AAANA SUPPORTS THE PHILIPPINE JESUIT MINISTRIES

In recognition and appreciation of the value of the Jesuit education we have received from the Ateneo schools, we express our deep gratitude by pledging our support and commitment to the various ministries, apostolates and outreach programs of the Philippine Jesuit Province: 

• Scholarship fund drives of the Ateneo schools to provide educational assistance to deserving children of underprivileged families and to youth from indigenous communities under the Indigenous Peoples Ministry of the Bukidnon Mission District
• Formation and education of seminarians and the continued search for men with vocations to the Jesuit priesthood or brotherhood
• Support of Jesuits in their pastoral works in Mindanao and Culion 
• Care for the elderly and infirm Jesuits through their health and wellness centers
• Support of their apostolates in social justice, prison ministry, voter education and honest elections
• Help in their centers of spiritual formation and Ignatian spirituality for the greater glory of God.

AAANA is actively connected with the various Ateneo universities in the Philippines through their alumni affairs and relations offices. To catch up on events in your Ateneo school and connect with the alumni office - click the links below to learn more:

• Ateneo de Cagayan (Xavier University) - XU Alumni Association
• Ateneo de Cebu (Sacred Heart School) - Alumni Association (FB page)
• Ateneo de Davao University - Blue Knight Association
• Ateneo de Iloilo University (Santa Maria Catholic School) - Alumni Association (FB page)
• Ateneo de Naga University - Alumni & International Relations
• Ateneo de Manila University - Ateneo Alumni Association
• Ateneo de Zamboanga University - Alumni Association
• Loyola College of Culion - Ignatian Alumni Association (FB page)
• Xavier School (Greenhills, San Juan) - XS Alumni (FB page)

Empower the Lumad youth with a gift of college scholarship – In ever increasing numbers, exceptionally talented youth from Lumad families and impoverished communities graduate from our mission high schools. Help these aspiring graduates move up to universities in the region. Currently in need of support are 21 college scholars. Thankfully many are able to compete for and avail of scholarship funding offered by provincial or city schools. For others that need assistance, their tuition, school fees, dorm and pocket money run about $2000 per student per year. Alternatively, you can contribute to our fund for the scholars’ dorm and living expenses – $100 per month pays for board, lodging and meals (about $1000 per student per year.) The best way the Lumad scholars and their families can be helped in terms of poverty alleviation is to provide support for their tertiary education.

Help us renovate our mission chapels in the mountains – Scattered around far-flung settlements are 80 mission chapels that also serve as our literacy and catechism centers. Because there are no local elementary schools in these areas, these make-shift classrooms allow young children access to simple read and write learning lessons. A typical new chapel made of sturdy, low-cost building materials will cost about $1000, while renovation will run about $500 each. The parishes also need support in funding formation programs for lay ministers, repair of altars, and for vestments, liturgical and catechism instruction supplies.

Father General's visit - Father General Arturo Sosa SJ visited the Philippine Jesuit Province in December of 2018. The third day of his visit ended quietly with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center (Ateneo de Manila Loyola Heights campus), which houses about 25 elderly and infirm Jesuits from various Jesuit communities in the Philippines. At the dinner that followed, the elderly Jesuits expressed to the Father General how moved and grateful they were that the General of the Society visited them. There are other elderly Jesuits, some of whom still energetic enough to handle teaching loads, who reside in various campus residences in Ateneo de Naga, Xavier University, Ateneo de Davao and Ateneo de Zamboanga.

AAANA's donation to the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center - In 2016, in gratitude to our aging Jesuit teachers and mentors, alumni members of the AAANA donated $500K to the Philippine Jesuit Province. The charitable gift was intended for the wellness fund of the infirm and elderly Jesuits. This was made possible by the philanthropy of venture capitalist, Diosdado "Dado" Banatao (Ateneo de Tuguegarao alumnus) whose $250K pledge was matched 100% by the generosity and group effort of the AAANA members and their supporters.