CEBU CITY — The CICM Philippines Schools Network (CICM PSN) convened for its annual gathering at St. Louis College, Mandaue City, Cebu from July 8-10, 2026, bringing together administrators from six CICM-run schools across the country to strengthen collaboration and align on a shared educational mission. 

Hosted by St. Louis College – Cebu, the 2026 conference was attended by Saint Louis University (SLU) – Baguio, University of Saint Louis – Tuguegarao (USL), Saint Louis College La Union (SLC LU), Saint Louis College Cebu (SLCC), and Maryhill School of Theology (MST). 

Representing SMU was a delegation of 17 administrators led by University President Dr. John Octavious S. Palina. The SMU team joined cluster meetings and plenary sessions with fellow CICM school leaders to share best practices, assess current programs, and draft cluster action plans for SY 2026-2027. 

This year’s theme, “Embodying and Advancing the Beautiful CICM Mission,” focused on how CICM schools can maintain and deepen their Catholic, missionary identity amid changing educational landscapes. 

The conference formally opened with a Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, SLC La Union President Rev. Fr. Roderick Villamar, CICM, reminded participants that mission work must come from within. 

“Mission is a movement of the heart before it becomes a movement of the feet,” he said, emphasizing that the CICM missionary spirit must be imbibed not only through deeds but through sincere commitment of the heart. 

A major highlight of the 3-day gathering was a keynote talk by Fr. Raymond Joseph L. Arre on “Digital Shepherding in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The session tackled how CICM schools can responsibly integrate AI into teaching, administration, and student formation while upholding human-centered and values-based education. 

Following the talk, school clusters broke into working groups to present concrete action plans. Discussions centered on curriculum alignment, faculty formation, student leadership, community engagement, internationalization, and branding a distinct CICM education rooted in the congregation’s mission of evangelization and service. 

The sessions also provided a venue for administrators to benchmark programs, discuss challenges in critical operational areas, and strengthen inter-school partnerships. A closing Mass followed, presided over by SMU VPMI Rev. Fr. Philip A. Yu, Jr., who highlighted the beauty of the CICM mission as reflected in school governance through educators who are sent as missionaries spreading the Lord’s mission in schools and communities. 

The conference concluded with a turnover ceremony, with SMU set to host the CICM Philippines Schools Network in 2027. In a brief message, Dr. Palina expressed SMU’s readiness to welcome delegates next year and reaffirmed SMU’s commitment to “sustaining the mission.” 

The CICM PSN is held annually as a platform for all CICM schools in the Philippines to unify goals, preserve the CICM charism, and respond collectively to national and global educational challenges. 

For SMU, participation in the network reinforces its identity as a mission-driven institution and its role in advancing the CICM vision of forming graduates who embody communion, excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.