March 2004
From February 2-9, 2004 - the members of the SCJ District in the Philippines spend their annual vacations together in one of the Philippine Islands in Siquijor. It was not only the time to relax, but also a time of learning, visiting interesting places and preparing for the District Assembly.
Siquijor is the smallest province in the Philippines, consisting of only one island about 75 km. in circumference with an area of 343 square kilometers. It is located about six hours south of Cebu, south-southeast of Negros, southwest of Bohol, and just north of Mindanao. The Spanish used to call it Isla del Fuego, the Island of Fire, because of the thousands of fireflies that can be seen there at night. Legend has it that, following a large fire, thunder and lightning, the island emerged from under the sea. Although the island itself is not the site of a volcano, fossils of clams and other sea creatures can be found on the ridges of Siquijor's mountains. To many Filipinos, Siquijor is the place of arbularyu (faith healers) and abat-mananambal (witch doctors). It's the island of spirits and witchcraft, where one can be cured through massage (maghihilut) and traditional medicines (tambalan), or where a curse can be placed on someone else.
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- View at the Salagdoong Beach
The original inhabitants of Siquijor are fishermen and farmers from Cebu and Bohol. The island is protected from typhoons by the surrounding larger land masses, and the fishing is good. The mountainous regions of Siquijor have fertile soil and provide for many different varieties of crops. The population density of the island is also 30% less than the rest of the Visayas, due to the large outward migration to the cities.
For more pictures please see our Photo Albums or click here
On February 12, 2004 - Fr. Robertus Sutopo celebrated his 35th birthday. The main celebration of this event took place at the Parish Formation Center in Dumalinao at 7:00 pm. At the same time it was also a welcome party for Bro. Yohanes Sismadi, who just on that very day returned to Dumalinao from his two month vacation in Indonesia.
To find out more, just look at the pictures below.
This was the first Part...
...and this was the second Part...
On February 16, 2004 - Fr. Jose Ornelas Calvalho, the General Superior, arrived in the Philippines. The main purpose of this visit is to meet personally all the members of the District and see the places of SCJ presence in the country. The itinerary of this visit includes the ordination of the first Filipino SCJ in Margosatubig on February 24, 2004 and the Annual District Assembly in Cagayan de Oro City from March 1 - 4, 2004. The first community visited by the General Superior of the Congregation was Manila, and then proceeded to Cagayan de Oro, Dumalinao and Kumalarang. In all the activities he is being joined by Fr. Andreas Madyo, the General Councillor, who arrived straight from India last February 13, 2004.
On February 24, 2004 - Deacon John Karl Cabaluna, scj was ordained as a priest by Bishop Edwin dela Peña, the Bishop of Marawi and Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Pagadian. The celebration took place at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish in Margosatubig at 9:00 in the morning. It was attended by around 2000 people from different places, including family members, relatives, members of the Parish, friends, people from different SCJ parishes, Priests and Religious sisters.
Here below is the story narrated by Fr. Rino Venturin, scj - the District Superior
"It was a magnificent moment for our SCJ Philippine District to have the first priesthood ordination after 15 year of our presence here: the ordination of Fr. John Karl Y. Cabaluna, scj (Nonong).
This great event took place on February 24, 2004 in our former parish of Margosatubig (Zamboanga del Sur). In this parish we had been working for 14 years from 1989 to 2003. In February 2003 we took the painful decision to live the place for security reason.
Fr. Nonong was consecrated by Msgr. Edwin de la Peña, D.D. Apostolic Administrator of Pagadian.
We were very happy to have with us our General Superior Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho, the General Councilor for Asia Fr. Madya, and Fr. Angel Gabryel representing our Indian District.
A big number of diocesan and religious priests, sisters, many of our seminarians and people coming from our parishes filled the church of Our Lady of Peace.
The liturgy was beautifully conducted, well participated by all present and enhanced by a great parish choir and the enthusiastic singing of all the faithful. Filipinos like singing and do it very well!
For all of us it was a very emotional celebration; this was especially true for Tito and Thelma, the parents Fr. Nonong, who expressed their joys to offer their son to God and to the Church. And their gratitude for what the SCJs had done for him to grow and persevere.
