RP PROVINCE NEWSLETTER January-February 2019 Vol. 55 No. 1 · preceding provincial government for their years of dedication and commitment to serve this province in their different

RP PROVINCE NEWSLETTER January-February 2019 Vol. 55 No. 1

By Fr. Jessie Hechanova, CICM Provincial Superior—CICM Philippines

Dear confreres,

We your confreres in the new provincial government

team extend our fraternal greetings to each one as we enter

another period in our journey as a CICM province. We also

wish to thank you for the opportunity that you entrusted to us

to be of service to our beloved province and the

congregation. Some words of appreciation and gratitude

should certainly be expressed to the members of the

preceding provincial government for their years of dedication

and commitment to serve this province in their different capacities. Thanks indeed to

Fr. Ramon Caluza and the members of his council, Frs. Philip Yu Jr, Jean-Baptiste

Mubibi, Thiago Silva, John Couvreur, and Gilbert Sales for their years of generous

service.

“Transitions as Opportunities for Gratitude, Humility and Renewal”

Moments and periods of transition carry dual opportunities. They provide time

and the space for thanksgiving, humility as well as hope and renewal. A transition

period is a time to give thanks for blessings received and mission accomplished. It is a

period to offer appreciation for productive work done by persons, communities and

leaders. And indeed for the RP CICM province, much had been accomplished that

we could and should be proud of particularly during the past six years.

(First in a Series)

NOVA ET VETERA • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019 3

Furthermore, the period of transi-

tion is also a time for humility, a time to

humbly accept our weaknesses, faults,

and shortcomings as individuals and as

a community. It is an opportunity to

realize the misgivings and the hurts we

caused one another and to learn to

offer and accept forgiveness from one

another. Transitional situations also open

up possibilities for renewal and transfor-

mation from what we have been to

what we could and should become as

religious priests and brothers and as a

CICM province.

At this particular period of transi-

tion in our CICM RP province, I would like

to invite all the confreres to look forward

with hope, to work creatively and gener-

ously to accomplish our missionary tasks,

to pray for the spirit of availability and

missionary daring that will enable us to

readily respond to new missionary chal-

lenges particularly in frontier situations. In

conformity with the spirituality of our

beloved founder, let us put our trust

always in the presence and providence

of God who is the origin and sustainer of

our lives and missionary activities. Let our

personal differences and unpleasant

experiences in the past not hinder us

from accomplishing our missionary tasks

while at the same time not neglecting to

change unproductive attitudes and

correct past mistakes.

Let us rather resolve to be more

faithful to our congregational charism

and to the good and beautiful mission

entrusted to us. Let us work together to

become a more vibrant, witnessing and

inspiring religious communities and CICM

province. Let us put our focus, our

energy, talents and skills on what unites

us as CICM missionaries i.e.: our common

charism and call for mission, our tradition

and heritage and most of all on Jesus

Christ who is the source of our unity and

who constantly calls us to be more

generous, daring and faithful disciples.

“Fidelity to God who calls us to share in

His good and beautiful mission through

our charism. This is the centripetal and

unitive force of our communal and

missionary life as CICM.”

To start our mandate as a

provincial government team, we

journeyed to the Trappist Abbey at

Guimaras Island, Iloilo in January

foremost to pray for God’s blessings and

guidance for the next years and to

discern what His will is for us as a team

and as a province. After all, what we do

and will be doing in our different

apostolate as CICM missionaries is not

our mission but God’s. The time in the

abbey was spent mostly in silent personal

prayer as well as in communal prayer

with the Trappist Monks during their

community prayers. The five days retreat

was also an occasion for the members

to bond together so we can easily work

as one team in order to serve the

province better. The last day was spent

formulating our vision-mission as a team

and to respond to urgent matters that

needed attention.

As a team, we affirm that we are

called to be animators of unity and

solidarity as we revitalize the CICM RP

province through our fidelity to our CICM

charism and mission in the peripheral

situations. Fidelity to God who calls each

one of us to share in His good and

beautiful mission through our founding

charism and mission will be the centering

and unifying force of our missionary and

religious life. And this will remain for each

one of us a continuing challenge

through out our lives that we have to

constantly respond to. We will constantly

be challenged individually and as a

community to work together so that our

will, our heart, our prayer will be focused

on remaining faithful to God and the

mission He has entrusted to our

congregation. This “unity of prayers, unity

of the will, unity of the hearts will make us

achieve the goal that we have set for

ourselves in this world; working for the

glory of God” (Founder’s letter #138).

“The cracks reveal not only weaknesses

but also challenges and potentials for

growth.”

What happened in our last provin-

cial assembly in October 2018 obviously

revealed “some cracks in the walls of our

house”. It certainly showed our weak-

nesses as individuals and as a commu-

nity of brothers as well as a CICM prov-

ince. The cracks also revealed the chal-

lenges that we have to respond to as

individual confreres and as a CICM com-

munity. A thorough and detailed analysis

of that particular challenging situation

that the province experienced last year

will not be practical nor appropriate to

mention in these few pages. It is suffi-

cient for the moment to note that all of

us are challenged to work toward our

own personal transformation as well as

that of our communities and province.

One could certainly not talk of commu-

nal or congregational transformation

without the transformation of its mem-

bers. Research studies of religious con-

gregations who were able to revitalize

their respective congregation have

proven this obvious pre-condition.

Are we doing what we are

supposed to be doing as CICM religious

missionary priests and brothers? Are we

where we are supposed to be by virtue

of our vocation and charism as CICM?

Are we living the way we are supposed

to be living as vowed religious persons?

Do our lifestyle and our houses and

structures give witness and justice to us

as people who have pronounced the

public vows of poverty, obedience and

chaste celibacy? Are our attitudes,

behaviors, relationships with people

around us one of humility, respect,

justice, compassion and equanimity?

Dear confreres, these questions

obviously are not new! They have

previously been asked repeatedly in our

official CICM documents and I believe

they remain important questions for our

discernment individually as a province

particularly during this transition period.

These leading questions could stimulate,

inspire and lead us to mend the “cracks

in the house” and take the needed steps

toward personal as well as congrega-

tional growth and transformation. In-

deed, let us try to live patiently with

each other’s imperfections and avoid

keeping a list of the faults and failures of

others.

“More than strategic planning, personal

and communal d iscernment is

essentially an appropriate tool for our

journey as rel ig ious miss ionary

community.”

Dedicating ourselves to constantly

do the will of God for us personally and

as a community implies that we spend

some moments in personal and commu-

nal prayer to be able to discern His will

as revealed in the signs of the times. Our

official documents particularly the

4 NOVA ET VETERA • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019


Constitutions and the Acts of the

General Chapters remind us repeatedly

that we are to be men of prayer, men

and communities who are adept in

listening to the will of God calling us to

respond to particular human conditions

and situations of misery and injustice. As

we make our journey as a religious

missionary congregation, it is essential

that we constantly attune ourselves to

where God (who is a God of surprises) is

calling us in our daily circumstances.

As such, an openness to listen as

well as a willingness to respond with

courage, detachment and a trusting

spirit are attitudes that we have to

strengthen as members of a religious

congregation. Cultivating and strength-

ening a discerning spirit will guide us to

where God is calling our province to go

in the following years. We will therefore

put our trust in God’s abiding presence

as He inspires us to revive the missionary

boldness and daring so characteristic of

the spirituality of our founding fathers.

Confreres let us move on stead-

fastly in our missionary journey. And with

St. Paul the great apostle and missionary,

let us always be devoted to the work of

the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, our

labor will not be in vain (1Cor. 15;58).

May the Immaculate Heart of

Mary unite us in the service of God’s

Mission and His kingdom! Cor unum et

anima una!


MARCH Age

05 Gilbert Obin (US) 77

07 Ronald Magbanua (MG) 43

08 Jean Pascal Ebonda 34

12 George Geladé (BNL) 92

21 Graciano Brazas, Jr. 53

26 Alex Ulpindo (RD) 74

APRIL Age

03 Andrew Labatorio (HA) 46

03 Faustin Kabosani (Intern) 34

05 Marcel Peeters (BNL) 75

06 Arturo Arnaiz 53

07 Roy Milton Quiogue (US) 64

08 Elson Magan (Th1) 27

09 Garry Gestoveo (JP) 46

14 Isidore N’Kiewu 35

14 John Mark Barroga (IND) 33

17 Robertus Bijaksana 33

19 Archie Tacay (US) 40

19 Godofredo Dampilag Jr. (Th3) 30

21 Antonius Harnoko 49

21 Meil Udiel Francisco (Th1) 28

22 Delfin Noriega (RD) 60

23 Paul Catry (BNL) 88

26 Wilson Mendes 43

27 Paul Staes (SG) 92

29 Rumpearl Tenkings Isaac 36

29 Mar III Josef Taguinod (Th4) 27

ANNIVERSARIES OF ORDINATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD

Congratulations to those who celebrate their Ordination anniversary in:

ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS VOWS

Congratulations to those who celebrate the anniversary of their vows in:

