Category SCJ Congregation

Jun 26 2016

New SCJ Presence in Diocese of Antipolo

bukal1On 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.

img1466916232700The 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.

img1466916466148The 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 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.

Jun 5 2016

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.”

Jun 4 2016

Priestly Ordination of Deacon Sergio

On June 3, 2016, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Deacon 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.

Jun 3 2016

Celebration in Cagayan de Oro

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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.