Fr Jonjee Sumpaico SJ pronounces Final Vows

On 2 October 2024, the Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels, Rev Fr Joaquin Jose Mari “Jonjee” C Sumpaico III SJ, Vice President for Basic Education of Ateneo de Manila University, pronounced his Final Vows in the Society of Jesus. The rite was held during a Mass in Ateneo Grade School’s Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angels. The Mass was presided by Fr Xavier L Olin SJ, Provincial Superior of the Philippine Jesuit Province, and the homilist was Fr Roberto “Bobby” C Yap SJ, Ateneo de Manila University President. Present were Fr Jonjee’s family (Pangan, Casimiro, and Sumpaico), friends, members of the Ateneo de Manila University community, his fellow Jesuit brothers and priests, Arvisu pre-novices, members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Quezon City Council, and many more. 

In his homily, University President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ explained what “final vows” are, and how they are different from the perpetual “first vows” a Jesuit professes. Fr Bobby stated that Fr Jonjee’s first vows - of poverty, chastity, and obedience - were professed 27 years ago in May 1997, two years after he entered Sacred Heart Novitiate in 1995. “First vows are made only to God and no human is addressed. They are an offering to God to live and to die as a Jesuit,” said Fr Bobby.

He then elaborated that the next 20 or so years were a probation period for Fr Jonjee, to assess “if the offering of his life in a Jesuit way is accepted and continued by Divine Providence.” Because of the witness of Fr Jonjee’s life in various missions in the 27 years since his first vows, the Society had determined that he can now be fully accepted into the Society. “By receiving Jonjee’s final vows, the Society today attests that his initial offering made 27 years ago has been accepted and confirmed by God, and that he is now fully incorporated, fully embraced into the Society of Jesus.”  

Towards the end of his homily, Fr Bobby reminded those present that it was Fr Jonjee who not only chose the Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels as the day to pronounce his final vows, but also chose the Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angels as the venue for the rite. Fr Bobby thus deemed it fitting to close his reflection by offering a prayer that Fr Jonjee would manifest the two main characteristics of angels: contemplation (the desire to always ponder God) and ministry (the desire to always do God’s will). “Our prayer for (Fr Jonjee) as he takes his final vows is that he will grow more and more in becoming so absorbed in God and so ready to do God’s will, a contemplative in action, a true son of St Ignatius. Holy Guardian Angels, pray for Jonjee, pray for us,” Fr Bobby concluded.  

Fr Jonjee’s pronouncement of Final Vows later took place during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, just before the distribution of holy Communion.   

In his thanksgiving remarks, Fr Jonjee eyed the Ateneo Grade School (AGS), Ateneo Junior High School (AJHS), and Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) students present – among them the members of AGS’ Ateneo Boys Choir, AGS' Knights of Christ, and the AJHS and ASHS Ateneo Liturgical Ministry - and invited them to join the Society, adding that the Mass was also “a vocations promotions day.” The invitation was reiterated by Fr Xavier Olin, who encouraged the boys who witnessed the event to consider becoming part of a community of “very happy Jesuits.” He quipped, “We don’t have women Jesuits, but the ladies here can also help us. Tell your brothers, convince your boyfriends to join us.”   

Describing the celebration as “joyous” and “grace-filled,” Fr Jonjee reiterated what Fr Bobby had said in his homily about the significance of the date and venue for him. Fr Jonjee recalled that the seeds for his becoming a Jesuit priest were planted decades earlier when he was an AGS student. Back then, he was a member of the AGS’ Knights of Christ liturgical organization and served at masses held in the very same Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angels where he now professed his Final Vows. As for the date, October 2 is the Feast Day of the Holy Guardian Angels, patrons of Ateneo de Manila Grade School. Echoing this sentiment, Ateneo de Manila Senior High School Principal Sansan Borja later wrote on her Facebook page, “God’s love in your ministry, Father Jonjee, in the place where it all started. Full circle indeed.”    

Congratulations Fr Jonjee Sumpaico SJ, on becoming fully incorporated and fully embraced into the Society of Jesus!