M A R C H

- 45 yrs 1974.03.13 - Olivares Romeo - 42 yrs 1977.03.12 - Miranda Vermundo

- 43 yrs 1976.03.20 - Ludan Angel Vidal - 19 yrs 2000.03.25 - Portula Ramel

A P R I L

- 40 yrs 1979.04.18 - Mallonga JR - 21 yrs 1998.04.24 - Denna Fernold

- 40 yrs 1979.04.21 - Caluza Ramon - 18 yrs 2001.04.28 - Daru Pancoro Fransiskus

- 27 yrs 1992.04.25 - Sales Gilbert - 9 yrs 2010.04.17 - Maniwang Macwayne

- 25 yrs 1994.04.23 - Gacutan Edgar - 9 yrs 2010.04.20 - Diaz Richard

- 24 yrs 1995.04.30 - Kamus Kamelus - 8 yrs 2011.04.06 - Carnecer Ryan

- 21 yrs 1998.04.18 - Cura Earl Alan - 4 yrs 2015.04.17 - Kaha Paskalis Keban

- 21 yrs 1998.04.19 - Arco Eugene - Quiros Mervin

A P R I L

- 47 yrs 1972.02.02 - Peeters Marcel



CALLED TO LIFE

M A R C H Age

02 Fr. Frans Martens 2000 82 Connecticut, USA 02 Fr. August Vantomme 2017 91 Torhout, Belgium 03 Fr. Herman Sanderink 1998 72 Quezon City, Philippines 04 Fr. Laurent Decaestecker 1945 35 Santiago, Isabela, Phils. 06 Fr. Frans De Snick 1945 58 Bambang, N. Viz, Phils. 08 Fr. Frans Blondeel 1994 63 Leuven, Belgium 09 Fr. Ghisleen De Vos 1983 56 Quezon City, Philippines 09 Fr. Jan Linskens 2007 87 Sparrendaal, NL 13 Fr. Jaak Quatannens 1971 44 Quezon City, Philippines 14 Fr. Theo Bandsma 2002 80 Quezon City, Philippines 14 Fr. Leo Vandromme 2004 88 San Juan, MM, Philippines 17 Fr. Paul Zwaenepoel 2017 93 Brugge, Belgium 19 Fr. Maurice Lefebvre 1956 92 Salzinnes, Belgium 19 Fr. Jozef Baute 1987 65 Baguio City, Philippines 20 Fr. René Sergeant 2007 92 Quezon City, Philippines 21 Fr. Seraphin Devesse 1945 61 Santiago, Isabela, Phils. 22 Fr. Michiel De Meester 1934 30 Manila, Phils. 24 Fr. Jan Augustijns 1962 43 Manila, Phils. 24 Fr. Gerard Helsen 1993 71 Schilde, Belgium 24 Fr. Etienne De Dapper 2017 84 Quezon City, Philippines 27 Fr. Albert Dereume 1953 71 Antwerp, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium 28 Fr. Cornelis de Brouwer 1960 78 Sparrendaal, NLSparrendaal, NLSparrendaal, NL 29 Fr. Jozef Grieten 1977 51 Genk, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium 313131 Fr. Joseph Van den Daelen 2013 92 Quezon City, PhilippinesCity, PhilippinesCity, Philippines

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life.

A man who lives fully is prepared to die

at any time.” ― Mark Twain

death anniversaries


CALLED TO LIFE

A P R I L Age

05 Fr. Karel Desmet 1968 82 Manila, Philippines 06 Fr. James Ter Meer 2006 92 Vught, Netherlands 07 Fr. Jozef Herpels 1993 68 Brussels, Belgium 10 Mr. Gerard van Harten 1986 80 Borne, Overijssel, NL 11 Bro. Jan-Jozef Verhoeven 1970 79 Sparrendaal, Netherlands 11 Fr. Herman Martens 1995 81 Torhout, Belgium 12 Fr. Henri Raymakers 1928 67 Nijmegen, Netherlands 12 Fr. Victor Faniel 1930 45 Cannes, France 12 Fr. René Vernackt 1996 87 Torhout, Belgium 12 Fr. Raul Ventigan 1997 36 Pointe-a-Raquettes, Haiti 13 Fr. Joseph Munyanzu 1994 33 Cabanatuan, N. Eci., Phils. 13 Fr. Balthazar Chang 2005 81 Singapore 15 Bro. Edward Cools 1943 62 Tuding, Benguet, Philippines 15 Fr. Frans Wulleman 1983 37 Bagabag, Nueva Viz., Phils. 16 Fr. Kamiel Marivoet 2013 93 Quezon City, Philippines 17 Fr. André Deldaele 1937 40 Leuven, Belgium 17 Fr. Paul Verfallie 1991 63 Quezon City, Philippines 21 Fr. George Giebens 1978 92 Paco, Manila, Philippines 22 Fr. Herman Sneyers 1993 60 Schilde, Belgium 24 Mr. Piet van de Coevering 1946 64 Oss, N. Brabant, NL 25 Fr. André Baert 2000 71 Quezon City, Philippines 26 Fr. Joseph-A Verswyvel 2006 80 Antwerpen, Belgium 28 Fr. André Dhondt 1977 72 Quezon City, Philippines 29 Fr. Hubert Dupont 1970 49 Baguio City, Philippines 30 Fr. Omer Cosyn 1911 30 Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Phils. 30 Fr. Viktor De Klerck 1967 80 Manila, Philippines

death anniversaries

January 04 : Patrick Castroverde, from Japan

11 : Ronald Magbanua, from Mongolia 21 : Macwayne Maniwang, from Rome 28 : Leo Joshua Garcia, from Senegal

February 06 : Emanuel Enjang Pranatal, back from his regular vacation in Indonesia

March 02 : Audrey Muñez, from the Dominican Rep. for his regular vacation

06 : Ador Castillo, from Rome for the training of new PG members and canonical visit to AIFC

14 : Felicien Ntambue, from Rome for a Meeting with Psychologists and

canonical visit to formation houses 15 : Richard Mbizi, from Cameroon for the Meeting of Psychologists 19 : Kevin Saministrado, from the Dominican Republic for his regular

vacation 21 : Jean-Claude Kanku, from Congo for the Meeting of Psychologists 23 : Lasber Sinaga, from Indonesia for the Meeting of Psychologists

27 : Gerry Rekdak, from Japan for the Training of new PG members 30 : Jean-Gracia Etienne, from Rome for the Training of new PG

members

No dates yet : From Asia Province: Anthony Lim, Kamil Kamus, Ronald Magbanua, Jean-Sylvère Mbuela for the Training of new PG members

January 11 : Macwayne Maniwang, to Rome to participate in the Encounter of Campus Ministers

12 : Jean Claude Mulumba, to Kinshasa

15 : Prosper Mbumba, to Kinshasa 19 : Jean Pascal Ebonda, to Kinshasa for his regular vacation 26 : Paskalis Keban Kaha, to Indonesia

February 07 : Isidore N’Kiewu, to Kinshasa for his regular vacation 26 : Ronald Magbanua, back to Mongolia March 31 : Feliciene Ntambue, back to Rome

Richard Mbizi, back to Cameroon April 05 : Jean-Claude Kanku back to Congo 06 : Gerry Rekdak, back to Japan

10 : Jean-Gracia Etienne, back to Rome



By Leonardo Boff

Theologian-Philosopher Earth Charter

February 3, 2019

Each of us is as old as the universe,

13.7 billion years. We were all there in that tiny point, smaller than the head of a pin,

but full of energy and matter. The big bang created the enormous red stars, containing

all the physical-chemical elements that comprise the universe and and all beings that were created from them. We are the

sons and daughters of the stars and cosmic dust. We are also the portion of the living

Earth that has come to feel, think, love and venerate. Through us, the Earth and the Universe knows that it forms a large Whole.

And we can develop awareness of that belonging.

What is our place in that Whole ? More immediately, in the process of

evolution? On Mother Earth? In human history? We cannot know that yet. Perhaps it will be the great revelation when we make

the alchemic pass from this side of life to the other. There, I hope, all will be clear and we

will be surprised because everything is interrelated, forming the immense chain of

beings and the fabric of life. We will fall, that I believe, into the arms of God-Father-and-

Mother of infinite mercy for whomever

needs it, due to wickedness, and in an eternal loving embrace for those whose lives

were guided by good and love. After passing through the clinic of God-mercy, the others

will also come.

As an infant of a few months, I was condemned to die. My mother remembers,

and my aunts would always repeat, that I had “el macaquiño”, the popular name for

profound anemia. Whatever I took in, I would vomit. Everyone said, in the véneto dialect: “poareto, va morir” : “poor little

child, he will die”.

Desperate and in secret from my

father, who did not believe in such things, my mother went to the prayer woman , to

the old Campañola . She prayed, and told to my mother: “give the child a bath with these herbs and after baking bread in the oven,

wait until it is lukewarm and put your little child inside” . That is what Regina, my

mother, did. She scooped out the freshly baked bread and put me inside. And she left

me there for a good while.

A transformation occurred. When I

was taken out, as they say, I began to cry and seek my mother’s breast and to suckle

my mother’s milk. Afterwards, my mother would chew some stronger foods and she

would give that to me. I began to eat and become stronger. I survived. And here I am, officially an 80 year old man.

I went through several close calls that could have cost me my life: a DC-10

plane in flames on way to New York; a car accident with a dead horse on the highway that left me totally broken; a huge nail that

fell in front of me when I was studying in Munich, that could have killed me if it had

fallen on my head. I fell into a deep snow covered ravine in the Alps and some

Bavarian peasants, seeing my dark habit and that I was falling deeper and deeper, pulled me out with a rope. And there were

others.

Norberto Bobbio gave me the title

honorary doctor of politics from the University of Turin. He understood that the

theology of liberation had made an important contribution by affirming the historic strength of the poor. The classic

helpfulness or mere solidarity, keeping the poor always dependent, is insufficient, it is

not enough. The poor can be the subjects of their own liberation when they are made aware (concientizados) and organized. We

overcame the “for the poor.” We insist on walking “with the poor,” they being the

protagonists. And those who can and have that charisma, live as the poor. Many did,

such as Dom Pedro Casaldaliga.

