2^nd Batch of ABS in Tacloban

The Blessed Sacrament Parish, Tigbao, Tacloban City, has been blessed with 41 new members of the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament. They pronounced their Promise of Belonging last August 1 before the presence of the Provincial Superior, the Rev. Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS, during the celebration of Vespers Mass in honor of St. Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist. The said occasion was also graced with the presence of the National Director of ABS, the Rev. Fr. Jon Sison, SSS.

The new members of the aggregation are the following:

1. ABELLA, ALEJANDRA C.
2. ABELLA, GIL C.
3. BRILLO, JENNIFER A.
4. ALAON, MAXIMA R.
5. ANINO, TEODORA Q.
6. BALDESCO, JENNELYN D.
7. CABRILLAS, MARICOR L.
8. CACERRES, JOCELYN G.
9. CALESTERIO, ANATALIA C.
10. CORITANA, AZUCENA B.
11. DAGA, FEDERICO P.
12. DE CASTRO, CORAZON L.
13. DELMONTE, GENEROSA V.
14. DUQUIATAN, EZSHEIL KATE C.
15. DUQUIATAN, HILDA C.
16. GALBAN, VIRGINIA P.
17. GUILLENO, ESTELITA A.
18. HUEVOS, CARMENCITA B.
19. IBAÑEZ, ROSARIO A.
20. JACA, ROSARIO R.
21. JACKSON, AURELIA S.
22. LACE, ADELA E.
23. LAVILLA, MARCELINA C.
24. MAGLASANG, ALEX J.
25. MAGLASANG, NILDA A.
26. MATO, YERITA V.
27. MORRERO, ALICIA S.
28. MORRERO, ROSARIO L.
29. MORO, ESTRELLA T.
30. PAZON, NITA
31. OSIT, LOLITA S.
32. OSTIA, MA. DIMA B.
33. SABAS, LYDIA A.
34. SABELA, SOL B.
35. SALINAS, BONIFACIO C.
36. SALINAS, LEAH AMOR A.
37. SECORIN, JUVY E.
38. TIU, LERMA L.
39. TUMULAK, PRAXEDES M.
40. VELASCO, NARCISA M.
41. VILLACORTE, FREDA G.

There is now a total of 124 aggregates from our local communities in Davao, Zabarte, and Quezon City including Tacloban. Let us continue to pray that they may fulfill their promise faithfully and religiously.

 

Fr. Renoir Oliver, Jr., sss

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament – Province of Our Lady of the Assumption congratulates Rev. Tonny Akena, SSS for completing his thesis defense last 9 August 2018 at the Maryhill School of Theology, New Manila, Quezon City from which earned a MAGNA CUM LAUDE distinction.

His thesis entitled “Responding to the issues of Land Grabbing in Amaru District in Uganda in the light of the Prophetic Spirituality of Archbishop Oscar Romero” is a timely and relevant material in the exercise of his diaconal and future religious-priestly ministry in Uganda. As a religious of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament who ought to live out the social dimension of the Eucharist as cited under Rule of Life 37, with God’s providence he will courageously adhere to its demands to be “attentive to the cry of the poor and their distress, and to discover in every instance of injustice a call of Christ to share in his mission of announcing good news to the poor and proclaiming liberty to captives…” Congratulations Rev. Ton!

POLA’s First Mission in Spain

Hola! Fr. Dante Mejillano and Fr. Allen Peña left the Philippines last July 26 for Spain to give themselves to the Spanish Delegation, which is under the Province of del SS. Sacramento (Italian Province). And they lost no time in immersing themselves in the local culture, especially the Spanish language. They were told that they might attend university later on for further study of the language.

     The two are staying in our SSS pastoral community in Madrid. They concelebrate Mass with four able SSS Spanish priests in the community, and at times, Fr. Allen is being given the opportunity to do the proclamation of the Gospel.  

     There are so many plans for them by the Spanish Delegation. They feel that the Spanish Delegation is really helping and providing for them so that they can more effectively contribute in the pastoral ministry. The future of the Spanish Delegation with many old and sick religious is a bit gloomy. However, with the presence of young blooded Filipino Sacramentinos, the hope to continue the Eucharistic mission in this once great promoter of Christianity remains and is sustained. 

