Jul 24 2016

From Poland with Love – World Youth Day 2016

World Youth Day is a youth-oriented International event that takes place every two to three years. The event itself is a celebration of Catholic Faith among the world’s youth, but the invitation is extended to youth of all the world regardless of religious convictions. World Youth Day was initiated by St. Pope John Paul II in 1985 with the first encounter being held in Rome in 1986.

Each international World Youth Day attracts thousands of young people from around the world to gather in a festival of unity and color. World Youth Day is not just a day, but a week of festival, celebrating the faith of young people. World Youth Day presents an opportunity for young people of different cultures and backgrounds to come together and share in the faith and culture of others. It has become tradition that the groups of young people carry various colors, flags and symbols to distinguish who they are and where they come from. This is also done through songs, chants and music. Throughout the course of the event, young people trade these symbols, flags and colors to keep as souvenirs of their time at World Youth Day and as memories of the people they met.

History of World Youth Day

Although World Youth Day has become a week of celebration, the pinnacle of the festival is the open air mass held by the Pope on the last day. This is officially ‘The World Youth Day’. All the other activities are a build up to this event. The smiles and joy, singing and dancing, culture upon culture and nation upon nation, proudly holding flags high, greeting one another, trading tokens, humbly realizing how small we are in a world of people, and strengthened to witness so many who share our faith with all its difficulties and challenges, is all part of the build up to this massive International Mass, celebrating youth with their enthusiasm and joy.

There have been a total of 12 International World Youth Days since 1986. The most recent World Youth Day was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2013.

Buenos Aires (1987)
Santiago de Compostela (1989)
Częstochowa (1991)
Denver (1993)
Manila (1995)
Paris (1997)
Rome (2000)
Toronto (2002)
Cologne (2005)
Sydney (2008)
Madrid (2011)
Rio de Janeiro (2013)

Dehonian Youth Encounter

Since the WYD in Cologne in 2005, the Dehonian Youth from around the world meets together to share the richness of the spirituality of Venerable Fr. Leo Dehon and simply to celebrate. As this year, the World Youth Day is held in Krakow, Poland, the representatives from different countries are gathered around the centers of SCJ presence in different parts of the country. The youth connected with the SCJ Philippine Region is composed of 17 young people plus 3 priests and 1 SCJ seminarian. After arrival in Warsaw on July 20, 2016 and visiting some interesting places there, the group moved to Pliszczyn, Diocese of Lublin, where the SCJs have their parish and Postulancy house. After some common activities and visiting countryside they will move to Stadniki and then to Krakow to participate in the Vigil and the Mass with Pope Francis on July 30-31, 2016. The participants from the Philippines will also have an opportunity to visit some important places before their departure for the Philippines on August 9, 2016.

Jun 26 2016

New SCJ Presence in Diocese of Antipolo

bukal1 On June 26, 2016, the Holy Cross Chapel located in Sitio Bukal, Barangay Tandang Kutyo, Town of Tanay in Rizal Province, was officially declared a parish. The Bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo, Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, DD., entrusted this new parish to the SCJs.

The Holy Cross Parish is composed of ten (10) chapels, and formerly was a part of San Idefonso de Toledo Parish in Tanay.

The ceremony of erection and induction of the new Parish Priest took place during the Holy Eucharist presided by the Bishop Coadjutor, Most Rev. Francisco M. De Leon, DD. At the start of the Mass, the Parish Priest of San Idefonso de Toledo Parish, Rev. Fr. Noeh E. Elnar, read the decree of erection and of appointment of Rev. Fr. Marcial C. Aguirre, SCJ, as a Parish Priest, which was followed by the “Profession of Faith” by Fr. Marcial.

The new Parish Priest will be accompanied by a Deacon Rev. Dennis Macasero, SCJ, and a seminarian on exposure Fra. Justreel Tuburan, SCJ.

The celebration was flocked by many parishioners and guests, including the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Barangay Officials of Tanay. The SCJs were represented by members of the Dehon House Community, Bagong Silang, and the Regional Superior Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ.

Jun 18 2016

Installation of New Parish Priest in Bagong Silang

The Ceremony of Induction is an occasion when a new Parish Priest is formally presented to the parish in a liturgical context. The ceremony is so arranged to remind priest and people of their responsibility together before God to serve Christ in his Church, and by their holiness and the example of their lives, individually and as a local community, to promote the mission of their Lord.