I remember that I began my words of gratitude for the degree I received from

that noble figure, Norberto Bobbio, with: “I come from carved stone, from the bottom

of history, when we barely had the means to survive. My Italian ancestors and my

family made a clearing in an uninhabited

region covered with pine groves, in

Concordia, on the edge of Santa Catarina. They had to struggle to survive. Many died

for lack of medical care. Later on I rose on the ladder of evolution: the 11 brothers

studied, went to the university, and I was able to complete my studies in Germany. And now I am here in this famous

University. At Bobbio’s request, I did a study of the purposes of Theology of

Liberation, that has at the core the preferential option for the poor, against poverty and in favor of social justice. I

have given many lectures all over the world, I have written a lot, wiped away

tears and kept strong the hope of militants who were frustrated by the course of

events in our country.

What will my destiny be? I do not know. I took as my motto that of my

father, who lived it: “who does not live to serve, does not have a life worth

living”. God has the last word.



In the Catholic Church, specifically at

the St. Joseph Parish, Dagupan, Tabuk City, Priests are look upon with a very important

function. A Parish would be inoperative or fruitless without a priest to shepherd and

guide the laity. The Priest is a reminder of God’s unfailing love to the weak and the needy.

Living the life as a priest in the Parish, he celebrates mass every day aside

from celebrating the Sunday masses. He performs funeral and burial mass, sometimes three burial mass in a day. He

anoints and visits the sick in the hospital, never failing to make an appointment to visit

and say a prayer to the prisoners in jail. He goes to homes, visiting his parishioners rich

or poor. He is constantly asked for house, business office and government office blessings.

He is most of the time called for even

in unholy hour from people having new cars,

motors and business vehicles for blessing. He gives prenuptials counseling and spiritual

direction to couples before celebrating mass for marriage. He hears confession as

needed, baptizes, assist the bishop on confirmation and celebrate mass for the new communicants. He attends to the sick and

elderly by celebrating mass with them. He is on call at any time of the day and night for

anointing the dying in the hospital and homes.

Life of a priest being a School

Director is responsible of being spiritual animator, spiritual guidance of students,

staff and faculty. He initiates religious activities in coordination with the principal,

directing the religious program of students and faculty through monthly meetings and frequent celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

As educational adviser, he is consulted for

THE ROLE OF A PRIEST IN THE PARISH By Mrs. Elizabeth D. Balais

Coordinator of Worship Commission of Saint Joseph Mission Station Dagupan, Tabuk, Kalinga

on the closure of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons

disciplinary matters and invited at

conferences with parents. He assists the school principal in observing legal

requirements regarding employment. Being a school director he is also a financial promoter, that he is responsible for the

maintenance and repair of the school building.

His Pastoral leadership in strengthening the faith of the people within his Parish is exemplary. Although alone as a

priest in the parish, he obediently follows his schedules going to the barrios celebrating

mass at least once a month.

He sees to it that Patron Feast day to

every chapels are not neglected for Eucharistic celebration. By grace, he serves the people by giving Christ’s saving truth

and His divine life through the Sacraments, officiating baptism, solemnizing marriages,

funeral and burial masses. He helps communities find God by the witness of his

life of firm faith in God and personal love of Christ, and by his goodness towards

unbelievers and needy. Nowadays, he helps

people to turn to God for he gives them a good example of deep faith in God. As

pastoral leader he takes also an active part in all aspects of temporal life-economic,

political and social. Generally he integrates with the gospel, moral values during his homilies with his down to earth experiences

and observations that people can easily understand. Closely connected with this

obligation, is the people’s right to information based on truth, freedom and justice.

Caring for the environment is one of his advocacies. He includes in his homilies

reminding the congregation that each has a responsibility to take care of Mother Nature,

the gift of God to humankind.

In all aspect he is the head of the Parish, the trustee in preserving the

properties of the church, keeping correct account of monies collected which is to be

properly submitted to the vicariate, pay all church bills and wages of church employees.

The priest is the leading light of the Parish Pastoral Council.



My dear relatives – the Molina-Amigleo families, relatives of Fr. Val Narcise, my dear confreres, CICM theologians, novices and

postulants, Sisters and friends:

Shalom! Welcome to all of you. Isang maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat. Kamusta po

ang Pasko ninyo? We hope and pray that you had a wonderful and grace-filled Christmas celebration.

Before proceeding allow me to welcome Bishop Prudencio Andaya, CICM, bishop of Tabuk, in Kalinga and Apayao Province; Bishop

Emeritus Msgr. Carlito Cenzon CICM, Fr. Provincial Ramon Caluza, Fr. Gabby Diercyk, the distinguished eldest CICM in the Philippines;

Fr. Carlos Lindemans; Fr. Angel Luciano. Fr.

Harnoko, the Master of Ceremony for this Mass, Fr. Luke Moortgat, Fr. Vidalito Ludan, rector of the CICM postulants, Fr. Ananias Dundu

(Indonesian who is the Socius in the Philippines) and Fr. Ignatius Sawey, MJ, and of course my co-jubilarian Fr. Val Narcise CICM.

I also would like to introduce my youngest brother, Jose Amigleo, who came all the way from the US to be with us today. He is here to

represent all the Molina-Amigleo relatives who are in the US.

My dear friends: God is so good to us.

Imagine after 50 years, God has joined the Molina-Amigleo clan and the Narcise family and friends to come together to celebrate Fr. Val‘s

and my golden sacerdotal anniversary here in the

STORIES AND EXPERIENCES

Sharing of Missionary and Priestly Experience of Fr. Ernesto (Ernie) Amigleo, CICM-IND

on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Ordination of Fr. Val Narcise and Fr. Ernie

at the Chapel of the CICM-Asia International Formation Community on December 29, 2018


chapel of the CICM- Asia International Formation Community in Quezon City. I remember on that beautiful sunny weather of December 22, 1968,

the Molina families and Narcise families were together for that wonderful occasion when Bishop William Brasseur CICM of Baguio ordained Fr.

Val and me at the beautiful Maryhurst Seminary Chapel in Baguio City.

Last December 22, 2018, Fr. Val

purposely went to Makassar Indonesia, together with Fr. Provincial, Fr. Ramon Caluza to celebrate jointly our Sacerdotal Golden Anniversary in

Makassar. Today, we are continuing our golden jubilee celebration to be with our relatives. I know Fr. Val already celebrated his jubilee last

December 10, 2018 at St. Louis College in San Fernando, La Union with his relatives. Some of them are here also for our joint celebration. To

all of you who are here present and to Fr. Val‘s relatives, welcome and thanks for your coming.

On this happy and grace-filled day, first

of all, I want to express my joy and gratitude to the Lord: "I will sing the Lord's faithful love forever. Proclaim your faithfulness from one

generation to another.” Which is the theme of our celebration today.

God chose and appointed us to be priests

to tell of His faithfulness to the nations and become a channel of His blessing and mercy for His people. When the bishop laid his hands upon

my head and ordained me, at that very moment, my dream from childhood to become a priest, who could change bread into the Body of Christ

and wine into the Blood of Christ, became a reality. Therefore I want to sing His faithful love throughout my life.

Regarding my priestly vocation, I want to share briefly the story of my vocation and how I became convinced that God designed my priestly

vocation to be a reality. For most of my relatives here, most especially Tito Rudy, Tita Dolly (who liked very much to come along but because of the

accident this early morning when she fell from her bed and got her eyebrow swollen and was rushed to the hospital, she cannot come) and Tita

Connie, they already know my story, for I grew up very close to them. But for the sake of most of my cousins especially the younger ones, and for

the guests who are here, I would like to share with you my story. I have written a book entitled “In the Shadow of Your Wings, I Rejoice.” You will

have a copy of it right after this celebration. What I am sharing with you now is just a summary. You can read it at home when you find

time. My book is not so much about myself, rather about how the good Lord guided, protected and blessed me all throughout these past years of my

life and missionary life as a religious and priest in the CICM.

Three reasons why I think my priestly

vocation was not accidental or just a mere coincidence, but a plan of God for me ever since I was even before in the womb of my mother.

First of all, I was born on August 1, 1942. I was 3 years old when the Japanese occupied and bombarded Manila in 1945. At that time

the Japanese forces invaded the Philippines and dropped bombs on the capital city of Manila. Many people died and many people also began

to flee to survive. Among them my family and the Molina clan. According to my mother, when the family fled to find a safe haven, she fell while

carrying me. She fell in the midst of many people who had died on the road. When the Japanese soldiers were passing by, my mother pretended

to be dead among the people lying dead on the streets. When I was a little bigger, my mother told me that "Luckily you did not cry when I fell

carrying you; otherwise, surely both of us have been killed.” Reflecting on that event I came to realize that the fact that we were saved was not

accidental or mere chance, but certainly God had a providential plan for us. It reminds me of the words of the prophet Jeremiah when he

conveyed God‘s message through him: "For I know My plans concerning you, says the Lord, namely the plan for peace and not for woe, to

give you a bright future full of hope ..." (Jer. 29, 11). “To give you a bright future, full of hope.” As I recalled the event, I became aware that indeed

God had a plan for my life, namely to become a CICM religious missionary priest.

