Defined Responsibilities of the Members of the General Council:
Fr. MARTIN TINE
– General Vicar
– Secretary of the Council
– African Conference
– Accompaniment of the Provinces: Saint John the Baptist (Canada), Bl. Isidore Bakanja (Dem. Rep. of Congo), Our Lady of Africa (Senegal) and Region Card. Emile Biayenda (Rep. of Congo)
– Commissions: Formation, CEFO and Eymardian Places
Fr. BENZY PHILIP ROMICIAN
– General Treasurer and Consultor
– General Treasurer and local treasurer of the General House
– Asian Conference
– Accompaniment of the Provinces: Kristu Jyoti (India), Christ the Bread of Life (Sri Lanka) and Our Lady of the Assumption (Philippines-Uganda-Hawaii)
– Commission for Finances
Fr. JOSEPH VU QUOC BINH
– Consultor
– General Secretary
– Asian Conference
– European Conference
– Accompaniment of the Provinces: Vietnamese Martyrs (Vietnam), Holy Spirit (Australia), Saints Peter and Paul (United Kingdom-Ireland) and Saint Ann (USA)
– Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament and Charismatic Family
Fr. JOSÉ ANTONIO RIVERA RUIZ
– Consultor
– European Conference
– American Conference
– Accompaniment of the Provinces: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (Italy, Austria, Spain, Cameroon), Saint Peter Julian Eymard (France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Mozambique), Saint John XXIII (Colombia, Puerto Rico and Peru), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Argentina, Brazil and Chile)
Fr. EUGENIO BARBOSA MARTINS
– Father General
– Overall In-charge
POLA’s Yearlong 60th Foundation Anniversary Celebration: The Highlights
As early as January 2016, the Province of Our Lady of theAssumption (POLA) had set off with enthused anticipationits upcoming 60th foundation anniversary in August 2017.The theme for this big celebration is “60 Years of ShapingEucharistic Communities and Parishes.” Ever grateful to ourSource, Jesus Himself, our Eucharistic Lord, through theintercession of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and theguidance of our Holy Founder, St. Peter Julian Eymard, webecome what we are now. Amidst the challenges of our worldtoday, we constantly exert conscious effort to “make our parishesinto authentic communities shaped by the Eucharist source andcenter of their life…” (ROL, 41).
Looking back at 1957, when thefirst Blessed Sacramentmissionaries arrived in Sta. CruzChurch, Manila, the Eucharisticflame had been lit in this part ofthe world, and keeping it afire hasbeen the task of and the challengefor many people, both religiousand lay collaborators alike. Together with the later Sacramentinoreligious, they laid the groundwork in transforming the parish ofSta. Cruz into a de facto Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament,where the Eucharist and the adoration of the Lord as itsprolongation were given utmost importance.
His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, the former archbishopof Manila, gave this affirmation of the Congregation’s ministry atSta. Cruz Parish: “Since 1957, the Congregation of the BlessedSacrament fathers and brothers has administered the Parish ofSta. Cruz and has taken care of the pastoral needs of thecommunity. They [the Blessed Sacrament fathers and brothers]have instilled in the people who frequent this historical churchthe devotion and love to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament ofthe Altar. Their availability to hear confessions and to pray withthe people before the Blessed Sacrament, … have given flesh tothe unfathomable mercy and abiding presence of Jesus.”From the single foundation in Sta. Cruz Church, the Province hasgrown to 16 Communities, 1 Mission Station and 14 Parishes.Thus, with the 60 grace-filled years of shaping Eucharisticparishes and communities, we are called, as put forth by St. JohnPaul II, “to remember the past with gratitude, to live the presentwith enthusiasm, and to look forward to the future withconfidence.”
In order to make our 60th foundation anniversary moremeaningful and relevant, the Province had launched certainevents which commenced in August 2016 and culminated inAugust 2017. The following is a brief recapitulation of theyearlong celebration:
Perpetual Profession and Diaconal Ordination of Brs. Joseph, Leo, Renoir, and Marc Bryan
For the Church and for theCongregation, perpetualprofession and ordinations tothe sacred order are consideredmilestones and a celebration ofthe gift of vocation. TheCongregation is blessed to have aconstant share of Eucharistic vocations every year for the pastsixty years of our presence in the Philippines. Though not thatmany vocations as the other provinces would have hadfortunately enjoyed, yet the flourishing of our vocations hasremained hopeful up to the present by the grace of God.
