SCJ Philippine District

Lord God,
you are our eternal shepherd and guide.
In your mercy grant your Church a shepherd
who will walk in your ways
and whose watchful care will bring us your blessing.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From the Roman missal, "To elect a Pope or bishop")

Lord,
Your Vicar on Earth, John Paul
the Second, has gone home to you.

Please receive him with compassion
for all the things that he has suffered;
with mercy for all the things he may have done wrong;
and with love for all the beautiful work he has done
for you through the long years.

He was filled with a special love for this nation,
the Philippines;
And all of us Filipinos were filled
with a special love for him.

Please give us the grace to live according to
the beautiful d directives he gave to us:

* To live by the Gospel of Life,
and not to be overhelmed by the culture of death;

* To recognize that the poor are our brothers
and sisters, that we are all the children of God.

Grant us the grace to share with them
all that we have and all that we are.

Grant us the grace to reach out to our fellow Filipinos,
whether they are Muslim or Buddhist
or Hindu or Christian.

Give us the grace to live with them in a
state of reconcilliation, unity and peace.

AMEN

By James B. Reuter, SJ

Because of the death of the Holy Father John Paul II, the beatification of our founder Fr. Leo Dehon has been postponed. We will share the new date as soon as it is available.

There are no words able to express what the whole world feels after the death of the Holy Father who passed away on April 2, 2005 at 21:37 (Time in Rome). All members of the SCJ District in the Philippines join the whole world in mourning this one of the greatest people on the planet.

I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: "Jesus, I trust in You".

Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this Chaplet ;the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred for the sake of those who say the chaplet. Write down these words, My daughter. Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognise My unfathomable Mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them.

Say unceasingly this Chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy.

When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Saviour.

On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.

On the cross, the fountain of My mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls---none have I excluded!

The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy.

Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.

Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy.

The flames of mercy are burning Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!

Oh, how painful it is to Me that souls so seldom unite themselves to Me......I wait for souls, and they are indifferent towards Me. I love them tenderly and sincerely, and they distrust Me.

I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love for Me.You are to show mercy to your neighbours always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it.

To pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, please click the link below

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd,
look kindly on John Paul II,
your vicar on earth,
and grant him relief from his sufferings.



To this herald who has bravely proclaimed your Gospel,
give the consolation of your word.
To this faithful guardian of your Church,
send an angel to shield and protect him.
To this Priest who comforted and anointed the sick,
now bring peace in his own time of trial.


Hear the prayers of those who trust in you,
O Risen Lord and Savior,
who are seated at the right hand of the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

According to the news, the Holy Father John Paul II is in a very serious condition. Let us join the worldwide prayer in his intention. May the Blessed Mother accompany him to the very last moment of his life. May the Lord bless him and be his strength. Amen

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