Philippines, Orionine Religious Annual Retreat 2015.

From the 21st to 26th of September, 2015, the Orionine religious of the Philippines gathered at the Sacred Heart Retreat House of Quezon City, Manila, for their Annual retreat. From Montalban (St. Luigi Orione Seminary, Noviciate and Cottolengo Filipino), Payatas (Mother of the Divine Providence Parish) and Lucena, they were driven, five days to reflect on different aspects of their personal life as Orionine. The preacher, Rev. Fr. Oreste Ferrari, Superior of the Missionary Delegation "Mother of the Church", which includes the Philippines, Kenya, the USA, Jordan, India, Ireland, and Great Britain with seat in Rome did not fail day after day to invite his confreres to build and feed themselves on a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord.

Vocation: Witnessing to the truth of life

St. Luigi Orione strongly once said, “The society without priests would be like a menagerie of wild beasts, and the world would plunge into barbarity”. Priestly life is a paradigmatic dimension of Jesus’ passion narrative and ministry who promotes salvation. In a sense, making a life in front of the Crucified Christ entail self-denial and total dedication.

The 26^th of September becomes more meaningful as the seminary witness the outpouring blessings of God through drops of rains. The Montalban Community were celebrating the gift of abundant vocations in Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel as the seven of our Seminarians pledge their desires to Fr. Oreste, the Superior of the Delegation.  A postulant (from Latin: postulare, to ask) is the one who originally asks, makes a request or demand therefore a candidate. In God’s Providence, seven Filipino seminarians entered the postulancy- and are willing to be guided by the help of the postulant master. These are Post. Jeric Batas, Post. Nestor Taroy, Post. Czar Lawrenz Ponaya, Post. Randy Pasuengos, Post. Antero Mejos, Post. Antonio Ogardo, and Post. Mark Kevin Tuprio. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist was presided by Rev. Fr. Oreste Ferrari, FDP, assisted by Fr. Anthony de Souza, FDP and Fr. Stan Achi, FDP. The Mass was attended by some lay people who often come for masses on Saturdays in the chapel outside the Cottolengo Filipino.

Mabuhay si Fr Oreste sa Pilipinas

September 19, 2015. The community of St. Luigi Orione Seminary in Montalban, Rizal was blessed to have the Delegate Superior of the Missionary Delegation “Mother of the Church”, Rev. Fr. Oreste Ferrari, FDP, in their regular community meeting every Saturday. The Delegate Superior arrived in the Philippines on the night of September 18, fresh from Rome. The Saint Luigi Orione Seminary gave him a warm welcome before the meeting started.

”Friends of Don Orione, Friends of Christ”

Another remarkable celebration who was believed to be the foundation of mutual participations of the religious and lay people. On the 16^th of every month, the Montalban Community - seminary, the novitiate and Cottolengo Filipino - is remembering the canonization of St. Luigi Orione as it was declared by St. John Paul II on May 16, 2004. The Orionight, etymologically from Don Orione’s name and was compressed with night means a night of culmination: cavalcade of singing and dancing in honor to the Saint Founder. The commemoration began with the solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Anthony, the Superior of the community, assisted by Fr. Stefan, Community Vicar and Fr. Stan as the in-charge of the seminary.

Why are you here?

The seminarians and religious rose one morning on the 29^th of August, taking the sacred silence which conquers the solemnity of the whole compound. Having the ambiance, everybody took their journal and a Bible, went out into a quite field beside the seminary chapel- others find their own place where they can have their contemplation. It was the day with the Lord, when the birds are singing, the world awake. Seminarians often marvel at the exuberance of birds in the early morning. Sometimes, considering the sparrow can help to imitate the simplicity of life. What a wonderful recollection shared with pure silence and repentance.