On February 5, 2018, the SCJ Philippine Region started its annual assembly. The assembly is being held at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City and is attended by 30 confreres, including Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ from Macao (ICA) and Fr. Khoa Viet Nguyen, SCJ representing the District of Vietnam.

The theme of the assembly, as proposed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), is “Renewed Servant-Leaders for the New Evangelization”  and is dedicated to the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. “We aim towards the integral renewal of the values, mind-sets, behavior and life-styles of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. Following the example of the Good Shepherd, they are invited to become servant-leaders who care most especially for the least, the lost and the last.” (CBCP Pastoral  Exhortation On the Occasion of the Opening of the 2018 Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, First Sunday of Advent, 03 December 2017).

As usual the assembly started with a short reflection on the theme guided by Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ, service of reconciliation led by Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ, confession and adoration.

In the afternoon of the first day, the participants following the guide questions shared their personal experiences and insights regarding last year and the main topic of the assembly.

The day ended with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, supper and common recreation.

The second day was dedicated to the reports by communities and different fields of activities of the region.

The main topic will be elaborated on the third and fourth day of the assembly under the guidance of the main moderator Fr. Eduardo Aguero, SCJ.

The assembly is going to conclude on February 9, 2018.