APC GATHERING
Virtually for the first time
There was never a simple worry that tested the determination and readiness of the Province to cope with the demands of gathering the Amplified Provincial Council through Virtual Conference. Adjustments were into everything including time zones, stability of internet services, adaptability of some Religious to the electronic systems as well as the availability of the means related to the conduct of this gathering. But since to set this APC later is no longer a practicable option, the Province had to let go overthinking the inconveniences foreseen in the hold of a virtual conference. This online meeting was set on October 20-23, 2020.
The “zoom conference” by all means had modified some given procedures in an actual APC meeting. Since to sit before the screen for extended hours can only turn the participants less efficient and attentive, the usual daily whole-day conferences for APC lasted for only 2 hours daily in the virtual conference. Hence, all related documents were provided earlier for all participating religious to make advance review and preparation of comments and reactions.
The first ever virtual conference nonetheless had served the purposes of the Amplified Provincial Council. Not everything went perfectly as desired but the most essential above all is that the Province have come to gather and hear the local communities’ and parishes’ present concerns and conditions. The APC hopes to have set the Province once more to renew, revive and rekindle the same passion for our Eucharistic Mission. It is the aspiration of the Province as well to continue seeking ways to make our charism relevant in the changing needs of the world.
The First Filipino SSS: 60 Years of Religious Profession
In the momentous year of 1933, where the threat of Hitler coupled by the ravaging effect of Great Depression (1929-1939), God designed that a ray of hope and love appears as a remedy to the looming fear and hopelessness of the time, Frater Rodolfo Marzan Pinto, S.S.S. was born on Wednesday of the first day of February. In his earlier records, birth and baptismal certificates, he is named Teodulfo (his grandmother’s pet-name for him), but later rectified in his confirmation paper as Rodolfo. Henceforth, his school, seminary records and religious file bear the name Rodolfo. He is popularly known as Brother Rudy.
He is the 7th child among the 12 children of Benigno Pinto and Cornelia Marzan of Mangatarem, Pangasinan. The Municipality of Mangatarem is a first-class municipality in the Province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 73,241 people. Mangatarem is a Pangasinan word for “mango plantation.” The town’s name also came from the Ilocano phrase which means “mango and oyster.” The Saint Raymond of Peñafort Parish Church, also known as the Mangatarem Church, was first established as a visita of San Carlos and became an independent parish in 1835. This Roman Catholic Church located in the municipality was accepted and administered by the Dominicans in 1837. It is here that many of the religious events in the family life of Marzan-Pinto happened.
PERSONALITIES BEHIND HIS RELIGIOUS LIFE. The priest who baptized Br. Rudy is Rev. Fr. Pablo Evangelista, the Parish Priest then of St. Raymond Peñafort Parish Church on December 28, 1933. Fr. Evangelista is known as one who rehabilitated the Church of Holy Child Parish, Binalonan, Pangasinan in 1946. The Church was destroyed during the Japanese occupation. Then, the Most Reverend Cesar Maria R. Guerrero, D.D. (1885-1961), the First Bishop of Lingayen administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to Br. Rudy on January 24, 1937. Bishop Guerrero died as Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Fernando, Pampanga at the age of 76.
Br. Rudy started his seminary life (1952-1957) in the Diocesan Seminary of Mary, Help of All Christians in Binmaley, Pangasinan. Among those of his prominent co-graduates in the seminary are Most Rev. Florentino F. Cinense, D.D. (Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tarlac) and Most Rev. Camilo D. Gregorio, D.D. (1939-2018) (Prelate Emeritus of Territorial Prelature of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands).
By 1957, he seeks further the will of God for him. He finds himself knocking at the door of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, which is just establishing itself in the Parish of Sta. Cruz Church, Manila. Fortified with the two recommendation letters from his parish priest, Fr. Jesus Ch. Mendoza, and his former seminary rector, Fr. Alphonse M. Mildner, S.V.D., Br. Rudy confidently faced, then, Superior Fr. Rosaire Morin, S.S.S. (1907-1991). This religious from Mangatarem is known to his parish priest as “an ex-seminarian, a helper in the rectory, excellent moral character, humble, pious and industrious,” while, Fr. Mildner highly recommended him as having “character, ability and artistic genius – he was mainly responsible and very successful for all the decorations in chapel and other places of festive occasions – for religious brotherhood. Furthermore, his rector finds his “solid piety, his zeal and reliability would make him an asset wherever he may be assigned to work.” And for 60 years in the religious life, many Sacramentinos can vouch for the validity of those words.
His reason for wanting to embrace the religious state and in particular, religious life in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, is “to love and serve and adore the King of kings in the Blessed Sacrament perfectly.” And for us, we witnessed how he adores three times a day, faithful to the discipline and practice of his time.
