The SCJ Memorial Day, celebrated every year on November 26, has special meaning and importance for the whole Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. On this day we remember all SCJ confreres who have died as martyrs for the sake of the Gospel and Kingdom of God. Many of them were missionaries. The Congregation chose November 26, the anniversary of martyrdom of 28 SCJs in Congo, who were killed during the Simba revolution in 1964.
The SCJ Community in Cagayan de Oro has also joined this celebration and remembered them during the concelebrated Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. John Karl Cabaluna, scj (Fr. Nonong). The Holy Mass was preceded by the 9-day Novena of prayers in their intention.
The celebration, as usual, was attended by the SCJ seminarians, members of the Dehonian Family and friends of the Congregation.
District Chapter Assembly
From October 6 – 10, 2008, the SCJ Philippine District celebrated its Assembly Chapter. The chapter was attended by 20 regular members of the district, Fr. Andreas Madya, the General Councilor and 2 SCJs on temporary vows. Also, for one of the sessions were invited 2 representatives of the Lay Dehonians movement.
The Chapter started with the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Andreas Madya Sriyanto from the General Administration. Among the matters discussed, during this 5-day affair, were vocation promotion and formation program, pastoral and social involvement of the district, possible expansion in the future, etc.
Ordination to Diaconate
On August 17, 2008, Br. Rico Lapinig was ordained a deacon. The ceremony took place at St. Isidore the Worker Parish in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, in the place of his pastoral assignment. The ordination was attended by many SCJ confreres, priests from the Diocese of Pagadian, religious, relatives and friends of the new deacon.
SCJ Pastoral Convention
On July 2nd, 2008, the SCJ Pastoral Convention organized by the Philippine District commenced. It is being held at “Bukal ng Tipan” center, a former CICM (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) seminary in Taytay, Rizal in Metro Manila and is attended by 43 SCJs from 13 different entities of the Congregation and 2 Lay Dehonians. It’s noteworthy that 10 participants are from Indonesia, 5 from United States of America, 2 from India, 2 from South Africa, 1 from Democratic Republic of Congo, 1 from Cameroon, 1 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 1 from England, 1 from Mozambique, 1 from Poland and 1 from Vietnam. The rest, with the exception of 2 General Councilors, Fr. Claudio Weber and Fr. Andreas Madya, come from the Philippines.
The theme of this Convention is “Pastors with Compassionate Hearts”. This is inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which can also be a source of inspiration in our SCJ pastoral work, in reaching out to our needy brothers and sisters.
The Convention is composed of two major parts: the seminar-workshop (July 2-16, 2008) and field trip to the island of Mindanao (July 17-21, 2008). The aim of the first part, which is divided into three parts, is to see the reality we are living in and its challenges, to reflect on our SCJ vocation and to see what can be done to better address the urgent needs that we are facing right now as a Church and as a Congregation. The intention of the first part is to share, to discuss, and to learn from each other. In the middle of the first part, there will be a day of recollection with the time for prayer and personal reflection. The aim of the second part is to visit the places where there is an SCJ presence, to see the living conditions of the people, their problems and the work being done by the SCJs.
The Convention started well and according to the plan. At the start of the first day, Fr. Rino Venturin, the District Superior welcomed all the participants and presented the background of the convention, which was decided during the General Conference in Warsaw, Poland. The next was Fr. Andreas Madya, the General Councilor, who read the letter of the General Superior Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho addressed to the participants of the SCJ Pastoral Convention. Fr. Vilsom Basso, the coordinator of the convention, also welcomed the participants and presented the plan of activities that are going to take place during the next few days. The first input entitled “Pastoral Reality of the Congregation” was delivered by the General Councilor Fr. Claudio Weber in which he presented the whole panorama of the SCJ engagement in pastoral activities of the SCJ members in different parts of the world and realities. The first part of the day was concluded with the concelebrated Mass presided by Fr. Andreas Madya.
The second half of the first day of the convention was dedicated to the personal presentation of the participants during which they could share about their life and work.
The first part of the second day was dedicated to the “Pastoral Reality in Different Countries” during which representatives of different entities of the congregation presented their pastoral involvement, some of them using Microsoft Power Point and some others just power of word.
In the afternoon of the second day, Fr. James Kroeger, MM, presented “The Reality of the Church in the World.”
In the evening of the same day, Fr. Francis Pupkowski showed a Power Point presentation about the reality of the Philippine District entitled “Our Life and Our Work”.
The third day, July 4, 2008, was dedicated entirely to the reality of the Church in Asia. Fr. Domingo Moraleda, CMF in his input regarding the “Identity, mission, and future of the Church in Asia” presented in a very dynamic way its lights and shadows, hopes, and worries.
On July 5, and 6 there were no sessions. On July 5, 2008, the participants had an opportunity to visit some interesting places in Metro Manila, particularly: Black Nazarene Church, San Augustine Church – one of the oldest in the country, Fort Santiago, and the dumpsite in Payatas in Quezon City which is the pastoral area of the theologians and possibly the future parish of the SCJs. Many of the visitors were literary shocked seeing the slums and the pitiable living conditions of the people existing next to the mountain of garbage and earning their keep from the dumps. The culmination of the day took place in Dehon House in the SCJ Theologate where the participants of the convention together with the seminarians had a Holy Eucharist and followed by a common supper. This day was also the birthday of one of the participants from Canada, Fr. William Marrevee, who just turned 72. The day was full of impressions, a little bit tiring, but, on the other hand, everybody was happy. This was also a day of farewell for Fr. Claudio Weber since the following day, July 6, 2008, he had to leave for Rome and to Argentina where he will take part in the Provincial Chapter.
Perpetual Profession, First Vows and Renewal of Vows in Dumalinao
On May 13th, 2008 an SCJ on temporary vows Rico Lapinig made his final commitment to God and to the Congregation.
Also, eight Novices: Felbert B. Badoy, Junie C. Baldamor, CandidoS. Bayron, Benigno Etulle, Lucas C. Napone, Marlo N. Piloton, Gregg Anthony J. Rana and Nathaniel D. Robilla professed their first vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The ceremony took place during the Holy Mass at the Parish Church of St. Isidore the Farmer in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.
The vows were taken in the presence of the local bishop Most Rev. Emmanuel Cabajar who presided the Mass, diocesan priests and religious from the Diocese of Pagadian, SCJ confreres, families and friends of the Professes.
The vows were accepted by the first Councillor of the Philippine District Fr. Janusz Burzawa, SCJ.
During the same celebration the following SCJ confreres on temporary vows: Marcial Aguirre, Donald Longno, Rechie Gier, Jigger Ganados, Lourdiso Panhay, Sherwin Keith Tan, Niño Etulle, Joseph Butlig, Elpidio Luza and Patrick Gutlib renewed their vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.
SCJ Philippines Region 