A seminary is a special type of school established for the spiritual, moral and intellectual formation of candidates to the priesthood. The Council of the Trent made it obligatory for every diocese to erect a seminary for the purpose of educating local clergy. Likewise, the Code of Canon Law ordered that each diocese is to have a seminary according to its means. Thus, a seminary is established in the Church for the specific purpose of training young men to the clerical state.

The Second Vatican Council placed seminary as the “heart of the diocese” that is to be closely connected with the whole life of the local Church. It is in this context that the first Bishop of the Diocese of Cabanatuan. Most Rev. Mariano Gaviola, D.D. established the Maria Assumpta Seminary (MAS) on February 17, 1964 as a minor seminary for the diocese.

DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATION

Since the development of a vocation is the very goal of every seminary, MAS places its thrust to develop vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cabanatuan, in particular, and for other diocese in general. This program of formation gives greater priority in nurturing the seeds of vocation in all its students. With this premise MAS made the following vision and mission statements:

VISION STATEMENT

A Christ-centered Seminary Community, Committed and Dedicated to Excellence and Distinction, Molding Future Filipino Diocesan Priests as Effective Agents of Renewal, in the Church and in the Society under the Maternal Care of Maria Assumpta.

MISSION STATEMENT

We, the Maria Assumpta Seminary Community, commit ourselves:
- To the person of Jesus as we discern our vocation by constant prayer and reflection.
- To form future servant-leaders through a holistic formation: Spiritual, Human, Intellectual, Pastoral;
- To continually aspire for excellence in the development of a community of disciples.
- To build a community with a missionary spirit serving the Church of the poor as effective agents of renewal.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Maria Assumpta Seminary (MAS) is situated on a three-hectare piece of land along the national road about four kilometers from the Cabanatuan City. The Most Rev. Mariano Gaviola, D.D., its first Bishop, established it on February 17, 1964 as a grammar school or a minor seminary for the Diocese of Cabanatuan. Its administrator was given to the Society of Divine Word (SVD), under the rectorship of the Very Rev. Liberato Z. Fernandez (1964-1971) and, subsequently, to Very Rev. William Neuhoffer in 1971 to 1972. In 1976, the Most. Rev. Vicente Reyes, D.D., the second Bishop of Cabanatuan, carried on the work and expanded the house of formation.

It was only 1972 when the administration and the care of the Seminary were assumed by the diocesan clergy. Then Very Rev. Camilo D. Gregorio, was the first diocesan priest to be appointed as Rector of the Maria Assumpta Seminary for the years 1972 up to 1974. The late Rev. Msgr. Horacio M. Cabiling succeeded him from 1974 until 1978. The very Rev. Gregorio was again appointed as Rector from 1978 to 1981. In the succeeding years, most of the rectors appointed were already priests alumni of the Seminary:

Rev. Fr. Oscar A Solis (1981-1984)

Rev. Fr. Michael Alexander E. Balaria (1984-1985)

Rev. Omar R. Tabing (1985-1986)

Rev. Fr. Regino M. Vigilia (1986-1990)

Rev. Fr. Francisco O. Algas, Jr. (1990-1995)

Rev. Fr. Michael Feliciano I. Veneracion (1995-1997)

Rev. Fr. Raymund E. Gaspar (1998-2001)

Rev. Fr. Edwin S. Beley (2001-2004)

The incumbent rector is Rev. Fr. Robert I. dela Cruz who was appointed in 2004.

On October 24, 1982, the Most Rev. Ciceron SM. Tumbocon, D.D. was installed as Coadjutor Bishop of Cabanatuan. He was eventually succeeded the Most Rev. Reyes, D.D. and became the third Bishop of Cabanatuan on April 1983. Through his inspiration and guidance, MAS did not only serve as a formation house for minor seminarians but also a center of information for lay leaders during the seminarians’ home-leave days.

In 1988, the Most. Rev. Sofio G. Balce, Jr. D.D. who was then the Coadjutor Bishop of Cabanatuan, succeeded the Most Rev. Tumbocon, D.D. and became the fourth Bishop of the Diocese. Most Rev. Balce’s reign as Bishop marked a new impetus and improvement in the history and existence of the Seminary. Through his able leadership and the full support of the clergy, an annex building, which now the chapel and the auditorium, was built. Through local and foreign funding, new projects were initialized and new buildings were constructed. The Bishop started a Pre-College Formation Year Program and, subsequently, a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy course. The resolution to open the tertiary or college level was approved by the Board of Administrators in response to the insistent demand of the parents and faithful of the diocese in consideration of the difficulties mat by its seminarians in finding placement in other seminarians.

School Year 1996-1997 was a significant year in the history of the Seminary for it marked the graduation of the first batch of its college seminarians.

By God’s grace and though the generosity of its benefactors, here ad abroad, the Seminary has now evolved into a center of quality Secondary Education, Philosophical Studies and Formation not only for the Diocese of Cabanatuan but also for the other diocese such as San Jose, Malolos, Bayombong, Tarlac, Iba and the Prelature of Infanta, Quezon, Since 1967, its first year of graduation, it has continually been producing priests who serve the church either as Parish Priests or School Administrator of the Diocese of Cabanatuan. It has also produced God fearing and successful men in their own fields..