My second reason: I was born and grew

up in a simple family, but a religious Catholic family. My father's name was Pelagio Amigleo, a veteran during World War II. My mother was

Teresa Molina, a prayerful and faithful


housewife. They were blessed with 4 children. I am number 2. The first was Lilia, then me, and then Emmanuel and the youngest Jose, who is

here among us. When I was little, my mother often took me almost daily to church to attend Mass. By doing so, I got interested in becoming

an acolyte, serving Holy Mass almost every day. Thus arising in me the feeling and desire to become a priest, who could change the bread

into the Body of Christ and the wine into the Blood of Christ. I also witness the life of the priests in my parish. My grandfather (on my

Mama's side – Lolo Minggo), whom I saw every afternoon, after coming home from work, always praying the rosary in front of the statue of the

Virgin Mary, who, according to him, had helped our entire family – the Molina clan to survive World War II. That is why that statue was very

dear to Lolo and that statue is still existing. If I am not mistaken, it is now with Tito Rudy who keeps it like a precious treasure. My uncle (Tito Rudy) and

aunt Tita Dolly and Tita Connie (the sisters from Mama) were very active in the Church activities. Besides, my other Titos and Titas from Lolo Felix,

Lolo Modesto and Lola Librada were also very religious. So I grew up in a very religious and Catholic atmosphere and environment that

greatly influenced my calling. I was inspired to be a priest because of you, the Molina clan. Thanks to our parents‘ and grandparents‘ wonderful

witnessing! Please continue the tradition of our Catholic faith. It is true what the Church teaches, as written in the Catechism of the Catholic Church,

that the Christian Family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a

domestic church. “The family is a domestic church, a little church or community of faith, hope and charity” (Catechism of the Catholic Church no.

2204). From the family, vocation to the priesthood and/or religious life is born. Besides the role of the family, the influence of the

Catholic schools where I studied strongly supported my vocation. In my elementary days, I was trained by the Benedictine Sisters at St.

Scholastica Elementary School and in high school at Paco Catholic School by the CICM missionaries.

My third reason why I am convinced that

my priestly vocation was a design of God, and not by accident: At the age of 7, I became an acolyte. I had to memorize the Latin responses in

the Mass. Because at that time the Mass was always in Latin. Every day I helped with the Masses of the priests in our parish on Dart and

then in Paco, serving the Mass of Fr. Paul de Bevere CICM in the ICM Sisters‘ chapel. I remember Mother Alex ICM, Sr. Valeriana ICM,

Sr. Maria de Boeck ICM, Sr. Yohanna ICM, and others. Therefore the influence on me was very strong. However, because in high school I was so

involved in many extra-curricular activities that my inclination to become a priest was directed to other things. I seemed to have lost that desire to

be a priest. At that time I began to look for the meaning of my life and how I could shape it according to that vision. So after graduating from


high school I applied, not to the seminary, but to De La Salle to take the entrance test for

Economics.

I took the test but the dean told me to submit a letter of recommendation from my high

school principal, who was then Fr. Francis Libeer, CICM, who took over the task of Fr. Paul de Bevere CICM whom I knew and who knew me

since my first days in high school at Paco. They knew my sister Lilia because she was always in the honor roll of her class. I came to Fr. Francis to

ask for a letter of recommendation. But the topic of our conversation was not about the letter of recommendation I was asking from him, but to the

priesthood. He told me that he heard from Fr. Paul that I wanted to become a priest, and Fr. Paul heard it from my parents and aunties. I

remember Fr. Paul together with Fr. Francis Wittezaele used to visit the family once or twice. I answered that when I was a small boy, yes, I

wanted to become a priest. But now, I already went to take entrance test at De La Salle. Fr. Francis then suggested that I tried to apply to the

CICM Mission Seminary in Baguio City. He suggested that I stay there for one week and live with the brothers seminarians. I went home to

notify my parents and ask permission. My mother immediately gave me permission, but my father objected a little bit. At that time he, being a

Philippine veteran during the Second World War, told me his wish for me to become a diplomat or ambassador of the Philippines. He suggested that

I apply to a university to take up Foreign Affairs. However, he did not brush off the idea of me going to Baguio. To make the story short, during

my stay of one week with the Maryhurst seminarians, I got interested in entering the CICM seminary. I thought that there in Maryhurst I could

find the meaning of my life. During that week I was given a battery of tests like: IQ, Psychological Test, Physical Examination, and

Personal Interview with the Rector, Fr. Paul Stassen, CICM. After that Fr. Paul said that in two weeks time they would send me a letter. On

May 15, 1959, I received a letter telling me to report on May 31, 1959. The dream of my father for me to be an ambassador of the Philippines

was actually not far off, though, because I became an ambassador of Christ as the CICM missionary priest to Indonesia! You see, how God

works sometimes in strange ways. As the saying goes: God can write straight with crooked lines.

So I was ordained a priest.

Brothers and Sisters: The Sacrament of the Priesthood is a mystery. I wondered why among

the millions of teenagers in the Philippines at that time God chose and called me to be his priest, whereas there were many other teenagers who

were smarter and more capable than me. There is only one answer to the puzzle: not that I deserve or excel, but because of God's

tremendous love for me. God is love, as St. John the Apostle and Evangelist tells us. Because of God's great love, therefore, I "want to sing God's

faithful love forever; I want to proclaim His faithfulness to the nations from generation to generation. "

The Sacrament of the Priesthood which God blessed me with and all the other priests is a very precious gift, a treasure, which is not made

of gold however, but of clay in earthen vessels. St. Paul once said “This treasure we have in a vessel is made of clay.” Why clay?

There are two reasons why this precious treasure is like a vessel of clay: Reason One — To make it clear that the strength and power of

the holy priesthood comes from God himself, it does not come from me or my own initiative. He is my only rock and my strength. We priests have a

tremendous strength and power in Christ to act in Persona Christi (in the Person of Christ). This weak and fragile man like me, is given the power and

strength by God to turn bread into His Body and wine into His Blood in order to be shared to His people, the power and strength not possessed by

angels and archangels; the power to forgive the sins of people who want to turn to God; the power to give a divine birth to thousands of

children and also adults in baptism; the power and strength to anoint the sick and the dying on the death bed and to send them to heaven; the

power and strength to bless and witness the marriage of couples who want to live with God to start building a happy Christian family; the

power and strength to proclaim the message of salvation to the nations. The good news of salvation that we preach is not from ourselves, but

from God who wants to save humanity to live happily with Him.


On the other hand, we priests have the same weaknesses as other men. As priests, we also have bodies made of clay. To keep this treasure

pure, he must be stretched on a cross of fire, said Blessed Bishop Fulton Sheen of the US who is now a candidate for canonization.

The second reason: the priest is chosen by God among His people, and we realize that as priests, we must preserve, care for, appreciate

and love this priestly treasure. The question is: How do you maintain, respect and love this treasure?

There are 3 answers: and here I am reminded of Pope Francis's messages to priests and religious people worldwide:

1) To establish an intimate personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ because a priest is called to be an ―alter Christus‖ ―another Christ,‖

so that he can offer Calvary's Sacrifice to sanctify God's people, namely through daily prayer, reading the Scriptures and reflecting on them,

celebrating the Sacraments, especially Sacrament of the Eucharist and Sacrament of Penance; pray the rosary and adoration of the Blessed

Sacrament. St. Pope John Paul II once said: “There is a close link between the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of the Priesthood.

Without the Eucharist, there is no Sacrament of the Priesthood; and without the Sacrament of the Priesthood, there is no Eucharist.” Hence the

Eucharist is closely linked to the priest‘s life; it is the core and center of a priest‘s life; and also of God's people. Priests are also called to form

Christian communities, proclaim the Good News of Salvation and to teach them about truth and justice.

2) The second means is to establish good relationships with fellow priests or with the religious community, especially with the bishop

and/or superior of a religious Congregation, because through this fellowship, through this brotherhood, a priest is strengthened and

supported in the joys and sorrows of his life and in challenges that surround him. This fellowship between priests is very important in the life of a

priest. In the CICM we have a motto: ―Cor Unum et Anima Una.‖ One heart, one soul.

3) To serve God‘s people with love and

dedication; that is, to live and to be one with the

people who are entrusted by God to him, serve the people selflessly and experience the joys and pains as they struggle through life, to love them,

to be merciful to them, and fight with them for the values of life. As Pope Francis said: ―a shepherd must have the smell of his sheep.‖ A priest humbly

must allow himself also to be shaped and nourished by the faith of God's people. Without it, a priest can be arrogant and very clerical

(clericalism) as if his presence is very indispensable, important and needed. So in this case, you the people of God, can also help,

shape and strengthen the vocation of your priest. I know for a fact that the Filipino people, in general, love their priests and take good care of

them. Which is also true among the Indonesian Catholics.

Such are the 3 ways to preserve,

maintain, respect and love the treasure of priestly vocation. I do not mean to say that I have succeeded in doing or living it all. No! Just want

to say that, thanks to the help of God, I tried to struggle to get closer to God, be closer to my fellow priests and my CICM community, and be

closer to the people God has entrusted to me.

The presence of a priest in the midst of the people wants to remind and awaken the

people of God that God is present in their midst, that God loves them, cares for them and forgives them of their sin. A priest is a channel of God's

grace to His people, through the sacraments which are celebrated.

The Sacrament of the Priesthood, as a gift

from God, for me is a form of service to God and the Church through the CICM. Therefore, my life in this world becomes more meaningful and more

humane because God had chosen me to work in his vineyard.

After being ordained a priest, I was then

sent as a missionary. I was reminded of the words of our CICM founder, Father Theophile Verbist, who said: "We have a good and beautiful mission.

Go, and God goes with you." Encouraged by these words, I began to carry out my pastoral tasks assigned to me, such as the ff:

1) Most of my pastoral works are done among people who are very simple, culturally a minority, who live in remote places in the periphery both in

the Philippines and Indonesia. In the Philippines


such as in Banaue, Ifugao, the fisher men community of Talim Island, the poor in the Transmigration Resettlement in San Pedro,

Laguna; and in Indonesia, such as the indigenous Tana Torajans and Papuans who barely emerged from Stone Age. Together with them I learned

many things, witnessing how they lived a life full of challenges by struggling, persevering, and being patient and resilient, but above all else still

firmly believing in God. Every time I visit them, I am always greeted with a wide, sincere smile and full of friendliness even though their life is

difficult. Sometimes I wonder: where did they get the strength so they can still smile and be friendly? It is right, what Jesus said: “Blessed are

the poor in spirit, because they are the ones who have the Kingdom of Heaven.”

