Apr 11 2018

“Walk with Mary” 2018

On April 9, 2018, more than 400 parishioners of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro City made their “Walk with Mary.” The walk started at the “Our Lady of Snows” Parish Church in El Salvador City and ended at the Divine Mercy Shrine.

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Divine Mercy Shrine is located at the Divine Mercy Hills, PSB-Ulaliman, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental which is overlooking Macajalar Bay. The shrine has a 50-feet long statue of the Divine Mercy , the biggest statue in Asia.

The pilgrims were accompanied by their parish priest: Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ and the parochial vicar Fr. Niño Etulle, SCJ.

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The walk was held a day after the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday and was culminated with the Eucharistic celebration.

For more pictures, please click here

Divine Mercy Sunday 2018

Apr 6 2018

Fr. Heiner Wilmer to be Bishop of Hildesheim, Germany

On 6 April 2018, the Holy Father, Pope Francis had nominated Fr. Heiner Wilmer, SCJ, to be a bishop of Hildesheim, Germany.

Fr. Heiner was born 9 April 1961 in Schapen. He grew up on a farm in Emsland. In 1980 he graduated at the Leoninum, a high school operated by the Dehonians in Handrup close to his hometown. In the same year, he entered the novitiate of the congregation in Freiburg. From 1981 to 1986 he studied theology in Freiburg and romance philology (romance languages) in Paris. After that he was ordained as priest by Archbishop Oskar Saier, the archbishop of Freiburg. He then went to Rome to study at the Gregorian Pontifical University; his focus was French philosophy. In 1991 Wilmer earned a Doctor of Theology in Freiburg, where he dealt with the concept of mysticism in the philosophy of Maurice Blondel. His works were awarded the Bernhard Welte Prize.

Shortly after that, he studied for a Master of Arts in History. Sometime before he finished his first master’s degree Wilmer met the Dutch priest Henri Nouwen. At the request of Nouwen, Wilmer represented him for four months as a pastor at L’Arche Daybreak in Toronto, a facility for people with disabilities. After that he worked for two years as a school counselor and taught religion, political science and history at the Liebfrauenschule Vechta (a German high school) in Niedersachsen, Germany. In 1997 he went to the United States for a year to teach German and history at the Fordham Preparatory School, a Jesuit high school in the Bronx (New York). Upon his return, he became headmaster of the SCJ high school Leoninum in Handrup.

In 2007, Fr. Wilmer was elected for Provincial Superior of the German Province of the Dehonians.

Five years later he published a book (“Gott ist nicht nett – God is not kind”) in which he reflected on his faith and his decision to become a priest.

On May 25, 2015, Fr. Wilmer was elected by the Dehonians as its 10th Superior General.

He succeeded Fr. José Ornelas Carvalho, SCJ, who held the office for 12 years (two six-year terms). Carvalho is now bishop of the Diocese of Sétubal (Portugal).

Fr.Wilmer speaks French, English, Spanish and Italian in addition to his mother tongue German.

Apr 2 2018

MA Thesis Defense of Fr. Sergio Shoiti Matumoto, SCJ

On April 2, 2018, Fr.Sergio Shoiti Matumoto, SCJ, member of the Philippine Region, has defended his MA Thesis entitled “Shema Israel! An Investigation into the Meanings and Significance of ‘Ehad in Deuteronomy 6:4-5” The Board of Examiners was composed of Fr. Mariano Cisco, C.S., S.T.L., S.T.D. and., Fr. Rogel Anecito Abais, S.J., S.T.D. and., and Fr. Manuel Montesclaros, S.J., S.S.L The MA Thesis Adviser was Sr. Helen Graham, M.M., Ph.D. The defense was held in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Theological Studies with field of specialization in Biblical Theology.

The Shemaʿ Yisrael (Deut.6:4-5) is an important verse of the Old Testament. It is recited by the religious Jews twice daily and even Jesus quoted this passage in Mark 12:29-30. It states that God is One and also the commandment to Love the Lord. This thesis investigates the meaning of ’ehad in the context of the Shemaʿ since there is no consensus among the translators if it should be translated as “one” or “alone”. The study notes grammatical as well as theological and historical arguments of the possible translations. It is considered that a more appropriate translation for today’s reader is “the Lord is One”. Also, the study discusses the meaning of Love in Deuteronomy and its significance since “Love the Lord” is a consequence of believing that “the Lord is One”. Moreover, it gives some meanings for the “Lord is One” and its relevance for today’s believers. This thesis also proposes a spirituality of unity and tolerance through the Shemaʿ and through the belief in One God because for believers in the past and for some in the present belief in One God leads to violent attitude towards those who who have other beliefs.

Apr 1 2018

Alleluia! He is Risen!

God our Father,
by raising Christ your Son
you conquered the power of death
and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Let our celebration today
raise us up and renew our lives
by the Spirit that is within us.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Mar 20 2018

Celebration of the Patron at Kasanag Daughters Foundation

On a gloomy late afternoon March 19, 2018, the Kasanag Daughthers Foundation (KDF), Kauswagan, Zone 1, Cagayan de Oro City celebrated the feast of Saint Joseph, the husband of Blessed Virgin Mary, the foster father of Jesus and the Patron Saint of KDF.

The celebration started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 5:45PM, officiated by Rev. Fr. Franciszek Pupkowski, SCJ, the outgoing regional superior of the Philippine Region, assisted by Deacon Nathaniel Robilla, SCJ, vicar deacon of the Immaculate Conception Parish and concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Niño Etulle, SCJ, assistant parish priest of Immaculate Conception, Rev. Fr. Khoa Viet Nguyen, SCJ, formator of aspirants in the Sacred Heart Formation House, CDO I and Rev. Fr. Joseph C. Butlig, SCJ, project coordinator of KDF.

Approximately, there were more than 90 people who attended the celebration, including the 24 daughters residing in the foundation, former kasanag daughters, staffs, counselors, board members, local benefactors, seminarians, collaborators, friends and guests.