After the Final Profession of Vows, the two (2) members of the Vietnam District and one (1) member of the Philippine Region: Bro. Dang Van Nguyen,SCJ, Bro. Luong Van Nguyen, SCJ, and Bro. Dennis M. Macasero, SCJ were ordained deacons.
The celebration was held at the San Isidro Parish in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, Diocese of Pagadian on June 29, 2016. The three SCJs were ordained by the local bishop Most Rev. Emmanuel Cabajar DD, CSsR,
On June 28, 2016, three (3) SCJs on temporary vows, one (1) Filipino: Bro. Dennis M. Macasero, SCJ, and two (2) Vietnamese: Bro. Dang Van Ngyen, SCJ and Bro. Luong Van Nguyen, SCJ, made their Final Profession of Vows in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Also, during the same celebration seven (7) Novices, two (2) Filipino: Argol Chavez and Lloyd Cabatana and five (5) Vietnamese, Doan Nhon An Phuc, Do Ngoc Luan, Le Hai Linh, Do Van Tuan and Dinh The Hung, made their commitment to God by professing their first vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience in the same Congregation.
The ceremony took plcae during the Holy Eucharist at the Novitiate Fr.Dehon in Lower Lucoban, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.
The vows were taken in the presence of the members of SCJ Philippine Region, SCJ Vietnam District, quest priests and religious, members of families and friends of the professes and the Congregation.
The vows were accepted by the Philippine Regional Superior Fr. Franciszek Pupkowski, SCJ.
The three day activities of the SCJ Philippine Region started in the morning on June 27, 2016,with the meeting of the Region, and was followed by celebration of the 25th Ordination Anniversary of Fr. Indra Pamungkas, SCJ and Installation of Fr. Yohanes Sono Pribadi, SCJ as New Superior of the Novitiate Community in the afternoon. The celebration was held in the Novitiate Fr. Dehon in Lower Lucoban, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.
After the homily, delivered by Fr. Yohanes, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, the Regional superior, accepted his “Profession of Faith.” The concelebrated Mass was presided by Fr. Indra.
Fr. Yohanes Sono Pribadi, SCJ, belongs to the first group of missionaries that arrived 27 years ago in the Philippines. Among his different assignments were: Assistant and later Parish Priest in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, Vocation Director, Assistant Parish Priest in Bacolod, Lanao del Norte and Parish Priest in Kumalarang. In 2004, Fr. Yohanes returned to his mother province in Indonesia where he spent 10 years working as a Vocation Director and doing pastoral work. In 2014, he rejoined the Philippine Mission and was assigned in the Novitiate Community where he assists Fr. Indra, the Novice Master and takes care of the property.
Fr. Indra Pamungkas, SCJ, has been present in the Philippines for the last 23 years. Besides his pastoral assignments in Margosatubig and Bacolod, most of the time he spent working in the formation and being a Vocation Director. In 2015, he was assigned as a Novice Master.
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.
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.
SCJ Philippines Region 