Aug 20 2016

Thanksgiving Mass in Cagayan de Oro

20160819_181128On 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.

 

Aug 17 2016

Community Building Workshop – Seminar

21 members of the SCJ Philippine Region participate in the “Community Building Workshop – Seminar” that takes place at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City from August 15 – 18, 2016. It is a follow-up activity of the seminar that was held in 2014. The aim of this workshop – seminar is to provide the participants with necessary skills and tools enabling them to build better and stronger relationships within the local communities and the entire region.

The seminar is conducted by Ms. Francisca Bustamante and Fr. Roy Ragas, SJ from EMMAUS Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation and consists of moments of prayer, reflection and sharing among the members of the different communities.

Aug 13 2016

Celebrations of the Founder in Manila and Cagayan de Oro

On August 12, 2016, two formation communities in Manila and Cagayan de Oro joined the congregation-wide celebration of 91st Death Anniversary of the Founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Venerable Fr. Leo John Dehon (1843 – 1925).

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In Manila, the celebration of the Founder was at the same time a Thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Sergio Matumoto, SCJ, who was ordained a priest last June 3, 2016, in Brazil and just returned to the Philippines. The community was joined by the members of the three nearby pastoral communities.

In Cagayan de Oro, Fr. Rico Lapinig, SCJ, who just returned from the World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, was the main celebrant. In his homily, Fr. Rico combined the life message of the Founder and of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The celebration was attended by SCJs from Aluba Parish and Dansolihon, Lay Dehonians, Dehonian Youth and friends.

Aug 12 2016

Meeting and Celebration in Vietnam

20160812_182234On August 12, 2016, the SCJ District of Vietnam celebrated not only its 3rd Foundation Anniversary and 11 years of SCJ presence in the country, but also installation of a new superior and his council and acceptance of new candidates. The ceremony in which Fr. Francis Vu Tran, SCJ, replaced in the service of authority, Fr. Rino Venturin, SCJ,  took place at the chapel of Nha Dehon (Dehon House) in Ho Chi Minh City, during the Holy Mass presided by Fr. Paulus Sugino, SCJ, the General Councilor for Asia. The celebration was attended by members of the SCJ District of Vietnam, Fr. Thomas Vinod, superior of SCJ District in India,  representatives from the Philippine Region, SCJ candidates, priests, religious from different congregations, benefactors and friends.

The day before, on August 11, 2016, the new and old District Council discussed common formation issues with the Philippine delegation: Fr. Delio Ruiz, Fr. Laurentius Suwanto and Fr. Francis Pupkowski.

The meeting and installation of the new superior was for all the participants a great opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of Vietnamese confreres and to visit some interesting sites.

Aug 8 2016

Institution of New Lectors and Acolytes

img1470655756526On August 8, 2016, on the Memorial of St. Dominic de Guzman, three SCJ scholastics (Fra. Joel Bolo, Fra. Julius Socorro and Fra. Victor Lingasa) were instituted for the ministry of Lector and other three (Fra. Junlou Arcayos, Fra.Bat Van Nguyen and Fra. Roger Pausanos) for the ministry of Acolyte. The rites of installation was carried out during the celebration of the Eucharist presided by Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, superior of the Philippine Region at the chapel of Dehon House, Tierra Verde Homes II, Quezon City. .

The Ministry of Lector and Acolyte are preparatory stages required before the reception of Holy Orders. The Lector is tasked to proclaim the Word of God (except the Gospel) at Holy Mass. He may also announce the intentions for the Universal Prayer and, in the absence of a psalmist, recite the Psalm between the readings, and the Acolyte is tasked to assist the priest at Holy Mass as “Altar Server” and to distribute Holy Communion when necessity demands.