PRAYER FOR THE POPE’S SAFE VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES:
The CBCP has issued a circular (with accompanying Novena) admonishing all the faithful in the country to pray for the safety of Pope Francis as he visits the Philippines this coming January 15-19. In our daily mass and adoration we can also include this intention.
TAKING TO HEART AND LIVING OUT THE POPE’S MESSAGE:
Pope Francis is coming. He is coming to give witness to the mercy and compassion of God. We are drawn to this prophet of mercy and compassion because we ourselves need such mercy and compassion and are compelled by virtue of our vocation to be witnesses of such expressions of profound love.
By invitation or draw lots, a number of SSS religious are going to see the vicar of Christ on earth. This ‘seeing’ may be at any of the following places: at the foot of Ayala bridge, the Metropolitan Manila Cathedral, University of Santo Tomas, Rizal (Luneta) Park, or in Tacloban. Whether we will see him up close, from a distance, through television or the Internet, what is more important is to take heart the message he is bringing to this nation of our – mercy and compassion. We should not stop at just being satisfied to see him. We need to go beyond ‘seeing’; we need to follow his example of mercy and compassion which is actually the Lord’s.
We want this mercy of God which we have received and have been continuously witnessed to by Pope Francis to be a habitual act even when the Pope is already gone. Let us continue showing this to the very members of our own community and let this be an important part in the formation and apostolate of the Province.
UGANDA COMMUNITY:
Congratulations to Fr. Victor Zinkuratire for his Fiftieth (Golden) Profession Anniversary this January 10, 2015. He spoke of this milestone in his recent email to your Provincial which reads in part: “We are very busy preparing for a small celebration of my Golden Jubilee of religious life on Saturday, the very anniversary day of my first profession of Vows, 10 January 1965. It’s a big landmark in my life and my heart is full of gratitude to the Lord and to the Congregation for all the blessings I have received all these years. Please do remember me in a prayer of thanksgiving at your Eucharist on Saturday.”
POLA – PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE:
Fr. Choy Ramos, Director of Development Fund Office, turned over seven hundred seven thousand six hundred pesos (Php707,600.00) as net income from the successful Ballroom Dancing Fund Raising Event held at the Quezon City Sports Club last December 7, 2014. The amount will add to the funds for the formation of our seminarians.
LA SALLE COMMUNITY:
The La Salle community through the friends of Fr. Dante Funelas sponsored a series of feeding for the street children of Sta. Cruz Parish. This act expresses very concretely the message of Jesus which Pope Francis is bringing to us – mercy and compassion.
STA. CRUZ COMMUNITY:
Experiencing difficulty in kneeling before the Lord one hour straight, the members of the community have decided to put chairs beside the kneelers at the sanctuary. People appreciate seeing Sacramentinos adoring before the Lord at the sanctuary and more so their innovative effort of being faithful to such apostolate.
HAWAII COMMUNITY:
We keep in our prayers our brothers in Hawaii as the community there is lacking in personnel. Fr. Pat Labasano is still preparing his travel documents to take the place of Fr. Clifford. We commend them for their sacrifices.
CAGAYAN DE ORO COMMUNITY:
Fr. Kenny-Jo Parlingayan will be installed as the new parish priest of Nuestra Seňora Virgen del Rosario Parish by the Most Rev. Antonio Ledesma, SJ, DD, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, this coming January 11, 2015 during the 9:00 a.m. solemn celebration of the Eucharist in Barangay Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro.
In the late afternoon on the same date, at a solemn celebration of the Mass, nine persons who underwent and completed the formation based on the Project of Life will be formally accepted as the first batch members of the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament in Cagayan de Oro City.
TACLOBAN COMMUNITY:
Fr. Adrian Ladines will be installed Parish Priest of the Parish of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Tacloban City this coming February 1, 2015. The Most Rev. John Du, DD, Archbishop of Palo, will preside at the solemn celebration of the Mass.
VOCATION MINISTRY:
Fr. Marlon Reyes, our National Vocation Director, is expecting that around 20 young men will join the three-day ‘search-in’ he has organized. The main purpose of this event is to expose these young men to our way of life and give them insight into Religious Life especially our own Congregation. Please pray for the success of this encounter.
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE:
Fr. Victor Zinkuratire will be writing a series of reflections on some Biblical basis of Consecrated Life. This aims at appreciating all the more our being consecrated to God, promoting it intensively to the young people of today and faithfully living it out amidst so many challenges.
YEAR OF THE POOR:
Starting this January, Fr. Jhess Malit will be writing a monthly reflection exposing some Biblical basis of our Christian duty to show concern for the poor. His effort aims at helping the Province to appreciate, be confronted and live out the implications of this Year of the Poor.
Fr. Poli Ty will also be preparing a Holy Hour Booklet for the Year of the Poor. The Provincial Superior hopes this will be supported by all the communities by ordering and distributing them to their respective dioceses.
WELCOME BACK!
Fr. Paul Bernier, a former missionary in the Philippines from the Province of St. Anne, USA, is arriving this January 10 and he will be staying until February 4. He is in the last month of his six months sabbatical and has chosen to spend the remainder of his leave with us. Aside from visiting our communities, he will also be updating his previously published book.
PRAYERS FOR:
For the repose of the soul of Honorio Tan (brother-in-law of Fr. Bong Luistro)
Speedy recovery of Eulalia del Rosario (mother of Fr. Mark del Rosario)
Healing of Juan Timbol (father of Fr. Michael Timbol)
Healing of Sheena Angel (8-year old niece of Fr. Joel Lasutaz)
“Mercy is the Lord’s most powerful message!”
Pope Francis
Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS