Provincia San Matteo (Filippina)

“Lord, to whom shall we go, You have the Words of eternal life.” (Jn. 6:68)

Today, 19^th of November 2020, Rev. Petrus Marianus, RCJ was ordained as a priest, through the imposition of the hands of the Bishop of Maumere, Msgr. Edwaldus Martinus Sedu, Pr. The Ordination was held in the Seminari Rogationis – Ribang, Maumere, Indonesia at 9:00am. The event was attended by several priests and religious, and by the relatives of Fr. Petrus. A simple program was held during lunch time.

Taking advantage of the less stricter travel restrictions imposed due to the current pandemic, Fr. Orville Cajigal, RCJ, the Provincial Superior of the St. Matthew Province, did the Canonical Visit to the St. Anthony’s Boys Village in Lalaan II, Silang, Cavite, on November 5-7, 2020. The short visit which was highlighted by common prayers, was also a moment of dialogue and fraternal sharing. Fr. Cajigal also had the opportunity to physically meet the staff of the Boy Village, the Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff of the Rogationist College, and to encounter the interns even online via Zoom.

For this month dedicated to the teachers, we have featured Jesus, our Divine Teacher, as it is understood from the Gospel of John 6:45.

Eight religious students were ordained Deacons through the imposition of the hands of Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado, D.D., Bishop of Parañaque. Seven deacons are from the Rogationists, namely Rev. Marselinus Koka, Rev. Paulo Sambile, Rev. Arthur James Paciente, Rev. Frederikus Yorius Ndawi, Rev. Yoseph Emanuel Rua, Rev. Jeffren Tugbo, and Rev. Paul John Mapacpac, and one deacon is coming from the Mary’s Little Children Community (MLCC), namely Rev. David Ezikeigwe. The whole celebration was livestreamed at the Fr.

The St. Matthew Province has opened the new formation year 2020-2021 with the entrance of new aspirants to its seminaries in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Despite the crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, though with many challenges, the Lord of the Harvest has granted the Church and the Congregation with the gift of vocations.

(Vietnam) The Rogationist community has recently opened its second Bread of St. Anthony Station located in the Diocese of Phu Cuong adding to the one introduced in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh last year. The Bread of St. Anthony is distributed to the poor in the area for an extremely low price. The initiative is in partnership of the lay collaborators who are especially devoted to St. Anthony of Padua.

(Pasay City, Philippines) The official turn-over of the housing units to 65 families marked a milestone in this year’s celebration of the Rogationist Mission Day in St. Matthew Province. After 10 years of preparation, the 5-storey apartment building is now a reality for the 65 families of the St. Hannibal Homeowners' Association, Phase 17, Malibay, Pasay City. God is faithful indeed even amidst the pandemic.

St. Matthew Province celebrates the annual Rogationist Mission Day on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. This year’s celebration is special because the beneficiary of the Mission Day Project is the Mission Youth Center in Davao, Philippines.
Fr. Bruno Rampazzo sent a video message for the occasion. Similar video messages were also sent by Fr. Orville Cajigal, the SMP Provincial, and Fr. Francis Escano, the Superior fo St. Anthony’s Boys Village in Davao.

(Maumere, Indonesia) The Formation Institute of Saint Hannibal (FISH) begins the school year 2020-2021 with the opening mass on September 2 at Aula Susteran ALMA Wairklau presided by the Mons. Edwaldus Martinus Sedu, Bishop of Maumere, and concelebrated by Fr. Ferdinandus Tanga, RCJ, FISH main coordinator. Present too were formators and formands from about 20 female and male Congregations in Maumere who attend the program at the Institute.

(St. Matthew Province) Here is the letter of Fr. Herman Abcede, Superior and Prefect of the Center of Studies of St. Matthew Province, asking for prayers for the confreres who will be ordained deacons on September 14, 2020. There are seven candidates, four from the Philippines and three from Indonesia.
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August 21, 2020
To: Superiors / Responsible of the Houses and all Confreres
Re: Request for Prayers and Support for the Diaconal Ordination