On June 17, 2016, the Bishop of Diocese of Novaliches, Most. Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD, has installed Fr. Elpidio Luza Jr., SCJ as a new Parish Priest in San Roque Parish in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. Fr. Elpidio, who has already served for one year in the parish as an Assistant Parish Priest, replaced Fr. John Karl Cabaluna, SCJ.

The ceremony took place during the Holy Mass and was attended by many parishioners, who came to say “thank you” to the outgoing Parish Priest and welcome the new one. Several SCJs and some other religious and diocesan priests were also present. Fr. Elpidio will be accompanied by his two assistants: Fr. Marlo Piloton and Fr. Sergio Matumoto.

At the end of the Mass, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ. the SCJ Regional Superior wished all the best to the new Parish Priest and thanked Fr. “Nonong” for his work and all accomplishments, especially for his “compassionate heart” for the poor, sick and abandoned. Among many different projects started by Fr. John Karl are the feeding program, providing lunch six days a week for almost 200 children and elderly people, and kindergarten for more than 40 children.

Jun 18 2016

Dehonian Youth Mission 2016

13256273_1086263954764092_3742855200275738128_n In celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and in unity with the Dehonian Youth Meeting 2016 in Poland, this year’s annual Dehonian Youth Missionaries (DYM) summer mission was mainly centered on the theme: “Lord make me an instrument of your mercy.” With open hearts and joyous spirits, 34 young missionaries (Filipinos and Vietnamese) responded to the call to meet God through serving His people in the mountainous areas of Tignapoloan in the Jesus Nazareno Chaplaincy, Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City.

The activity started with a 3-day stay-in formation seminar on May 14-17, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Aluba before the missionaries were sent forth to the mission areas of Lower and Upper Tignapoloan on May 17, 2016.

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The mission proper started in the afternoon of May 17, 2016, respectively. The missionaries visited the Christian households in the areas, blessed their homes and had BEC session or faith sharing with the families. They also conducted activities in the chapels like Flores de Mayo for the kids, animation, community building, catechesis and recollection for the youth; BEC input and catechesis for the adults. They also facilitated Taizé prayer with confession, and celebrated the Eucharist. One of the greatest challenges was to help strengthen the leaders and reorganize the youth.

What actually inspired the missionaries most was the warm welcome and hospitality of the communities. However, as missionaries, we also embraced the community life selflessly; that regardless of diversity, we achieved unity. We became missionaries not just to the people there, but as well as to each of our brothers and sisters in our respective groups, living to be instruments of mercy to one another. Thus, this became a true manifestation of the inspiration learnt from our founder, Ven. Fr. Leo John Dehon – the SINT UNUM we Dehonians ought to live by.

Vivat Cor Jesu!

By: Rexell Grace R. Gaa
Dehonian Youth Missionary

Jun 13 2016

Warm welcome in the Diocese of Maasin

Expansion of the SCJ presence to the middle of the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas area, was one of the top priorities of the Philippine Region since many years ago. It would serve not only as a link between the two big islands of Luzon and Mindanao, where the SCJs are present, but also it could become a source of new vocations.

After some research and consultations, the Bishop of Diocese of Maasin, Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD, has offered to the Congregation a part of a big parish in Hilongos, Southern Leyte, to be developed into a new parish.

On June 11, 2016, two SCJ priests, Fr. Arthur Guevara and Fr. Christopher Alburo were very warmly welcomed by the people of Talisay, from the St. Pope John Paul II Southern Mission Territory, a part of Immaculate Conception Parish in Hilongos.

The concelebrated Mass was presided by Msgr. Antonio M. Gaviola, PC, the Pastor – Moderator of Hilongos Parish. Among the concelebrants were: Msgr. Marnito B. Bansig, Fr. Conrado C. Saavedra, Jr., the co-pastors and Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ and Fr. Khoa Nguyen, SCJ from the Priests of the Sacred Heart. During his homily Fr. Francis, introduced the SCJ Congregation and explained the reasons of the SCJ presence in the area.

The welcome party was not only attended by many parishioners, but also by the Mayor of Hilongos, Hon. Albert Villahermosa and all barangays capitans of the future parish.

The new SCJ community is composed of two SCJ priests and one seminarian on exposure, Fra. April Jhon Magarzo, SCJ. The challenge to start a new presence is very big, the living conditions of the community are very simple, but the priests assigned there are happy and the people are very excited and supportive.