Sacramentinos’ Sharing & Shaping of a Eucharistic Life
IT WAS IN 1957 that the Religious of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament plunged themselves into this endeavor of sharing and shaping a eucharistic life in the fabric of Filipino lifestyle.
His Eminence Rufino J. Cardinal Santos, D.D. issued a Decree of Transfer of Administration of the Parish of Sta. Cruz (Our Lady of the Pillar) to the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (Patris Eymard) and commissioned the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Narciso Gatpayad (Vicar Forane) to install Rev. Fr. Rosaire Morin, SSS, as the new Parish Priest of Sta. Cruz on August 15, 1957. Henceforward, the Congregation never failed to supply foreign SSS religious to the Philippine Foundation until that faithful year of 1992 when the local SSS religious are given the opportunity to hold the helm of eucharistic mission.
The Eucharistic Associations, from 1957 to 1967 and 1967 to 1993, were characterized by the way our earlier SSS Fathers and Brothers had endeavored it. Thus, the Eucharistic landscape, celebration and contemplation of the Eucharist were introduced and continue to thrive to this day.
They started with the GUARD OF HONOR SOCIETY, the first branch of the Association of the Most Blessed Sacrament, spearheaded by Fr. Donald Jette, SSS and Fr. George Laliberte, SSS. There are Men Guards of Honor and Women Guards of Honor. The members promise to spend one hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. The Guard of Honor Society for Women is not assigned a definite hour during the month. Each woman is free to choose any hour at her convenience. The men, however, are assigned hours from 08:00 in the evening to 12:00 midnight at Sta. Cruz Church. All the members should live a life in harmony with their calling as an adorer, i.e., attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion frequently and participate in other liturgical ceremonies of their parish church.
There is also the EUCHARISTIC WEEKS ASSOCIATION. This is the second branch of the Association of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The members devote themselves four times a year, one entire week of intense Eucharistic service to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Furthermore, members make a fixed contribution to help defray the cost of flowers and candles for exposition. The members must offer one’s personal life to the Lord, besides the monetary offering.
The third and highest branch of the Association of the Most Blessed Sacrament is the EUCHARISTIC FRATERNITY. The members must resolve to adore every day or at least once a week, celebrate daily Holy Mass, frequent reception of Holy Communion, eucharistic works, attending monthly meetings and living a life reflective of a renewed spirit after time spent before the Blessed Sacrament. When Fr. Godfrey Spiekman, SSS, then Superior General, visited the Philippines, he reported some high praises for the Manila Foundation, specifically mentioning the faithful’s enthusiasm for the Eucharistic Associations as indicated by the great number of members.
Then, Martial Law was declared, and curfew was imposed. This gave the Nocturnal Adoration some kind of restriction to the detriment of the lay participation. Likewise, there was the development in local parishes where the parishioners are obligated to participate within their respective parish jurisdiction. Although, the participation of adorers in Sta. Cruz Parish dwindled, the SSS ventured on to other aspects of Parish Life that shapes its activities, like strengthening the Basic Ecclesial (Eucharistic) Communities, the Bible Apostolates, and Catechesis.
On the 10th year of the SSS Philippine Foundation, due to the liturgical changes brought about by Vatican II, the Blessed Sacrament would henceforth be reposed during the celebration of the Mass. As the late Rev. Fr. Daniel A. Roach, SSS, commented, this change meant “a comprehensive restructuring of the ideas which had, up to this time, regulated the life of the Congregation in its interior structure and, to a large extent, the apostolic effort which had been undertaken.” With all the realities mentioned above, the Eucharistic Associations are now known as MENS EUCHARISTIC LEAGUE (MEL), WOMENS EUCHARISTIC LEAGUE (WEL), EUCHARISTIC FRATERNITY (EF), and PEOPLE’S EUCHARISTIC LEAGUE (PEL).
