May 2004
Fr. Delio Ruiz, the newest
member of the SCJ District in the Philippines, is getting known as an
international retreat master. He just returned from India, where he gave a
retreat to our confreres there. In the meantime, he also gave a retreat to
the SCJ Novices in Manila, and now he is preparing for a new retreat in
Indonesia, which will take place in September 2004.
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- Fr. Indra celebrating the Mass
The Youth Mission in the Philippines, organized by SCJ priests, has its own history and tradition. The very first Youth Mission took place in 1992 in our former parish of Margosatubig and the following year in Kumalarang. Fr. Eduardo Aguero and Fr. Juan Domingo Griffone, the organizers, have adopted this idea from Argentina. Fr. Virginio Bressanelli, the former SCJ General Superior, was the pioneer and originator of this initiative. The main purpose of this was to give to the young people more solid Christian formation , and at the same time to let them see the conditions in which many people are living. Furthermore, this was to enable them to live their lives in solidarity, love and sharing with the others, especially with the poor. For several years the Youth Mission in the Philippines was organized simultaneously in Margosatubig and Kumalarang. Later on, it became a joined venture with the SCJ Vocation Program and moved entirely to Kumalarang. In 1996 it was held in one of our former parishes, Bacolod (Lanao del Norte). Since 1997 the Youth Mission is organized in Lumbia, one of the parishes, near Cagayan de Oro City, where the SCJ Formation House is located. This year, the Youth Mission was organized as usual in Lumbia Parish, from May 12 - 23,2004. The total number of participants reached 78: 34 SCJ seminarians, 2 SCJ priests, 2 sisters and 30 young people from different "SCJ places". The first three days were dedicated to the spiritual preparation of the participants. This included different inputs on spirituality and one-day of recollection. The next nine full days were spent in the different villages, merging with the people - sharing their houses, food and prayers. Besides the morning prayers and the Holy Eucharist, the daily activities also included visitation of the families, teaching to the children catechesis, participation in the prayer meetings of different BEC's (Basic Ecclesial Communities), etc. Even though, the participants very often felt tired and sometimes had to live in "spartan" conditions, surely the Youth Mission will remain for them as an unforgettable experience and adventure with God and with the people.
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- Fr. Indra during the Communion
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- Medical Outreach - part of the Youth Mission
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- Dr. Nino talking with the patient
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- Distribution of medicines
On May 15, 2004 the parish communities in Kumalarang and Dumalinao celebrated the feast of their Patron St. Isidore the Farmer. In Kumalarang, it was the first major activity for the newly appointed Parish Priest, Fr. Robertus Sutopo. The celebration, preceded by nine days of spiritual preparation called "Novena", started at 7:30am with the procession around the town and was followed by the Holy Mass presided by Fr. Sutopo. After the Mass, the Parish Youth Group prepared a short but nice program. Generally, it was a very simple and at the same time meaningful celebration. (For more details, please see the pictures below)
Procession around the town...
Heading back to the church...
Fr. Sutopo the main celebrant...
Receiving the gifts...
During the Mass...
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Fr. Aloisio Back, scj
Novice Master
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Fr. Aloisio Back, scj, is a Brazilian. He was born on October 31, 1952 in the province of Santa Catharina. He is the seventh son in a farmer family of twelve. Since, his parents were very serious and committed catholics, he grew up in the religious environment. The first stage of his elementary education took place in his hometown in San Martinho. At the age of twelve he entered the Minor Seminary run by the SCJ priests. After the graduation from the High School he started his one year Novitiate, which was followed by three years of philosophy and two years of theology. Then, he took a break and for three years he was teaching in the seminary. After this, he continued his studies of theology and on December 31, 1982 he was ordained as a priest, at the age of 30. After the ordination he was assigned in the Minor Seminary, first as a professor and then as its director. After this, he went to the mission in Mato Groso, where he joined two of his classmates working there at that time. He stayed there for three years and half and then he volunteered to join the international mission in the Philippines. After a short preparation in USA on December 12, 1991 he arrived in the Philippines. His first assignment was in Dimataling, where he stayed for more than one year. After this, he was asked by the group to prepare himself to become a formator. Since 1995 he has been working in formation, first in Cagayan de Oro in the postulancy program and now as the Novice Master in Manila. From 1997 - 2003, Fr. Aloisio Back was also serving the Philippine District as its Superior. |
Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart
Lord Jesus, the needs of your people open your heart in love to each of us. You care for us when we are lost, sympathize with us in loneliness and comfort us in mourning; you are closest to us when we are weakest. You love us most when we love ourselves least; you forgive us most when we forgive ourselves least; you call us to spread your love in whatever way we can.
Lord Jesus, your heart is moved with compassion when we are suffering, when we need your help and when we pray for each other. I ask you to listen to my prayer during this novena, and grant what I ask (make your request silently). If what I ask is not for my own good and the good of others, grant me always what is best for me, that I may build up your kingdom of love in our world. Amen.
2 0 0 4
June
July
- 4 - Fr. Dehon - First
- Communion (1854)
- 6 - Holy Trinity Sunday
- 12 - Independence Day
- (Philippines)
- 13 - Body & Blood of Christ
- - Fr. Yohanes Sonopribadi -
- Birthday (1950)
- - Fr. Janusz Burzawa - Ord.
- Anniversary (1990)
- 18 - Feast of the Sacred Heart
- 19 - Fr. Franciszek Pupkowski -
- Ord. Anniversary (1986)
- 20 - Father's Day
- (1920)
- 23 - Birth of St. John the Baptist
- 27 - Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- 29 - Sts. Peter & Paul
- 10 - Fr. Indra Pamungkas -
- Birthday (1965)
- - Fr. Jeremiah Sheehy -
- Ord. Anniversary (1982)
- 12 - Fr. Lukas Hadi Siswo
- Sasmito - Birthday (1966)
- 20 - Fr. Vincent Sri Herimanto -
- Birthday (1966)
- - Fr. Yohanes Sonopribadi -
- First Prof. Ann. (1980)
- - Fr. Indra Pamungkas -
- First Prof. Ann. (1983)
- - Bro. Yohanes Sismadi -
- First Prof. Ann. (1987)
- - Fr. Lukas Hadi S. Sasmito -
- First Prof. Ann. (1987)
- - Fr. Vincent Sri Herimanto -
- First Prof. Ann. (1987)
- - Fr. Robertus Sutopo -
- First Prof. Ann. (1990)
