Provincia San Matteo (Filippina)

On October 28-29, 2013 the Meeting of the Formation Teams of the Philippine Quasi Province was held at Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies.  This meeting was organized by the Committee on religious life and formation in line with the desire of the General Assembly of 2012 and the changing environment as well as the conditions of the present time. The meeting had an overall theme “Religious and priestly Formation: Current Issues and Perspectives”. This had been participated by the rectors, prefect of disciples, prefect of studies, vocation promoters, spiritual directors, and the 4^th year theology students of the Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies.

Fr. Herman Abcede, provincial Superior, stressed the following objectives of the meeting as specified by the committee namely: (1) to provide the Rogationist Formators some updates on current formation issues and offer to them some perspectives on how to respond to these issues effectively;  (2) to understand and to consider the impact of the K to 12 Curriculum in the Seminaries in view of making the necessary adjustments for a better Rogationist formation program; and (3) to review and update the Directory of Formation.

Fr. Rodolfo Patiag Jr., served as the host of the meeting and elaborated the rationale behind this meeting and the schedule of activities.

On the first day Fr. Jose Quilongquilong SJ (President of the Loyola School of Theology)  shared something on the present perspectives of formation. Fr. Ariel Tecson, director of the Postulancy and chairman of the committee on Permanent Formation, presented the possible program of permanent formation tagged as GAMOT for the various level of priestly life. Ms. Eva Galvey of the Emmaus Centre shared something on the Spiritual Direction and the basic requirements for the ministry of spiritual direction. After every conference some sort of open forum was organized to clarify some concepts and to share some related experiences.

On the second day Fr. Francis Escano and Fr. Viktor Aurellana (both dean of studies in our Seminaries) presented their study on the impact of the K to 12 curriculum, designed by the government, in our seminaries. Fr. Cesare Bettoni (Novice Master) on the other hand shared on the Directory of Formation and its concerns and perspectives. In the afternoon there was a sharing of experiences and concerns on the part of the formators. The meeting concluded with the message of the provincial superior and the Marian songs and prayer.

A shower of blessings! Two grace-filled events happened in the Philippine Quasi Province. A back to back ordinations in just two consecutive saturdays. On October 19 and 26, 2013 Fr. Santos Solitario and Fr. Ronie Gumagay were ordained to the order of priesthood respectively. The double events were extraordinary due to the immensity of the gifts, the participation of the people and the solemnity of the liturgy.

FR. SANTOS SOLITARIO was ordained last October 19, 2013 in the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Tangkong, Batayan, Cebu. The event started at 9:30 in the morning with His Excellency Most Rev. Emilio Bataclan, the auxiliary bishop of Cebu, as the ordaining prelate. The event was such an extraordinary one for the “ordinandus” and for the parishioners of the parish. The immense Church (under construction) of the parish which has the capacity of more than 2000 people was filled with so much people counting more or less 3000 individuals. The liturgy was solemn and had been done under the great care by the religious of the Fr. Di Francia Center of Studies. More than 20 priests, coming from various communities of the province and from various parishes nearby, attended and concelebrated.  After the rites of ordination, a bountiful lunch was offered to everybody. It was amazing to see everybody filled with joy and grateful for the gift of priesthood.  At 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon Fr. Santos had his first thanksgiving mass. Several priests who participated in the ordination were again present in the said first mass. Fr. King Cena was tasked to give the homily during the mass. His homily centered on the need to pray for vocations and the need to pray for the newly ordained priest, Fr. Santos Solitario. Before the mass ended, Fr. Santos had his chance to thank everybody for the prayers, assistance and for the presence on this wonderful occasion in his life, the ordination to the priesthood. Again, after the said mass, a dinner was served for everybody. While having dinner a program was offered in honor of the new priest. Dances, songs, speeches, trivias, and cultural presentations were the contents of the program. The singing rendition of the parish priest added color to the program and the thank you speech of Fr. Santos Solitario highlighted the said activity. Fr. Solitario was inspired by the passage from the letter of Paul to the Corinthians saying “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (1 Cor 12:9)