So, his papers are sent to the central house of the Province of Saint Ann (USA), and he is officially “admissio inter postulantes Sanctae Annae, September 14, 1957,” by Rev. Father Roland Huot, S.S.S. (1910-2006) (Provincial Superior who later elected as General Superior). Thus, he formally started his postulancy, together with Mr. Asbel N. Mercurio and Mr. Timoteo L. Gregorio, in Sta. Cruz Church from 1957 to 1958 under the tutelage of Fr. R. Morin.
By the time for his Novitiate, Br. Rudy was alone. So, on October 19, 1958, Rev. Fr. William La Verdierre, S.S.S. (1902-1991) (Provincial Superior) “admissio ad novitiatum Sanctae Annae,” and named him Frater Rodolfo – laicum. He made his novitiate, then in Sta. Cruz Church rectory, from October 1958 to November 1960. He is the lone novice of Rev. Fr. Adrian Maheu, S.S.S. (1907-1978), who was then one of the General Consultors, and named Novice Master for the Philippine Area Commission. Frater Rodolfo recalled Fr. Maheu asking him, “Who are you, a lone novice, that I was sent here to be your Master?” Indeed, the lone novice though not lonely becomes the apple of the eyes of the earlier Blessed Sacrament religious in the Philippines. In fact, among the 61 Filipino candidates who entered as novices from 1957 to 1970, Br. Rudy alone survived the tides of formation. After which, the one who followed him is now the Local Ordinary of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, our very own Most Rev. Sofronio A. Bancud, S.S.S., D.D.
Eventually, convinced of a life dedicated solely to the Eucharist, Frater Rodolfo asked to be allowed to make his First Profession of Religious Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and to make permanent his desire to love and serve and adore perfectly the King of kings in the Blessed Sacrament. He made his religious profession on November 21, 1960, three scores to date. His subsequent renewals of vows were approved by Rev. Fr. W. LaVerdierre, Rev. Fr. Francis Costa (1918-1994); his application for perpetual profession was approved by Rev. Fr. Joseph Lamontagne (1901-1982), thus he made his perpetual profession on November 21, 1964.
HIS MISSION IN LIFE. As a Sacramentino, Frater Rodolfo witnessed the different epochs in the history of the SSS Philippine foundation. He is there during the acquiring and reselling of the property in Tagaytay City; the construction of the Blessed Sacrament Novitiate in Bulacan; the transition of the religious government from Philippine Area Commission (PAC 1972) under the Province of Saint Ann to Our Lady of the Assumption Region (OLAR 1983), then to the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption (POLA 1993); and the present reconstruction project of the Provincial House.
He serves the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament as he serves his legitimate superiors like, Fr. Edward Stapleton (1933-2011), Paul Krainz (former priest – 1940-2015), Fr. Thomas Fitzgerald (1937-2013), Roland Laliberte (former priest), Fr. Roger Pageot (1926-2006); Fr. Honorio P. Vasquez (1947-2001), Fr. Armando S. Tipones, Fr. Sebastian A. Luistro, Fr. Jesus M. Malit, Fr. Apolinario L. Ty, Fr. Joseph D. Matitu, and presently Fr. Roel L. dela Cruz.
He exercises the ministry entrusted to him with weaknesses and strengths alike. He handles the duty as Chief Sacristan in Sta. Cruz Church, Manila and in Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Davao City with diligence; as one-time Prefect of Discipline of the Postulants; as Treasurer with “Weweng,” the famous dog; and other menial duties assigned to a religious brother.
In his robust life despite of the many medical procedures that he endured he actively participates in the different conventions of National Association of Lay Brothers, even receiving a Loyalty award in one of the said occasions. Br. Rudy is known to lay people as “walang pagbabago” as he dances to the tune of Manang Biday, until that fateful day when the Provincial Superior told him not to do it anymore for health reason. To some, he is also “masipag, magaling mag-alaga ng halaman, at maaasahan mo sa ganda ng mga dekorasyon kahit anong okasyon.”
Today, in the ebb tide of his earthly life Frater Rodolfo is mellowing down at the age of 87 but still manage to undergo a personal retreat for his 60th profession anniversary. His brushed up with the news of imminent death in 1999 gives him the time to review and reckon his life. As he remembers he said, “In this situation, I was led to reflect deeply in the remaining years of my life. For me, God is giving me a chance to live and 5 die meaningfully. If I live only three to four years (back in 1999) during the last year it would be very, very painful. I have seen people who suffered cancerous diseases and their sufferings were very painful. I was expecting a lot of pains and sufferings in the days ahead. However, these sufferings could give meaning if it would be experienced for others. I said to myself that this could be an opportunity to relate with others more deeply. I was praying more seriously to offer those sufferings for all sufferings, for more vocations, for the sick and the dying, for world peace and reconciliation. My faith and love resigned everything to the will of God. Whatever maybe, I remembered Jesus who was kneeling at the garden of Gethsemane where He asked the Father to take away the cup but if it was His will let it be done. I said, “Lord do not take it away. I was not expecting miracle. But if it was Your will, let it be done to me. I let go.”
