The Entrance to Postulancy

In view of religious parlance, discernment is being made from the deepest reflection out of solitary moments and prayerful encounters. Imagining a person in decision crisis, the Holy Bible will say, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "HERE AM I, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

The Silver Jubilee in the Servitude of Christ and the Poor

The congregation here in the Philippines is indeed grateful for the visit of the General Council. It becomes an opportunity for many of the priests, religious and aspirants to be with the Superior General, Fr. Tarcisio Gregorio Vieira, fdp – the 8^th Succesor of St. Luigi Orione. Together with his presence is the Vicar General of the Congregation and the Superior Delegate, Fr. Oreste Ferrari, fdp.

Father Anthony @40.

A popular saying goes that “Life begins at 40.” Last November 7, 2016, the Superior of the Sons of Divine Providence in Montalban and Coordinator of the Orionine Mission in the Philippines became a young adult while blowing his 40^th candle. Fr. Anthony Eucinei De Souza can now say with great humour: “I’m not 40, I’m just 18 plus 22 years’ experience in life.”

The feast of the Superior being the feast of the whole Community, the Sons of Divine Providence in Montalban celebrated solemnly with thanksgiving the Birthday of Fr. Anthony. Among the attendants were our brothers from Payatas, Fr. John Castillo the Parish Priest, Fr. Julio Cuesta and Fr. Joseph Van Cu. Many friends, parishioners, workers of the Cottolengo, Friendship of Don Orione and Kabataan ni Don Orione Movement (KDOM) joined also to express they closeness to our birthday celebrant.

The compound of the seminary was resplendent in the colors and sounds of the 40 candles of the Superior and Novice Master. After the holy Eucharist, we all gathered to share a fraternal meal with presentations from the Seminarians, the Novices, the Children from the Cottolengo and the KDOM. To Fr Anthony, we wish once again a blessed 40^th Anniversary of life and many blessings in the years ahead to come.

Like a Rose, Trampled on the Ground.

In the paradigm of philosophy of religion, the process of crucifixion is defined to be the game of vulnerability. Jesus fulfilled the Father’s will and feel that He is so helpless hanging on the wood for criminals. This example outlives the Christian spirit most especially the promise of eternal life, involving a participation concept between God and man.

"I am crucified with Christ" was the theme of the Orionight on the 15th of October 2016. It was taken from the letter of Paul to the Galatian 2:23. The whole celebration made a memorable event that intact in the minds of all brothers and sisters. Though it was raining, it made no hindrance to postpone the event. The friends and youths of Don Orione made an effort to attend the celebration. Likewise, the seminary invited people coming from different chapels of St. Raphael Archangel Parish. They contribute much of the happiness which everyone experienced. They also took this event as an opportunity to gather and share the joy to one another.

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.

Give sustenance to all mankind!

The radiance of the bread of life coming from the providential love of God is a theme worthy of an endless celebration. The daily sustenance we received is what we admire and long for- but maybe it is not yet enough.

In honor to St. Luigi Orione in every 16^th of the month, the community here in Montalban celebrated the ORIONIGHT taking the theme, “Give us this day our daily bread”. The Eucharistic celebration was officiated by our Vicar General, Fr. Oreste Ferrari, together with Fr. Stefan and Fr. Stan. Depicting the good nutrition, we need the nutrients of Christ in all aspects of our life. We held the celebration in connection to the Nutrition Month happened every July here in the Philippines.

Let us give them a chance to learn!

The classes will start at August due to some changes in philosophy school. While waiting for days coming, seminarians are spending so much of their time in manual work, in prayer and study. In everyday routine, they are asked to attend the class arranged by our rector, Fr. Stan and if the professor is not coming; at least we spend time in self-study and scribbling some books and encyclopedias in the library.

Pope Francis' Spirit, Viva il Papa!

The Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul happened on the 29^th of June became the confirmation of our Orionine spirits as our charism hails in the love for the most poor.  To be the “church for the poor” entails submissive necessities of a pure mercy and compassion like what Pope Francis emphasizes in all his works as the bishop of Rome.

Welcome Home Fr. Stan!

There’s no best place than home. To the culture of an Englishmen particularly in England, there is an ever so sweet phrase saying, “My home is my fortress”. After two months of vacation for the seminarians, Fr. Stan, the Rector of the Seminary spent his break in two halves: first, in the seminary preparing everything for the coming academic year and another half in his place,in Ivory Coast. Now, he is joyfully back in the Philippines for another formative year in shepherding young men.