FR. RONIE GUMAGAY, another rogationist religious, was ordained a week after, on October 26, 2013 in the parish of the Immaculate Conception, Oslob, Cebu. The ordination happened in the afternoon with His Excellence Most Rev. Julito Cortes DD, bishop elect of Dumaguete, as the ordaining prelate.  Several priests from the Rogationist communities, from other congregations and from the diocese came to concelebrate. Just as the ordination of Fr. Santos was such a successful event even this ordination of Fr. Ronie was equally a great success. In the homily, Most Rev. Julito Cortes DD considered the importance of the gift of priesthood. Fr. Herman Abcede, Provincial of the Philippine Quasi Province gave to the parents of Fr. Ronie the Papal blessing and to the parish priest the statue of St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia. After the ordination a bountiful dinner was prepared for everybody in the town plaza. A wonderful program was also organized to entertain the people. In the following morning at 8:00 the Thanksgiving Mass was offered by the new priest in the same parish Church. Fr. Eric Raveza gave an inspiring homily to highlight the gift of priesthood. The event was participated by the people and some friends and benefactors. Fr. Ronie expressed his conviction that connection with Christ as he quoted the verse from St. John: “I am the vine you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”

On August 8, 2013 Thursday, the Father Di Francia Center of Studies Community sends off their two confreres with a prayerful wishes and a bagful of smiles. To highlight the activity at 6 o’clock in the evening, a solemn Mass was offered begging the Lord of the Harvest to guide and protect the new missionaries: Bro.Tom June Lancin RCJ and Bro. Jorem Bellen RCJ to Papua New Guinea. Fr. Herman Abcede, provincial, presided over the holy Eucharist together with Frs. Elmer, Ranny, John, and Bong. They invoked the Holy Spirit for the grace of perseverance and total dedication. In his homily, Fr. Herman shared his own unrealized dream and desire to be a missionary; a reason for calling himself a missionary at home. Taking a short moment to give some details of his own story, he then went directly to the point by inviting Bro. Tom June and bro. Jorem to proclaim and announce the very same Jesus that they encountered in their prayer and reflection. He challenged them to be strong in their commitment and to keep the flame of simplicity forever burning. Going a bit deeper, he read the “would be” message of Pope Francis to the missionaries in this forthcoming World Mission Sunday. He gave particular stressed on being rooted on the faith in Christ and to generously offer their undivided heart to him. Wrapping up his message, he recalled his all-time favorite story of the “Chicken and the Baboy”.

Immediately after his homily, a short rite of blessings was prayed over to the missionaries; with eyes casted on the ground the missionaries then approached the celebrant to receive the crucifix. After the Solemn mass a short and simple program followed. Presentations from the postulants, religious students and from the missionaries themselves were showcased while the hungry crowds were all busy sharing the food prepared by the community. Series of messages were then expressed by confreres and formators alike. They assured Tom and Jorem of their constant prayers and wished them all the best for their mission. Putting the program to its end, the community one heartedly offered a song entitled The Mission. Finally, with joy in his heart the Provincial extended his hands asked the Lord for His grace and parted his final blessings.

The Philippine Quasi Province, in line with the desire of the Geral Assembly 2012 and with the coming International Education Congress 2014 in Rome, held the first convocation of the Rogationists’ Educational Leaders, tagged as Rogationist Educator’s Forum 2013, on August 29-30, 2013, at the Rogationist College Paranaque, in Grencourt, San Dionisio, Sucat, Paranaque City.

It was an opportunity for all the Rogationist Educational Leaders of the various Educational Institutions in the Philippine Quasi Province to come together and discuss matters related to the need for systematization and organization of the various principles to be considered in our Rogationist Schools. The Forum was inspired by the general thrust «GOING ONE… GROWING GLOBAL» and with the focus on the «ASSOCIATION OR SYSTEM, A ROGATIONIST EDUCATIONAL HIGHWAY».

