Currently, the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption has three local communities in Mindanao, the southern part of the Philippines. They are in Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City and Surigao del Norte. Davao, the oldest of the three communities and host of the Postulancy program of the Province, was founded in 1972 while Surigao, the youngest, in 2016. The three communities speak the local language ‘bisaya’. Each of the communities has 3 to 5 professed religious. The three communities are very independent and are financially able. Prospects for vocation are not wanting. The lay collaborators are very enthusiatic and very much willing to be part of the Eucharistic mission of the congregation.
The Archdiocese of Davao celebrates the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from February 11-18, 2018. The theme for this year’s celebration is taken from the book of Exodus 15:6: “Your Right Hand, O Lord, Glorious in Power.” This theme had been prepared by an ecumenical team of women and men from the churches in the Carribbean
The first time that the archdiocese celebrated this ecumenical week of prayer was in 1995, which was participated by the following: from the Catholic Church, Bishop Fernando Capalla, Fr. Paul Cunanan and Fr. Conrad Goulet, SSS; from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the late Bishop Delfin Callao; from the Lutheran Church, Rev. Fidel Quintana; from the Methodist Church, Rev. Frank Bilog and Pipin Damgo; and from the UCCP, Rev. Pal Domani. Since then these Churches celebrate the Week of Prayer yearly.
On February 15, 2018, the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish experienced this celebration once again; and for Fr. Hermie Garcia, SSS, it was his first time joining in the celebration as the parish priest. Aside from Fr. Hermie, the event was also graced by the other two Sacramentinos in the parish: Fr. Andres Malawis and Fr. Manuelino Maamo. It was an overwhelming experience as many people gathered to celebrate the said event. This year the Episcopal Church in the Philippines and the Focolare Movement joined in the celebration.
[Ms. Ai-Ai Mutya, Assumption Parish’s Formation Coordinator]
In September 16, 2017, the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption in Davao City held a Symposium on Sagop Kinabuhi (Save Lives) Program 2. Leaders and members from the different GKKs attended the said activity. There were also invited leaders from the neighboring parishes.
The Sagop Kinabuhi Program 2 (SKP 2) is a joint partnership between University of Southeastern Philippines and the Archdiocese of Davao as their proactive response to the problem on drug addiction among young people. SKP is the concrete response of the Church to the mass surrender of prohibited drug users and pushers, now known as Voluntary Submission for Reformation (VSR) persons resulting from the government’s ongoing war on drugs. The Church through its Archdiocesan Social Action Center (ASAC) and USeP has designed SKP to contribute to the multi-sectoral efforts at reconciling and reunifying VSRs to their respective families and communities. Using the framework advocated by the Department of Health, SKP wants to address drug dependency and do some interventions to bring back the lost self-confidence, self-respect and self-worth of VSRs so that they will become productive members of their families and communities once again. Aside from that, the program is also aiming to create a functional working relationship with the barangays and parishes and its Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) situated within the SKP program site. (Source: USep-Oct.3, 2016)
The resource speaker talked about the effects of illegal drugs like shabu on the body. He also shared his personal experiences as a counselor for drug dependents.
The symposium ended with a personal sharing from one of the drug dependents who turned his life around for his family. He joined his sister in this archdiocesan advocacy by bravely sharing his personal story when invited to speak at different churches in the archdiocese. For him being a drug dependent is a lifetime struggle. He said that drug dependents are emotionally sensitive, easily affected by even a simple stare or a raised voice. He reminded everyone, especially those who are involved in the GKKs and the organizations in the Parish Center, to be open, loving and understanding in dealing with drug dependents. Criticisms and judgments are to be avoided because these are absolute hindrances in facing all challenges of transformation.
After the said symposium, Fr. Hermie gathered the Parish Social Action Ministry in order to plan for the next step.
[Ms. Ai-Ai Mutya]
Geared with the Eucharistic mission to provide further and better formation program not only for the parish, but also for the whole Archdiocese, Santuario Eucaristico had its Formation Center renovated. On the 17th of February 2018, the project was completed and a Eucharistic celebration was held followed by the blessing of the newly renovated Formation Center.
For many years the old Parish Formation Center had been used for both parish and archdiocesan activities and programs. In a desire to provide a more convenient center for formation programs, the parish embarked on a project to renovate its Formation Center, which started August 2017. After six months, and through the support of the parishioners and benefactors, the renovation project was completed.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided by the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, D.D., with the SSS Provincial Superior Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS, the Shrine Rector and Parish Priest Fr. Froilan Renato A. Briones, SSS, Fr. Muriel A. Uy, SSS, Fr. Clifford Barrios, SSS and Fr. Maximilian Mary Ciar of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate as concelebrants. The Parish Pastoral Council and parishioners were in attendance at the Eucharistic celebration and the blessing of the Formation Center.
