number of
saints like Saint John Neumann and Saint Jose maria Escriva, figures like
Pope Pius IX, Victor Hugo, Haydn, Schubert, Johann Mendel and a dozen
Nobel Prize winners like in

Medicine;
Robert Barany (Austria)
George Bekesy (Hungary)
Santiago Ramon (Spain)
Albert Scent (Hungary)

Chemistry:
George Hevesy (Hungary)
Richard Zsigmondy (Austria)

Physics:
Dennis Gabor (Hungary)
Philip Lenard (Hungary)
Eugene Wigner (Hungary)

Literature;
Vincent Aleixandre (Spain)
Joshua Carducci (Italy)
Canilo Cela (Spain)

The Piarist Father in the Philippines (A Historical Survey)

Attempts to establish the Piarist Fathers in the Philippines began in the

th
18 century. In march 1765, Fr. Basilio Sancho, a Spanish Piarist priest, was
appointed Archbishop of Mania. He came to the Philippines with four Piarist
priest, among them Fr. Martin Martinez, who was asked by the superior of the
Order to found Piarist community and schools in the colony. Unfortunately,
such foundation was not authorized by the Indian Council. When Archbishop
Sancho died in 1787, the remaining Piarists went back to Spain.
More than two centuries later, the desire to have the Piarist presence in
the Philippines was finally realized. On May 14, 1995, the first Piarist
missionaries arrived in Cebu City. They were Fr. Rafael Buitrago, Fr. Jesus
Lacarra, and Fr. Imanol Lasquibar. They were welcomed by the Piarist Sisters
who were already living and serving in the Archdiocese of Cebu. During their
first years, the fathers transferred from one pace to another - from the sisters’
convent in Talisay City, to a house in Molave Street, Cebu City, until they
finally settled in Adres Abellana Extension in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
On January 16, 1998, the house was blessed by the Archbishop of Cebu,
H.E. Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Few months later, the Novitiate house and the
Calasanz Cultural Center were built. The purpose of the Calasanz Cultural
Center is to educate children, to facilitate formation programs for young
people and parents of the students in the area, and to provide teaching
experience to the seminarians and other educators.
On march 5, 1999, the General Congregation canonicaaly established the
Juniorate House in New Manila, Quezon City. Fr. Imanol was nominated as
the first superior and master of the Juniors.
In 2004, the Calasanz Cultural Center in Cebu was expanded and the
Alberto Corrado Center was built in Tipoloville, also in Guadalupe , Cebu City.
The building was blessed by Bishop Julito Cortes on June 2, 2005. Few days
later, the Landriani House for boys was opened. In that same month, the
General Congregation of the Order formally established the Independent
Vice-Province of Japan Philippines.
On March 4, 2006, the Piarist of St. Vincent Ferrer and its parochial
school in San Vicente, Camarines Norte was formally entruted to the Piarist
Fathers and in 2008, the administration of the Holy Family Parish in
Novaliches was transferred to the Piarists.
In 2012, the International Piarist Seminary (formerly in Horseshoe Village,
Quezon City, later transferred to Don Jose heights Subdivision in
Commonwealth and is renamed as Calasanz international House) was
canonically erected for the aspirants and postulants coming from Vietnam,
Indonesia, China and East Timor.
On July 16, 2012, the Pairist Fathers, Calasanz de Davao Community,
was established which has housed temporarily in Rosalina Village 3, Brgy.
Baliok, Talomo District, Davao City. Comprising the five religious, this will lay
the foundation of the Piarist presence and service in the area.
January 30, 2014, marked a special date for the Order for sending the Order
for sending the first Piarist Religious to integrate himself in the Holy Cross of
Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. The Piarist Fathers assumed the responsibility of
the said school for the next school year 2014-2015 after the TDM sisters took
in-charge of it for 30 years
On October 3, 2020, a decree from the General House was sent to The Vice-
Province of Japan- Philippines announcing its elevation to a province named
Asia-Pacific.

The Calasanz De Davao Community

They said 2012 was the end of the world. Yet nothing extraordinary
happened on that particular day. On the contrary, 2012 was the beginning of a
great opportunity because it marked the very first seed of the Piarist Fathers
being planted in the land of Mindanao. The Calasanz de Davao Community
was established.
After series of visits to the area and having continuous contacts with
people like Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla and the former parish
priest of the Holy Family parish, Fr. Henry Campeon, the Vice-Province of
Japan-Philippines (now Province of Asia-Pacific) finally decided to send Fr.
Marlon Nacua, a native of Davao, to start the works of the Piarist in Mindanao.
That was on March 9, 2012. Two weeks later, on March 19, solemnity of saint
Joseph , Fr. Mark Sagrado followed.These two fathers stayed in a two-room
apartment in Rosalina Village 3 in Brgy. Baliok, Davao City. They started the
community and knew the place by collaborating with different ministerial
activities of the surrounding parishes. They became active and regular
collaborator of four parishes namely: Holy Family Parish (Brgy. Baliok), San
Lorenzo Parish (Brgy. Talomo), Sto. Rosario Parish (Brgy. Toril) and tht
Ascension of the Lord Parish( Brgy. Martina). Like a hermit crab which would
always look for a shell, they started to build contacts with the different schools
around where they can live up their Piarist charism.
Fr. Marlon was made chaplain and campus minter of Saint Peter College of
Toril, a school administered by The Presentation of Mary Sisters (PM sisters)
while Fr. Mark accepted the proposal of the same sisters to work as the
chaplain, campus minister and a college instructor at the Holy Cross of
Calinan, which is 30km away from the community.
Three other religious were eventually sent to join the Davao Community: Fr.
Randy Suello, Rev. Christopher Castro, and Br. Dindo Pescos. Reverend
Christopher and Br. Dindo began working as full-time teachers and campus
ministers at San Lorenzo College, while Fr. Randy was made chaplain,
campus minister and a high school teacher in a school run by the PM sisters
in Mintal.
Since it is not possible to look for a five-room apartment in the said barangay,
the community has to live separately in two different apartments with the
distance of 100 meters.
On July 15, 2012m the General Congregation canonically erected the
Calasanz Community of Davao, appointing Fr. Mark as the first superior.
The community has decided to name the community “Calasanz de Davao” for
two main reason. First, Saint Joseph Calasanz was a Spaniard and to name
the community with the very common Spanish word “de” is somehow an
endearment to the very root of our own founder; second, all the five members
of the community have gone either to Spain or Mexico for formation and
exposure. This is their way of expressing gratitude to these Spanish -
speaking countries where they were formed the Piarist way.
The Calasanz de Davao Community is a very significant presence for the
people in this part of the archipelago. They are working with the different
religious and secular schools to promote “piety and learning” in the Spirit of
Saint Joseph Calasanz. Yet to have a Piairst School is to have a greater
possibility to transmit what St. Joseph Calasanz believes: “ if the children from
their earlist years are instructed diligently in piety and learning, it must
undoubtedly be expected that their whole life will be a happy one.”

The Official Seal of the Calasanz de Davao Academy

The devotion to the Virgin Mary was an important characteristics in the life
of Saint Joseph Calasanz , that he transmitted to the Pious Schools. As
religious he signed “Joseph of the Mother of God” and to the Order he gave a
title “Regular Clerics Poor Mother of God of the Pious Schools.” The Logo of
the Piarist Fathers carried out with that devotion. There are three Greek words
that represent:

A. MA - the first and last letter of the Greek name “Maria”

B. MP - the first anf last letter of the Greek word “Mater” meaning “mother”
C. OY - the fisrt and lats letter of the greek word “OEOY” meaning , “of God.”

Hence, the complete meaning of the Logo of the Piarist Fathers would be:
“Mary, Mother of God” or with the crown as queen of heaven anf earth would
be “Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, Mother of God.”

Sun - The circle represents the sun. In order to arrive the sun, that is Christ,
one must pass through Mary; in order to discover the presence of Mary, it is
necessary to be enlightened by the sun that is Jesus Christ.

Color - Golden Yellow and Royal Blue are the official colors of the school.
The former represents the light of Christ while the latter symbolizes the
devoton tot Mary of her royalty in the Order. The yellow, blue and red are the
colors of the Philippines. Calasanz de Davao educational context must be
Philippines.

Mission - Vision of the Calasazan de Davao Academy

Mission
The Calasanz de Davao Academy responds to the educational needs of
the children of Davao City. As a family of evangelizers following the invitation
of Jesus “go and proclaim the Gospel” and “let the children come to me”
inspired by the spirit of our founder Saint Joseph Calasanz, we commit
ourselves for an integral education to the children and youth with the motto
“piety and learning.” With this: we evangelize educating with the Calasanzian
way, we harmonize the piety and learning to achieve an integral formation, we
are motivated with Calsanzian Spirituality, we promote a Catholic-Christian
and popular education to the children and youth, we make the Christian Spirit
in the democratic principles, we educate in the new plural society with the
intention of improving cohabitation and integration respecting the cultural
diversity and the objectives of transforming mutually the world, we promote
open and flexible methodology that will incorporate new and advanced
technology and pedagogy, we strengthen the sense of responsible and
constructive criticism that would facilitate the encounter between ideology and
religious beliefs and that would reinforce the sense of obligation , and we
promote sports among the youth considering the values on it.

Vision
The Calasanz de Davao Academy envision to provide a Catholic school, open
for all, proud of Filipino culture, to educate children and youth to be
responsible with a strong and solid knowledge, and with of Christian values
that would permit them to be active and compromised persons int the
construction of a more just and supportive society.