Thus, it was fitting to mark thestart of the yearlongcelebration of the provincewith four brothers admitted toperpetual profession; then thefollowing day, got ordaineddeacons. And after six monthsof diaconal ministry, Frs. Leo, Renoir and Marc Bryan wereelevated to the order of presbyters and given assignments inIreland, Tacloban and La Salle school, respectively; Rev. Josephhas been assigned at the provincialate. They are all courageouslyand enthusiastically living out their commitment for Eucharisticapostolate and mission.
BSVC and SSS-Parish Youth Encounter
The Provincialate House hostedthe Blessed Sacrament VocationClub (BSVC) and SSS-ParishYouth Encounter on May 11-13,2017. Quite evidently, the activeparticipation of the delegatescoming from our differentparishes and communities made the event a success and apotential source of religious vocations for the Congregation. Withthe rampant influence of secularization and modernization in our world today, at times it canbe very difficult to get intothe minds and hearts of themillennials because, as weknow, their lifestyle is greatlyinfluenced by a highlycompetitive world. Thus, theVocation Convention that weorganized is to a great extentour way of “catching men”for the vineyard. Apparently,we still lack vocations and weneed to facilitate theirincrease, conscious that “It isthe Lord who calls laborersto his harvest. In our prayerand in all our pastoralactivities we will beconcerned to arouse thefaithful, especially the youth,to take up their personalresponsibility of service tothe Gospel in the Church. Wework in coordination withthe diocese to fostervocations to ministries andto religious life. Alwaysrespecting the ways of Godin individual lives, we
shouldknow how to discern thepromptings of the Spirit andto welcome those who wishto share our way of life”(ROL, 47).
Indeed, the province sees in a gathering of this kind a greatopportunity to open the eyes of young men and make themaware that there is joy in serving the Lord through the vocationto Religious Life. The various activities performed during theconvention are ensured to aid in their further discernment.
We continue to pray that the good Lord will guard and nourishthe seeds of vocation that have been planted in the heart of theseyoung men so that sooner or later we may see them again takingpart in our Eucharistic mission.
Thanksgiving Lunch for the CBCP
We can all testify how theCatholic Bishops’ Conferenceof the Philippines (CBCP) hasbeen supportive to theCongregation for the past sixdecades. And the concretefruits of this collaborationare the thriving of ourparishes and communities in different dioceses. As a gesture ofgratitude, the province sponsored the lunch of the bishops onJuly 9, 2017 during the 115th CBCP Plenary Assembly (July 8-10,2017) at Pius XII Center in Paco, Manila. As an additional token,each bishop received an image of St. Peter Julian Eymard.
Fr. Provincial Joseph Matitu, SSS, was given a few minutes beforethe lunch break to give the bishops a brief update about theCongregation especially our 60th foundation anniversary andhave them watch a short video focusing on the currentapostolates and ministries of the Congregation in the Philippinesand abroad.
Strong collaboration with our bishops is arelevant aspect of our mission in theChurch. A strong buttress between ourbishops and the Congregation must bemaintained in the spirit of communion. As the 2nd Plenary Councilof the Philippines (PCP II) declares: “A climate of ecclesialcommunion should be created around the bishop, enabling clergy, religious and laity tolive out their specific forms ofmembership in the diocesanfamily in a spirit ofcollaboration and fellowship,thus engendering a sense ofco-responsibility for thework of Christ” (PCP IIDecrees, Art. 39).
Eymardian National Eucharistic Congress
Even as early as August 8,delegates from the differentparishes and communitiesunder the administration ofthe Congregation of theBlessed Sacrament hadstarted to arrive at theprovincialate house. All wereeagerly looking forward toattending the NationalEucharistic Congress onAugust 12, 2017 in Sta. CruzChurch.
