On May 13, 2018, the St. Isidore Parish in Kumalarang celebrated its anticipated Feast of the Patron Saint, which actually falls on May 15. The main celebrant was the Bishop of Ipil, Most Rev. Julius S. Tonel, D.D., who also administered to the 171 young people the Sacrament of Confirmation . The celebration was attended by Fr. Khoa Nguyen from Cagayan de Oro.
The month of May is one of the busiest months in the entire year. Besides, the Flores de Mayo held in every parish, three SCJ parishes celebrate their Feast of the Patron: Bukal Ng Krus in Tandang Kutyo, Tanay on second Monday and Kumalarang and Dumalinao on May 15. Also, this is a month of graduations, renewal of vows, youth missions and barangay elections.
Here, is what had happened or will happen during the month of May:
May 1 – 31, 2018 – Flores de Mayo.
May 1 – 12, 2018 – Youth Mission in Hitudpan and Kapudlusan, Medalla Milagrosa Quasi Parish in Talisay, Hilongos, Southern Leyte.
May 9, 2018 – the Commencement Exercises oF Loyola School oF Theology (LST). The Baccalaureate Mass was followed by the Commencement Exercises. The two members of the Dehon House community were graduating; Fr. Delio Ruiz and Bro. Joel Bolo. Fr. Delio Ruiz graduated with the degree of Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD) with Magna Cum Laude. And Fra. Joel Bolo obtained the degree of Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB) and Master of Arts Major in Pastoral Ministry (MA). Congratulations to both of them. Job well done!
May 10, 2018 – Renewal of Vows in Cagayan de Oro of Fra. Victor Lingasa and Fra. Julius Socorro.
May 10 – 13, 2018 – Visit of Medalla Milagrosa in Dumalinao Parish.
May 11, 2018 – Renewal of Vows of Fra. Ruel Paalisbo in the Novitiate Fr. Dehon, Lower Lucoban, Dumalinao and Fra. Joel J. Bolo and Fra. Reneboy D. Soccoro in Dehon House, Quezon City. The renewals of vows were accepted by Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo Sasmito, SCJ, the Regional Superior and Fr. Delio Ruiz, SCJ, the councilor respectively.
May 12, 2018 – Medical Mission in Kumalarang.
May 13, 2018 – Acceptance of new Novices.
May 14, 2018 – Bukal Ng Krus Parish Feast in Tandang Kutyo, Tanay, Diocese of Antipolo.
May 15, 2018 – Feast of St. Isidore the Farmer in Kumalarang and Dumalinao.
May 17, 2018 – Regional meeting in the Novitiate Fr. Dehon.
May 19 – 27, 2018 – Youth Mission in Man-ai, Dansolihon Chaplaincy, Cagayan de Oro
May 31, 2018 – Culmination of Flores de Mayo.
On May 10, 2018, two scholastics: Fra. Victor Lingasa and Fra. Julius Socorro, have renewed their religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The vows were accepted by Fr. Rico O. Lapinig, SCJ, the first councilor of the Philippine Region. The ceremony was held at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City and was attended by the SCJs from neighbor communities, family members and friends.
At the moment both of them are on their community exposure: Fra. Victor in Talisay, Hilongos and Fra. Julius in Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro.
The pilgrim relics of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus is for the fourth time in the Philippines. It arrived on January 13, 2018, and will stay until May 31, 2018, visiting different dioceses and parishes.
At the moment the relics is visiting the Diocese of Pagadian. On April 24, 2018, the relics, for a short time, visited the St. Isidore Parish in Dumalinao run by the SCJs.
The pilgrim relics of Saint Thérèse have visited the Philippines in 2000, 2008 and 2013.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, also called Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, was born on January 2, 1873, in Alençon, France. She died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24.
She is one of the most popular Catholic saints. As a doctor of the church, she is the subject of much theological comment and study, and as an appealing young woman, whose message has touched the lives of millions, she remains the focus of much-popular devotion.
Relics are the material remains of a saint or holy person after death, as well as objects sanctified by contact with his or her body.
Real or first-class relics include the skin and bones, clothing, objects used for penance and instruments of a martyr’s imprisonment or passion, while representative relics are objects placed in contact with the body or grave of a saint.
The Catholic faithful venerate the relics of saints because as intercessors with God for the living, through their relics—a record of the saint—God manifests his presence.
On April 19,2018, at the Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, passed away Most Rev. Zacarias C. Jimenez,D.D, an Auxillary Bishop-Emeritus of the Diocese of Butuan, and big friend of SCJs (Dehonians) in the Philippines.
Born on November 5, 1947, in Inabanga, Bohol in the Philippines, Bishop Jimenez was ordained to the priesthood on April 17, 1973, at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Tagbilaran. He was consecrated as bishop on January 6, 1995, at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
He served as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pagadian, Philippines, from December 2, 1994 to June 11, 2003. He then served as auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Butuan, Philippines and as titular bishop of Arba from June 11, 2003, until his death.
After suffering from two strokes, he died due to the acute respiratory failure.
Fondly called as Bishop Iti, served as the parish priest of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Butuan City. As a longtime seminary formator, was seen as a gentle, slow to anger, reasonable, nonjudgmental, and Spirit-abiding person. He was not only a good pastor and follower of Christ, but also true believer of Christ’s humility and compassion.
He was like a father to all SCJs, especially during the time of kidnapping of Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni, SCJ, (October 17, 2001 – April 8, 20012) in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, working tirelessly for the release of Fr. Beppe.
As we thank God for the gift of his presence in our lives, we ask God to accept him into His Kingdom. Requiescat in Pace!
SCJ Philippines Region 