Knowing Each Other, Getting Together

On the 2^nd day of June, we held the continuation of our team building. We rose early at 4:00 in the dawn heading into our area prepared by the 4^th Year as a venue for the morning lauds. “TakBOKASYON- a run for Vocation is the theme of the morning activity. In our sweet Filipino language, takbo means run and bokasyon means vocation- squeezing the words to complete the said title. We solemnly prayed at the start for strength and immunity- mind, body and spirit- as we start our fun run activity. The whistle of Sem. Pablo became an indicator of receiving a signage, a signal or instructions on the entire day as we went from the seminary going along Wawa Dam. This opportunity of going to this historical area is very vital for especially when we have our pastoral ministry in the chapels. We have three residing parochial chapels near the Wawa Dam, the Sto. Niño Chapel, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Chapel and the St. Vincent Ferrer Chapel in Sitio Sabangan. Stories says that this dam was the source of water supply of the entire Metro Manila before until they discovered the Angat Dam. Still, there is a strong clamor to beautify and improve the tourist destination.

Maraming Salamat Po!

In life, we tend to be a hedonist. We find pleasure in every work we’ve done without waiting for the result. By the Divine Providence who is always in our midst, we have another humble work, the improvement of our buildings in catering our needs in formation. Our pragmatic formators here in Montalban- Fr. Stan, Bro. Aldrin, Bro. Augustus and Bro. Carl- made their vacation extraordinary by preparing the seminary facilities before the classes will start. They work on rooms for the novices. (now they are student professed brothers).

The Joy in our Formation!

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Taking the words of Jesus in the Gospel, camaraderie becomes the food of community life when brothers are sharing the same friendship which Jesus’ Himself established 2000 years ago. After the long preparation for consecutive events here in Montalban- the entrance of our new novices, first religious profession and the renewal of vows- the fourth year seminarians conducted a team building activity as we prepare ourselves for the formal opening of the academic year. 

First Profession in Montalban

The Blessed Virgin Mary has visited Montalban. The feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elisabeth was of a special color in Philippines. It was a family event in Montalban this May 31, 2016. Twelve of our novices brothers made their first religious profession in the Philippines.

There were great joy and a lot of emotion in this Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Anthony Eucinei de Souza, coordinator of the mission in the Philippines and Novice Master of the St. Luigi Orione Novitiate of Montalban. The Chapel of St. Luigi Orione Seminary ended up almost cramped with the crowd of relatives, friends and acquaintance who came to support our brothers Ronie, Ablan, Kim, Jovet, Raymond, Atuli, Clark, Joseph, Bryan, Maria Joseph George and Muralli.

During the same Eucharistic celebration, five of our young professed brothers were renewing their vows.

The previous evening, fifteen (15) other young men made their solemn entrance to the novitiate, two (2) from Kenya, seven (7) from the Philippines and six (6) from India accompanied by Fr. Fausto Franceschi.

To our newly profes brothers, to those who have renewed their vows and those who have just made their entrance into the Novitiate we wish congratulations and good way in religious life, in the footsteps of Saint Luigi Orione and the following of Christ. Ave Maria and always forwards.

THE 14TH GENERAL CHAPTER IN THE VATICAN: Mass at Sant’Anna and Audience with Pope Francis

It was a tiring journey accepted with commitment, prayer and joy, the 1,300 km from the Oltrepò Pavese to the Vatican, to be there, present at the audience which Pope Francis gave to the Chapter Members meeting at Montebello (Pavia).

In the morning at 9.30 am, all gathered in the church of Sant’Anna in the Vatican for the Mass presided over by the new Superior General Fr Tarcisio Vieira with the new Councillors.

Also present were the Invited Guests of the Orionine Family to the General Chapter, led by the Mother General, Mother Maria Mabel Spagnuolo, Rita Orrù, General Responsible of the Orionine Secular Institute, and by Javier Rodriguez Mendez, General Coordinator of the Orionine Lay Movement.

The homily of Fr Tarcisio was simple and beautiful.   He took his lead from the Gospel of the day which presented the fig tree and the temple, both without fruit, without life.  A temple full of leaves, merchants and attractive items, with apparent glamour, but without fruit.  Jesus curses, that is, recognises the evil, of that fig tree and of the sterile temple.

