Deacon to be at the service of the poor

Today December 12, took place in Payatas, Philippines in Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish the Diaconate Ordination of Brother Justin Bamouni fdp. It was a beautiful, more family colored ceremony than a parochial one. Attendance were the confreres of Montalban, one confrere from Lucena, the host community of Brother Justin, the confreres of Payatas, Father John Castillo fdp, parish priest, and Father Julio Cuesta fdp, Director of the Community, and our sisters of the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity together with their aspirants and postulants. Father Julio Cuesta has not missed saying humorously that "the parish church today is dressed all in white" referring to the fact that it was composed almost entirely of our seminarians in Philosophy, accompanied by their rector Fr. Stan Achi fdp, our brothers Novices with their Father Master and Coordinator of the Mission in the Philippines, Father Anthony Eucinei fdp, the religious brother in tirocinium and only few faithful parishioners.

In his homily, the Most Reverent  Antonio Tobias, Bishop of Novaliches Diocese and great friend of the Congregation, explained the merits and the meaning of diaconal service and invites brother Justin to stay Deacon-Servant forever, that is to say, never tiring serving and especially to be servant of all and of the poor and the needy.

The Mass was beautiful, simple but solemn because of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the Patronesses of the Philippines.

Montalban, 1st Orione Youth Day, OYD 2015

"Youth are the sun or storm of tomorrow." Inspired by this prophetic thought of our dearly beloved Founder Saint Luigi Orione, our seminarians and the Novice have organized for a great first here in Montalban "the Orione Youth day".

The idea came from the Sunday apostolate and Catechesis groups. Their intention, was how to help the young people they do meeting every Sunday to discover one of our charismatic identity, the love of Don Orione for the youth and the prominent place he gives them.

So our Seminarians have therefore solicited the cooperation of the Friendship of Don Orione, an association of lay people on the way to become the Orionine Lay Movement (MLO) here in Montalban. The coordinator of this association of Orionine lay people, Ken Ramilla Formanes Bonotan, called Kuya Ken, with the help of his collaborators and members has done “hands and feet” to see this activity become a success. Planned at the beginning for only some thirty or fifty young from the chapels where our youth go for the apostolate, this activity has turned to become a real Youth Day. One hundred and thirty and beyond, according to the official listing were the youth who have responded to the invitation. The compound of the Saint Luigi Orione Seminary was for two day transformed in a camp site with youth running everywhere.