Last May 16 to 27, all the new Jesuit Volunteers from around the country came together at the Sacred Heart Novitiate for their Orientation Seminar. The 23 new volunteers were given skills training and spiritual guidance that will help them in their mission areas. The ORSEM was run by the Program Officers for Volunteer Services: Peter Gutierrez (B26, Cabanglasan) and Nikki Hipolito (B22 / 23, Lake Sebu and Miarayon) and the formation staff members: Love Dorero (B21 / 22, Quezon City and Samar), Sabs Ongkiko (B26, Iloilo), Benjie Panahon (B26, Borongan), Jerlie Sianda (B19, Cabangan), Me Anne Villanueva (B24, Davao), and JVP Executive Director Edlyn Kalman (B18, Calapan),

After the ORSEM, the Batch 28 Mission Mass was held at the Church of the Gesu last May 27, 2007. Here, the new volunteers were blessed, introduced to the JVP Community and were given their JVP crosses. This Mission Mass was also a celebration of the Jubilee years of JVP Batches 1, 2 and 3 as well as the anniversaries of Batches 8, 13, 18 and 23. All the guests were treated to a simple salu-salo at the Cervini Recreation Room after the Mass.

At the merienda, JVP expressed its grateful appreciation to Nellie C. Delgado through her daughter, Lolita Delgado Fansler, the Executive Director of the Ala-Ala Foundation, and mother of Quint Fansler (B19, Calapan). Nellie C. Delgado, through the Ala-Ala Foundation, has given JVP a P1 Million endowment fund. The interest of the Nellie C. Delgado Endowment Fund will support one Jesuit Volunteer yearly, beginning 2008. Tim Gabuna (B3, Malipayon) the President of JVP, gave Nellie C. Delgado a certificate of appreciation which was accepted by Tita Lolita.

JVP would also like to thank all those who helped with the ORSEM, all the speakers as well as visitors who supported Batch 28 in their preparations for their JVP year, all the members of the Jubilee and Anniversary batches who celebrated with us at the Mission Mass, and JVP Batch 27 who did an excellent job in organizing the Mission Mass.