Installation of New Superior in Manila Community

On January 25, 2020, Fr. Donald S. Longno, SCJ, was installed as a new superior of the Dehon House Community in Manila. He replaced Fr. Delio Ruiz, SCJ, who next month, together with Fr. Rogereve U. Pausanos, SCJ, will join the new international community in Colombia. Fr. Delio served as the community superior since June 1, 2012. As of now, the Dehon House Community is composed of 12 priests (5 SCJs members of the Philippines Region, 2 SCJs from Indonesia and 1 from India, 3 diocesan priests from West Papua and 1 from the Diocese of Pagadian), and 26 scholastics (9 Filipino and 17 members of Vietnam District). Continue reading

Institution of New Acolytes

dsc03269On February 13, 2017, three SCJ scholastics (Fra. Victor Lingasa, Fra. Julius Socorro and Fra. Joel Bolo) were instituted for the ministry of Acolyte.  The rite 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 Acolyte is a ministry to which a person is specially appointed by the Church to assist the deacon and to minister to the priest. His duty is to attend to the service of the altar and to assist as needed in the celebration of the Mass. He may also distribute Holy Communion as an auxiliary minister at the Eucharistic liturgy and to the sick. An acolyte may be entrusted with publicly exposing the Blessed Sacrament for adoration but not with giving benediction. He may also, to the extent needed, take care of instructing other faithful who by appointment assist the priest or deacon by carrying the missal, cross, candles, and similar functions. The ministry of acolyte is reserved to men and conferred by the bishop of the diocese or, in clerical institutes of religious, by the major superior, according to liturgical rites composed for the purpose by the Church.

Seminar for “Baby” Parish Priests and not only

20161018_085154This year the SCJ Philippine Region was entrusted with three new pastoral areas. Because of this several SCJs for the first time became parish priests. Although they were assigned in the parishes and have some pastoral experience many things for them are new. Being an assistant to the parish priest is  like sitting in the front seat, but not being a driver. According to the Canon Law “The Parish Priest is the proper pastor of the parish entrusted to him… exercising the pastoral care of the community entrusted under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, whose ministry of Christ he is called to share…” (Can. 519). The role of a Parish Priest is twofold: as an administrator and as a shepherd, who acts in the name of the local bishop and is accountable to.

In many dioceses there are special orientation seminars for new parish priests, so they would be properly informed of their duties and responsibilities. One of them is the Diocese of Novaliches, where the SCJs are entrusted with two parishes: San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Quezon City and St. Roque in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City.

Following this good example, the SCJ Philippine Region, considering the needs of new parish priests, organized similar activity. Initially it was intended for those who are directly involved in the parish ministry, but finally it was open for all the members of the region. The seminar was held on October 18 – 19, 2016 at the Dehon House in Manila. On the first day, Fr. Rei Flores, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Novaliches, presented the theme “Canonical and pastoral implications of the office of the Parish Priest.” On the second day, Msgr Antonio Labiao, the Vicar for Pastoral Affairs of the same diocese, shared his insights on the theme “Parish Church: Community of Communities” and financial management of the parish. On the first evening, the group was graced with the presence of Bishop of Novaliches, Most. Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD, who joined the Holy Mass and supper.

Parish Feast and Installation of Parish Team

20160925_110603San 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.

For further information please visit: History of the Parish

 

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.