#1 POLA’S 3 NEW CANONICALLY ERECTED COMMUNITIES
As the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption awaited the solemn commemoration and celebration of the birth of the Savior, she received with great delight the news of the official birth of her three additional local communities.
On December 20, 2016, the Province received the Official Decrees from the Generalate through Fr. Bong Luistro declaring the elevation of the Mission Stations of Hilo, Taguig and Surigao into canonically erected communities effective December 6, 2016, thus bringing the total number of the local communities of the Province to 16.
At its recent Amplified Provincial Council meeting held from October 18 to 21, 2016, the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption decided to petition the Supreme
Moderator and his Council to elevate the above mentioned Mission Stations into Local Communities inasmuch as they could already satisfy the requirements according to the particular law of the Institute.
The elevation into full-fledged communities of Hilo, which administers St. Joseph Parish, Taguig, which manages the Parish of San Vicente Ferrer, and Surigao, which takes care of the pastoral needs of San Pedro Calungsod Parish, is very timely as the Philippine Church celebrates 2017 as the “Year of the Parish – Communion of Communities,” which is part of the ongoing preparation for the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.
#2 NEW MISSION STATION – ST. JUDE PARISH, PAGUDPUD
After long delay the Province finally made a decision regarding the formal invitation of the Most Rev. Renato Mayugba, D.D., Ordinary of the Diocese of Laoag, to establish an SSS Foundation in his diocese. The Amplified Provincial Council during its October 18-21, 2016 meeting decided to accept his offer to administer the Parish of Saint Jude in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.
#3 ANNIVERSARIES OF PROFESSION AND PRIESTHOOD
May
28.03.1992 Fr. Apolinario TY HILO Ordination 25th
April
05.04.1992 Fr. Wilfredo VALLAR TACLOBAN Ordination 25th
25.04.1992 Fr. Melchior CASTAŇEDA TACLOBAN Profession 25th
25.04.1992 Fr. Robin CUSTODIO MANILA Profession 25th
25.04.1992 Fr. Joseph MATITU QUEZON CITY Profession 25th
#4 PRIESTHOOD ORDINATION ON EYMARD’S BIRTHDAY
The four deacons of the Province – Rev. Joseph, Rev. Leo, Rev. Renoir and Rev. Bryan, who are currently doing their diaconal ministry in the different parishes being administered by the Province have been approved for Presbyteral Ordination. This will be held on February 4, 2017, on the occasion of the Congregation’s commemoration and celebration of the 206th Birthday Anniversary of its Founder, Saint Peter Julian Eymard.
The Solemn Celebration of the Mass will be at 9:00 in the morning, at Sta. Cruz Church, Manila. The Most Rev. Sofronio ‘Ronnie’ Bancud, SSS, D.D., Bishop of Cabanatuan, will be the Ordaining Prelate.
#5 BEING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE TYPHOON VICTIMS
The Local Community of Tabaco and the Parish of the Holy Family appealed for financial support following the devastation caused by Typhoon Nina. Just a few minutes after the appeal was brought to the attention of the Superiors and Pastors, pledges in good amounts started pouring.
Thanks for sharing your blessings. This gesture brings you into solidarity with those who are in need and makes you witness to the social dimension of the Eucharist.
#6 CELEBRATING 2017 AS THE ‘YEAR OF THE PARISH’
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has declared 2017 as the Year of the Parish as Communion of Communities. The CBCP pastoral exhortation “On Era of New Evangelization” describes the focus of this year: “This is a year when we more deeply discern not only the structures of governance of our dioceses and parishes but also of the quality of faith life in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation by its members.”
The Logo: The circles of people whose hands are intertwined symbolize the communion within the BECs. These communities are linked together by the outline of the cross which signifies the parish as communion of communities. It also includes other faith communities and organizations that are in the parish that – although trans-parochial in nature- are called to actively take part in the life of the parish and BECs. The outline of the cross also symbolizes the vertical and horizontal dimension of communion – communion with the Triune God and with each other. The bread and chalice at the center symbolize the Eucharist which is the sacrament and celebration of this communion. The bible which is also at the center symbolizes the Word of God that is shared and proclaimed which is the source of faith and basis of communion and which nourishes and build up communion. The sun rays symbolize the light of Christ that shines in the life of the members of parish and these communities. (CBCP-BEC Cyber Office)
Sacramentino Way of Celebrating the ‘Year of the Parish’
Our Founder, Fr. Eymard, did not have a particularly parochial approach to propagating the eucharistic ministry. However, the eucharist brings and gathers priest and believers together generally in a parish setting. Thus, a formal invitation to establish an SSS foundation in a parish is something to be seriously considered. The presence of the Congregation in parishes is an opportunity to spread our charism and give witness to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
For the entire 2017, in every issue of the ‘Provincial Update’, there will be a short commentary (like the one below) regarding Rule of Life #41 by Rev. Fr. Anthony McSweeney, SSS.
“We will make our parishes,” the Rule states, “into authentic communities.” The renewal of ecclesiology constituted one of the essential lines of the Second Vatican Council’s program of revitalization. At its heart was the theology of “communion”; it is the mission of the church to offer to people the experience of communion with God in Jesus Christ and communion with one another. “God willed to make men holy and save them, not as individuals without any bond or link between them, but rather to make them into a people,” we read in the Council’s great document on the church (LG 9). The three essential means for realizing such communion are the proclamation of the Word of God, the celebration of the sacraments and prayer, and the building up of fraternal communities. The normal setting for achieving this has been the parish, which for centuries has reflected the social reality of people resident in a determinate territory.