“A Congregation, “one tree with many branches”, but without fruit, would certainly be a magnificent Congregation, giving a good impression, attractive to the eye, solid, perhaps fascinating” said Fr Tarcisio, “but it would be without outreaching force, not able to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Church and the Pope, especially among the people, to unite the people to the Apostolic See, through the apostolate of charity.  It would be a Congregation which would have lost its life and service of God and people.  It would be a Congregation without fruit”.

“You were called and consecrated by God”

"Pope to Orionines: Remain with Jesus, and serve the poor"

The newly elected General Council held an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis last May 27 at 12 pm in the Vatican City. Here is the report of Vatican Radio.

PopeFrancis on Friday greeted members of the Congregation of Don Orione, the Sons of Divine Providence, on the occasion of their 14th General Chapter.

The Congregation takes its inspiration from its founder, St Luigi Orione, whose motto was: “Do good to all; harm no one.” St Luigi Orione is remembered for his commitment to social justice and the service of those in need, a service guided and inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church.

In his address to the General Chapter, Pope Francis said, “The whole Church is called to journey with Jesus along the paths of the world, to encounter the humanity of today, which needs, as Don Orione wrote, ‘the bread of the body, and the divine balm of the Faith’.”

To put these words into practice today, the Pope said, the members of the Congregation must keep in mind their identity as “servants of Christ and of the poor.”

“You were called and consecrated by God,” he said, “to remain with Jesus and to serve Him in the poor and in those excluded from society." He called them to vigilance, that their faith “might not become an ideology,” or their charity a mere “philanthropy.”

Pope Francis recalled that, even during the lifetime of Don Orione, the Orionine Fathers were known as “running priests” because they “seemed to be always on the go, in the midst of the people, with the rapid pace of those who care.”

He exhorted them, “with Don Orione, to to not remain enclosed within your particular environment, but to ‘go out’.”

At the same time, it is important to never “lose sight of the Church” or of their own religious community. Rather, he said, “your heart must be there in your ‘cenaculum’, but then needs to go out to bring the mercy of God to all, without distinction.”

Here a video of the audience.

Vidoe 1

Video 2

Parvum Opus Divinae Providentiae, Habemus Superiorem Generalis!

Great joy for the Sons of Divine Providence. We have a new Superior General.

He is Brazilian, 52 years old and his name is TARCISIO GREGORIO VIEIRA.  He is the 8th Successor of Don Orione at the head of the Little Work of Divine Providence, present in thirty nations.  The new Superior General of the Orionines was elected by the members of the 14th General Chapter which is being held at Montebello, near Tortona, with the theme “Servants of Christ and the Poor”, fidelity and prophecy in dialogue with the fringes of poverty and the New Evangelization.  

Fr. Tarcisio Gegorio Vieira was born on 25th May 1964, at Ouro Branco in Brazil, in a parish run by the Orionines.  After the normal course of formation, he made his vows on 5th January 1983 and became a priest on 22nd December 1991.  At Brasilia, he was responsible for pastoral work, formation, was the provincial secretary and also adjunct to the Apostolic Nunciature in Brazil.  In September 2001, he was called to Rome, as an official of the Congregation for Bishops until in December 2007 when he was appointed General Councillor of the Congregation.  In 2010, he returned to Brazil and became Provincial Superior of the Orionine Communities of North Brazil.

It is the first time that a Brazilian has become the Superior General of the Sons of Divine Providence.  He succeeds Fr Flavio Peloso who has guided the Congregation for 12 years. With Fr Tarcisio the Congregation begins a new stage of its journey marked by the indications of the 14th General Chapter.

The elective part of the Chapter started at 5.30 pm after an afternoon of silence, prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  After the formal introductory proceedings, the election of the superior general took place and at 5.55 pm the required number of votes were reached for him to be elected.  This was followed by a long applause by the Chapter Members.  The President of the Chapter, Fr Flavio Peloso, after having received his acceptance of the task, officially proclaimed Fr TARCISIO GREGORIO VIEIRA Superior General of the Sons of Divine Providence.  This was followed by the personal homage of the newly Elect by each Chapter Member and the other religious present in the house.