The aim of the congress is tohighlight the theme of the60th Foundation Anniversaryof POLA and the Year of theParish declaration as part ofthe preparation for thecelebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. This congress is intended for theEymardian Family – Sacramentinos, Servants, Servitium Christi,Aggregates, parishioners, benefactors and friends.
The congress was made possible through the “gift of self” of ourvery own distinguished speakers. One was Fr. Mark del Rosario,SSS, who reflected on the topic “Living the Eucharist” and theother was Fr. Poli Ty, SSS, who elucidated the theme “Eucharistand Communion of Communities.”
Though the congress was set onlyfor a half day event, yet the joyand enthusiasm of theparticipants were enormous anduplifting. Certainly, the inputs andlearnings that they gained fromthe congress are materials to reechoin their respective Eucharistic communities and parishes.
Our sincere gratitude to all those who attended and to thepeople, especially the parish of Sta. Cruz, who facilitated theevent and sponsored the food and refreshments. Thank you foryour generosity!
The Grand Day – August 15, 2017 (Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption)
The Mass started a few minutes pass 10:00 a.m. with Most Rev. Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS, D.D., Bishop of Cabanatuan, as presider and homilist.
August 15, 2017 marked the multi-celebration of
- the 60th Foundation Anniversary of POLA;
- the 25th Religious Profession Anniversary of Fr. Melchor “Choy” Castañeda, Fr. Robin Custodio and Fr. Joseph Matitu;
- the Silver Jubilee of the Priesthood of Fr. Wilfredo “Willy” Vallar and Fr. Apolinario “Poli” Ty;
- the 40th Presbyteral Ordination Anniversary of Most Rev. Sofronio “Ronnie” Bancud; and
- the Perpetual Profession and Diaconal Ordination of Rev. Marco Divine and Rev. Alde.
Isn’t it great and noteworthythat our kick-off for the 60-year foundation anniversarybegan with perpetualprofession and diaconalordination and culminatedwith another perpetualprofession/diaconal ordination?For on this day wewitnessed the PerpetualProfession and DiaconateOrdination of Brs. MarcDivine and Alde. Indeed,God is never outdone ingenerosity in terms ofvocation. We are trulyblessed to have these youngmen— talented andgenerous in serving God’speople. Rev. Alde will beassisting the POLAanimation, while Rev.
MarcoDivine will assist in parochialministry in our community inMapandan, Pangasinan. MayGod grant them strength andsteadfast commitment intheir respective assignments.
After the Mass, the lunch reception washeld at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel,located near the Doroteo Jose Stationof LRT1. Guests included bishops,priests, religious, associates,parishioners, benefactors, friends andfamily members. Also present were Fr.Anthony Schueller, Provincial Superiorof the Province of St. Ann, and Fr.Norman Pelletier, the previousProvincial Superior of the Province andthe Congregation’s 13th General Superior under whose term webecame the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption on May 27,1993.
Fr. Provincial Joseph Matitu welcomed the guests and concludedhis speech with a toast. The video prepared by Fr. Allen Peña wasshown. Then some novices sang the anniversary theme songcomposed by Fr. Marc Bryan Adona.
The duo of Fr. Junvic Diolata and Dante Chua served as emceesand kept a lively banter throughout the affair. Overall, from thelooks on their faces, everyone had a grand time on this grand day. Laudetur Jesus Christus! (Rev. Alde Bureros, SSS)
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Given by Fr. Provincial at the Reception of the 60th Foundation Anniversary
Good morning. On behalf of the Province of Our Lady of theAssumption of the Congregation of the BlessedSacrament, I would like to warmly welcome all of you -bishops, priests, deacons, religious, associates, parishioners,benefactors, friends and family members – to our multicelebrationof our Foundation Anniversary, Profession andOrdination Anniversaries, and Perpetual Profession and DiaconalOrdination. The Province of Our Lady of the Assumption ishonored and privileged by your presence here today.
