Tag Archives: cagayan de oro city

Dec 19 2011

Flood in Mindanao

At least 650 people have died and more than 800 are missing after the tropical storm Washi or Sendong (local name) swept across the southern Philippines. More than 10-hour heavy rain that started, in the afternoon, on Friday, December 16, 2011, caused a massive flood that affected many places on the island of Mindanao.

The two most affected cities are Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Thousands of houses were literary swept by the water or were very heavily damaged. Several barangays in Cagayan de Oro were completely under water. Many of the dead were swept out to sea. Others were buried alive as mud cascaded down mountain slopes. Water levels rose three feet in less than an hour, forcing thousands to climb onto the roofs of their homes where they huddled against wind speeds reaching 55 miles per hour. Unfortunately, in many cases only concrete houses could face the damaging force of the nature. The highest death toll is among the children, disabled and elderly people. According to the news, even one hundred thousand people might be displaced. Many of the victims lost everything they had. In Cagayan de Oro City there are 20 evacuation centers full of people waiting for help. At the moment, the most urgent need is potable water, food and cleaning materials.

The SCJ Formation House in Aluba , located in the upper part of Cagayan de Oro City, was not affected directly by the flood, except for lack of electricity and internet connection. However, the compound of Kasanag Daughters Foundations, run by SCJs, was once again under the water. This time the level of the water has gone even higher, reaching at least thirteen feet. Most of the things inside the buildings were damaged and need to be replaced. The flood left tons of mud behind. Fortunately, all the girls and the staff, together 35 people, were safely transferred to the SCJ Formation House and given shelter in the Pre-College building. They will stay with the SCJ community until the facilities of Kasanag will be ready to accommodate them again.

So far, it was one of the strongest tropical storms that ever passed through Mindanao.

Jun 10 2011

Fr. Francis Pupkowski – 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood

On May 16 and June 5, 2011, Fr. Francis Pupkowski celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood.

The first celebration, which was the official celebration of the Philippine District, took place at the Novitiate Fr. Dehon in Lower Locuban, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

The second one was connected with the anticipated celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart with the benefactors and took place in the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City.

Fr. Francis was ordained on June 19, 1986 in Stadniki, Poland. After his ordination he was assigned for two years as an assistant parish priest in Ostrowiec Sw.

In 1988 he volunteered to go to the Philippines to join the new international mission. He has been serving the local Church and the Philippine District for 22 past years as: an assistant parish priest, parish priest, district treasurer and secretary. At the moment Fr. Francis is working in the fundraising office in Cagayan de Oro City and is taking care of a group of Lay Dehonians.

 

Mar 19 2010

New SCJ Bishop from the Philippines

Vilsom3Today, on March 19, 2010, on the Feast of St. Joseph, the Holy See has announced the good news regarding episcopal nomination of our SCJ confrere Rev. Fr. Vilsom Basso, scj. Fr. Vilsom Basso belongs to the SCJ Philippine District and until now was assigned as formator in Cagayan de Oro City and Pastor in charge in Dansolihon Chaplaincy. His new assignment will be as a bishop in diocese Caxias in Maranhão (Brazil).

Fr. Vilsom Basso, scj was born on February 16, 1960 in Cinquentenário Tuparendi, in the diocese of Santo Ângelo, in the province of Rio Grande do Sul. After his elementary studies in his native city, he entered the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians). He received his title of Bachelor in Philosophy in Brusque (1979-1981) and one in theology in Taubaté (1982-1985). On 25 February 1985 he made the Final Profession in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and on December 28th 1985 he was ordained a priest. In 1991, he followed a postgraduate course in pastoral theology at the University Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.

In the Diocese of Viana, State of Maranhão, he was assigned as parochial vicar in the parish of “Santa Inês” (1986-1987) and Alto Alegre (1993) and as a Pastor of the Parish of “Santa Luzia” (1998-2003). In the Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão, he was a parochial vicar (1988-1992) and then the parish priest (2004-2005) of the Sanctuary “Nossa Senhora da Conceição”. In addition, he was coordinator of youth ministry in the State of Maranhão (1988-1992) and Councilor of the National Pastoral Youth of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (1994-1997). In 2006 he was assistant priest of the shrine “São Judas Tadeu” in São Paulo. Since 2007 he is one of the formators of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

Dec 29 2007

Search-in Seminar in Cagayan de Oro

Forty four young men searching for their way of life attended the “Search-in Seminar” in Cagayan de Oro City. The seminar was held from December 26 – 29, 2007, in the Sacred Heart Formation House in Aluba, and it was organized by the Vocation Promotion Team led by Fr. Indra Pamungkas, scj.

The participants came from different parts of Mindanao representing seven dioceses. Thirty five of the participants expressed their interest in the Congregation and wrote an application letter. Finally, after the interview conducted by members of the team, nineteen of them were approved as candidates.

Dec 2 2006

Visit of the Archbishop in the Seminary

On November 30, 2006, the Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, DD, SJ paid a short visit to the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City.

Besides his busy schedule, the Archbishop was able to find a time to visit the SCJ community and to have a supper together. The visit was friendly and very promising regarding the pastoral involvement of SCJs in the diocese. For the seminarians it gave an opportunity to know better their bishop.