Congratulations for another milestone completed in renovating the Formation Center for the realization of our Eucharistic Mission and Evangelization. On behalf of Santuario Eucaristico, we would like to thank all our parishioners, benefactors and sponsors for another successful project and for the continued love and support to our formation programs!
[Ms. Jessica Sarah Palacio, Santuario’s Mass Media Director]
The Nuestra Señora Virgen del Rosario (NSVDR) Parish participated in the relief goods giving for 41 Maranaw families through the Social Action of the Archdiocese. Fr. Kenny Parlingayan, SSS, led the parish volunteer Catechists and BEC leaders to facilitate the relief drive for the families affected by the crisis in Marawi City.
The relief goods were distributed to the evacuees on July 19, 2017 through the assistance of the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. This humanitarian aid was made possible through the benevolence and collaborative efforts extended by various Barangays, through their chairpersons, and by other LGU members who hosted displaced families in their respective places and barangays with an average of five members per family, as registered by the Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare and Development Office. The families have been staying temporarily with their relatives; they have no work and have limited resources.
Most of the displaced families, if not all, especially the children, youth and women, have been suffering from trauma. Besides being provided with basic needs, the evacuees also need psycho-social intervention to help them cope with their experiences and prevent the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The NSVDR Parish community joined the whole Church in Mindanao in praying the Oratio Imperata (prayer for special intention) for reign of Peace and Justice in Marawi. This is a prayer that is now recited in all churches, both Catholic and Non-Catholic, and is encouraged even in mosques.
Reflecting on the lessons of war in Marawi, I have always believed that goodness eventually triumphs over evil. I believe there are no boundaries when it comes to praying for a fellow human being. It does not matter what religion or beliefs one has, as long as he reaches to someone – God, Allah, Buddha or Yahweh – who he believes would help in time of difficulties. Praying is therefore inherent in our faith. All for the greater glory of God and nothing is impossible with Him.
[N.S.V.D.R. Parish’s Secretary]
The Parish of San Pedro Calungsod in Surigao diocese celebrates in advance its 2nd year of elevation as a full-fledged parish on February 18, 2018, with a concelebrated mass presided by its pastor, Fr. Joel Lasutaz, SSS, and the typical program expressing thanks to God and hope for more blessings.
The Province of Our Lady of the Assumption of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament took over the administration of the then Quasi-parish of Sta. Cruz on July 18, 2015. Then, on February 20, 2016, the Quasi-parish was elevated into a full-fledged parish and renamed San Pedro Calungsod.
The canonization on October 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI of the second Filipino saint, Pedro Calungsod, was a major milestone in the history of the Church in the Philippines. Worth noting is the fact that this Parish of San Pedro Calungsod being administered by the Sacramentinos is the first parish named after this saint in the entire Philippines (and of course, in the entire world).
Looking back, on February 20, 2016, at 8:30 in the morning, a solemn Mass was celebrated on the occasion of the canonical erection of the San Pedro Calungsod Parish in the Diocese of Surigao, Province of Surigao del Norte.
The ceremony started with the procession of the image of San Pedro Calungsod at the center isle inside the church. The church was packed, and many people took seats outside while others were standing.
The Mass was presided by the Most Reverend Bernardito “Barney” Cleopas Auza, a Filipino Archbishop who is the current Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. The homily was delivered by Most Reverend José Serofia Palma, the Archbishop of Cebu. Concelebrating were Most Reverend Antonieto Cabajog, the Local Ordinary of the Diocese of Surigao, priests from the Diocese of Surigao and Archdiocese of Cebu, religious from different congregations and the Sacramentinos.
The rite for the canonical erection was integrated within the Mass. The Act of Canonical Erection of the New Parish of San Pedro Calungsod was read by the Chancellor, Fr. James Wendele Puracan.
The homily of Archbishop Palma focused on San Pedro Calungsod as a martyr for the faith and especially as a catechist that spread the faith even in his youth. Thus, the enormous challenge is to reach out to the greater majority of the Philippine population which is the youth, in order to engage them in knowing and sharing the faith.
Inspired by its patron, the catechist Pedro Calungsod, and challenged by the path set by the leaders of the Philippine Church towards renewed evangelization for the coming celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, the parish of San Pedro Calungsod ventured on Parish Liturgical Renewal for the liturgical ministers and the church-goers.
The Liturgical Renewal of the parish centers on explaining the different parts of the Mass, first, to the different liturgical ministers which started in September 2017, and now, to the parishioners attending the celebration of the Mass. With this important initiative by the parish, many are able to gain different knowledge of the celebration of the Eucharist. Many things are clarified with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal as the guide.
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