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