Silliman Founders Day season commences with Opening Worship Service

Silliman University (SU) officially opened its month-long celebration of its 124th Founders Day with a worship service held on August 3, 2025, at the SU Church.

In her greetings, SU President Dr. Betty Cernol McCann welcomed the community with words of unity and reflection. “Whether you’ve been part of the community for decades or you’re here for the very first time, you are part of a story that began over a century ago—one defined by faith, service, and a pursuit of excellence,” she said.

Dr. McCann also reflected on this year’s Founders Day theme, “Embracing Christ’s Peace, Cultivating Care, and Re-Visioning Excellence,” drawn from Colossians 3:15–17. “These verses aren’t merely an invitation—they are both a challenge and a gift,” she emphasized.

Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, Senior Minister of the SU Church, delivered the sermon titled “Trumpets in the Morning,” based on Colossians 3:1–17. He reflected on St. Paul’s message of unity in Christ, noting that while disagreements are part of any community, forgiveness and reconciliation remain possible. “If we share the same Christ and the same God who continues to love us, we can work through our differences because we are bound by the same love we find in Jesus Christ,” Rev. Pia said.

Declaring the official opening of Founders Day, Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, Chairperson of the Founders Day Executive Committee, described the theme as a call for Sillimanians to find stillness in God amid today’s noise and uncertainty. She urged the community to live out Christ’s peace through kindness and compassion, to demonstrate care through meaningful actions, and to pursue excellence grounded in integrity and spiritual growth.

“This year’s theme challenges us to reaffirm the belief that true excellence begins with peace in our hearts, empathy in our actions, and vision in our purpose—values exemplified by our founding fathers,” she said.

To learn more about the 124th Founders Day Calendar, click this link: https://tinyurl.com/3yfpbcpc.