Founders Day

STA. ANA, CAGAYAN, December 4, 2024 - The Franciscan Apostolic Sisters and the schools under their care marked Founder's Day on December 4, 2024, a day of remembrance and gratitude for the vision that gave rise to the congregation and its educational mission in Cagayan Valley.

The congregation, which has been based in Santa Ana, Cagayan since 1953, was honored together with the three schools that carry its mission of Franciscan education:

• St. Anthony's College of Sta. Ana, Cagayan, Inc.

• St. Anthony's Academy of Gonzaga, Inc.

• St. Francis Academy of Sta. Teresita, Inc.

Each school carries the same guiding words on its seal, Wisdom, Age, and Grace, which reflect the values the founder entrusted to the institutions. The tau cross, the symbol of the Franciscan tradition, appears on the congregation's emblem and recalls its roots in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.

Students, teachers, school staff, and members of the religious community gathered to honor the founder's legacy and to give thanks for more than seven decades of service to the youth and communities of the region.

Father Gerardo Z. Filippetto, O.F.M, in remembrance of whom the day is observed, [insert a short biography or contribution, such as when and how the congregation and its schools were established].

The celebration reminded the school community that the work of Franciscan education continues through the commitment of its teachers, students, and partners. As the congregation looked back on its history, it renewed its resolve to form learners in faith, character, and service.