The Province of Our Lady of the Assumption is grateful to God for the gift of vocation to the religious life as Br. Ian Michael C. Abad, SSS, had his first profession of vows to the religious life in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Likewise, Br. Eddienel G. Villa, SSS, Br. Tedley T. Villanueva, SSS, and Br. Victor Clemence B. Posadas, SSS, were installed to the Ministry of Acolyte. These events were solemnly celebrated with the Holy Eucharist presided by the provincial superior, Rev. Fr. Joseph dC. Matitu, SSS, on December 17, 2017 (Third Sunday of Advent), at the Eymard Formation Center, New Manila, Quezon City.

Br. Ian Michael C. Abad, SSS, is from the Diocese of Malolos. He is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He had already undergone the formation program of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and completed his requirements for Sacred Orders at San Carlos Graduate School of Theology in 2013. However, he took his regency and after proper discernment, he decided to return to the Congregation. He took his novitiate reentry program from June to December 2017 and was approved for his first profession of vows.

By publicly taking the first vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience in the Congregation, Br. Ian responded to the call of the Lord who invites him to leave all things to follow him and committed himself in the Church to live the Gospel in a radical way as expressed and taught by St. Peter Julian Eymard in his total gift of self. His profession of evangelical counsels also expresses his consecration to God in the service of his fellow human beings, a witness to a world yet to come in the spirit of the Beatitudes (c.f. ROL No. 15).

Br. Eddienel G. Villa, SSS, Br. Tedley T. Villanueva, SSS, and Br. Victor Clemence B. Posadas, SSS, are currently in their second year in Theology at San Carlos Seminary Graduate School of Theology. They are installed in the ministry of acolyte to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. The installation to this ministry is also a necessary step toward the sacred orders and a preparation for their upcoming pastoral year in 2018.

Fr. Reynaldo Capili, SSS, the Vicar Provincial and Director of Students, delivered the homily. He stressed on the humility of John the Baptist in doing his mission to prepare the way of the Lord through the call of conversion. Before the final blessing, the Scholasticate Community shared the joy of the upcoming Christmas Season by serenading the congregation with Christmas Carols.

We are requested to continuously pray for the perseverance of our brothers in formation especially the newly professed and newly installed to the ministry of acolyte as they place themselves humbly yet happily to the service of the Church.

– Br. Eddienel G. Villa, SSS

Eucharistic Spirituality is indeed all encompassing for we can bring it to people inside or outside the usual church setting. This has been proved when the POLA organized a concert for a cause at the KIA Theater in Quezon City on December 3, 2017, dubbed as Voice of December featuring various local artists plus, of course, our very own Seminarian-Novices. An event like this is certainly an opportunity to share our Eucharistic charism to people especially to those who have been consistently supporting us in our mission.

The concert gained overwhelming support and participation despite the limited preparation time. The commitment of people to this endeavor made us hopeful of the fruits of our mission.

The audience was absorbed in watching the exquisite talents of our guest entertainers.  Indeed, the whole evening of song and dance evoked the Christmas spirit in the hearts of everyone present.

We would like to thank the many people who helped and contributed to making this event a success: the different SSS Communities who facilitated the selling of the tickets, the various apostolates directed by Fr. Choy, the different Eucharistic groups and apostolates, our friends, collaborators, Sacramentino mission partners and our benefactors of the “Support Our Seminarians” (SOS) program.

As much as we appreciate the proceeds, our primary aim in holding the concert was to reach out to people, to share with them the treasure of our Eucharistic charism, to make our Lord Jesus, the Eucharist, and His reign be revealed, known, and lived.

 Adveniat Regnum Tuum Eucharisticum!

– By Rev. Alde Bureros, SSS