#7 THE NEW PASTOR OF THE O.L.B.S. PARISH, MAPANDAN
The Local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, DD, has appointed Fr. Miguel Garcia, effective 13th of December 2016, as the new Pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Barangay Torres, Mapandan, Pangasinan. The Council endorsed his name to the Archbishop after Fr. Francisco “Kit” Mendoza resigned as Parish Priest effective early December 2016.
#8 THE CELEBRATION OF THE SSS 35TH GENERAL CHAPTER
According to Rule of Life # 68, “The general chapter, the highest authority in the Congregation, is a deliberative assembly which represents the religious of the Institute as a whole. Its purpose is to promote the unity of the Congregation, to renew it in fidelity to its mission and to formulate a project in response to the demands of the Church and the world.”
With his letter dated November 30, 2015, the Rev. Fr. General, Eugenio Barbosa Martins, officially convoked the next 35th General Chapter that will take place June 4 – 24, 2017, at the Centre of Congresses of the Seminary of the archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois, at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USA).
The following synthesis drawn up by the Commission for Memory and Discernment, approved by the Provincial/Regional Superiors, will be the focus of the preparation:
“We propose that you belong to a ‘little’ universal religious family where each member, filled with the passion for the Eucharist, Sacrament of the Love of God, is led as saint Peter-Julian Eymard was, to the gift of self, and to share this passion with brothers and sisters among the laity, in order to offer to the world with audacity and creativity life in the Eucharist.”
The Province will be represented by Fr. Provincial, who goes by right, and Fr. Poli Ty, who was elected by the 7th POLA Chapter. Fr. George Ssali was invited by the General to represent the Uganda Foundation. Fr. Vergel Dalangin was requested by the General to be part of the Secretariat. And as part of the General Council, Fr. Bong Luistro goes by right.
Please pray for the on-going preparation for the Chapter and the success of this very important assembly of Sacramentinos representing the entire Congregation.
#9 BEING ABLE TO STAND FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIFE
ASSOCIATION OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS SUPERIORS IN THE PHILIPPINES
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OPPOSING DEATH PENALTY
We, the members of the ASSOCIATION OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS SUPERIORS IN THE PHILIPPINES, express our opposition to the re-imposition of death penalty.
The death penalty as a solution to the problem of criminality has once again taken the spotlight as President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his support for it and as solons, both in the Upper and Lower Chambers of Congress, have brought once more into conversation its restoration.
On June 21, 2016, during the sixth World Congress, Pope Francis has called for a world “free of the death penalty”. We reiterate and uphold this stand against capital punishment, as well as the reasons for it, among them, that the practice brings no justice to victims, but instead fosters vengeance.
We echo also the opposition of the CBCP, who in 1992 have called for the non-restoration of the death penalty. The 1986 Constitution has abolished the death penalty and this is very significant for it was a great step in recognizing the dignity of every human being and in valuing human life from its conception to its natural end.
We believe that in order for punishment to be valid and beneficial, we have to consider the question on deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation, and protection of society. Proponents of the death penalty argue that this form of punishment satisfies all these questions. However, the arguments that have perennially made their way into the discussion do not justify the restoration of death penalty.
- The death penalty has not proven to be an effective deterrent to crime. The reports of Amnesty International (the latest, in 2015) have been consistent through the years, showing that there is no correlation between capital punishment and the deterrence of crimes. Research has likewise been consistent, suggesting that criminals are mainly concerned about whether they’ll be caught, not what might happen to them afterward. 2. The death penalty has no retributive value; it does not result in the restoration of justice that has been violated by the act of the offender. Capital punishment may satisfy the desire for vindication, but this is not the desired end for a humane and Christian approach to punishment.
- The death penalty does not address the issue of rehabilitation of the offender. On the contrary, it renders impossible any type or form of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation, which aims at transforming convicts into productive members of society, should be one of the major purposes of punishment. Capital punishment, however, totally gives up on this rehabilitative purpose.
- The death penalty is not the sole answer to the issue of protection of society by the state. Such protection can be answered in alternate ways, like life imprisonment.
If death penalty is once again imposed, will it be a safeguard against the conviction of the innocent? Past executions have seen that almost all of those convicted are poor; will we see a repeat of this? The problem may be more of a matter of reforming the justice system, of cleaning the ranks of those enforcing the law, or of improving our penal facilities.
As religious and consecrated men and women, we are committed to reach out to the recipients of our respective apostolates: in the field of education, in socio-pastoral work, in Basic Ecclesial Communities. To them and with them, we will share our collective voice in speaking about the sanctity of human life and the need to respect it in whatever stage or circumstance.
We thus uphold the consistent teaching of the Church opposing the death penalty. Saint John Paul II beautifully puts our argument in a nutshell when in a homily he said: A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made most recently at Christmas for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary. (Homily at the Papal Mass in the Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri, January 27, 1999)
#10 TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR ANIMATION
The Province has reproduced the following for each community:
- APC 2016 Documents
- POLA: from January 2016 to December 2016
- Community Journal
- Superior’s Visitation Record Book
#11 BEING ABLE TO PRAY FOR:
- The sick members of our different communities and respective families.
- The repose of the souls of our faithful departed especially that of Inocentes Cesar Vallar (elder brother of Fr. Willy Vallar) and Remedios Buyser (sister-in-law of Fr. Vic Buyser).
- Those preparing for their Priestly Ordinations especially Rev. Joseph, Rev. Leo, Rev. Renoir and Rev. Bryan
- The victims of the typhoon Nina
Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS
[JANUARY 1, 2017]