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.

They came here in the Philippines to celebrate the victory of the FDP Mission Silver Jubilee and the success of its first ever parish here in the Philippines, the Mother of the Divine Providence Parish in Payatas. They both concelebrated the mass with Bishop Antonio Tobias, D.D., the bishop of Novaliches, with the 15 clergies who were there present during the Parish fiesta.

During the triduum prior to the fiesta, the Montalban community assumed a participation in the occasion of honoring the Blessed Virgin. Before the mass, the seminarians, novices and some Cottolengo children cursorily presented the history of the congregation. It was indeed a slice of an authentic work in the servitude with the poor, the needy and the afflicted. They portrayed the first missionary priests who became pioneers of spreading the charism of Don Orione, first hailed in Payatas before Fr. Falardi came, the visionary of the dreams of the congregation – to have a formation house here in Montalban at the mountainside. Inculturation became part of the scene in the history of the successful year. It is vital for missionary priests, to adopt in the Philippine setting and the psyche of each Filipino.

During the Vespera on the 3^rd day of the Triduum, the Mother of Divine Providence and the statue of St. Luigi Orione was enthroned finally in the façade of the parish from the house of the hermana mayor. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist started at 9:00 in the morning marked as a legendary celebration. Followed by a solemn procession, the seminarians and the religious serenaded the streets by reciting the holy rosary. There was also a majestic accompaniment of the symphonies and sounds made by clashes of cymbals, drums and tambourines. To commemorate the 25^th years in the threshold of charity, Fr. Oreste reechoed the same quantity of people attending the ever first parish fiesta way back on 1992. He reminisced the walls and pavements of the little chapel until it was converted into a huge parish filled with many faithful propagated by the works of charity.

Along the day, the two visiting priests came for lunch in the house of the “hermana mayor”, the host of the parochial fiesta. The seminarians were also exuberant in welcoming the general councilors. With cheers and regards, the presence of the heads of the congregation carries the spirit of St. Luigi Orione who is always interceding for the vocations and works of the Divine Providence.

Today, in the community mass here in Montalban, Fr. Oreste culminated his homily by this strong connotation of prayer. He exclaimed that, “Prayer is the source of our strength. Let us never be tired of asking the Lord especially graces in our vocation.” May the invitation of the 14^th General Chapter be a living motivation for this dreams to be realized – to be faithful Servants of Christ and the poor.