2) As Rector and lecturer at the CICM Theological

Community and Maryhill School of Theology at Taytay, I remember there were several of my students like Fr. Ramon Caluza (who is now the

Provincial Superior in the Philppines), Fr. Romy Nimez (former Provincial), Fr. Percy Bacani (former Provincial) , Efren Reyes, Roy Quiogue,

Reynaldo Treyes, Julio Ramon Mallonga, Monch Coronel (who was ordained a priest as an MDJ last year) and several others; and as a Novice

Master at the Sang Tunas CICM Makassar, where the CICM novices were dreaming of becoming a CICM missionary like me. Fr. Dundu, a Socius,

who is here with us, was once my novice and many other Indonesian CICMs who are in foreign mission today. I also was a University Chaplain

and lecturer at the University of Atma Jaya-Makassar, doing chaplaincy work among the young people in Makassar. Likewise, I was also a

lecturer at the Regional Seminary in Abepura,

Papua, and proud to say that one of my students in the post graduate level is now the Bishop of Timika, Msgr. John Saklil.

3) As if my 4 years of philosophical and 4 years of theological studies were not enough, my Superiors sent me for further studies in Rome and

the US for 3 years. While I enjoyed my years of studies there, however, I always wanted to finish them as soon as possible in order to go the

mission.

4) The challenge to minister to my Congregation when I was appointed as Vice Provincial and then

afterwards as Provincial Superior of the Philippine Province. I took over from Fr. Gaby Dieryck who was then elected as General

Councilor in Rome during the 1981 General Chapter.

But the most surprising thing in my life was

when Archbishop John Liku-Ada' of the Archdiocese of Makassar, has come one night at the CICM house on Jl. Sudirman in April or May

2003 to visit me and offer me the task of Vicar General of the Archdiocese. My first reaction was surprise and to politely refuse the offer with

various kinds of excuses. I said ―why me,‖ a Filipino and a CICM, while there are 100 diocesan priests who are more capable and

smarter? However, the Bishop did not want to give up; he felt the reasons I gave were not convincing. The Bishop's answer at that time was

simple: ―we are one presbyterium.‖ Which means to say, ―We are one in the Priesthood. There is no difference whether you are an Indonesian or a

Filipino, a diocesan or a religious. We are one brotherhood by virtue of our Ordination.‖ Finally, I said: ―please give me some time to pray over


it.‖ Which I did. After a few weeks, he came again eager to know my final answer: In short, I finally answered "yes" given that as a CICM

missionary according to article 2 of the CICM Constitution that reads: ―as CICM missionaries we are at the service of the Local Church.‖ I accepted

it in faith that God would always be at my side to help me carry the challenges being entrusted to me. I was installed as Vicar General on

September 11, 2003. After 10 years and 2 months, I resigned due to the accident I got when I stumbled on the step in the Church hitting my

buttocks that needed an operation which hampered my way of walking since then. That was in 2013.

I must say that all the tasks entrusted to me, I tried to enjoy them, which is not to say that everything was easy. On the contrary! I am

pleased to say that working in the Archdiocese of Makassar, in the midst of a pluralistic and multi-cultural society, is very interesting and

challenging, and especially I thank God, quoting St. Paul, for the people in the diocese who receive the Good News not as human words but,

as God's Word, who work also in believers. (1 Tes. 2, 13).

Likewise I am very grateful to the

diocesan priests, religious men and women, and to all the parishioners in the archdiocese who received me as I am in a spirit of friendship and

brotherhood. It was very enriching and confirmed my calling as a CICM missionary priest.

Finally, when I resigned as Vicar General,

I asked to be assigned in a parish but without taking heavy responsibilities. Now I am allowed to work in the parish of Mary Queen of the

Rosary Parish of Kare – in Makassar. I like living in the parish to be with the people at Kare who accept me as I am. Especially young people have

called me in Dutch "Opa" or Lolo. I am also grateful for living with my CICM confreres and especially my parish priest Fr. Fransiskus

Xaverius Daru Pancoro CICM, former missionary in the Philippines. My tasks in the parish are: celebrating the Eucharist both in the center of the

parish and in small communities in the parish and once a month in the Cathedral for English Mass. Very often I am called to give the Sacrament of

the Sick and give the Anointing to sick people to

assist them in their last hours or days in their journey to heaven. I also help out in teaching catechumens, sometimes asked to bless the

marriage of married couples in the Church, and I am engaged in giving Scripture Course to the parishioners. And every semester I also teach at

CICM Sang Tunas Postulancy Program and at the diocesan Minor Seminary of St. Peter Claver. I am also the moderator of the praise and worship

community called Jeduthun Salvation Ministry in Makassar. Last January this year I was appointed to be an Adviser to the Superior General and his

councilors of the Congregation of Brothers of Christ the Servant.

Finally, I want to convey one simple

message to all of us, specifically to fellow priests and religious people; namely: “Bloom wherever you are.”

So, to all of you and all those who have supported me, both morally and materially, thank you very much. God bless.

Our Lady, protector of the CICM Congregation, thank you for your support and

maternal love.

Singapore • February 7-14, 2019

By: Angel C. Luciano, cicm

Preparation: The roundtrip ticket was complement of Eddie and Carmen Seah. Stan and Belen Tan booked the ticket in the Singapore airlines promo in Trinoma-Quezon City. Perlita Tiro offered her house for accommodation. When the date was fixed, I prepared the pasalubong. In the Mass that I presided for the

feastday of Sr. Purificacion Pena, OSA in Pasig, she gave me 100 balot for my stipend. This was nicely packed by Eric and Letlet with chicharon, pastilas, pandesal and biko cooked by Lenlen Santos. Erwin Santos also bought some decade rosaries made by a Muslim running away from the war in Mindanao.

The FIRST DAY was very smooth. The airlines even tag my baggages as fragile. The terminal fee was also free. The flight was calm and we had only a slight delay in Changi airport due to air traffic congestion. Perlita Tiro and Belen Tan were at the airport. They were happy to get their pasalubong. We then dropped

the pasalubong of the Filipino community in the house of Rizaldy Sapiera. We also left there the package for Eddie and Carmen Seah. Dinner was in the kampong chicken of Thomson Road.

The SECOND DAY begun with a Mass in Holy Spirit parish of Fr. Richard Ambrose. Then, we had

breakfast in Bendeemer market. Even when most of the stores were closed because of Chinese New Year, we managed to get carrot cake and Yu chak kwe. Theresa Wong, the birthday celebrant was there with daugh-ter Elsie. The following were also present. Daisy Leong, Sandra and Michael Tan, George and May Chia,

John and Catherine Goh. After breakfast, we delivered the parcel for Fr. Romeo Yu Chang, CICM in the par-ish of St. Theresa. He was happy to receive it. He even gave me a red packet. Lunch was with Perlita Tiro with her Zumba friend Rita.

The evening was with the Simbang Gabi group in Pasir Rijs parish of Divine Mercy. They enjoyed the balot, the pastillas, pandesal and biko.

The THIRD DAY was a Mass in Mt. Alvernia hospital with Fr. Simon Tan, CSSR presiding. Breakfast was a simple toast and scrambled eggs in the house. Jacqueline and Terence Ho

with John and Annie Poon fetched me for lunch in Westin Ho-tel in Marina. It was a buffet

lunch and we barely started when the young boy, Jonathan Ho ate laksa and a small clam part got stuck on his thought. He was immediately

rushed to the KK Childrens Hospital were in the evening, he was operated on. In the evening dinner of the celebration of Theresa Wong, we got the news that he was ok. The whole clan was

present and only the two of us, namely Daisy Leong were spe-cial guest.


This FOURTH DAY was Sunday. At seven, I was fetched by Whye and Grace See, friend of Daisy Leong of Nativity Church to bless their house in Commonwealth. Then we had naci lemak for breakfast. They brought me to Trinity Church for the Sunday Mass with Fr. Paul Goh presiding.

After Mass I was brought to Lai Wah restaurant for lunch with Rudy and Sonia Leong, Veronica Tan, Jovian and Jessica Low, Gerard and Peggy Vallah, Henry and Daphnie Leong and Dolly

Baker. Coincidentally, the Chinese group of St. Michel Church were also there with the parish priest Fr. Terrence Pereira and Fr. John van Dick.

After lunch, Cecilia Wong and Antoon and Rosie Ang were visited.

They are sick at home. The tea party begun at three. Those present were: Alice Choo, Mabel Lee, Irene Quah, Mary Chua, Tony and Mary Tay, Agnes

Leong, Jennifer No-ronha, Monica Pereira, Susie and

Millie Tan and Helen Izelman.

The dinner was with Patrick Hardy who is 90 years old. Flora is the daughter. William and Elsie Lee with Raphael and Rose-

mary, Ray and Julie with children Matthew, Brandon, Gillian, Paul and Carol, William and Lorraine,Bobbie and Sherman, and Juliana the caregiver came.This tiring day ended up at

9:30PM.

A- nghel ka Ng mga Pilipino

N-ananahan sa Singapore para magtrabaho G-abay ka sa namin, sa pananampalatayang kristiyano E-dukasyong ispirituwal, itinanim mo sa aming puso

L- umipas Ang ilang taon, nilisan mo na kami L- ugar na pinagmulan, sa yong pagiging pari

U- muwi Kang masaya, nagmamahal ngay marami C-harisma mo Padre, sa Singapore parang si Duterte

I-kaw ay namalagi sa puso Ng kababayan A-ngel Luciano, di ka nga malilimutan N-gayong narito ka, kahit man lang panandalian

O- key na Ang masulyapan, sapat Ng kasiyahan.