After that followed election of the Vicar General, Fr ORESTE FERRARI, who up to then had been the Superior of the Missionary Delegation, “Mother of the Church” and the Bursar General, Fr FULVIO FERRARI, who was thus confirmed for a second six-year period.

Holy Mass and a celebration supper concluded an important day of the 14th General Chapter.

In the morning of May 26, was completed the election of the entire General Council with the three other members: Fr PIERRE ASSAMOUAN KOUASSI, from Ivory Coast, currently Provincial Vicar of “Notre Dame d’Afrique”; Fr FERNANDO FORNEROD, from Argentina and Fr LAUREANO DE LA RED MERINO, from Spain.

May 16, Saint Luigi Orione, a Saint for the Church and the Universe.

Today May 16, the whole Orionine Family have celebrated with great solemnity the 12th Anniversary of the Canonization of our Founder.  

Born on June 23, 1872 in Pontecurone, Allesandria, Italy, he died on March 12, 1940 in Sanremo, Liguria, Italy. Don Orione is the Founder of Sons of Divine Providence and the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity

Beatified on October 26, 1980, by Pope John Paul II he was canonized on May 16, 2004, Vatican City, by the same Pope John Paul II.

Happy Feast to all the spiritual Sons and Daughters of such a great Saint.

From Payatas, QC, Philippines

"You have offered a life of prayer that no words can describe or praise. To restore all things in the light of Christ's name. How can we endure the faith you've shared?" (Excerpt from the song "Fr. Orione we pray in one with thee)

Happy Fiesta St. Luigi Orione (Founder of the Little Work of Divine Providence Congregation)

Post. Jeric Batas

For some news from Tortona.

"The Kingdom of God belongs to the poor and the sick. He who care for the poor becomes honorary citizen of Heaven." 

Don Flavio Peloso the Superior General

35 Candles with friends.

The liturgical memorial of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr of Kraków on this April 11, 2016 was marked with a special stamp in the St Luigi Orione Seminary of Montalban. The reason was simple, Father Stan, Seminary formator, was blowing his 35th candle of life. The celebration which was originally intended to be a simple family ceremony eventually became a celebration of friendship and fraternity. Many friends (s) from the San Rafael Archangel Parish, from Eastwind, ER, Eastwood and the surrounding area took the opportunity to express their sympathy and love to the one our young seminarians affectionately call "the Rector". The party was simply beautiful and rich of emotions. The many messages and wishes received here and there also testify of the fraternity and hospitality of our people and of our faithful Christians. To Father Stan we wish a Happy Birthday and many graces in this new year under the sun. God bless.

 

GRAND ORIONIGHT: DON ORIONE IN ONE WITH THEE

If people will happen to see the appendix XV of the congregation’s prayerbook dedicated to Don Orione, they will discover the sophistication of being a religious. It will say that, “Creativity is not a luxury for literary people, or for those with a taste for words, but it is rather a necessity arising from the need to live one’s own worship of God with a greater awareness, as well as to adjust it to one’s own spirit and to that of the participants by means of a more complex involvement, not only for the group of prayer but also of individuals.” Inspired by the commentaries published to many countries for the congregation’s liturgical worship, the Montalban Community entered also the Holy Week with a commemorative celebration, thanking St. Luigi Orione, our Founder for a prayerful year and steadfast love to everyone in the Community. Last 21^st of March, we have officially closed the academic year 2015-2016 through the Eucharistic Celebration and looking forward for abundant years to come. The concluding mass was presided by Fr. Eucinei Antonio de Souza, the Local Superior concelebrated by Fr. Stan, fdp, Rector of the Seminary and Fr. Stefan, fdp, the Community vicar.

SLOS hails three (3) College Graduate

The end of the academic year in the SLOS (Saint Luigi Orione Seminary) has been pounded with many joyful events among which the graduation of three (3) of our Seminarian-Postulants in AB Philosophy.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines -- During the 29^th Commencement Exercises of the Saint Anthony Mary Claret College (SAMCC), undergraduate Philosophy department last 19 March 2015 (Saturday), at 2 pm, were graduated 36 seminarians from different religious Congregations and Institutes with the degree Bachelor of Art major in Philosophy. Among the 36 graduates, three (3) seminarians are from the Congregation of the Little Work of Divine Providence who graduated with honors namely Czar Lawrenz Ponaya (Cum Laude), Nestor Taroy, Jr. (Cum Laude), and Jeric Batas. The graduation ceremony was held at the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA), with 2 graduated magna cum laude and 11 cum laude. The ceremony was two-fold event: The Baccalaureate Mass followed by the Commencement Exercises.

