FDP Phillipines, Annual Retreat 2016

The Confreres Sons of Divine Providence in the Philippines gathered for their one-week annual retreat from October 17 – 22, 2016 at the Augustinian Contemplative Nuns (OSA) Retreat House in Carmel Farms, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. They have been accompanied during this one-week reflection by Rev. Fr. Fausto Franceschi in mission in India.

Eleven (11) people, composed of six religious priests and five religious brothers from the three houses we count in the Philippines (Lucena, Montalban, Payatas) were the attendants. Fr. Anthony, the coordinator of the Mission and Novice Master was not able to attend due to his responsibility and also the eight other newly profes brothers for academic reasons. Fr. Stefan Bulai as well was not able to join because being in Romania at this moment for the sad news of the sudden departure of his mother Tereza Bulai at the Father’s house. The last day Father Anthony and the Novices joined for the closing Eucharistic celebration.

During these six days, we have been taken by Fr. Fausto to journey the road of the Father’s Mercy. The main topic was the Year of Mercy with a particular insistence on the work of mercy analyzed at the light of the Holy Scriptures, the Magisterium of the Church and the Orionine Magisterium.

Kapayapaan, Aming Dasal!

    

Change is indeed inevitable. It takes a good courage to let go of the familiar and embrace a new one. In this 16^th of September, our community here in Montalban celebrated again another night of celebrating and reminiscing the spirit of our founder, St. Luigi Orione. 

Faithfulness to the Pope, closeness to the Bishop: Bishop Francisco De Leon, D.D.

For us Sons of Divine Providence, the special faithfulness to the Pope gets its concrete expression in the love that we express to the local Church with the Bishop as representative of the Vicar of the Christ. Our Community here in Montalban, Rizal always seizes the opportunities to express this love by closeness and service.

In this connection, we are always where the local Church of Antipolo, with the Bishop as head invites us to be. So last September 10, 2016, we have been invited to witness the Rite of Liturgical Reception and the Eucharistic Celebration of the Canonical Possession of the Most Rev. Francisco Mendoza De Leon, D.D. as the fourth Diocesan Bishop of Antipolo.

Welcome to the Family!

Rev. Fr. Balibie Bamouni, fdp- or our Fr. Justin as we call him-  is a newly-ordained priest in our congregation.Together with our prayers as we acquainted him, we expressed our deep-seated appreciation to the workings of the Divine Providence around the world for the gift of vocations.Surely, the God of Harvest is always with us in ripping young men until such time that He will commission them in His vast vineyard.

The Blessed Virgin in Her Glorious Assumption

Together with the Roman Catholic Church who celebrated the infallible dogma last August 15, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s “assumptio”- a taking- into heaven, our community here in Montalban dedicated a fitting tribute to Mary, Mother of God on the feast of her glorious Assumption. 

Come, Holy Spirit!

In the spirit of a solemn celebration with the Vicar General, the seminary community here in the Philippines opened up the academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit. This long invocation irradiates the purpose of guidance- in which prayers are all due for the success of another formative year in the seminary. 

KaDALWYD 2016: From Krakow to Marikina

As many young people were gathered in Krakow, Poland, with the Holy Father Pope Francis, celebrating the 13^th World Youth Day, the Youth of the Antipolo Diocese, in Abbreviation KaDA (Kabataan ng Diyosesis ng Antipolo) have held a local celebration of the #WYD2016 here in Marikina. The venue, the Marist School of Marikina. It was a lovely and colorful night vigil, from Saturday 30 at 6pm to Sunday 31 at 8am. It is more or less 2000 youth from the different vicariates of the Diocese: Vicariate of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Vicariate of Saint Jerome, Vicariate of San Ildefonso, Vicariate of the Saint John the Baptist, Vicariate of Our Lady of the Light, Vicariate of Saint Francis Xavier, Vicariate of Our Lady of Aranzazu, Vicariate of Immaculate Conception, Vicariate of Our Lady of the Abandoned, who have happily invaded the Marist School. All in red, tagged some with the logo of the #WYD 2016, some with the theme, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

Among the Attendants were some seminarians of the Saint Luigi Orione Seminary, our religious brothers here in Montalban, the Novices and the Orionine Youth Movement, Kabataan ni Don Orione.

Many activities have embellished this night vigil among which, a catechism given by Rev. Msgr. Rigoberto S. De Guzman, animations, testimonies from attendants of previous WYD, Divine Mercy Rosary, Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Mass.

It has been a night full of joy, as expressed by many attendants. We now look forwards for the next World Youth Day in Panama in 2019.