The Forum commenced with the invocation animated by Fr. Rodolfo Patiag, Jr. Then Fr. Herman Abcede, the Provincial Superior, welcomed everybody to the Forum and presented the relevance of the initiative in response to the desire of the PQP General Assembly of 2012 and the program of the General Government. Taking some indications coming from the “Guide for the International Congress on Education 2014” (ICE 2014), he presented the constant idea that is coming out regarding the “ultimate goal of the difrancian pedagogy which is, to construct the person’s identity” by helping the young discover and develop his/her individual potentials up to the achievement of his/her full self-realization, according to the plan of God in the present time, as well as in the future” (ICE 2014 p. 13). Fr. Herman further quoted the ICE 2014 affirmation saying that “the great novelty of St. Hannibal Mary lies in looking at man as a “vocation”, as a being called into existence so that he could ever more reveal himself, by his growth and identification, as God's project to be brought to completion and hence, be a good laborer of the harvest” (Ibid).

Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, the Councilor in charge for the sector of Charity and Mission in the PQP, presented the rationale of the Forum. He came out with the specific objectives of the event and the eventual creation of the Directory on Educational Apostolate that will be applicable to the Philippine Quasi Province.

Fr. Danny Montaña, one of the main organizers and the facilitator of the event, introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Cynthia Arcadio, Consultant of the Phoenix Publications. Dr. Arcadio presented an overview of the 21st Century Educational Trends. Her talk focused on the overview of the present and even of the future of Education and the kind of clients educational institutions should consider.

In the afternoon Fr. Teodolfo Baria Jr., the Superintendent of the Region IV and Director of the Diocesan Schools of the Diocese of San Pablo shared the lights and shadows of a Unified School System implemented in their context. This talk somehow provided the participants of the various ramifications of the making a system in the schools.

Later on Fr. Dexter Prudenciano presented to the assembly the result of the survey done regarding the 7S of the RCJ schools.  Then the first day ended with the consideration of the various data that came out from the survey.

The second day (August 30, 2013) was filled with a free discussion regarding the Identity, Character and Direction of the Rogationist’ Educational System (at PQP).  After a long sharing and debate the assembly came out a working suggestion that will be considered in the PQP Educational Institutions. The following ideas came out as working concepts for the PQP Schools.

Identity:

The Rogationist Catholic Educational Community is dedicated to the love of God and neighbour especially the children and the poor (Luke 10:28) driven by the Rogate, the charism (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2) of St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia.

Character:

(Prayer and Charity)

Direction:

iPray, iPractice, iPromote

Shared Vision:

We envision ourselves to be an Association of the Rogationist Catholic Educational Communities in the Philippine Quasi Province by 2018 with a unified program in the areas of:

1. A. Management / Administration / Leadership / Finance;
   

2. B. Curriculum and Instruction;
   

3. C. Faculty and Staff Development; and
   

4. D. Community Extension Services.
   

Mission:

Rooted in the Rogate, the Association of Rogationist Catholic Educational Communities (AREC) commits itself to the accompaniment of the member schools to:

• Form its members toward Love of God and neighbour, patriotism, integrity, and excellence;
  

• Promote a culture of vocation and good workers who, like St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia, will be espousing the cause of the poor especially the children;
  

• Offer a balanced and technically-oriented curriculum, as well as excellent instruction, learning environment and facilities; and prepare well-rounded graduates who are agents of social growth and transformation.
  

Follow up activity: 1ST CONGRESS OF ARCEC (Association of Rogationist Catholic Educational Communities), to be held in the Rogationist College Silang, Cavite, on February 13-16, 2014. This will be participated by all the Administrators, faculty and Staff of all the PQP Schools and Seminaries.)

