Provincial Update #70



25th Elevation into a Province Anniversary

May 27, 1993  May 27, 2018

Keep your soul in constant thanksgiving; it is most pleasing to Our Lord, the most refreshing for the heart. Turn everything into thanksgiving, because everything is a grace, everything can be praise of God. — Fr. Eymard

When the year 1992 came, it was time to celebrate the 35th Foundation Anniversary of the Sacramentinos in the Philippines.  On that year, Fr. Honorio “Nory” P. Vasquez, SSS, was elected as the First Filipino Regional Superior.  He was nominated in the 5th Regional Chapter (May 5-8, 1992) that produced the Mission Statement of the SSS Philippine Region within the ecclesial framework of the “Church of the Poor” of the monumental Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II). The capitulars during that chapter were: Fr. Goulet, Fr. Bancud, Fr. Tipones, Fr. Malit, Fr. Mendoza, Fr. Delos Reyes, Fr. Loterte, Fr. Ty, then Br. Lito Andres, Fr. Pageot, Fr. Dowling, Fr. Roach, Fr. Vasquez, Br. Alegre and Br. Bourque.

The following year (1993), the Philippine Region was elevated to its present Provincial status.  It was in the 31st General Chapter (May 12 to June 2, 1993) held in Centro Nazareth, Rome, that Our Lady of the Assumption Region (OLAR) was proposed by the Province of Saint Ann (USA) to become the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption (POLA). This was unanimously approved by the 55 capitulars representing 26 countries. It was on May 27, 1993 that the Congregation canonically erected POLA. In this same General Chapter, Fr. Sofronio “Ronnie” A. Bancud (now Bishop of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, 2001), who was Novice Master for more than a decade, was the First Filipino and the First Asian to be elected as General Consultor, together with Fr. Gerard Busque, Fr. Joviano de Lima (who was also named Bishop, 1995), Fr. Venceslao dal Cero, Fr. Ferdinand Pratzner and Fr. Norman Pelletier as General Superior. As a joyful commemoration of this historical event, the Sacramentinos in the Philippines celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass on July 10, 1993, at Sta. Cruz Church, Manila, with Fr. Honorio Vasquez, SSS and Fr. Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS, as presider and homilist, respectively. After the Eucharist, socialization followed where there was a lively flow of conversations and sharing of food.

Consequently, there is a need to call for the Provincial Chapter. Fr. Vasquez convoked the First Provincial Chapter to gather and elect our leaders and to set the direction of the SSS in POLA.  The capitulars are Fr. Delos Reyes, Fr. Tipones, Fr. Vasquez, Fr. Del Rosario, Fr. Malit, Fr. Goulet, Fr. Loterte, Fr. Ong, Fr. Mendoza, Fr. Eballe, Br. Yanzon, with Fr. Bancud (representing the General Council), Br. Bourque and Br. Java. Furthermore, this Provincial Chapter adapted the 1992 Mission Statement as the POLA’s thrust until 1996. The First Provincial Council then was composed of Fr. Nory Vasquez (Provincial Superior), Fr. Mandy Tipones (Vicar Provincial), Fr. Jhess Malit (Consultor), Fr. Conrad Goulet (Consultor), Fr. Mark del Rosario (Consultor) and Fr. Frankie delos Reyes (Provincial Treasurer).

Thus, the journey of the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption, blessed by the providence of God, with the fatherly intercession of St. Peter Julian Eymard, and began with ever-increasing fraternal unity and love for the Eucharist, celebrates this year its 25th Anniversary. And it continues sharing and shepherding this sacred history.

Congratulations, Sacramentinos!

Fr. Reynaldo R. Capili, SSS (May 2018)

God gives us neither years, nor days.

We have at our disposal only the present moment.

— Fr. Eymard