SCJ Philippine District

On-going projects
At the moment all the five SCJ communities are involved in different constructions and renovations:

1. The Novitiate Community in Pagadian City is finishing the renovation of the facilities and accommodation of the Novices.




2. The Community of Dumalinao, after finishing of the renovation of the convent, started the renovation of the parish church.




3. The Community of Kumalarang is busy with the new ceiling of the parish church and building a new convent.




4. The Community of Cagayan de Oro continues the construction of the Formation House in Dansolihon, in the part of Lumbia Parish entrusted to the SCJs.


5. The Manila Community is finalizing the plans and arrangements of the new building for the theology students.

Hopefully, there will be no lack of energy and resources to finish all these projects.

Transfer of the SCJ Novitiate
On March 18, 2005, the SCJ Novitiate in Manila was officially transferred to Pagadian City. The new temporary Novitiate is located at the compound of the Holy Infant Seminary (Diocese of Pagadian) where the SCJ District rents two of the existing buildings. The new place is very nice and suitable.

Welcome Fr. Alex
Fr. Alexander Miskat Sim Lagajaya, another SCJ from Indonesia is taking his sabbatical in the Philippines. According to the information received, he arrived in Manila in the beginning of March 2005 and will stay in the Philippines until May 28, 2005. His plan is to come down to Mindanao and visit all the communities. Welcome and have a nice time!

Graduation of Fr. Agus Setyoaji
On March 5, 2005, Fr. Agustinus Setyoaji, a member of the Indonesian Province, defended his thesis in Liturgy. The official graduation will take place on April 16, 2005. After that his plan is to visit once again all the SCJ communities in Mindanao and then on May 28, 2005 to return to his Mother Province. On our side: Congratulations and thanks for being with us!

New Assistant Parish Priest in Kumalarang
Fr. Laurentius Suwanto, after finishing his language studies in Cebuano in Davao City, was assigned as an Assistant Parish Priest in Kumalarang. Fr. Suwanto will replace Fr. Andrzej Sudol, who on May 16, 2005 will move to the formation community in Cagayan de Oro City. His assignment took effect on March 1, 2005.

The number of the SCJ Novices has increased from 5 to 10. On March 28, 2005, five of the Postulants were officially admitted to the 14 month Novitiate. It took place at the chapel of the Holy Infant Seminary in Pagadian City, where on March 18, 2005 the Novitiate was temporarily moved. The celebration was presided by the District Superior Fr. Rino Venturin, scj and was attended by all SCJs of the Philippine District.

Tell us, Mary, what did you see
that early morning
on your way?
"I saw his tomb,
I saw the glory of Christ,
now risen,
angels who gave witness.
I saw the cloths
that covered his head and body.
I heard him speak my name
and turning, saw he was alive
At daybreak
I came weeping to the garden
for the one I lost.
But now, the Sun risen,
it was paradise,
and I, a new Eve,
had news of life for all the living."


Easter Prayer

God of mercy, you wash away our sins in water, you give us a new birth in the Spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ. As we celebrate Christ's resurrection, increase our awareness of these blessings, and renew your gift of life within us. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the
crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and
rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the
coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of
life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Redeemer of all,
hear my prayer.
For the love you bear
to those who ask forgiveness,
look mercifully on me,
as once you looked on Mary Magdalene
and on Peter who denied you.

Look on me, Lord Jesus Christ,
as you looked on the thief on his cross
and on every sinner
whom you have ever forgiven.

Look on me, merciful Lord,
as you looked on your mother, Mary,
standing in sorrow beneath your cross.
Let me feel in my heart her compassion for you,
and let my eyes weep for the sorrows
my sins have caused.

Call me from darkness
to my Father's house,
give me a new heart
and a place at your side
at the banquet of your kingdom. Amen.

The Lord Jesus,
when he had eaten with his disciples,
poured water into a basin
and began to wash their feet, saying:
"This example I leave you". (See John 13:4,5,15)

"Lord, do you wash my feet?"
Jesus said to him:
"If I do not wash your feet
You can have no part with me."
So he came to Simon Peter,
Who said to him:
"Lord, do you wash my feet?"
"Now you do not know what I am doing,
but later you will understand.
Lord, do you wash my feet?" (John 13:6-8)

"If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed you feet,
then surely you must wash one another's feet." (John 13:14)

"If there is this love among you,
all will know that you are my disciples."
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If there is this love among you,
all will know that you are my disciples." (John 13:35)

"I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you", says the Lord. (John 13:34)

"Faith, hope, and love,
let these endure among you;
and the greatest of these is love." (I Corinthians 13:13)

Lord Jesus,
once in the wilderness
your people ate heavenly manna
and they were filled.
And once in a desert place
you fed the hungry
with blessed bread.
A simple thing, we say,
costing our mighty God
litte effort.

But what if bread is
a body offered for all,
and a cup of wine
your own life-blood
given to those who hardly care?

A costly thing, we say,
Is there anything more
God could have done?
Anything more
Love could do
than lay down his life
for his friends?

And do we yet understand,
Lord Jesus,
as the year go by
and we hear the story again?
Can a poor man on a donkey
dying like a slave
succeed?

We like success so much,
the kind you feel and touch
and put your hands on
right away.


What success
can anyone find
in a Cross?

Or is there success
in faithfulness?
When you can say:
"Your will be done!"
"Father, forgive them."

Like the two from Emmaus
we hope for easy gain.
Come walk at our side,
and tell us what matters most,
O Lord.

We give You thanks, Heavenly Father, that through Your Servant, Leo John Dehon, You desired to enrich Your Church with a new grace, calling Your children to be prophets of love and ministers of reconciliation in the Heart of Your Son.
If it be Your will, grant that the Church might beatify Leo John Dehon for the glory of Your Name and for the example which he gives to Your people.
Grant that his path be followed by many holy followers who will carry, from one end of the world to the other, the love of the Heart of Christ, the inexhaustible fountain of salvation.
To You be praise and glory, forever and ever.
Amen.


Prayer to obtain favours

O God, Father of mercy, you gave your servant, Blessed Leo Dehon the grace to contemplate deeply the pierced Heart of your Son, and to rediscover there the depth of your love for people, loving them just as you love them yourself.
Through his intercession we ask for the following intentions…
So may the whole Church give Gloria and praise to You.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

Fr. Vincent Sri Herimanto, a long time formator at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro, is going to spend his sabbatical year in Rome in Italy studying “Dehonian Spirituality”. Before his departure, first for Indonesia and then for Italy, the Formation Community in Cagayan de Oro organized a special Farewell Mass. It was held on March 3, 2005 and was attended by some close friends of Fr. Vincent and of the SCJ Congregation. The celebration was followed by a simple dinner.