In the afternoon Fr. Gabriel Flores, the President and Rector of the Rogationist College-Silang, Cavite, presented a comprehensive view of the Rogationist Educational Institutions’ preparedness for the K to 12 with the Rogationist College Silang serving as model. After such a dynamic presentation, a lively interaction and open forum followed.

The Forum ended with gratitude to God and to the people who worked hard for the success of the event.

The Philippine Quasi Province, in line with the desire of the General Assembly 2012 and with the coming International Education Congress 2014 in Rome, held the first convocation of the Rogationist’ Educational Leaders, tagged as Rogationist’ Educator’s Forum 2013, on August 29-30, 2013, at the Rogationist College Paranaque, in Grencourt, San Dionisio, Sucat, Paranaque City.

It was a an opportunity for all the Rogationist Educational Leaders of the various Educational Institutions in the Philippine Quasi Province to come together and discuss matters related to the need for systematization and organization of the various principles to be considered in our Rogationist Schools. The Forum was done inspired by the general thrust «GROWING ONE… GOING GLOBAL» and with the focus on the «ASSOCIATION OR SYSTEM, A ROGATIONIST EDUCATIONAL HIGHWAY».

The Forum commenced with the invocation animated by Fr. Rodolfo Patiag, Jr. Then Fr. Herman Abcede, the Provincial Superior, welcomed everybody to the Forum and presented the relevance of the initiative in response to the desire of the PQP General Assembly of 2012 and the program of the General Government. Taking some indications coming from the “Guide for the International Congress on Education 2014” (ICE 2014), he presented the constant idea that is coming out regarding the “ultimate goal of the difrancian pedagogy which is, to construct the person’s identity” by helping the young discover and develop his individual potentials up to the achievement of his full self-realization, according to the plan of God in the present time, as well as in the future”(ICE 2014 p. 13). Fr. Herman further quoted the ICE 2014 affirmation saying that “the great novelty of St. Hannibal Mary lies in looking at man as a “vocation”, as a being called into existence so that he could ever more reveal himself, by his growth and identification, as God's project to be brought to completion and hence, be a good labourer of the harvest”(Ibid).

Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, the Councilor in charge for the sector of Charity and Mission in the PQP, presented the rationale of the Forum. He came out with the specific objectives of the event and the eventual creation of the Directory on Educational Apostolate that will be applicable to the Philippine Quasi Province.

Fr. Danny Montaña, one of the main organizers and the facilitator of the event, introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Cynthia Arcadio, Consultant of the Phoenix Publications. Dr. Arcadio presented an overview of the 21st Century Educational Trends. Her talk focused on the overview of the present and even of the future of Education and the kind of clients educational institutions should consider.

In the afternoon Fr. Teodolfo Baria Jr., the Superintendent of the Region IV and Director of the Diocesan Schools of the Diocese of San Pablo shared the lights and shadows of a Unified School System implemented in their context. This talk somehow provided the participants of the various ramifications of the making a system in the schools.

Later on Fr. Dexter Prudenciano presented to the assembly the result of the survey done regarding the 7S of the RCJ schools.  Then the first day ended with the consideration of the various data that came out from the survey.

The second day (August 30, 2013) was filled with a free discussion regarding the Identity, Character and Direction of the Rogationist’ Educational System (at PQP).  After a long sharing and debate the assembly came out a working suggestion that will be considered in the PQP Educational Institutions. The following ideas came out as working concepts for the PQP Schools.

Identity:

The Rogationist Catholic Educational Community is dedicated to the love of God and neighbour especially the children and the poor (Luke 10:28) driven by the Rogate, the charism (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2) of St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia.