Other eucharistic endeavors and Institute in Davao, Manila and in other Parishes administered by the SSS proliferate as the love for the Eucharist spread and deepened, and care for vocation and for the growth of Christian life developed: these are the Blessed Sacrament Vocation Club (BSVC), the Blessed Sacrament Vocation Club Auxiliaries (BSVCA), Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM) Davao, Apostles of the Eucharist (AOE) Manila, JUDITHS, Fr. Juancho Ramos’ Marriage Encounter Groups, the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament (ABS).
Towards the end of 1993, the nascent SSS Philippine Province, through the New Provincial Superior Rev. Fr. Honorio “Nory” Vasquez, invited Rev. Fr. Robert “Bob” Rousseau, SSS, (of Saint Ann Province) to the country to share the Eucharistic apostolate he has designed, known as Life in the Eucharist Seminar (LITES). Our religious and lay partners in Manila and Davao were given the LITES from where LOCAL ANIMATION TEAMS were formed to re-echo and adapt the LITES module for the benefit of other parishes and groups. An adaptation of this seminar for the youth was also introduced, the Kabataan-LITES (K-LITES). LITE Congresses have been held each year both in Davao and in Manila for all the seminar graduates in order TO REKINDLE THE ZEAL OF COMMITMENT TO JESUS DISCOVERED AND LOVED IN THE EUCHARIST AND EXPERIENCED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT BREAKS BREAD TOGETHER.
Fr. Rey Capili, SSS
PURPOSE:
On this Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, this Congress is the culminating activity of the POLA’s 60th Year Anniversary and part of its 25th Year of elevation as Province. The occasion aims to renew and relive the commitment of the religious and lay collaborators to the mission of Eucharistic Evangelization.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITY:
August 17, 2018
Gabi ng Communio – A Night of faith, fun and friendship
of Eucharistic Collaborators
(Provincialate)
5:00 PM – Eucharistic Celebration with Vespers
Presider: Fr. Reynaldo R. Capili, SSS
7:00 PM – Fellowship Dinner
August 18, 2018
Araw ng Eukaristiya – Eucharistic Congress
(St. Paul University, Quezon City)
08:00 – 08:30 AM Gathering/Breakfast
08:30 – 09:15 Solemn Lauds
Presider: Rev. Fr. Joseph DC. Matitu, SSS
09:15 – 09:30 Refreshment
09:30 – 10:00 Welcome Remarks/Presentation of Delegates
By Fr. Victor Diolata, Jr., SSS and Mr. Dante Chua
10:00 – 11:00 First Talk
Eucharist: The Life of Every Catholic
His Excellency, MOST REV. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D.
The Talk #1 will deal on the exposition of Lumen Gentium No. 1324: The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” It seeks also to touch LITEs Module 1 and 2 (The Eucharist: God’s Love as Nourishment in Jesus Christ and The Eucharist: God’s Love as Reconciliation in Jesus Christ).
11:00 – 11:30 Personal Testimony
11:30 – 01:30 PM Agape/Lunch
01:30 – 03:00 Talk Show
03:00 – 03:30 Refreshments
03:30 – 04:30 Second Talk
Living out the Eucharist: A Constant Challenge
Rev. FR. ROLANDO V. DELA ROSA, OP
The Talk #2 will deal on the practical living out of “the source and summit of the Christian life” – The Eucharist. It seeks also to touch LITEs Module 3, 4 and 5 (The Eucharist: God’s Love as Transformation in Jesus Christ; The Eucharist: God’s Love as Abiding Presence in Jesus Christ and The Eucharist: God’s Love as Liberation in Jesus Christ).
04:30 – 05:00 Personal Testimony
05:00 – 05:30 Closing Remarks by Rev. Fr. Jon Sison, SSS
05:30 – 06:30 Eucharistic Celebration
His Excellency, MOST. REV. SOFRONIO BANCUD, SSS, DD and concelebrating Sacramentino Priests/ Guest Priests
06:30 Agape – Dinner