That was 21 years ago, and yet the pliant Frater Rodolfo is still among us, willing to be the cause of our joy (as today’s celebration entails) and encouragement for our mission. In the commemorative book of the 50th year of SSS Presence in the Parish of Sta. Cruz, Manila, Br. Rudy is quoted saying, “There’s no greater happiness than to be at the service of Jesus, substantially and totally present in the Blessed Sacrament and [in the] heart of men.” Congratulations Brother Rodolfo Marzan Pinto, S.S.S. You are truly a Sacramentino, with all your flaws and virtues; an adorer in spirit and in truth which the Father seeks. – Reynaldo R. Capili, SSS
“God visits his people and we know him” a line that we read in the lyrics of Good Morning Zachary that we used to sing in place of the traditional Canticle of Zechariah when we as a Province gather together for an Annual Retreat. This is the feeling I had and the description that I can make to the 2020 Pastoral Visit of His Excellency Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD, to the Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer that is entrusted to the SSS Province since 2015. It is as if God visited his people when the Bishop has set foot on the premises of the parish. The objective was clear, that the Bishop wanted to get in touch with the Parish and her Parishioners via carefully selected members of the PPC – this is so because of the Health Protocols that is being observed. Part of his visitation was to make an assessment and evaluation of all, not only the administration but the parish life and parish affairs in general vis a’ vis the vision and mission of the Diocese of Pasig using the Four Priorities of the Diocese as the background. The Pastoral Visit had finally been realized on November 14, 2020.
The Pastoral Visit has been delayed because of Covid 19 Pandemic. Originally, this was scheduled last March 28, 2020. Had the visitation took place eight months ago, we could have been less prepared. had the visitation took place earlier, we might have struggled a lot. And that is why the eight months delay had been considered as a blessing in disguise. We made use of it to our advantage. I am happy to say that we were able to apply some more improvements in the Church interior and exterior, such as the completion of tiling the whole floor of the church, the wood tiling of the entire sanctuary, and the concreting of the outside portion of the church despite the challenges.
On the part of the ministries and organizations, they have been given ample time to revisit their plans and polish their respective reports. On the part of the parish office staff and personnel, they used the time to revisit records and to make canonical books more prepared and ensure its integrity before the visitation. This was the second Pastoral Visit of Bp. Mylo to the parish. The first time, when it was still a quasi-parish in 2013. So the parishioners were no longer first-timers although, among the PPC members, there was some kind of a little anxiousness generally, the mood was of excitement and eagerness to be able to have an intimate dialogue with the Bishop. As the parish priest, I shared the same feelings and emotions with our parishioners – I was toying with the idea that it was disadvantageous or unfair on my part since it was only more than a year of my term since my installation as a pastor but because of the support and full cooperation with our SSS Taguig Community things ran very smoothly. With close collaboration with Br. Rey, as our local superior and Fr. Throy being an enthusiastic neophyte priest and of course with close coordination with the PPC Officers and members, all of us have been hands-on with the parish life and ministries; we have been 7 on board with the Diocesan affairs and events; we have been immersed in the parish life and activities and last but not the least we tried as much as possible to be on top of every given situation, favorable or unfavorable – all of these is summed up in the Bishop’s remark “I am happy with your performance in my Diocese.”
Added to his satisfaction is the fact that the parish is financially stable. Meaning, the parish is afloat and in better standing compared to some parishes big and small as our record would show. As we have presented to him the general picture of the parish through combined written and oral reports, we have sensed that somehow we have lightened up his burdens and responsibilities in the Diocese. The SSS Community members can attest that the Bishop has the trust and confidence of the Sacramentinos as he verbalized to us his congratulatory words during the colloquium. To me, it reverberates the remarks of the landowner in the gospel parable of 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, when two of his slaves were able to increase their talents, he said to them “well done, good and faithful servants; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.”
At this point, it is deemed important and necessary to acknowledge that indeed, the hard works that were initially laid down by Fr. Jose Arnel Martinez, Fr. Peter John Abogado, and Fr. Benjamin Solamillo, not to mention the contribution of the other Religious Brothers, professed and temporary professed who were assigned here before, really paid off. We are grateful for them. The Bishop expects that we will continue the progress and development in the parish and in the Christian community under our care. We take it as another challenge.
