EPICENTER OF LOVE
Service of Selfless Sacramentinos

I have this rare copy of “RULE FOR A NEW BROTHER,” published in Great Britain in 1973 by Darton, Longman & Todd Limited which was distributed by SSS from Australian Province. And quote, “Your first task is to co-operate in the building of a brotherly community. This is the condition and effect of what we celebrate in the Eucharist” (#9, p.39). When the Congregation called forth on the Philippine Province to help maintain our SSS presence in Spain, the Province finds itself sending two of its junior religious, Fr. Allen P. Peña and Fr. Dante S. Mejillano to the land and its people, who started the Christianization and evangelization of the Philippine archipelago 400 years ago.

Before their assignment to Spain, Fr. Dante served the Congregation in the Formation Ministry as Postulant Director, as Assistant to the Novice Master, as missionary in Uganda and in Australia, not to mention his local community assignments in the Philippines. On the other hand, Fr. Allen also served the Formation Ministry as Assistant Novice Master, then as Treasurer and Pastoral Director here at Eymard Formation Center from 2015 to 2018, Fr. Allen and Fr. Dante’s departure for Spain on July 2018, was also the arrival of Fr. Andres G. Malawis to the EFC community, though more than a month ahead.

Speaking of Fr. Andres, this Sacramentino from the Diocese of Kalinga was ordained two- days after his 34th birthday. Like our two missioners for Spain, Fr. Andres was also trained as a formator. The Congregation had given him the task in the Formation Ministry as Director of the Postulants in Davao. He served also the Congregation in building its Formation Fund, and so he went for a three-month long Mission Appeal in the United States of America. After which, he found himself being assigned to replace Fr. Allen in May 2018. For more than two years, Fr. Andres poured out his selfless service as any good Sacramentino can be to the advantage of the community of scholastics- students (the temporary professed members of the SSS), who are doing their Religious and Priesthood preparation.

In his capacity as community treasurer, he diligently provided the material and financial need of the students and perpetually professed; as a pastoral director, he guided the scholastics in their approach to pastoral life and apostolic training. His snippets of humor and wisdom combined, during his sermons and causal conversations added flavor and color to the community. It was also here at EFC that he made a breakthrough in the intricate world of baking. He started with floppy pudding or rock-hard whatever, but as the proven wisdom says, it is by experimenting that one gets the mastery of it – hence, the Sacramentino baker-chef was born out from the womb of EFC kitchen, the epicenter of love. He is leaving us in this time of pandemic, just so, to respond more eagerly to the call of further mission in the Eucharistic vineyard of the Lord. Salute to you Fr. Andres Gayyad Malawis – a Baker Sacramentino.

Today, September 2, 2020, we need to get used to it, that when one leaves, one arrives. The appointment letter says September 2, the replacement must report to EFC. Accordingly, this afternoon, the new treasurer of the community and pastoral director of the scholastics arrived, in the person of “Fr. Jon.” Here we recall what is written earlier, and I quote, “Your first task is to co-operate in the building of a brotherly community. This is the condition and effect of what we celebrate in the Eucharist.” As a starter, we introduce Fr. Jonelito or “Jon” as one who pour out his young energy to the propagation of the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament (ABS) in the different communities of POLA. This task was given him in line with the directives of the General Council to promote it as one which we inherit from our beloved founder, Saint Peter Julian Eymard. Fr. Jon, before his appointment to EFC, served in Sta. Cruz Church, Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar, now the new Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Manila. He was born in Angeles, Pampanga on February 5, the baptismal date of Saint Eymard 168 years ago. Fr. Jon was ordained priest on February 13, 2016.

The RULE FOR A NEW BROTHER continues, “In your community begins the reality of the new humanity in which the complex fragmentation of our human existence and society of life is healed and sanctified.”

Welcome Fr. Jonelito Mallari Sison. Dear Scholastics, welcome the new member of Eymard Formation Center. -synaliz0menos

Adveniat regnum tuum, regnum amoris!