Monthly Archives: April 2018

Apr 24 2018

Pilgrim Relics of St. Therese in Dumalinao Parish

The pilgrim relics of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus is for the fourth time in the Philippines. It arrived on January 13, 2018, and will stay until May 31, 2018, visiting different dioceses and parishes.

At the moment the relics is visiting the Diocese of Pagadian. On April 24, 2018, the relics, for a short time, visited the St. Isidore Parish in Dumalinao run by the SCJs.

The pilgrim relics of Saint Thérèse have visited the Philippines in 2000, 2008 and 2013.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, also called Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, was born on January 2, 1873, in Alençon, France. She died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24.

She is one of the most popular Catholic saints. As a doctor of the church, she is the subject of much theological comment and study, and as an appealing young woman, whose message has touched the lives of millions, she remains the focus of much-popular devotion.

Relics are the material remains of a saint or holy person after death, as well as objects sanctified by contact with his or her body.

Real or first-class relics include the skin and bones, clothing, objects used for penance and instruments of a martyr’s imprisonment or passion, while representative relics are objects placed in contact with the body or grave of a saint.

The Catholic faithful venerate the relics of saints because as intercessors with God for the living, through their relics—a record of the saint—God manifests his presence.

Apr 24 2018

Remembering Bishop Iti…

On April 19,2018, at the Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, passed away Most Rev. Zacarias C. Jimenez,D.D, an Auxillary Bishop-Emeritus of the Diocese of Butuan, and big friend of SCJs (Dehonians) in the Philippines.

Born on November 5, 1947, in Inabanga, Bohol in the Philippines, Bishop Jimenez was ordained to the priesthood on April 17, 1973, at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Tagbilaran. He was consecrated as bishop on January 6, 1995, at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

He served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pagadian, Philippines, from December 2, 1994 to June 11, 2003. He then served as auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Butuan, Philippines and as titular bishop of Arba from June 11, 2003, until his death.

After suffering from two strokes, he died due to the acute respiratory failure.

Fondly called as Bishop Iti, served as the parish priest of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Butuan City. As a longtime seminary formator, was seen as a gentle, slow to anger, reasonable, nonjudgmental, and Spirit-abiding person. He was not only a good pastor and follower of Christ, but also true believer of Christ’s humility and compassion.

He was like a father to all SCJs, especially during the time of kidnapping of Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni, SCJ, (October 17, 2001 – April 8, 20012) in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, working tirelessly for the release of Fr. Beppe.

As we thank God for the gift of his presence in our lives, we ask God to accept him into His Kingdom. Requiescat in Pace!

Apr 23 2018

Archdiocesan Vocation Jamboree

On April 21, 2018, more than 750 youths coming from different parishes of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro attended the Vocation Jamboree prepared by the Directors/Directresses of Vocations in the Philippines (DVP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter, headed by the Rev. Fr. Roger Gabac, SSJV, the Archdiocesan Vocation Director with the cooperation of the members of DVP represented by different Religious Men and Women that works in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

The activity started at 3:00PM with a Pilgrim Walk from Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Camaman-an going to the venue at Saint John Vianney Seminary covered court. Upon arriving at the venue there were opening salvo to animate the participants while at the same time registration was going on. At around 6:00PM dinner was served .

Right after dinner, Bishop-elect Raul Dael, SSJV gave a talk about vocation in general. All throughout the talk,  the participants were  attentive to the speaker.  After, the talk on vocation , the big group was divided into three groups for another talk on Married Life, Priestly, Religious and Single Blessedness. After each talk, the youths were given time to interact by encouraging them to ask questions to the speakers.

The vocation talk was followed by the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. While the adoration was going on, priests, religious men and women  around the venue  were conducting counseling, to those who were willing and needed it.  At 5:00AM the Vocation Jamboree was concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist celebrated by Bishop-elect Fr. Raul Dael, SSJV and concelebrated by all priests who attended the activity.

By: Fr. Joseph Butlig, SCJ

Apr 17 2018

Episcopal ordination of Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ

The date of the episcopal ordination of Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ,  the 10th Superior General of the Dehonians, has been announced.

Msgr. Heinz-Günter Bongartz invites you to the celebration, which will take place at the Cathedral of Mariä Himmelfahrt in Hildesheim, on September 1st at 10:00 a.m.

Fr. Heiner will become the 71st bishop of the diocese.

The presider and ordaining bishop will be the archbishop of Hamburg, Msgr. Stefan Heße. Other concelebrants are to include Msgr. Franz-Josef Bode (Osnabrücker) and Msgr. Norbert Trelle (bishop emeritus of Hildesheim). The papal bull will be presented by Archbishop Nikola Eterović (apostolic nuncio).

Apr 17 2018

Meeting of the SCJ Formators in Rome

From April 16 – 20, 2018, the Dehonian formators, particularly the rectors of the scholasticates, are meeting in Rome to discuss the needs and challenges of formation at the stage of Theology.

The Philippines is being represented by Fr. Delio Ruiz, SCJ, the head of the formation team and rector of the Dehon House in Manila. We entrust this meeting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.