Fr. Lawrence Yeo, CSSR was the presider the FIFTH DAY in Mt. Alvernia Hospital Chapel. Cythia of Scheut Mission Friends greeted

me. Breakfast was at home. Then George and May Chia, with Michael and wife Shio Poo brought me to the Singapore Country Club. This day is everybodys birthday for the Chi-nese. Michael is already 88 and Shio Poo 81. George, May and myself are stll on our seventies. I had the

chance today to visit my Doctor Lee Siew Khim. She is a grandmother now. The evening was with the Filipino community of Star of the Sea under Fr. Gregoire van Giam, MEP in Yishun. The families here have grown and the parish priest is very proud of their support. Edcel and Ning Castilo brought me home.


The reading of the Mass was about creation on the SIXTH DAY. Fr. Peter Wee, CSSR challenged us to be consistent in our re-

sponse to God to care for the earth. Lunch was with our original group in Tanglin Club. Ernie Estrella, Cristy Vicentina, Erly and Nilo

Reyes, Belen Tan, Belen Hernandez, Mari-etta Foo, Elsie Ng, Patricia Ng, Evelyn Thung and Perlita Tiro. For tea, we were

with Terry and Dulce Woodford in NEX. Dinner was with the group of Divine Mercy in Ang Mo Kio. This was cut short because Ben and Monica with son Wilson insisted that I still join them for the evening. They brought me home.

Fr. Terence Yeo, CSSR challenged us on this SEVENTH DAY, to look deeper in our attitude to God and neighbour. We should not remain on the

level of instinct and human level but strive to go deeper in our religious level of relationship with God. Aloysius Tay, the hypnotic and psycho-

therapist Doctor, son of Tony Tay, gave us a break-fast treat. His sharing was timely for the major problem now of the Filipino parents was the young

men and women committing suicide. Louise Marga-rita Geraldyn Clark, Tan Beehon, Thelma Gacayan, MARY Ann Yangus, Jeanna Docel Caracal, Rowena

Montefrio, Nida Cabang, Amelia Daclan and Gemma Marquez treated us for a steamboat with the whole gang of St. Michael. They even wore their St. Michael red t-shirt. We had a good time reviving the CICM spirit. Richard Liew even joined us for lunch. After

lunch, I dropped by to still see the 84 year old mother of Helen Rajs. Unlukily Helen was in the Philippines. We just communicated via cell phone. Her mother was very sur-prised and happy.

The group of St. Anne Parish brought me to M Hotel Cafee 2,000 for dinner. Alex and Geraldine Quiambao, Ben and Elsie Zammudio family, Mike, Josie and daughter Shine, made my last

evening in Singapore very memorable.

The final day begun with a Mass with Fr. Terence Pereira, CSSR. He invited us for breakfast but we have made other arrange-

ments. As soon as we returned to the house, I took a nap and prepare for my

departure. Eddie Seah and Carmen insisted that we have still to take a late lunch. We had the congee and dimsum in Cristal Jade, Takasimaya. They helped me

check in my luggage in Changi airport. Carmen insisted that I am an old man travelling alone. So, all my bag-gages were checked in. The flight back home was so

smooth. The welcome was warm and my folks at home got also their pasalubong from Singapore. It’s just an exchange of God’s blessings which brings joy to every-

one.


NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

My Apostolate with Children

By Leo Joshua Garcia, CICM Assistant Parish Priest

Our Lady of Peace Parish (Paroisse Notre-Dame de la Paix de Diamaguène )

Many a times I have written of my ‗adventures‘ as a missionary in Senegal, a country that we fondly call, the Pays du Teraanga – The

Land of Hospitality. As a missionary priest I have encountered a lot of people from different walks of life and somehow, was influenced by their day

to day situation. I have integrated myself into their culture through their songs and cuisines. I have gotten used to the sound of their tam-tams

(Senegalese drums). From all its cultural richness, I have digested so many lessons that when I went back for the first time after my vacation, I was

already searching for the familiar sound of their drums and the taste of their food.

I revel in the realization that I have

gotten used to having the feeling of being at home in a foreign country.

However, I believe that nothing is more amusing than

encountering a child in the streets near our parish. There is always

that obvious innocence present in their eyes while seeing a foreigner

like me buying bread at a bakery while speaking

their local language like a native. I am branded ‗Tubap‘ – a term used for a person having ‗white skin‘. The funny thing is that I have been used to

being called as ‗dark skinned‘ back in the Philippines. Jokingly, I said to myself that I have unknowingly achieved something which I thought

was an impossible feat.

I have also gotten used to having ‗four nationalities.‘ I am usually considered as a

Chinese, Korean, Japanese and even a Lebanese whenever I pass by a group of children. No. They were not trying to give me a ‗nationality crisis‘ if

that term ever existed. It was only pure innocence and the desire to converse with a stranger that brings me almost every day into this amusing

situation which makes it more endearing (and even heart-warming).

They say that humor is an important part of being a missionary; a child can

make your day filled with laughter if you have the patience to handle

one.

I cater to different apostolate in our parish

and spend most of my mornings with the young

Fr. Leo with some of his

students


students in our school named after our founder, Theophile Verbist. Often clad in their blue

polo‘s and some with their black pantalons, most of them walk from their houses, traversing

muddied terrain while trying to make their way through dusts and sands to reach the school. I

have had the pleasure exchanging pleasantries with them, ―Père Leo (Father Leo) as

they fondly call me.

I also give basic courses in English to which, they

were always delighted to participate. There were days that I made creative inputs for

them to take the lesson lightly. I am remembered as the teacher who taught ―I have two Hands‖

to children who were only used to speaking French and their local language in school. To my

surprise they still remember, at least the tune of the song and the actions until now.

I realized that in order for children to learn and remember lessons, I have to be

filled with energy and humor – and sometimes, I have to act silly and childlike. The end result

is that these children are not afraid of me, not just because I do not use the ―stick‖ to

discipline them; they think that a priest will never whip them. I have always laughed whenever

their homeroom teacher enters during my class and they will all be silent like a mouse being

cornered by a cat. I was reminded of Jesus calming the storm, except that I am not Jesus

and the children are ‗furious‘ than the storm. But after the homeroom teacher scolds them and leaves, they will just go back to their

innocent playfulness and I find myself again in the

‗eye of the storm‘.

I need to gently remind them that they have to be respectful

to whoever is in front of them. As such, I am fulfilling not just my role as an educator but

also as a priest who has the obligation to teach Christian values. I always believe that

the growth of a child truly begins by teaching them the value of respect.

Another apostolate I am actively taking part of is the formation of our altar servers.

Our parish is blessed to have more than 60 children willing to wake up in the morning and

serve during our Sunday masses. They are so dedicated to their service that they

practice the correct way of serving during the mass twice a week. I have always been in

awe of them as to how they try to discipline themselves albeit always with childish

naughtiness. From this bunch, we were also blessed to have encountered a handful of them

who are interested into entering the religious life.

Accompanying children has its

difficulties and blessings as well. Despite their innocence, they can also be candidly

honest and ironically, more committed than the rest. It takes patience and creativity

to have them come to the church and involve them into various activities. They are

after all, the future of our Church. How we form them at their early age will have a

great impact on them as individuals. Always, our mission is to protect and teach them to gain

confidence as they grow in maturity.

Fr. Leo with some of the Fr. Leo with some of the Fr. Leo with some of the

aspirants to the Minor aspirants to the Minor aspirants to the Minor

SeminarySeminarySeminary

Fr. Leo with

some of his co-

teachers

Fr. Leo with the female mass serversFr. Leo with the female mass serversFr. Leo with the female mass servers

Fr. Leo posed

for a photo

with the mass

servers after

the mass


A Turned Sunflower:

A Reflection on the Three Evangelical Counsels of

Chastity, Poverty and Obedience

By Leonardo P. Jimenez, CICM La Communauté Internationale de Formation en Afrique (CIFA), Cameroon

Vows are gift of God to the Church.

These gifts are given to all people and most especially to those who responded to live in

consecrated life. The three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience are practiced in our

one-year novitiate with the help of our two benevolent formators, Fr. Nemesio Huesca, CICM - a missionary to Brazil and

Fr. Ananias Dundu, CICM - a missionary to Congo, Africa. We also encountered

sacrifices, challenges at this moment but above all, the grace and the love coming from our Lord Jesus Christ who is our model

in religious-missionary life.

Fr. Alberto Tamisen, CICM, a

missionary to Congo, Africa shared these lyrics in one of our recollections: “Like a sunflower, that follows every movement of the sun, so I turn toward you, to follow you my God. In chastity, poverty, obedience, I

follow. In humility and simplicity, I follow.” I imagined myself like a sunflower that is

simply turning its head to the sun - to my sun - Jesus Christ, my Master.

To live in chastity does not only mean not having erotic relationships. It is more

about living our common and fraternal love. I willingly shared my ample time with my brothers in the novitiate. We eat, play,

clean, chat, and pray together. This is the same as the love that Jesus shared to His

apostles - the agape, the highest form of love.

To live in poverty connotes the

understanding of the society. Living in


poverty is not to live in misery but in

simplicity. I learned to live by knowing my priorities, distinguishing my needs from my

wants and to be more creative and industrious in all aspects of my religious life.

The vow of obedience is the most

challenging and yet graceful. Most of the time this causes friction. Through dialogue,

discernment and prayer, this friction complements and both will realize the genuine will of the Father. In obedience, I

chose Mary as an example. “Thy will be

done.” It is difficult to obey and to follow the Lord but I have to seek His kingdom first

and believing that everything will follow. Obedience does not hinder one’s freedom to

choose but rather it helps us to concretize our choice in following Him amidst of our unworthiness and incapacities.

