Provincia San Matteo (Filippina)

The Formation Institute of Saint Hannibal (FISH) in Maumere, Indonesia officially closes the school year 2019-2020 with the Holy Mass presided by Fr. Ferdinandus Heldi Tanga, the coordinator of the Institute. Before the final blessing, Fr. Tanga delivered his message, followed by the giving of the certificate of completion to all the Aspirants and Postulants. A short cultural presentation and lunch followed.  

The St. Matthew Province organized in two consecutive sessions its annual Evaluation and Planning covering the School Year 2019-2020 and School Year 2020-2021. 

On March 3-4, 2020, selected representatives of the commissions under each Provincial Councilor, Treasurer and Secretary discussed the program of each sector, reviewing the plans that were accomplished, those still ongoing and those in need of being rolled over to be part of the succeeding year’s tasks. 

Bro. Nilo Pelobello, St. Matthew Province Treasurer, organized an ongoing formation of the Treasurers of Local Communities that focused on the use of the Easy Census program and the Personal Accounting Worksheet. The output of the hands-on workshop was the completion of their respective community’s 2019 annual accounting report (Prospetto). The training was held at the computer center of Rogationist College-Cavite, while the participants were accommodated at the Oasis of Prayer-Cavite. The training happened on February 27-29, 2020.

FISH (Formation Institute of Saint Hannibal) in collaboration with the TRUK-F (Tim Relawan untuk Kemanusiaan-Flores) organized the seminar on child protection and the accompaniment of victims of sexual abuse and injustices held on February 24 at Aula Susteran Alma Wairklau, Maumere, Indonesia. Formators and formands of different Congregations attended the event.  

Around 60 lay people from different Rogationist lay associations and institutions participated in the first-ever Rogationist Laity Summit in St. Matthew Province, on Feb. 29 – Mar. 1, 2020 at the Rogationist College Paranaque. Reflecting on the theme "Rogate, A Gift to be Received and Shared to the Outskirts of the World", the gathering aimed at deepening the understanding and commitment to the charism of the Rogate of the lay collaborators, who are “co-laborers” in the harvest of the Lord.

The opening of the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God, Fr. Joseph (Giuseppe) Aveni (1918-2010) starts on Feb. 1, 10am, at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Better Living Subdivision. It coincided with the celebration of the Consecrated Life Day in the Diocese of Paranaque. 

Fr. Aveni, who spent the last 30 years of his life in the Philippines, was born in Tripi, Messina on December 5, 1918. The Avenis were a pious family whose home shared a wall with the altar of St. Blaise’s Church in his hometown.

Nella notte scorsa è entrato in attività il pericoloso vulcano Taal, nell'isola di Luzon, in Filippine. La situazione è ancora in evoluzione, e le prime foto che arrivano da Silang, non distante dal disastro, danno l'idea del dramma che si sta vivendo in quella nazione. Padre Rampazzo e Padre Orville Cajigal, Superiore Provinciale, in visita in Vietnam, assicurano le loro preghiere, così come invitano tutta la Famiglia Rogazionista ad essere spiritualmente unita alle Filippine colpite da questa catastrofe naturale.

At the Missionary Station of Vietnam, Bro. Francis Xavier Nguyen Phuc Thien, RCJ was instituted in the Ministry of Lector, while Bro. Peter Truong Viet Thien, RCJ was instituted in the Ministry of Acolyte on December 25, 2019, at the community Chapel of Don Bosco, in Dalat. Four new Aspirants were also formally accepted during the same liturgy, which was presided over by Fr. King Cena, RCJ, the Responsible and Delegate ad personam in the Vietnam.

The religious community of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish hosted the St. Matthew Province Christmas Gathering, on December 26, 2019. The simple festivity was facilitated by the religious students from the Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies, with some games and gift-giving. Guests performers – the Oasis of Prayer-Cavite ensemble and the St. Hannibal Empowerment Center Rogate Youth – were invited to grace and liven up the celebration. May the birth of the child Jesus and his enduring presence keep us united in His Love!

Early dawn of December 16, 2019, the first day of the traditional Simbang Gabi - the Christmas Novena Masses - Bro. Gabriel Motol, Jr., RCJ and Engr. Ma. Cecilia De Castro (Missonary of the Rogate) made the Renewal of their Vows at the Holy Spirit Chapel of the Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies, during the Eucharistic liturgy, which was presided over by Fr. Orville Cajigal RCJ, the Provincial Superior of the St. Matthew Province. May the Lord continuously bless His Church with Vocations!