Holy Week’s celebration in Montalban: Maundy Thursday with the Apostolic Nuncio.

It was a special blessing for the Sons of Divine Providence Community of Montalban, in the Philippines. The Apostolic Nuncio of the Philippines, His Excellency Most Rev. Gabriele Giordano CACCIA, D.D. chose to celebrate the Cena Domini with us.

Accompanied by Msgr. Gabriel VIOLA and the religious sisters of St. Paul, members of the Apostolic Nunciature community, they arrived in our compound around 4pm. Short and joyful visit in the Cottolengo, greetings of the Cottolengo boys, visit in the Novitiate and visit in the Seminary. Then started the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in Coena Domini with the washing of feet of 12 of our Cottolengino boys.

1st Formators – Family Dialogue: “Parents and Priestly Vocation.”

Don Orione our Founder and the Constitution of the Little Work of Divine Providence (Sons of Divine Providence) at its Art. 39. say, “The parents of our religious are considered part of our religious family. Following the example and exhortations of our Founder, we foster lively gratitude towards them, our principal benefactors. We welcome them into our houses with cordiality.” What is said of religious could be said of the parents of our students. They are the first formators and benefactors of their children. They play a very important role in their formation and discernment process.

Joy to the world... Christmas is real.

God today becomes one of us so that mankind might rediscover his original identity, Godlikeness.
Merry Christmas...

Entrance to the Postulancy: “Here I Am, Lord” – For a Discipleship in the Footsteps of Don Orione.

Last November 17, 2018 took place in the Chapel of the Saint Luigi Orione Seminary in Montalban (Philippines), the Rite of Entrance to the Postulancy of eleven of our aspirants. Seminarians BONARES Evelio, CINCHES Marsson, DAPO Rolando, ESPINAR Kristian Jude, ESPIÑA Jay, OROS Jackson, OBIS Mark Jayson, SAMILLANO Jenny Boy, SIERVO Eumar Sandy, TARNATE John Paul, VALERTA Mark Raph, after three years of Apirancy have asked to be accepted as Postulants, that is willing to become members of the Religious family of the Little Work of Divine Providence.

They have been welcomed by Rev. Fr. Marcelo Daniel BOSCHI, Delegate Superior of the Missionary Delegation “Mother of the Church” who happened at that time to be in fraternal visit in the Philippines.

Fr. Marcelo, in his homily has commended our new Postulants for they decision to join the Sons of Divine Providence and let themselves be help to discern better and more clearly the plan of God on their lives. He also challenges them to see in this new step, not an end, but the beginning of a whole life thirst. It will be, as he told them, the time to clarify their aspirations and inner thirsts. He therefore invited them to be more open to the formation and generous in their answer to God’s call.

“Scientia maxime cum virtute”

Here is something good to share and meditate on.

Based on the first reading of this Monday, 9th Week of the Ordinary time, Year B, Fr. Stan shares with us his meditation.

Homily: Lesson of moral towards holiness. (2 Pt 1:2-7)

A Chinese proverb says, “Virtue never dwells alone, it always has neighbors.” And another proverb adds, “Gratitude is the least of virtues, but ingratitude the worst of vices.”

 school of Philosophy where our seminarians go, the St. Anthony Mary Claret College (SAMCC) has this beautiful motto, “Scientia maxime cum virtute” (Knowledge is best with virtue) from the words of St. Anthony Claret. This emphasizes that the attainment of knowledge and the discovery of the truth are best when achieved and lived with the minimum if not the necessary virtue to develop a responsible and loving individual. There is no achievement without moral foundation.

Graduation is not an end, but a beginning.

We were called, on this first day of June, 2018, to witness the Baccalaureate Mass and to the 31^st Commencement Exercises of the Saint Anthony Mary Claret College, SAMCC.

Forty-nine (49) young men were turning the page of four years philosophy studies for some and more than four years for others. Our Religious Family was honored with 11 Graduates Postulants, three Religious Brothers and four Ex-pupils. It was a colorful and joy filled ceremony.

Not only that we had the biggest number of graduates students, but also we were honored with six (6) graduates “Cum Laude”, and one (1) “Magna Cum Laude”. This achievement has been possible through the joined efforts of the students and their formators.

As we congratulates our young men for this great achievement, we at the same time throw the philosophical provocation that graduation is not an end, but a beginning. It is for sure an achievement, but it is also a new door which must open them to new challenge and new commencement. Once again, Congratulations to the Batch 2018!

Don Orione enthroned in glory on the facade of the St. Luigi Orione Chapel.

Our Religious family rejoice today, May 16, 2018 for the 14^th Anniversary of the Canonization of our Founder, St. Luigi Orione. It is feast day for the whole Congregation of the Little Work of Divine Providence which includes the Sons of Divine Providence and the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity.

Here in Montalban, in the Philippines, the feast was marked with a very special note, the Installation of the six feet image of St. Luigi Orione on the front terrace of the Chapel dedicated to him at the St. Luigi Orione Seminary. From there he now watches over the community and welcomes anyone who enters the compound.

The feast started in the morning with the procession with the boys of the Cottolengo, the Children of the Oratorio and many other children from the neighborhood.

In the afternoon, exactly at 5 pm we were invited to the Eucharistic Celebration Concelebrated by the Superior of the Community, Fr. Stan ACHI, FDP, in charge of the Seminary, Fr. Fausto FRANCESCHI, FDP, Novice Master, Fr. Joseph VAN CU, FDP, Assistant Master, Fr. Julio CUESTA, Director of the Cottolengo and Fr. Noeh E. ELNAR, Parish priest of the Saint Raphael Archangel Parish.

Many parishioners, youth of the KDOM (Kabataan ni Don Orione Movement), Friendship of Don Orione and children of the apostolate area of the Seminarians and Novices joined the Solemnity. Were also present the Novices of our Sisters, the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity accompanied by their Mistress, Sister Maria GRACIELLA, LMSC and the Sisters of Saint Anne, the Virgen Del Pilar Community.