Sixty years ago, on the Feastof Our Lady of theAssumption on August 15,1957, the Congregation ofthe Blessed Sacramentofficially began its ministry ofpropagating its eucharisticcharism in the Philippines atthe Parish of Sta. Cruz,Manila, upon the invitationof the late Rufino Cardinal Santos. The early Blessed Sacramentreligious at Sta. Cruz were Americans from the Province of St.Ann. There were six of them, five priests, Frs. Rosaire Morin,Donald Jette, George Laliberte, Edmund Slattery and LeoBourque, and one scholastic brother, Br. Stephen Coombs. Thetransfer of parish administration to the Congregation was filledwith challenges. There was initial resistance from theparishioners to the presence of the SSS religious. But by the timeof the celebration of the feast of the parish’s patron saint, theNuestra Señora del Pilar, in October that year, the apprehensionsof both sides had already been dispelled. Indeed, we are gratefulto the pioneer American SSS and to those who came after them.
Today, we are also celebrating other milestone anniversaries.Twenty-five years ago, Frs. Choy, Robin and Joseph made their Religious Profession of theEvangelical Vows of Poverty,Chastity and Obediencewhile Frs. Willy and Poli,their Priestly Ordination.More than a decade ahead ofthem was Bishop Ronnie,who was ordained to thepriesthood forty years ago.
There was this Americandancer and actress whostarred in many Hollywoodmusicals in the 1930s and40s who said and I quote,“What we are is God’s gift tous, what we become is ourgift to God.” Thesecompelling words of hers arebeing celebrated today, inthe gift of vocation by Godand the gift of selves of ourhonorees.
And also today, we arecelebrating the PerpetualProfession and DiaconalOrdination of Rev. MarcDivine and Rev. Alde. TheLord has called these two tolabor in His vineyard. Truly,God can never be outdone ingenerosity.
Celebrating with us thismorning and to whom wegive heartfelt thanks arerepresentatives of theProvince of St. Ann: Fr.Anthony Schueller, Provincial Superior, and Fr. Norman Pelletier, the previousProvincial Superior and the Congregation’s 13th General Superiorunder whose term we became the Province of Our Lady of theAssumption on May 27, 1993 with the Fr. Nory Vasquez as thefirst provincial superior. I would like to make special mention ofsome members of the Province of St. Ann who chose to stay untilthe end of their lives in the Philippines under our Province. Theywere the late Fr. Adrian Mehau, Fr. Norman Martin, Fr. DanielRoach, Bro. Norman Estevens and Br. John Bourque. Their deathsnourished the seed of vocation for the Province. The Province ispleased and truly grateful to Fr. Conrad Goulet, the onlyremaining American in the Province, who has been with us since1970.
The eucharistic evangelization bythe Province of OurLady of theAssumption hasextended far beyondPhilippine borders toHawaii, the USA andUganda. Please allow me to acknowledge the presence of ourrepresentative from Uganda, Br. John Muyingo, and therepresentative from Hawaii, USA, Fr. Poli Ty. Their presencetoday renders complete the picture of the Province of Our Ladyof the Assumption and highlights the four citizenships of theProvince – Filipino citizen, Ugandan citizen, US citizen, and Seniorcitizen, so to speak. And as a senior citizen, we pray that the goodLord grant the members of the Province a “discount” for ourinconsistencies resulting from human weakness and for ourneglect of some essential aspects of our Eucharistic charism,spirituality and mission.
es, 1 mission station,14 parishes, 145 personnel broken down into 76 religious and priests and 69 seminarians.Indeed, we have multiplereasons to celebrate life,faith, vocation, service andfriendship on this day.
Before closing, I would like topropose a toast . . . to all themembers of the Province ofOur Lady of the Assumption,especially those celebratingmilestone anniversaries.May the good Lord continueto bless you, grant you goodhealth. May His grace giveyou stamina and energy andimbue you with the spirit ofwisdom as you continue inyour ministry. And may younever cease to findfulfillment in the service ofGod. Likewise, to the othermembers of the largerEymardian family – theServants of the BlessedSacrament, the members ofthe Servitium Christi, theAggregation and otherEucharistic Associations thatyou will continue to fan theEucharistic fire. And to allbishops, priests, religiousand lay who share in themission of the Congregation,that they too will continue tobe bread broken and sharedto others.Cheers . . .