Celebrating 25 Years of LITES  and 61 Years of SSS Mission

It was a triple treat actually, celebrating 61 years of SSS presence in the Philippines since 1957, 25 years as a province, the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption, and the culmination of 25 years of Life in the Eucharist Seminar in the Islands.

The SSS pioneers who took over the administration of what was then called Parish of Our Lady of the Pillar, later reverted to its old name as Parish of Santa Cruz, where Fr. Rosaire Morin was installed as its first SSS parish priest, and who was ably assisted by Fr. Leo Bourque, Fr George Laliberte, Fr. Donald Jette, Bro. Stephen Coombs, Fr Edmund Slattery, during the term of their Superior General, Fr. Godfrey Spiekman.

But we should not forget that it was the foresight of Fr. Leonard McKenna, SSS, first Provincial of the Australian SSS Province, who happened to be in Manila after World War II, when he saw, with Fr. Roland Huot, SSS, of the Province of St. Ann in the USA, the potential for a mission station in this city.

Then on August 15, 1957, the Feast of our Lady of the Assumption, the work to “Christify and Eucharistify” the Parish of Sta Cruz started under the watchful care of Nuestra Señora del Pilar.

Thirty years later, the Province of Our Lady of the Assumption was erected. The late Fr. Honorio Vasquez, SSS, being the provincial, invited Fr. Robert Rousseau, SSS, creator of the Life in the Eucharist Seminar to visit the Philippines and introduce this Eucharistic formation for Catholic adults to the Filipinos.  That was a prophetic move for the Philippine mission.

The very first Life In the Eucharist Seminar, more popularly known as LITES, was held at the Assumption Parish in Davao in October 1992.

A week later, the same LITE Seminar was done at the Provincial House of the Sacramentinos and followed by a couple more sessions at Sta Cruz Parish in Manila.

The LITE Seminar was meant to be a Eucharist-centered learning for adult Catholics by the Sacramentinos and their lay collaborators.

In 2017, Fr. Junvic Diolata, SSS, with Fr. Jonelito Sison, SSS, called a meeting of the lay LITE volunteers to start planning for the celebration of the 25 years of Life in the Eucharist Seminar in the Philippines.

Last August 17, more than 100 lay volunteers of the LITE Seminars Teams and members of the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament from Manila, Taguig, Nueva Ecija (Cabanatuan and San Leonardo), Pangasinan (Mapandan), Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban, and Panal gathered to meet and greet at the Provincial House of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The event started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with the provincial vicar, Fr. Reynaldo Capili, SSS, as presider, and the Sacramentinos with the provincial superior, Fr. Joseph Matitu, as concelebrants.  It was truly a night of faith, fun and friendship. A short program was hosted by SSS seminarians Jay and Jessie.

The following day, August 18, was the main event held at the St. Paul University in Quezon City. Almost 500 delegates, attended coming from the above-mentioned communities and from Novaliches, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, from Paranaque, even from Pakil Laguna. It was truly an enthusiastic gathering as one family of St. Peter Julian Eymard.

The day started with a beautiful morning praise led by the SSS Provincial Superior, Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS. This rightfully set the tone for the whole day celebration as a gathering to pray, for renewal of friendships and commitment to mission.

The first Conference on the Eucharist being the center of Christian life was delivered by the Most Rev. Pablo “Ambo” Virgilio David, D.D., the Ordinary of the Diocese of Caloocan.  The reflection centered on the Eucharist as Nourishment, Bread of Life, and Eucharist as Reconciliation.

Bishop Ambo reminded those present that the Eucharist is not hocus-pocus, not about the bread that becomes God but about God who empties Himself to become human ─ to become bread of life for our salvation.  He also said that our participation in the priesthood of Christ is about living a Eucharistic life where our offering to God is not a token of time, talent, and treasure, but rather our whole life.

Table fellowship happened at lunch time when the promoters of life in the Eucharist shared their meal together.

The afternoon was spent reminiscing about the different era in the past as already told at the start of this article.

It started with folk dances by the groups from Santa Cruz Parish, followed by a retelling of the mission of the Sacramentinos in the Philippines from its infancy until today, done by Fr. Jonelito Sison, SSS.  He was serious yet wacky, the story-telling animated by a song and dance presentation from hits of the 60s by Simon and Garfunkel, to the hits of the present time. Everybody had fun listening to the story and a rendition of “Sound of Silence” by Fr. Lennen; “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by Fr. Vergel; “Sealed with a Kiss” by Fr. Jhess; “Happy Together” by Bro.  Ray-an; and “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” by Fr. Rey.

Fr Junvic serenaded the audience with his “Devoted to You,” and the grand trio of Santa Cruz church, Fr. Jon, Fr. Rudsend and Fr. Marlon, delighted with their rendition of “Huling El Bimbo.”

The afternoon presentation was capped by a song and dance number by the SSS seminarians.

The afternoon conference on Living the Eucharist as a Constant Challenge by Fr Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P., was also packed with a powerful message on transformation, abiding presence of Jesus and liberation that flows from the Eucharist.

Fr Rolando said that the symbol of Jesus’ loving presence is not the heart, but the cross ─ for the heart can stop beating but the God who is ever present on the cross never stops loving.

In the course of reflecting on the Eucharistic meaning of sacrifice, he invited the audience to share their thoughts on what they have given up lately for Christ.  He said that we are hesitant to give up something because we are afraid that what we sacrifice ceases to be ours.

The Eucharist was celebrated by the Most Rev. Sofronio A. Bancud, SSS, D.D., of the Diocese of Cabanatuan, who summarized the theme of the convention while at the same time inviting everyone to be a Eucharist to one another.

The sharing of meals at supper was a fitting conclusion to this day of breaking bread with God and each other.

As our brother Jews would say after they celebrated the Passover Meal, “see you next year in Jerusalem.” So we also say, “See you again as we all aspire for the ideal─ the life in the Eucharist in its fullness.

Dante Chua