On December 22, 2017, thye typhoon “Vinta” passed through Cagayan de Oro City, causing many people to move to the evacuation centers prepared by the local government. This is how it looked the center of Cagayan de Oro in the mid-morning on Friday, December 22.
Category SCJ Philippine Region
Celebrating Feast of Immaculate Conception in Cagayan de Oro
On December 8, 2017, the Immaculate Conception Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro, celebrated its Patronal Feast of Immaculate Conception. The concelebrated Mass was presided by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, while the homily was delevered by Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ, both from the neighbour Sacred Heart Formation House.
At the end of the Holy Eucharist, the parishioners renewed their Act of Dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by floral offering and common meal.
The Immaculate Conception Parish in Aluba is being administered by the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SCJs) since June 1, 2011. At the moment Fr. Janusz Burzawa is the Parish Priest and is assisted by Fr. Niño Etulle, Deacon Rev. Nathanael Robilla, and a seminarian on exposure Fra. Julius Socorro, SCJ.
Dedication of the New Parish Church in Aluba
On December 2, 2017, the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro City, celebrated the dedication of its newly constructed church. The construction of the new parish church officialy started on February 28, 2015, and in less than three years has been completed. It looks impressive! All the details has been studied and implemented by the construction committee under the supervision of the parish priest Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ, who was the initiator of this project and also fundraiser. By the way, this is the third project that Fr. Burzawa is involved. In his past assignments he built a new church in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur and prepared complete plans for the new church in Dumalinao, also in Zamboanga del Sur, which now is in its final stage of completion.
The construction of the new church went in pair in building of the local Christian Community, which Fr. Burzawa considers as the most important. There is a number of pastoral initiatives introduced by him such as home visitations, special catechesis, pledges, retreats and recollections for all the faithful, and recently “Parade of Saints” replacing the pagan Halloween.
The ceremony of dedication was presided by Fr. Florencio Salvador, SSJV, a former pastor of this parish and delegate of the archbishop Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ,DD, who was assisted by several diocesan priests from the vicariate and SCJs from the neighbor communities.
After the Eucharistic celebration and lunch together, the parish community celebrated its “Family Day”, which in the future will be held on the first Saturday of December.
Elevation to the Rank of Quasi-Parish and First Feast Celebration
On November 27, 2017, the Chaplaincy of St. Pope John Paul II in Talisay, Hilongos, Southern Leyte, was elevated the rank of Quasi-Parish, with a new name Miraculous Medal Parish.
According to the Canon Law:
A Parish is defined as a certain community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a pastor (parochus) as its proper pastor under the authority of the diocesan bishop (Can. 515 §1). This canonical definition expresses the important elements of a parish as follows;
1. It is a community of the Christian faithful. The sacred church building does not constitute alone a parish but rather the Christian Faithful that has been called together to be nourished and to bear witness the Word of God in the community.
2. It is territorial in nature belonging to a particular church which is the diocese. Hence it does not act as an autonomous entity. It follows certain ecclesiastical boundaries in order to establish the competence of the pastor and to give convenience to the faithful.
3. It should have a proper pastor who is in charge of the pastoral care of the faithful. He should see to it that Christian faithful are well guided and nourished with the Joy of the Gospel through the pastoral and spiritual programs of the parish.
4. The pastor acts under the authority of the diocesan bishop. The pastor should always maintain his good relationship with his bishop. He should never make any decision nor action that are in contrary to the statutes and practices of the diocese especially in terms of legal matters.
Unless the law provides otherwise, a quasi-parish is equivalent to a parish; a Quasi-Parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful in a particular church, entrusted to a priest as its proper pastor but not yet erected as a parish because of particular circumstances (Can. 516 §1). The definition of the quasi-parish almost follows the same important elements as that of a parish, though it is not yet decreed as such for some pastoral reasons. It is temporary in nature for it may be a preparatory stage for a parish, if all the requirements and conditions prescribed by the diocesan bishop, through his prudent judgment, had been fulfilled.
The “Decree of Establishment”, signed by the Bishop of Maasin, Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD, was read at the beginning of the Holy Eucharist by the Chancellor of the Diocese Fr. Alexes Villarubin, JCL. The concelebrated Mass was presided by Msgr. Oscar A. Cadayona, the Vicar General from Maasin. Among the concelebrants were Msgr. Antonio M. Gaviola, PC, the Pastor – Moderator of Hilongos Parish, Fr. Conrado C. Saavedra, Jr., Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, Fr. Joseph Butlig, SCJ, Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ, Fr. Arthur Guevara, SCJ and Fr. Christopher Alburo, SCJ.
Remembering SCJ Martyrs in Cagayan de Oro
Each November 26 is a special day of remembrance of all SCJs who have died in the field as martyrs. Since November 26 this year falls on Sunday, the SCJ community in Cagayan de Oro celebrated the SCJ Memorial Day on November 25, 2017. The main celebrant and homilist was superior of the community Fr. Patrick Gutib, SCJ. The celebration was attended by the SCJs from the area of Cagayan de Oro, members of the Dehonian Family and friends. At the end of the Holy Mass took place a 10 minute presentation about the SCJ martyrs. As usual the celebration concluded with a common meal.
SCJ Philippines Region 