Character:

ORA ET CARITAS (Prayer and charity)

Direction:

iPray, iPractice, iPromote

Shared Vision:

We envision ourselves to be an Association of the Rogationist Catholic Educational Communities in the Philippine Quasi Province by 2018 with a unified program in the areas of:

1. Management / Administration / Leadership / Finance;

2. Curriculum and Instruction;

3. Faculty and Staff Development; and

4. Community Extension Services.

Mission:

Rooted in the Rogate, the Association of Rogationist Catholic Educational Communities (AREC) commits itself to the accompaniment of the member schools to:

• Form its members toward Love of God and neighbour, patriotism, integrity, and excellence;

• Promote a culture of vocation and good workers who, like St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia, will be espousing the cause of the poor especially the children;

• Offer a balanced and technically-oriented curriculum, as well as excellent instruction, learning environment and facilities; and prepare well-rounded graduates who are agents of social growth and transformation.

Follow up activity: 1ST CONGRESS OF ARCEC (Association of Rogationist Catholic Educational Communities), to be held in the Rogationist College Silang, Cavite, on February 13-16, 2014. This will be participated by all the Administrators, faculty and Staff of all the PQP Schools and Seminaries.)

In the afternoon Fr. Gabriel Flores, the President and Rector of the Rogationist College-Silang, Cavite, presented a comprehensive view of the Rogationist Educational Institutions’ preparedness for the K to 12 with the Rogationist College Silang serving as model. After such a dynamic presentation, a lively interaction and open forum followed.

The Forum ended with gratitude to God and to the people who worked hard for the success of the event.

La comunita' rogazionista in Seoul celebra i 10 anni della sua presenza in Corea. In questa occasione ha organizzato una Messa di ringraziamento con benefattori e amici, e un pellegrinaggio nei luoghi dei santi martiri coreani nel giorno 30 giugno 2013

As the universal Church celebrated the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the diocese of Maumere, Flores, Indonesia took advantage of this gracious and momentous occasion through a month-long series of vocation animations. The group of vocation promoters of various religious congregations in Maumere, headed by a Rogationist priest, organized the vocation month with the aim of fostering awareness among the people on the necessity of praying for Vocations.  Almost 30 religious congregations of male and female working in the Diocese of Maumere responded to the call of making the people conscious about the importance of prayer in obtaining good workers in the Church. Among the vocational activities was the over-night lived-in (Saturday to Sunday) among those Christian communities that were seldom visited or never been visited by the religious. On the first two Sundays of the month of April, religious men and women, seminarians and aspirants spent time with the people animating and giving them catechesis on the importance of prayer for Vocations, as well as encouraging them to be generous in sending their children to seminary or convents. Meanwhile, the Rogationist seminary prepared the schema of the Eucharistic Adoration for the Triduum of the WDPV that were celebrated in every religious community. On the day of the 50th WDPV, all the religious communities were busy in animating the children in their own parishes.  The vocation month was concluded with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Gerulfus Pareira, SVD, Bishop of Maumere, concelebrated by religious and diocesan priests and attended by many religious congregations last 29 of April.

“Dipanggil Menjadi Suatu Tanda Harapan Bagi Dunia” (Called to Become Signs of Hope for the World).  This was the theme of this year’s Graduation Ceremony of the Formation Institute of St. Hannibal (FISH), a Formation Institute entrusted by the Diocese to the Rogationists in order to facilitate and organize Religious Studies for the Aspirants and Postulants of the different Religious Congregations present in the Diocese of  Maumere. Those who participated in this year’s formation courses grew in number and reached to almost 150 young aspirants, postulants and seminarians from 16 Religious Congregations. The Most Rev. Gerulfus Kherubim Pareira, SVD, Bishop of Maumere, presided over the celebration of the Holy Mass together with the priests-concelebrants from different male Religious Congregations who are enrolled in FISH. Fr. Breynard Peji, RCJ, as coordinator of FISH, gave an inspiring talk to the graduates. Those who finished the course received the Certificates of Completion. After the celebration of the Holy Mass, a simple agape was shared by everybody. 