True enough we can say that when there is cooperation via teamwork ministry, much can be achieved, much can be accomplished. Our story here at SVFP is just one of the proofs of that statement. The efforts that have been done before and the continuation of it at the present are now reaping the fruits. We might be the ones reaping the fruits at the moment, we may be the ones receiving the credit this time, but the truth is, CREDIT GOES TO the SACRAMENTINOS and THE WHOLE PROVINCE OF POLA. Salute to you Fathers and Brothers for a job well done! Congratulations to the whole parishioners of SVFP!
A SHEPHERD REGULARLY TENDING TO HIS FLOCK
By: Fr. Ferdinand S. Tomo, SSS
Although we are a good one hour and thirty minutes away from the city capital of Laoag, our beloved Bishop Renato P. Mayugba,D.D did not fail to visit us, his flock, here at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Pagudpud.
During the old normal, Bishop Mayugba has always been present during fiesta celebrations not only in our parish but in all parishes here in Pagudpud area where he gave the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the past year, he was also here during the First Communion of the students of St. Jude Thaddeus High School. October 2019 was the schedule for his pastoral visit. It was also the parochial fiesta but he came and stayed with us on October 27, a day before the fiesta and said mass at the chapel in Barangay Dampig, the barangay that is farthest from the parish. Afterwards, he talked with the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Council Officers and also met with young people who were attending the Diocesan Youth Day hosted by our parish. On the fiesta day itself, he checked the books of the parish in the morning and then proceeded to celebrate the mass in honor of St. Jude Thaddeus together with some priests concelebrants.
We are a long drive from the capital and although Pagudpud offers our good Bishop a respite from his heavy responsibilities in the Diocese, his visits here were not merely for official purposes or recreation. He comes here to tend to his flock, talk to us and get a perspective about both our joys and struggles. The simple folks here are amazed that even if we were only blessing the chapel in Baduang, Bishop Mayugba went out of his way to be with us and do the blessing himself. For him, the faith of the people needs to be nourished especially during this pandemic when there are so many restrictions that affect the people’s exercise of worship. Thus, any House of God, whether big or small, is significant to him as these become a great instrument in facilitating people’s faith. During that event, he not only blessed the chapel but also the faithful. We are always thankful for his presence and support in all of our endeavors here in the parish.
Intimacy in the Midst of Pandemic
Fr. Joseph DC Matitu, SSS
“The opposite of Loneliness is not Togetherness, It’s Intimacy” ― Richard Bach
There are stories on television and social media that tell of the pandemic resulting in loved ones and family members becoming more intimate as they are now almost always together. But how can intimacy still develop in a situation where people are not in touch, engaged, conversing or in close contact such as my situation which physical distancing even aggravated?
The pandemic brings into balance the two equally important aspects of my life as a religious – contemplation and action. I believe that for the past several years I have been more active in my ministry to the detriment of my contemplative side. There were then so many concerns that needed attention, thus even the time for prayercontemplation-meditation-reflection was used to accomplish many tasks and projects.
Since the onset of the pandemic, aggravated by the prolonged quarantine of different levels and strict lockdowns when necessary, I could not be with people as much as I wanted to. I was reduced to seeing few people who come for a very limited time and discussions are wellregulated.
Though almost in a state of aloneness, I was, am not and will never be alone! The Lord is with me! I am in His house, remember? I know He is with me every time I ring the church’s bell every 6:00 in the morning. He is with me as I celebrate Mass (livestreaming on Sundays even), adore before the Blessed Sacrament and pray the morning and evening prayers. I believe I am developing a deeper intimacy with God in my aloneness. And this is awesome!
I have very limited interaction with those who work at the parish church, but I feel I became closer to them and the rest of my parishioners because I always pray for them. This intimacy has a symbiotic effect. I also feel closer to my loved ones, relatives and friends, though some are even from very faraway places because I am always bringing their intentions to my everyday dialogue with God. Just the same, I have never been closer to this very much taken-for-granted world except now that I am praying every day for its revival after the pandemic.
Finally, I am becoming more intimate also with myself. In my aloneness, I resort to exercising regularly, listening to music, watching Netflix movies, monitoring the news, working at my computer, cooking or warming food for my meal, washing dishes, etc. In other words, I am enjoying myself. Thus, I am becoming closer to my very self, appreciative and more comfortable – a healthy love of self without pretensions.
“Lord, thank you for allowing me to discover more profoundly your gift of intimacy during the pandemic. With this, I learned to appreciate more who you are, the people you brought to my life and the very self that you created me to be!”