Valentine Ball: Caritas Christi Urget Nos

The story of love transpired again in Montalban community. The 13^th of February became the most romantic event of the seminary together with the invited benefactors and friends. In connection to the monthly commemoration for St. Luigi Orione, our Orionight was aligned to the Pre- Valentine Ball with the theme, ”The Love of Christ urges us on…” St. Valentine introduced the worldly understanding of heart’s day as a common celebration of lovers. In order not to remain untouchable in a semi- monastic life, we also shared in the festivity of love by making the night sparked by singing and dancing.

Indulging into the City of Dreams: An Orionine Educational Escapade

The Feast of San Pedro Bautista last Saturday, February 6, 2016 was filled with awesome and meaningful moments spent as a community of Priest, Brothers and Seminarians of Don Orione. Thru the initiative of Fr. Stan, our pragmatic rector, we attempted to inculcate our young minds into an educational journey by knowing more the culture and heritage of the Pearl of the Orient Seas- the Philippines.

Early in the morning, showers and faucets in the lobby were booked by seminarians who steered themselves preparing for the morning liturgy. We highlighted the trip by attending the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Stan, fdp. After receiving the blessing, the flock of blue men came into pictorial before the St. Luigi Orione Chapel.

January 2016 Recollection: Holy Eucharist, food for the Lenten journey

From today on, in two weeks coming, our Mother Church will invite us to make a special journey of spiritual and human preparation in order to revive and live worthily the mystery of our salvation, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus-Christ.

In this regard, I wish to put our recollection of this month of February under the theme of LENT and HOLY EUCHARIST.

The combining of these two topic is also inspired by the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016 which have just been held in Cebu, current of this week.

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday marks the FIRST DAY, or the start of the Lenten season, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of Fasting, Repentance, Moderation (in many aspects of life) and Spiritual Discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

Br Ramon Rosin Padilla FDP: reception of the Ministry of acolyte in Kenya.

Here are some good news from the formation house, Nairobi, Kenya.  On Saturday 23rd January during Mass in the formation house chapel at 6pm, Br Ramon Rosin Padilla FDP received the ministry of acolyte in the presence of all the confreres in Nairobi and the philosophy students.  Fr Paul Mboche Mwangi FDP, superior of the formation house, presided at the Mass and conferred the ministry to Br Ramon.  

Fr Malcolm gave the homily, saying that the Eucharist is the Body of Christ which also builds up the Body of Christ, the Church, in which all of us have our place and our role, including the ministry of acolyte.
Afterwards, all gathered in the theology house for a fraternal meal.  Br Ramon expressed his gratitude to God for the gift of this ministry and to all present and to all in the Philippines.
Br Ramon is in the third year of theology at Tangaza College and is the most advanced of the theological community.
Best wishes and prayers go to Br Ramon who is moving towards perpetual vows when God wills.

Malcolm Dyer SDP

Responsible for Theological students

Sons of Divine Providence - Nairobi - Kenya

Live Christ, Share CHRIST!

The New Year in Montalban Community was filled with great enthusiasm and thanksgiving in commemorating monthly the memorial of the Founder, St. Luigi Orione. It was a providential way indeed that we are also entering into the journey of the Silver Year in the boldness of charity that Don Orione imparts through the serving Christ and the poor.The 1^st Orionight for this year were joyfully celebrated last Saturday, January 16, 2016. Inspired by the communion of the bishops, clergy and the religious on the 26th in Cebu City for the International Eucharistic Congress, the seminary culminated the celebration of love and culture gifted to the country, the Philippines, in the 495th Jubilee of its Christianization.

“ORIONIGHT: Live Christ, Share Christ!”- taken from the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines Pastoral Exhortation on the Era of New Evangelization-was the theme of the event. The Conference of Bishops instilled by the clergy in all local churches, have declared the Year of the Eucharist and of the Family. They are acknowledging the faithful to culminate the living remembrance during the Last Supper-the Eucharist to be the fountain of sacramental values for vocations and evangelization.