We are looking forward to the next ordination, in few months time, of our second Filipino priest Arthur P. Guevara (Totong) in his own town of Cagayan de Oro."
To see more pictures, please go to Photo Albums or click here
- Return of Bro. Sismadi
- On February 6, 2004, Bro. Yohanes
Sismadi arrived back from Indonesia after his two month vacation.
- Retreat in Manila
- From February 6 - 12, 2004, the SCJ Novices in Manila took part in a reatreat given by Fr. Andrzej Sudol..
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- Representative from India
- Fr. Kazimierz "Angel" Gabryel was the official representative from the District of India for the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. John Karl Cabaluna. He arrived in Manila on February 16, 2004 and stayed in the Philippines until February 26, 2004. During this very short visit, he was able to visit all the SCJ Communities. At the moment Fr. "Angel" is working in the Formation House in Andra Pradesh.
- Arrival and adventure of Fr. Aloisio Back
- On February 28, 2004, Fr. Aloisio Back
arrived back in Manila after his two month vacation in Brazil. At the
exit of the airport he took a taxi. After placing his luggage inside
the trunk of that taxi, the taxi driver started to run away. Fr.
Aloisio without hesitation got another taxi and followed the thief.
Thanks to God he was able to recover all his belongings.
- Annual District Assembly
- From March 1 - 4, 2004 the SCJ District of the Philippines will held its Annual Assembly in Cagayan de Oro City. It will be attended by Fr. Jose Ornelas Carvalho, the General Superior and Fr. Andreas Madya, the General Councillor.
I am Fr. John Karl Yap Cabaluna, scj. 31 years of age and the eldest among 5 sibblings. Born in the year 1972, in Zamboanga City. Mr. Primitivo A. Cabaluna is my father, a retired Municipal Assessor and my mother is Mrs. Thelma Y. Cabaluna, presently working in the Diocese School as a Principal.
After almost eight (8) months of being a deacon – June 27, 2003, I was ordained Priest just last Tuesday – February 24, 2004, by His Excellecy Most Reverend Bishop Edwin dela Peña, D.D. Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Pagadian.
All these graces came after almost 9 years in formation, only 9 short years since I entered the seminary formation already a professional e.i. college graduate. I professed my First Vows way back May 31,1999 and had my Perpetual Vows last May 31, 2003.
God has been very kind to provide me the needed formators and people who supported me in my formation. After all the ‘ups and downs’ in my formation life, thank God for He grant me my prayers and desire to offer my life to Him totally.
Vivat Cor Jesu!
Country Prayer for
Lent
Dear Lord, we are now in the holy season of Lent. We begin to realize anew
that these are the days of salvation, these are the acceptable days. We know
that we are all sinners. We know that in many things we have all offended
Your infinite majesty. We know that sin destroys Your life in us as a
drought withers the leaves and chokes the life from the land, leaving an
arid, dusty desert. Help us now, Lord, in our feeble attempts to make up for
past sin. Bless our efforts with the rich blessing of Your grace. Make us
realize ever more our need of penance and of mortification. Help us to see,
in our ordinary difficulties and duties, in the trials and temptations of
every day, the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities. Every
day we are so often reminded in field and wood, in sky and stream, of Your
own boundless generosity to us. Help us to realize that You are never
outdone in generosity, and that the least thing we do for You will be
rewarded, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and flowing over.
Then we shall see, in our own souls, how the desert can blossom, and the dry
and wasted land can bring forth the rich, useful fruit that was expected of
it from the beginning. Amen.
2 0 0 4
March
April
- 8 - International Women's Day
- 14 - Birth of Fr. Leo Dehon
- (1843)
- - Fr. Jeremiah Sheehy -
- Birthday (1957)
- - Fr. Eduardo Aguero - First
- Profession Ann. (1982)
- 19 - Feast of Saint Jospeh
- 25 - Feast of Annunciation
- 4 - Palm Sunday
- 8 - Holy Thursday
- - Ann. of release of Fr.
- Giuseppe Pierantoni (2002)
- 9 - Good Friday
- 10 - Holy Saturday
- 11 - Easter Sunday
- 10 - Fr. Indra Pamungkas -
- Ordination Ann. (1991)
- 18 - Fr. Jose Benedito Machado
- de Moraes - Birthday (1955)