I am thankful that God showers bountiful and useful talents upon me and

these perhaps are the reasons why I was invited to study in Cameroon. Living far from my country is indeed challenging yet

fulfilling. I grabbed this humble invitation as an opportunity to learn another language

like French, to plunge myself into a new culture and discipline and most especially to

respond with all humility into my missionary service as early as possible.

To live genuinely the vows, these

must be rooted in prayer, discernment and most especially to our missionary experience

that is bounded with the inspiration of our Seraphic Father, Theophile Verbist who

once inspired to sacrifice all for the sake of mission and of God. Now that I am professed, one thing that I found after, is

indeed my genuine happiness - to be with His people at all times and share Him with a

smile.

Merci beaucoup.


Let us pray for the repose of the soul of:

MRS. FLORA NARCISE MOSKITO, sister of Fr. Val Narcise, passed away in Sengngat, Sudipen, La Union on February 10,

2019 at the age of 88.

MRS. MADY BOLO, mother of Fr. Tito Bolo (BRA),

passed away in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental on February 26, 2019 at the age of 72.

“Whatever you did…”

A Journey of FAITH

By Adrian Louie Z. Atonducan, CICM

FLIPPING THE MISSIONHURST CALENDAR

I started thinking about writing this article while we were having our training for

the new district treasurers of the province of CICM-LAC in Guatemala. It was one of those

cold nights when my brain somehow atrophied and could not think of a better subject. It somehow lost its capacity to

produce poetic phrases that used to flow effortlessly through my fingertips into the

keyboard. I need to summon once again the feature writer in me but to no avail. Since looking for inner inspiration did not work, I

then prayed hard to God that He (sic) would give me one thing inside my room as a start.

God did not fail me this time.

I looked around and saw the 2018

Missionhurst calendar hanging on the middle of the wall, just a little above my table. I flipped

the pages and saw the last picture that was laid out

together with the month of December. It was a photo of

Sr. Mary Ann Cruz, SPC, and I praying over Madame Benisse while Monsieur Benisse looked

on her. It gave me a bit of nostalgia, as it reminds me of

my f o rmer mi s s i o na r y experiences as an intern in Haiti. But more than that, it

gave me the sense of fulfilment, as it makes me

reflect on the end of my first journey as a pastor in one of

the North-eastern parishes in Haiti, come

end of December, coinciding with the month that this inspirational photo was featured.

APPRECIATIONS AND AFFIRMATIONS

December 3, 2018 (yes, another December again on this page!) marks the second anniversary of my assignment as the

assistant parish priest of Paroisse de Saint Roch de Grosse Roche. It was on the feast

of St. Francis Xavier, the patron of the mission and the secondary patron of our Congregation, that I first set foot on the

parish as its vicar. I can vividly remember how I arrived in the rectory on that chilly

four o’clock Saturday afternoon. The bumpy three-hour ride was nothing compared to

the beauty and serenity of the place, which I often dubbed as my “paradise.” Rev. Fr.

Romuald Pierre, CICM, our parish priest, asked the youth

to prepare my room. Before I entered my room, they have

already cleaned it for me. I was told that it was the former sacristy where every assistant

parish priest who has ever worked there resided. Since it

has a large space, it was divided with a beige curtain to occupy my bed on one side and

my office at the other. The parishioners welcomed me the

day after, on the second Sunday of Advent, with their


warm hugs and sweet

greetings. The rest was history.

Looking back, I am very grateful for the grace that God

gave me to be an instrument of faith to the faithful of Grosse Roche for the last two

years. I have journeyed with them through thick and thin,

facing challenges that I thought we would not be able to overcome. I climbed several

mountains and crossed winding rivers with them. I got

soaked in the rain and beat the searing heat of the sun

with them. I zealously visited the chapels of Corosse and Carivé with them. The exhaustion from the minutes and hours of

walking was always relieved by the smiles of the parishioners waiting for our arrival. I

celebrated sacraments with them and joined them in the celebrations afterwards. I also

grieved with them during funerals and visited the bereaved members of the family the Sunday after, which is the custom of the

place. During these last months, we organized the “Kominote Misyon Legliz” (a

type of BEC).

Both the old and the young are my partners in spreading the Good News. Our

sacristan, Monsieur Prosper Lerisson, despite his age, has been my constant companion

throughout my ministry. Monsieur Leon Bellenfant also helped me know the

communities well. The powerful women leaders in the community, Madame Marie Nicole Pierre, Medianne Louis, and many

others, are my sources of encouragement. The groups in the parish have collaborated

well with me as well from the choirs to the youth down to the children. When I go to

our school, Ecole Presbytérale Saint Roch de Grosse-Roche, Director Renold Altidor was

always there to welcome me

and discussed with me the problems of the school.

Although I was never assigned there, I always saw

to it that at least I can help them address some of their needs.

The help of the Filipino Community (FILCOM) in Port

-au-Prince is something worth noting. During one of the masses that I presided in

the capital, I asked for their support for the benefits of

my parishioners, which can be in cash or in kind. From

that day onwards, we started receiving boxes of clothes, toys, sacks of rice, and school supplies and brought them to our

parish. I am very grateful to Rev. Fr. Freddie Lucena, CICM for coordinating

with the FILCOM and for receiving the goods before we take them up the mountain.

INCAPACITATING INHIBITIONS

But there were also downsides in my

paradise. For one, the mountains can be a discouraging area especially if one is used to

the lifestyle of the city. My first year in the mission made me realize the necessity of getting a phone signal, which is just a

regular commodity in the city. I have to walk for around ten minutes to reach the market


where the signal of the telecommunications

company can be accessed. When I reach the marketplace, I also see other people talking

to their friends and loved ones on the phone. But since May of 2017, things have

drastically changed as the signal has become powerful with the installation of the new cell site, enabling us to communicate

from our own backyard or from our veranda. Although it has not yet become that

powerful for us to use our phones from inside the rectory and our rooms, it is a great improvement nonetheless. But that is

just the tip of the iceberg.

Travelling was another challenge. I got

used to going around by foot, which has become a form of exercise. In long

distances, motorcycle rides are there for hire and our rectory car is also available. However, I thought I could make use of my

driving skills but to no avail. I was just so overwhelmed by the rocky terrain that I

gave up after a few tries. I am still hopeful

though that I can improve in the years to come, especially soon

that I will be assigned in the c i ty. Fingers

crossed!

But more than these inconveniences, it

is the daily misery of the people that brought me

to helplessness. The poverty in the area

pains me more than ever. Most children are going to school without

taking breakfast, waiting eagerly if the canteen

will provide them with rice and beans. Some of

them are already sleeping during class

hours because of hunger and fatigue after

all the hikes that they need to do just to reach school on time. If there is no food

served, everyone goes home hungry. Most fathers leave their homes to find job in Sto.

Domingo in order to meet the needs of the family. Farmers are at the mercy of nature. There are some seasons that are

unfavourable, especially if heavy rains come to ruin the crops. Lastly, deforestation is

ubiquitous. Instead of bringing down fruits and vegetables, trucks are going down with bamboo, wood, and charcoal. Despite

preaching about it, my words just fell on deaf ears.

TOTALLY TESTED

Beside the photo in the Missionhurst calendar that I mentioned above was the quote from Matthew 25:40, “Amen, I say to

you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me.” As I

prepare myself for my next ministry, the

message of this passage became a sort of evaluation to gauge my

missionary involvement in my first assignment. It

begs me the question as though I am in the final exam, “Have you seen

Jesus in them?” I have been taught in our

Missiology class that my missionary commitment

is to make the face of Jesus known to all humankind. But to do

that, I have to see His face, first and foremost,

in everyone I meet. Jesus is already in the mission

where He sent me, that is, among the Haitians in


Grosse-Roche. It was up to me to discover

His presence among them and at the same time, love and serve Him with all my being.

This is not only the basic principle of our missionary life but also in our life as a

Catholic, which we often call in Haitian Creole “disip-misyonè” (missionary disciples).

Guided by such criterion, I tried to search for an affirmative answer. As I

ponder upon the passage, my thoughts brought me back to my encounter with Francelin, a grade five student studying in

the nearby public school. One morning, while I was walking towards the direction of

Lepine, I met him walking ahead of me. He started walking slowly so that he can have a

conversation with me. He told me, “You know what? I do not want to flatter you but among all the priests that passed by Grosse-

Roche, you are my favourite!” Surprised, I asked him why. He answered, “because, of

all the priests that I have met, you are the only one who has that good relations with

people.” “How can you say that?” I insisted, “All priests who came here were good.” “But you are different” was his immediate reply.

“You see,” he continued, “I do not belong to your Church but every time I see you talk to

the people and smile at them, whether Protestants or Catholics, it makes me say that you are better than the others who

were here. I also love to hear how you preach when I pass by your Church on

Sundays”. Those words left me dumbfounded that I could not say anything

anymore. As we were about to part ways, he had these final words, “Please do not leave us. Please stay with us.” I just do not know

how he would be disheartened once he hears the news of my transfer.

This anecdote makes me realize a number of things. First when I want to

discover and serve our Lord Jesus Christ, it means that I also should recognize His

presence among those who do not belong to

the flock whom I shepherd. I cannot really know the scope of the effect of my

missionary endeavor. Second, feedbacks, unsolicited or not, are important to see how you fare among the people. This encounter

gave a positive feedback but it does not mean I did not receive any constructive

criticisms here and there. Both challenged me to be better than myself. Lastly, it taught

me to value quality time. If I have not taken time to walk with that lad, I would not have had my Emmaus experience.

HENCEFORTH, HOPE

Although it will be with great sadness that I will be leaving my first assignment, I had the consolation that I will still have time

to visit it since I am still assigned in Haiti. My missionary journey does not end but it is

somehow transformed so that I can always be of service to my confreres and indirectly

to their faithful. As I continue to dedicate myself to the Incarnate Word, I also strive to be a gift to everyone I meet. I look

forward with faith and confidence, knowing that I am still not losing hope, but rather, I

am being saved by it (cf. Romans 8:24). A Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!


