Provincia San Matteo (Filippina)

St. Matthew Province

Postulants Start Integration Stage at RogaMina

The Postulants of St. Matthew Province went on a pilgrimage two National Shrines designated as Pilgrim Churches during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Canonical Visit to the St. Catherine of Siena Parish

Continuing with his attempt for constant open dialogue with each confrere and sincere encounter with each religious community, Fr. Herman Abcede, the Provincial Superior just  completed his Canonical Visit to the Our Lady of Pillar Parish in Zaragoza, Bolinao, Pangasinan, where he was warmly welcomed by Fr. Ulyses Angus, Fr. Wesley Jay Taguibao and Bro. Mark Robin Destura. He also had the chance to meet the newly elected officers of the Parish Pastoral Council. During his stay, which lasted from March 7 until 11, 2016, he also took the opportunity to check on the initiatives of Fr.

The Canonical Visit of Fr. Herman Abcede, the Provincial Superior to the St. Lawrence, the Deacon Parish community in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, that lasted from March 4 until 7, 2016, was highlighted by encounters with the Fr. Sylvestre Robiñol and Fr. Menard Cadeliña, both as a group and even personally. Fr. Herman took the opportunity to visit the chapel in the municipality of Dumalneg, the establishment of which as a parish of its own is the primary reason the presence in that area was accepted by the Rogationists. The chapel in San Isidro was also visited.

We would like to congratulate our dear Bro. Marcelino Lavente, RCJ for successfully completing and passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers. May this achievement enrich the wisdom you already have in educating and forming young people according to the lived examples of our founder, St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia.

Fr. Herman Abcede, RCJ just completed the week-long Canonical Visit to the Community of the Sideia Mission Center in Papua New Guinea. He was accompanied by Bro. Christian Allan De Sagun, the secretary of the St. Matthew Province to document the entire visitation. The mission community is composed of Fr. Ronaldo Victoria, RCJ, Fr. Giulio Belarmino, RCJ and Fr. Carlo Balaguer, RCJ who went back to the Philippines after six months of missionary experience. The mission in Sideia, Island includes a Parish, Health Center, Schools of different levels among many others. Fr. Carmelo Capizzi, RCJ, one of those working in the Central Missionary Office in Rome, Italy joined the trip to meet with Fr. Victoria in order to complete the report on a project funded by the Conference of the Italian Bishops. Let us pray for our missionaries in that land, that they may feel our oneness with them in the Rogate, despite the distance that isolates them from us.

November 15, 2015, the Bishop of Gumaca, Most Rev. Vic Ocampo, DD, graced with his presence the Thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Joel Ricafranca, RCJ at the Ina ng Laging Saklolo Parish in Sumagonsong, Mulanay, Quezon. Confreres, family and friends filled the humble church to witness and participate in his first Eucharistic celebration in his native place.

Fr. Herman Abcede, RCJ, the Superior of the St. Matthew Province, presided over the Holy Eucharist in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her Birthday. In that same liturgy, He Installed to the Ministry of Lectors 8 religious brothers and another 9, to the Ministry of the Acolytes. Witnessed by parents, confreres, relatives and friends, in this concelebrated rite, Bro. Mark Robin Destura, RCJ, made perpetual profession of the evangelical vows. Let us pray for these generous young men, that their self-offering be fruitful by God's grace.

During the Eucharistic Celebration, the Provincial Superior, Fr. Herman Abcede received the Renewal of the Religious Vows of Bro. Joseph Phan Hoang Nguyen and Bro. Joseph Nguyen Truong Thinh at the Oasis of Prayer on May 27, 2015. Simultaneously, in the Missionary Station of Vietnam, Fr. Dante Quidayan was delegated to receive the Renewal of the Vows of Bro. Vincent Tran Xuan Diep, Bro. John Baptist Nguyen Thanh Huy, Bro. John Baptist Phan Thanh Vuong and Bro. Peter Hoang Van Dong.

We thank God for continuously blessing His vineyard with laborers according to His heart. On May 31, 2015, fourteen (14) postulants (Jerold Abadingo, Afridus Agustinus, Philip Alensolurin, Jeword Cris Cirujales, Alvin Jasper Cruz, Damianus Doe, Edjieson Hachaso, Sylvester Kenedy, Andrew Noquiao, Queenan Louie Noquiao, Jeffrey Salvador, Peter Trung Viet Thien, Joachim Nguyen Tien Thanh and Eugene Valiente) were entrusted to the care of the Novice Master, Fr. Cesare Bettoni, RCJ, who gladly accepted them, and twelve (12) novices (Emanuel Yarsi Burung, John Dela Cruz, Jeffrey Angelo Evangelio, Kim Seong Nam, Frederikus Yorius Ndawi, Arthur James Paciente, Yoseph Emmanuel Rua, Paulo Sambile, Juncel Subong, Jeffren Tugbo, Joseph Henry Varquez, Lloyd Villahermosa) made their First Profession of the Vows before Fr. Herman Abcede, RCJ, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration at the Chapel of the St. Anthony's Boys Village in Silang, Cavite.

At the Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies in Sucat, Paranaque City, on June 1, 2015, Fr. Herman Abcede, RCJ, received the Renewal of the Religious Vows of 31 Brothers (Bro. John Francis Aberion, Bro. Jose Roque Arreza, Bro. Jobert Belgica, Bro. Edward Capeña, Bro. Jorge Casaberde, Bro. Francis Ferruci Cayao, Bro. Zander Conson, Bro. Paul Tran Duc Chinh, Bro. Joseph Nguyen Hung Cuong, Bro. Joseph Phung Minh Dang, Bro. Ferdinand Escullar, Bro. Ryan Alvin Espanto, Bro. Chris Melvic Floralde, Bro. Val Vincent Frias, Bro. Giovanni Gamaya, Bro. Ignatius Carmelo Gannaban, Bro. Jose Gasta, Bro. Alex Henon, Bro. Lorgin Hernaez, Bro. Tom June Lancin, Bro. Jonrey Lauron, Bro. Marcelino Lavente, Bro. Paul John Mapacpac, Bro. Patrick Ian Marcelo, Bro. Rence Fradel Nazarrea, Bro. Al John Provido, Bro. Aernest Relatorres, Bro. Nino Rosal, Bro. Dominic Phung Ngoc Si, Bro. Ferdinandus Heldi Tanga and Bro. Espiredion Verano Jr.) and the Perpetual Profession of 4 others (Bro. Jorem Bellen, Bro.  Harvey Caño Cestina, Bro.Tristan Angelo Palado and Bro. Francisco Gringo Tagabi).

All the Communities of the Province were one in the celebrations, particularly the St. Hannibal Formation Center in Cebu, where Fr. Orville Cajigal, the Councilor for Charity and Mission, represented the Provincial Superior to accept the Renewal of Vows of Bro. Andru Iroy, Bro. Reggie Akiatan and Bro. Bryan Tutas. At the Saint Anthony’s Boys Village in Davao, Fr. Ronald Masilang was delegated to receive the Religious Vows of Bro. Clenton Oplas and Bro. Petrus Marianus. Bro. Carl Angelo Balaan renewed his Vows before Fr. Marcelino Diaz, II at the St. Hannibal Mary Discernment Center. In our Missionary Station in Indonesia, Fr. Breynard Peji accepted the Renewal of Vows of Bro. Marselinus Koka.

What a wonderful way of honoring St. Hannibal on his feast day? God is glorified by the generous self-offering of this young men, responding to His call. Send more, O Lord!