May 30 2017

18th Founding Anniversary of Kasanag Daughters Foundation

On May 27, 2017, the Kasanag Daughters Foundation, Inc. (KDFI), one of the social projects of the Priests of the Sacred Heart – Philippine Region in Cagayan de Oro City, celebrated its 18th Founding Anniversary. The celebration started with the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Donald Longno, SCJ, and was followed by the arts exhibit prepared by the girls, very short cultural presentation and common supper. The institution, providing shelter and rehabilitation opportunities to the victims of sexual abuse, was established in 1999 by Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ. As of now, the institution takes care of 24 girls, aged 7 to 16 years. The project coordinator is Fr. Joseph Butlig, SCJ. Since the beginning, the total number of admittances reached 190.

May 30 2017

Certificate of Recognition for Dansolihon

On May 27, 2017, Fr. Jan Krzysciak. SCJ, the pastor in charge of Jesus Nazareno Chaplaincy in Dansolihon, received a “Certififate of Recognition” from the the “Responsible Parenthood and All-Natural Family Planning” of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. The Chaplaincy in Dansolihon was ranked as the second of the eleven outstanding parishes for the unwavering support and continued assistance to the RP-NFP Coordinators, Counselors, Acceptors and the Program. The certificate is signed by the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, Most. Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D.

Congratulations to Fr. Jan and to the Chaplaincy in Dansolihon!

May 17 2017

28 Years of SCJ Presence in the Philippines

From the left: Fr. Jeremiah Sheehy, Fr. Henricus Sondermeijer, Fr. Yohanes Sono Pribadi, Fr. Stephen Schmitz, Fr. Adrian Borst – General Councilor, Pope John Paul II, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, Fr. Eduardo Aguero, Fr. Juan Domingo Griffone and Fr. Rino Venturin.

May 17, 1989, is the official date of arrival of first SCJ missionaries in the Philippines. The original group was composed of eight (8) priests representing seven (7) nationalities and five (5) different entities: 3 from Argentina, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Germany, 1 from Poland and 1 from British-Irish Province.

Prior to that, from October 1988 to March 1989, the group met in the United States, in Hales Corners (WI) to study English, the common language of the group and one of the official languages in the Philippines.

From April 20 – May 3, 1989, the whole group met again in Rome. During series of meetings with the members of the General Administration, different people from the Philippines, the group could learn more about the needs and challenges lying ahead of them. On April 25, 1989, the group of first missionaries came up with the following guiding principles for their new mission:

As a SCJ group of missionaries we give the highest priority to Community life. We reaffirm that “Community life is mission itself”.
We go to the Philippines to serve the local Church, as communities, according to the missionary spirit of our own Rule of life.
We will try to stay together and to live together avoiding situations where a member has to live permanently alone.
We intent normally to form communities of at least three members.
We are going to share life, responsibilities, pastoral work, projects and money.
We are going to meet once a month with the whole group for at least one day.
We are going to meet, once a year, for an Assembly and also in a different date for a Retreat.
Once a week those who live nearby are invited to come together.
While we are a small group, we will share all responsibilities and decisions.
There will be a single common money box; there will be neither funds nor private projects. All decisions, on projects, will be taken together by the missionary group.

The group also chose a coordinator, two councilors and a treasurer.

On April 26, 1989, the group was received by Pope St. John Paul II, who gave his apostolic blessing to the new missionaries, after the mass celebrated in his private chapel at the Vatican City, before their departure for Asia.

As usual, at the end of the Mass celebration, the group was guided from the Pope’s Chapel to the library nearby, where the Holy Father greeted his guests.

“When the Secretary of the Pope told him about us, the Holy Father smiling said to us ‘Dehonians, Dehonians, courage in the Philippines’ (Fr. Juan Domingo Griffone).

May 17 2017

Acceptance of New Novices

On May 16, 2017, twelve Postulants (six Filipino and six Vietnamese) were officially accepted to the fourteen month Novitiate. The ceremony of acceptance took place during the Holy Eucharist in Dumalinao Parish, which followed the meeting of the SCJ Philippine Region. The new novices were presented to the Regional Superior Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, by the Master of Postulants Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ. So far this is the biggest group that entered the Novitiate program. At the moment the total number of Novices is seventeen. Five Novices (three Filipino and two Vietnamese) will have their first profession of vows on June 28, 2017.

We entrust all the Novices and the Novice Master, Fr. Indra Pamungkas, SCJ, to your continuous prayers.

May 15 2017

60th Parish Anniversary and Patronal Feast in Dumalinao

The celebration of the 60^th Parish Anniversary and Feast of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Dumalinao, started in the evening of May 14, 2017 and it was held at the Dumalinao Regional Pilot School. More than 600 people coming from 44 chapels took part in the GSK Coronation Night and “Talendadong Parokyano.” The activity was organized in cooperation with Hon. Junaflor S. Cerilles, RMT, the municipal mayor of Dumalinao, Rev. Fr. Lukas Hadi Sismo Sasmito, SCJ, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Muego, SCJ and Rev. Fr. Robertus Sutopo, SCJ, assistant parish priests and some SCJ guest priests and seminarians with the Theme: “Year of the Parish – Communion of Communities.” Although the celebration was interrupted by the “black out”, it did not prevent the people to enjoy the show which lasted for four hours.

The main celebration was held on May 15, 2017. The Bishop of Pagadian Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel “Manny” Cabajar, C.Ss.R, D.D., was the presider of the concelebrated Holy Eucharist, together with the parish priest, two assistant parish priests, Rev. Fr. Franciszek Pupkowski, SCJ, the regional superior of the SCJ Philippine Region, 14 SCJ priests and 4 diocesan priests. The Holy Mass was attended by more than 1,500 faithful coming from Balongating and Tigbao Sub-Parishes, and 44 Chapels of the San Isidro Labrador Parish.