FR. RENE CANILLO CABAG, JR., CICM, presented his

thesis to the Faculty of Social Sciences of Gregorian

Pontifical University, Rome, Italy in partial fulfilment of

the requirements for Licentiate in Social Sciences

major in Catholic Social Doctrine and Public Ethics, in

June 2018 and received a grade equivalent to Magna

Cum Laude. Below is the ABSTRACT of his thesis

entitled WAR ON DRUGS, SOCIAL SUFFERING, AND

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Illegal substance is merely the tip of

the iceberg or a symptom of a serious social phenomenon rooted in the structural vio-

lence embedded within the strand of the social fabric particularly in the Philippines. It

is among the multi-faceted manifestations of social suffering caused by institutionalized injustices and marginalization in the society.

The Duterte administration confronts the issue on illegal substance by waging a “war

on drugs,” which has claimed thousands of lives and has put drug offenders in over-crowded prisons. Those who seek profes-

sional help have to grapple with unequipped or limited rehabilitation centers across the

country. The sociological framework for analysis draws from social suffering herme-

neutics developed by Nancy Pineda-Madrid. The fundamental principles of the Catholic Social Teachings of the Church serve as the

lens for evaluation on the phenomenon. The Catholic Church in the Philippines has to

make its stand on the brutal reality of the anti-drug campaign of the government while

ministering and providing pastoral programs

capable of providing a solution to the prob-lem of drugs. These are the main objectives

of the study: 1) To describe the phenome-non of illegal drug problems and govern-

ment’s campaign on the war against drugs. 2) To analyze the government’s campaign on war on drugs from the perspective of the

social suffering. 3) To reflect on the result of the analysis on the war on drugs campaign

employing the principles of the Catholic Social Teachings (CST), which leads to engage in structural transformation and

concrete actions to response to illegal drug problems.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been sworn as the 16th president of the

Philippines in the 2016 presidential election. He emerged victorious gaining 16 million votes. The centerpiece of his political

platform was suppressing the three so-called evils: crime, illegal drugs, and corruption.

The war against drugs has been at the

Welcome1to1Theses1Corner!


center-stage of government administration

since the president officially took charge on the 30th of June 2016. The government

launched a campaign to crackdown on drugs which led to a wave of unlawful killings

across the country, many of which may have amounted to extrajudicial executions. When he was mayor of Davao City, a major city in

Southern Philippines, Duterte was criticized by groups like Human Rights Watch report

on May 2, 2017, entitled “License to Kill” for the extrajudicial killings of hundreds of street children, petty criminals and drug

users carried out by the Davao Death Squad (DDS) (Human Rights Watch 2017: online).

It is a vigilante group in which Duterte was accused of involvement. In formal encoun-

ters and official speeches the president has alternately confirmed and denied his involve-ment in the alleged DDS killings. Duterte has

benefited from reports in the national media that made Davao into one of the world's

safest cities, and he cites this as justification for his drug policy. A declaration was made

by the highest authority of the land that the nation was becoming a narcotic state that consist of 3 million drug addicts. Having the

image of a “punisher,” he vowed to slaugh-ter them all (both addicts and pushers) to

end the problems of the nation and to safe-guard the future generation from perdition. The earlier claim of the president was

negated by the Philippine narcotic officials stating that there are 1.8 million Filipinos

who used drugs mostly “marijuana”. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

presented in the report that the Philippines has a low prevalence rate of drug users compared to the global average of other

nations (Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2017: online).

The war-on-drugs crusade has re-sulted in an alarming daily average of 34

drug related murders. In the latest survey, the death toll in Duterte's war on drugs has

claimed thousands of lives and the number

continue to rise. The recent administration maintains a relatively high satisfaction and

trust ratings from the population. Drug issue could just be symbol and symptom of a

deeper social problem. The popular support of the people in the campaign could be a significant point of departure to discern on

how the suffering of the victims be viewed by others. In the fourth quarter survey con-

ducted by Social Weather Station (SWS), the rating of the president’s performance jumped to +70, c lass i f ied as

“excellent” (Social Weather Station 2018: online). But to critics, a world paradigm that

view drugs-are-the-root-of-all-evil simplifies the causes and consequences of criminality

and problems of the nation. It manipulates the problem on drugs in order to suffice in establishing political hegemony and mobiliz-

ing popular support. The war against drugs seems to be a war against the poor since it

is seen as institutionalized murders at the expense of the urban poor. The government

as an institution cannot simply criminalize drug related issues; rather it can also ven-ture into social agencies that may lead to

individual rehabilitation and social transfor-mation. It must never discount the possibil-

ity of individual capability to go out from the ditch of addiction through social (community based) rehabilitation that lead to community

integration. Putting the blame to drugs ad-dicts and pushers most especially those who

belong to the poor to poorest sector of the Philippine society is a manner of legitimizing

suffering and marginalization. Suffering of an individual or a certain group of people has its social dimension. So as the war

against drugs in the Philippines cannot be considered as the only solution to eradicate

the existing problem; rather deeper under-standing, analysis and reflection of the social

fabric behind social problem must be held in serious consideration.


The CICM-Maryhill School of Theology (MST) in collaboration with the Justice, Peace and

Integrity of Creation (MST-JPIC Desk) of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of

Mary (CICM Missionaries) in the Philippines and the Lay Catholics for Societal and Theologi-

cal Engagement in the Philippines (Laiki Agora) will hold a Festival of Catholic Social

Teaching with the theme, “Bridge-Building and Celebrating Our Commitment to Social

Transformation”. The event will be held at Paul Van Parijs Hall in MST on the 25th and 26th

of April, 2019. This local initiative takes its inspiration from the Scoula di DottrinaSocialedella

Chiesa in Italy.

We are inviting the CICM-RP confreres and mission collaborators to take part in the launch-

ing of the festival of CST. This event will surely introduce the CICM confreres in different for-

mation communities to the fundamental social teachings of the Church from the encycli-

cals of the popes to grass-root initiatives. An alternative on-going formation venue for con-

freres and mission partners in different congregational ministry to re-visit the fundamental

social principles. The enriching testimonies of people from different institutions and sectors

of society are concrete manifestation on how these teachings have guided and inspired

communities across time, culture and social realities. It is our hope that as we go back to

the root of the Church social teachings, we can be more zealous to preach the “Joy of

the Gospel”.

You may now register online for the Festival of Catholic Social Teaching in the Philippines.

Early registration discounted fee is PhP 400.00 (until March 29, 2019 only). Regular fee of

PhP 500.00 applies from March 30, 2019 onwards. Deposit or transfer to any of the following

CICM Missionaries Inc.’s account: BPI 3141-0701-33 or BDO 0220-0644-31. Email copy of de-

posit slip/screenshots of successful mobile transfer to: [email protected] or upload

copy at online registration form link: https://goo.gl/forms/m1nW7sRgUmy4k0tv2.

For more details and information, you may also contact the following: mobile number

+639565664426 (Fr. Rene Cabag, CICM) or email addresses: [email protected].


mailto:[email protected]

https://goo.gl/forms/m1nW7sRgUmy4k0tv2?fbclid=IwAR2B35wz4v5EV99Zvuq8W3PQ03khlhZevIInBPatFuolRnHbvm_67V_CO8s



Stories for the Missionary Disposition should be about CICM confreres, should be true, and should not require Parental Guidance.

The Bitter Mass

Ricky Gelladula scheduled a mass in one of the chapels in his mission in D.R. Congo. He asked one of the acolytes to prepare the mass kit. Before going to the chapel, he had to say a three- hour mass in the parish. After the mass, Ricky was rushing because he was already late. Arriving at the chapel, everyone was already waiting, and immediately they celebrated the mass. Everything went well. However when he drank the wine from the chalice, he was surprised and furious but retained his calmness. It was not the wine but rather a J&B whisky. It was the acolyte who mistook the whisky (for the visiting confreres) for mass wine.

What a bitter commemoration of the Lord‘s Supper.

[Ricky Gelladula]

Protective Bishop Brasseur

Elias Bareng used to come down to Bishop‘s House from the Cathedral to play canasta (a game of cards) with the Sisters and this was upstairs in the Recreation room of Bishop Brasseur. Elias was so ―makulit‖(importunate) repeating that the sisters are born to be losers. In irritation, Sr. Aurora took his penlight and pocketed it.

When the time came for him to leave came, he looked for his penlight. He suspected Sr. Aurora to be the culprit and Sr. denied this. At the very moment Elias collared Sister Aurora, Bishop Brasseur came out from the Chapel and saw it. He came and scolded the priest but this was Sr. Aurora‘s fault. Elias left the house sad. He did not anymore come to play canasta with the Sisters yet this was his favorite hobby.

[Sr. Aurora Codiam, SIHM]

A Day in Scheut

It was a fine fall morning When at Scheut I set foot A place where I‘ll be learning More than just mere input

Confreres warmly greeted me As I entered the hall I enjoyed their company I really thank them all

One of them gave me a trip Down in our history

He knows every kind of strip In our gallery

My founder‘s remains are found Beneath the chapel‘s floor To each of us it is renowned We could not ask for more

I will always remember My moments in this place These I treasure forever With our Lady of Grace

[Adrian Louie Atonducan]

All confreres of any Provinces are invited to contribute some anecdotes about themselves or about deceased confreres. Give your stories to Rex Salvilla. You will be remembered in his masses. E-mail: [email protected]


Documents

RP PROVINCE NEWSLETTER January-February 2019 Vol. 55 No. 1 · preceding provincial government for their years of dedication and commitment to serve this province in their different