“FAITH INCREASED, HOPE STRENGTHENED”, this is how we described our experience when our bishop in Dalat Diocese celebrated a solemn mass for the Rogationist Vietnam Mission Station (RVMS).  It was even more meaningful because he celebrated the mass on the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, our Rogationist Feast day par-excellence. With the permission of our beloved Bishop, this special occasion was also marked with the launching of the Family Rogate Vietnam, Dalat Diocese Chapter. Seven families of our seminarians formally took the promise as new members of the Family Rogate ( Hoi Gia Dinh Rogate).  The first members are the parents of the Rogationist’s seminarians from Bao Loc and Don Duong, Lam Dong Province. Both places belong to the Diocese of Dalat.

The celebration was simple and as much as possible kept it in secret and private. The good bishop allowed us to use the bishop’s house for the celebration and only a few guests were invited including some priests, religious men and women, benefactors and friends.   It was a risk to organize that celebration but we felt safe and secure in the bishop’s house assuring us that we are in God’s hand.

It was only a half day celebration. It started with the solemn adoration for vocation presided over by Fr. Alfonso Heredia, Responsible of the Mission.  The reflection which Fr. Alfonso prepared for the Eucharistic Adoration emphasized the Meaning of Vocation, the Role of the Rogate in the Church and the Conviction, Joy, Sacrifice, and the Desire of St. Hannibal in living, propagating and proclaiming the Rogate.

After the solemn Eucharistic Adoration for Vocation, the Bishop presided over the solemn mass. In his homily, the Bishop spoke boldly about the importance of the charism of the  Rogate in the Church, especially in the his local diocese, at the same time, he also appreciated  the initiation of the group of family that is committed to pray daily for vocations in the Church.

Here is the summary of the Bishop’s homily.

-          He gave the introduction about the World Day of Prayer for Vocations which was started in 1964 and in 1971 the date was officially fixed on the Good Sherpherd Sunday as the  WDPV.

-          Then he spoke about the Rogationists, the charism of the Rogate, a command from the mouth of Jesus. The necessity of obeying the Word of Jesus, to pray for Vocations, especially for the Priesthood and religious vocations.

-          Touching on the crisis of vocations in many countries of the world, he underlined that in the developed countries, there is the experience of the lost of spiritual life, the lost of the sense of God, and  the lost of faith because of the culture of consumerism, and nobody wants to follow Christ because many young people have lost their faith, they don’t see Christ. He said that Vocation needs FAITH - and so there is the need of more pastors to bring back and animate the faith.

-          He also underlined the connection of FAITH-à VOCATIONàBLESSING (HOPE) and explained it through the story of the faith of Abraham. Abraham’s faith led him to answer yes to God full of hope and because of that yes (vocation) he received abundant blessings.

-             Finally, he mentioned the important role of the family in Vocations. “No family, no vocation”. And focused his attention on the Family ROG which started as a small group of family, wishing that it will later expand as a big group. And the most challenging words he said for us Rogationists, Daughters of Divine Zeal and the FAM ROG is that “we are vocation for all the Vocations.”

Thanks to our beloved bishop in the Diocese of Dalat who is a real shepherd and who is always available for the people. Thanks to our parents who generously responded to the call of witnessing the Rogate. Thanks to our friends and benefactors who always assure us of their support, protection and guidance. Thanks to the different congregations for their fraternal support and blessings, thanks to our students and aspirants both Rogationists and the Daughters of Divine Zeal, because of their generosity and availability to say yes to the call of God, the Rogate becomes ever more active, dynamic and triumphant.

With all these people and experiences, the RMSV is continuously casting its net into the DEEP. We are assured and convinced that we walk in the Direction of God following the Examples of Christ of the Rogate through St. Hannibal. This leads us to a more and a deeper Encounter with the Heart of Jesus, with the Heart of St. Hannibal and with the heart of the Avignone, the poor.  Whatever is the Plan of God for our mission here in Vietnam, we will joyfully obey and we hope and pray  that  it will be brought into completion.

Indeed, it is in our experience of being in the DEEP that our FAITH is increased and our HOPE is strengthened.