Tag Archives: ipil

Jun 30 2017

Priestly Ordination of Deacon Dennis

On June 29, 2017, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, Dn. Dennis Macasero, SCJ, was ordained priest. The ceremony of ordination took place at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Buug, Zamboanga Sibuguey, his parish of origin and was presided by the Bishop of Ipil, Most Reverend Julius S. Tonel, D.D.

Fr. Dennis Macasero is the 18th SCJ Filipino priest and 2nd SCJ ordained by Bishop Tonel. His vocation story goes back to the year 2000 when became a “convent boy” in his parish. Helping for four years in the rectory, he was able not only to finish his high school education, but also observe the life of a priest, which attracted him very much. It was during that time that he met an SCJ priest assigned in the nearby parish in Kumalarang. As a result of that, after graduating from St. Paul School in Buug, he applied to the SCJ Formation Program in Cagayan de Oro City. In 2011 he made his first profession of vows in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and proceeded to study Theology at the Loyola School of Theology (LST) in Manila. On June 29, 2016, he was ordained deacon and was assigned first in Tanay, Diocese of Antipolo and later in Bagong Silang, Diocese of Novaliches.

The ceremony of ordination was beautifully prepared by the Buug Parish and was attended by almost all SCjs, diocesan priests from the Diocese of Ipil and Pagadian, religious sisters, parishioners and friends.

The ordination of Fr. Dennis was the culmination of the three-day activities, which included ordination to the Diaconate and First Profession of Vows.

May 17 2009

20 Years of SCJ Presence in the Philippines

May 17, 1989 is the official date of arrival of first SCJ missionaries in the Philippines. The original group was composed of 8 priests coming from 5 different provinces: Argentinean, Indonesian, Polish, German and British-Irish. After six-month course of language and culture in Davao City, the members of the first group were assigned in 3 parishes: in Kumalarang and Margosatubig in the Prelature of Ipil and in Dimataling in Diocese of Pagadian.

Soon, the mission was joined by other members coming in different batches; total 14 priests and 2 brothers. At the same time 7 members returned to their mother provinces. Fr. Hans Sondermeijer of the first group died in Indonesia.

At the moment in the Philippines there are only 2 members left of the original group: Fr. Rino Venturin and Fr. Francis Pupkowski.

Today, we are 51 religious living and working in 5 communities. 25 are Filipino, 9 Vietnamese, 7 Indonesians, 4 Polish, 3 Brazilian, 1 Argentinean, 1 Italian and 1 British.