AMRSMP WILL GO  THE SSS WAY

IN MEDIO VESTRUM SICUT QUI MINISTRAT “AMONG YOU AS ONE WHO SERVES” (Luke 22:27)

2018 AMRSMP Convention Statement

We, the members of the ASSOCIATION OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS SUPERIORS OF MEN IN THE PHILIPPINES (AMRSMP), gathered together with our Mission Partners during the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons in the Philippine Church, reaffirm the ministry of Servant Leadership in the Church. Together with our confreres, we face the challenge of how to be servant leaders in a missionary (not self-referential) Church, in a participatory (not clericalistic) Church, and in a catholic (not parochialistic) Church.

As we serve and enrich the Church with our different charisms, ways of life and apostolates for God’s kingdom, we find ourselves facing the same realities as we look at the context of the Philippine Church in the present times. We are continually confronted with our role as religious in the world and thus we take a second look at our relationship with the government, especially with issues like Charter Change and Federalism.  We continue to be alarmed at the Extra Judicial Killings, the lack of care for the environment, and the ill-treatment of our indigenous brothers and sisters.  We also see new opportunities in our ministry with the Youth and in our apostolate in Social Communications. In self-introspection, we assess our relationship with the Bishops and their Dioceses and how we assist our confreres in crisis.

Sacred Scripture puts before us three models of leadership, where Jesus himself is our example: SERVANT, STEWARD, and SHEPHERD.

As SERVANTS, in regard to

… the Relationship of the AMRSMP with the Government, we

• engage in continual dialogue with the government and partner with it in accessing resources for the poor.

• discern and understand the political situation so as to be able to make a prophetic stand.

… Federalism, we

• educate our confreres and the recipients of our mission towards a better awareness and understanding of Federalism and Charter Change.

• reaffirm the earlier Statement of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) on Federalism and Charter Change.

… Extra Judicial Killings, we

• voice out our dissent against this continued violence and absence of regard for the right to life.

• support the rehabilitation of substance dependents, and the pastoral care of the survivors and of the families of the EJK victims especially through psycho-social intervention and our sanctuary programs.

As STEWARDS, in regard to

… the Environment, we

• lobby for policies for the protection of our common home.

• continue supporting the advocacies against activities that are destructive to the environment (mining, quarrying, etc.).

… Social Communication, we

• strengthen our collective presence in both traditional and new media and our communication as members of the Association through common and more effective platforms.

• share common formation plans for media education and guidelines and protocols for the use of social media.

As SHEPHERDS, in regard to

… the Youth, we

• listen to young people and accompany them through our presence.

• strive to understand young people – their language, their way of thinking, and their spirituality – through youth ministry formation and family apostolate.

… Indigenous Peoples and Interreligious Dialogue, we

• assist our indigenous brethren in their livelihood and campaign against mining, forced evacuation, militarization and other activities detrimental to them.

• dialogue with other religions on justice and peace.

… Mutual Relations with the

Bishops and their Dioceses, we collaborate more closely with the local church (diocese and parish) where we belong in view of better relationship and synergized activity.

• strengthen our participation in the activities of the Episcopal Commission on Mutual Relations.

… Religious Men in Crisis, we

• strengthen the initial formation in the human and psycho-spiritual aspects to help avert future problems.

• pool our inter- congregational human resources together to help each other both in the initial and ongoing formation of our religious in the areas of spiritual direction, personal accompany-ment, counseling and therapy.

Jesus challenged the disciples that leaders should be servants.  He gave reference to the kings of the Gentiles who “lord it over” the people whom they rule and govern.  He made a strong statement after that: “but among you it shall not be so” (22:26).  Our role as leaders in our own communities takes this imperative.  We lead not as the kings of the Gentiles.  We lead not as hirelings.  We should lead as Jesus did: as SERVANTS, STEWARDS and SHEPHERDS.

In carrying out the commitments we have made in this convention, we will remember this brand of leadership.  Together with these, we commit our presence among our confreres and among the people entrusted to our care.  The words of Jesus are ours: “I am among you as the one who serves.”

— July 27-31, 2018