On September 28, 2016, the SCJ community at the Dehon House in Manila celebrating the memorial of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint martyr, also witnessed the renewal of religious vows of one of its members. During the Holy Eucharist, Fra. Vincent Bat Nguyen, SCJ, a member of the SCJ Vietnam District, renewed his vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The vows were accepted by his superior Fr. Francis Vu Tran, SCJ, the main presider of the ceremony, which was attended by a number of SCJs, religious from different, male and female, congregations and friends. As usual, the ceremony was followed by a simple yet delicious dinner.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino saint. He is also the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter. Born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600’s, he was educated in the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished and educated person, especially at a time when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art. An adverse event made him leave the Philippines in 1636.
When he was in his late twenties or early thirties, he became involved or was accused of being involved in a criminal case, the circumstances of which are far from clear. Whether he was involved or not, one thing was clear, he was afraid that, as a consequence of a trial or mistrial, he might be given a death sentence. Upon landing in Japan where Christians were being persecuted, he was arrested and imprisoned together with his companions. He underwent inhuman tortures and valiantly confessed his Christian Faith. Refusing to renounce his Faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many thousands of lives if he had them. On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallows by his feet, his body falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981 and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast day is on September 28th.
San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish (SLRP) located in Gabriela Silang Street, Tierra Verde 1 Homes, Congressional Avenue Ext, Quezon City is the newest place of SCJ presence in the Philippines. It was entrusted to the SCJs by Bishop of Novaliches, Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD, on July 1, 2016. The parish is a walking distance from the SCJ Theologate (Dehon House) and has an important place in the history of the SCJ Philippine Region for being a venue of many sacerdotal and diaconal ordinations.
On September 25, 2015, the parish community celebrated its 29th Feast of the Patron. It was also the date of official installation of the new pastoral team with Fr. Aloisio Back, SCJ as a parish priest, Fr. Rechie Gier, SCJ as a parochial vicar and Fr. Candido Bayron Jr., SCJ as a pastoral aid. The ceremony of installation was held during the main Holy Mass at 10:30 in the morning and was attended by many parishioners, SCJs, religious and visitors.
At the moment the SCJs run 6 parishes, 1 chaplaincy, 1 mission area and 3 formation houses located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Our pilgrimage to the CITY OF SAINTS – POLSKA inspired and impressed us deeply.
Dehonian Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Lay and Youth had gathered together as one bringing stories and experiences to tell and to share during the World Youth Day 2016! This encounter brought lot of conversion in our lives as pilgrims and rekindle the fire of our faith. It was indeed a one , big, happy, healthy Christ- centered family.
… Their generosity is so visible, they open their houses to let us in, their hearts and life to us.
Young people (not just the Dehonians) from all over the world of different culture and languages and with different family backgrounds were united. It is a clear manifestation that only through and with Jesus that made us one . (As what the spirituality and charism of Fr. Dehon “ Sint Unum” is about). We are one because we have one heart – the Heart of Jesus.
Every place we visited marks the memorable history of our life – to name them: the Majdanek Concentration Camp, the Sanctuary of our Lady of Płaszów, the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków – Łagiewniki, the Sanctuary of St. Faustina, the Bishop’s House, the Catholic University of Lublin. In Niegowić (first parish of John Paul II). Among all those places we visited, the story behind AMAZING POLAND, the Majdanek Concentration Camp touched us the most. Polish, Jewish, young and old people, and even churches experienced lots of extraordinary tortures, deprivation of freedom and life (80,000 or more people have been killed in one day).
With those historical places we visited, and from the story of life and faith they kept, it was obvious how steadfast their love and faith to God which made them surmount in the midst of so much difficulties and tortures. As a result, numerous saints are from Poland. A BLESSED and AMAZING POLSKA!
The journey continues even after the World Youth days.
This time the encounter never ends. As Pope Francis said “the World Youth Day ends today but it continues tomorrow at home because it where God wants to meet you.” and YES! It is! with our extended home in Poland.
Bishop Vilsom Basso, scj from Maranhao, Fr. Andrzej Sudol, Fr. Piotr Chmielecki and Fr. Szymon Bendowski came and spent time with us. We met their families and friends and a warm welcome we received from them and they provided many things more than we deserve and imagine.
Bishop Vilsom serves us our Dehonian Holy Father. A father who guides and never leaves us. The new community (from Kielce, Mielec, Gorki, etc.), friends of the scj fathers are again became our family too.
Travelling…Visiting familes, communities, places… Sightseeing? Its knowing more about Poland and the people around.
Visiting Kraków the Old Town, Salt Mine in Wieliczka, Tatra Mountains in Zakopane, Antique Polish Village in Kolbuszowa, Baranow Castel Monastery at Swiety Krzyz, Holy Cross Shrine, and the Shrine of Jasna Góra (Black Madonna) in Częstochowa it is indeed an additional reward, witnessing how people pay respect to those sanctuaries and shrines, how they treasured and preserved and even the nature itself.
In Salt Mine in Wieliczka, hardwork were very obvious with those details and structures inside in 135 feet below the ground. We witnessed how amazing it was preserved and it proved how ordinary people who are working hard with firm faith, dedication and love bring out extraordinary works.
Upon our journey we did not just visit this historical – religious places but also those people who helped us a lot through monetary and spiritually. Again, this marks another history in our life.
Being together with the priests in all the events of the DYM and WYD and the continuation of our pilgrimage after WYD which some of us feel uncomfortable of being with them for almost a month, was a great opportunity to know them better .The virtue of humility is transparent to Bishop and other SCJ priests who were with us in our Poland journey. Bishop Vilsom Basso, is a man of service. He served us coffee, washing the dishes that we used after our meal, Jesus’ words are alive in the life of Bishop Basso: “He came to serve and not to be served.” Dehonians as we are, will continue our mission of reaching out and serving others especially those who needed most the love and mercy of God.
On August 19, 2016, Fr. Sergio Matumoto, SCJ, celebrated his second Thanksgiving Mass with the Formation Community in Cagayan de Oro City .
In his homily, using the artwork of the late Filipino artist Joey Velasco, “Hapag ng Pag-Asa” (Table of Hope), a local depiction of Da Vinci’s Last Supper that shows Filipino street children dining with Jesus, Fr. Sergio presented Jesus as a good shepherd with a heart full of love and compassion, who is close to all the poor and suffering, and as such is the source of hope and model to imitate.
The Holy Eucharist was followed by the one-by-one personal blessing of all participants and a common meal after.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino saint. He is also the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter. Born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600’s, he was educated in the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished and educated person, especially at a time when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art. An adverse event made him leave the Philippines in 1636.
San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish (SLRP) located in Gabriela Silang Street, Tierra Verde 1 Homes, Congressional Avenue Ext, Quezon City is the newest place of SCJ presence in the Philippines. It was entrusted to the SCJs by Bishop of Novaliches, Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD, on July 1, 2016. The parish is a walking distance from the SCJ Theologate (Dehon House) and has an important place in the history of the SCJ Philippine Region for being a venue of many sacerdotal and diaconal ordinations.
On August 19, 2016, Fr. Sergio Matumoto, SCJ, celebrated his second Thanksgiving Mass with the Formation Community in Cagayan de Oro City .
SCJ Philippines Region 