Benefactors’ Day

Almost every year, on Sunday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the formation community of Cagayan de Oro invites benefactors from the area for a special Thanksgiving Mass. In this way, the Priests of the Sacred Heart want to say “Thank you” to those who support them spiritually and financially. For benefactors it is always an opportunity to learn more about the spirituality and different projects of the Congregation. This year the celebration of the “Benefactors’ Day” was held on June 5, 2016. The Eucharist scheduled at 10:00 AM was preceded with a short video presentation prepared on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of SCJ presence in the Philippines and was followed by a lunch together. Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, in his homily, based on the Sunday’s Gospel, told the congregation how much God loves and cares for each person on the example of Jesus, who gave back to his mother her son, after raising him up from the dead. “As His followers, we are invited to be like Him, he said, to be people of heart and of compassion, to be concerned and involved. We may not perform miracles as Jesus did, but we can show compassion in various concrete ways like assisting a needy person.”  He continued, “Without your support we can do very little, but together we can do a lot.  And for all this I want to thank you, for your open and compassionate hearts. Because of this, many people could feel that ‘God has visited His people!’  As someone once said that the money and the riches we give away are the only riches that we bring to eternity.”

Priestly Ordination of Deacon Sergio

On June 3, 2016, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of JesusDeacon Sergio Shoiti Matumoto, SCJ, was ordained priest. The ceremony of ordination was held at the Paróquia Nossa Senhora de Lourdes (Our lady of Lourdes Parish) in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, run by the Priests of the Sacred Heart and was presided by the Most Rev. Vilsom Basso, SCJ, bishop of Caxias in  Maranhão, Brazil.

Prior to this, the parish had a three-day special preparation for this event from May 31 – June 2, 2016. Just before the ordination Fr. Sergio shared in his email “I am really blessed to be ordained on our great Feast!  I am a little nervous, anxious, feeling unworthy of such wonderful grace, I know I don’t deserve it and I am afraid not to correspond to so great grace but on the other hand I am very happy of being chosen by God a sinner who experienced God’s merciful love. … I hope to be a real Priest of the SACRED HEART OF JESUS; I hope to be a prophet of love and a minister of Reconciliation wherever you send me.”

The ceremony of ordination of Fr. Sergio, which was live streaming over the internet, started at 7:30 PM (6:30 AM – June 4, 2016, Manila Time) and lasted for more than two hours. The celebration was attended by many SCJs from the BSP Province and friends. The Philippine Region was represented by Fr. Aloisio Back, SCJ. In his thanksgiving speech, the newly ordained priest greeted the Philippines in English and Tagalog.

Celebration in Cagayan de Oro

DSC01905

The celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cagayan de Oro community was connected with the Thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Ronald Basco, SCJ, who was ordained priest on May 19, 2016, in Tagum City by the Most Rev. Wilfredo D. Manlapaz, D.D.

In the morning, members of the three neighbor SCJ communities, Sacred Heart Formation House, Immaculate Conception Parish and Dansolihon Chaplaincy, met together for a moment of reflection led by Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ, and an hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The concelebrated Mass in the afternoon was presided by the newly ordained priest Fr. Ronald. After the reading of the Gospel, all SCJs renewed their commitment as religious, which was followed by the acceptance of new Postulants. Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, the Regional Superior, accepted six Filipinos and six Vietnamese into the Postulancy Program. The candidates were presented by the newly appointed Master of Postulants, Fr. Patrick L. Gutib, SCJ. The homily was delivered by Fr. Donald S. Longno, SCJ, the superior of the community.

At the end of the Mass, Fr. Ronald gave a special individual blessing to all the participants of the celebration, which was followed by the simple yet delicious supper.

 

Perpetual Profession of Vows of Fra. Nathaniel

On May 7, 2016, Fra. Nathaniel D. Robilla, SCJ, member of the Philippine Region, made his perpetual profession of vows. The vows were accepted by Very Rev. Fr. Oliviero Cattani, SCJ, the Provincial Superior of the Northern Italian Province (ITS). The ceremony was attended by many confreres from the ITS Province and members of Roma I community and of the General Administration. “There were a lot of people, and a group of 40 Filipino singing during the holy Mass: a very nice experience for all of us! (Fr. Enzo Brena, SCJ). As we congratulate Fra. Nathaniel, we continue to support his with our prayers.