NOVA ET VETERA - · PDF file4 NOVA ET VETERA • MAY-JUNE 2017 to continue their mission...

By John Couvreur, CICM

The on-

going 15th CICM Chapter in Rome, has been,

throughout the past year,

intensively prepared all over

the Institute, through prayers, reflections and sharing of suggestions, opinions,

dreams, expectations and even worries.

A Chapter is an ideal moment of

re-source-ment.

The theme: “We have a good and beautiful mission. Go, and God will go with you” brings us back to

the motivations and ideals that inspired our Founder to leave behind a comfortable life and to set out to the

unknown with as only assurance that they can trust God to be always at their side.

Searching for the foundation of

this extra-ordinary endeavor of the pioneering team and the so many hundreds who enthusiastically set out

after them, the source of their courage, commitment and strength to continue the mission, even under the harshest conditions, can be found in

what Pope Francis called in his homily on the Epiphany of the Lord: “A holy longing for God”. I quote:

“The Magi did not set out because they had seen the star, but they saw the star because they had already set out.

Their hearts were open to the horizon and they could see what the heavens were showing them, for they were guided by an inner restlessness. They

were open to something new. Longing for God draws us out of our iron-clad isolation, which makes us think

nothing can change. Longing for God shatters our dreary routines and impels us to make the changes we

RP PROVINCE NEWSLETTER May-June 2017 Vol. 53 No. 3

NOVA ET VETERA

NOVA ET VETERA • MAY-JUNE 2017 3

want and need. Longing for God has its roots in the past yet does not

remain there: it reaches out to the future. Believers who feel this longing are led by faith to seek God, as the Magi did, in the most distant corners of

history; for they know that there the Lord awaits them. They go to the peripheries, to the frontiers, to places

not yet evangelized, to encounter the Lord. Nor do they do this out of a sense of superiority, but rather as

beggars who cannot ignore the eyes of those for whom the Good News is still unchartered territory.”

Looking back at the 155 years of

our Institute, as part of our re-source-ment, we realize the Lord has always been very generous to us. The

internationalization and multicultural living in our Institute, has been a great blessing as it not only brings in

new ideas and approaches, but it becomes a living witness of universal brotherhood in our world of individualism, unhealthy nationalism

and fundamentalism. Maybe more than ever before, we are needed and are called to play a prophetic role in a

fast changing world in search of authentic values. This will surely be a major point of reflection during the

ongoing Chapter knowing that God walks with us at all times.

Where do we go from here?

As of January 1, 1966, the

Institute counted 2,008 members, while as of last January 1, the number is down to 850. Even if we

joyfully note that the number of young CICM members has been growing again over the past few years,

serious efforts have to be undertaken to re-source our initial formation

program. We have to synchronize better the different stages of formation and come up with criteria for the evaluation of the expected outcome of

each stage, in order to be able to face the challenges of the growing responsibilities entrusted to us. So

many good and capable people leave during the formation years or even after only a few years of ordination.

The initial formation program has to rekindle in our seminarians the fire of the idealism of the founder and they have to nurture the longing for God in

order to prepare them better for the “good and beautiful mission” that requires constant commitment and

sacrifice. The motivation and lifestyle as CICM has to be seriously evaluated.

The longing for God has to be shown in the realities of daily life.

Most college students outside the seminary have to struggle to

divide their time between their studies, a part time job as working students, marketing, cooking, clean-

ing and social life while their parents have to sacrifice much to reach their goal, while for our seminarians, who

are preparing themselves to share the life of the poorest, nearly everything is provided, mostly without serious efforts from their part. This is very far

from the sacrifices of the pioneers who struggled with hunger, sickness, language, accommodations, transpor-

tation, so they could identify with and share the life of the people to whom they were sent. Their longing for God

gave them the courage and strength

4 NOVA ET VETERA • MAY-JUNE 2017

to continue their mission despite the most inhospitable conditions.

That is the main reason that over the past two years in different District meetings, General Assemblies and PG meetings the idea has been

brought up, as part of the re-source-ment of our formation program, to relocate the pre-noviciate from

Maryhurst to the Henri De Moudt building in Home Sweet Home to bring the seminarians closer to a

more natural environment, with more shared responsibilities and with a simple life style to prepare and harden themselves to face challenges

on the way to what will be expected from them in the future.

The efforts to concentrate on the

recruitment of college students and

young professionals is a very laudable project that should continue to be

given utmost attention while an effective and meaningful program of accompaniment towards our CICM charism should be offered them.

Hopefully, those initiatives will get the full support of all confreres and each one will be willing to

contribute his time and talents to assist our seminarians on their road to total commitment and service.

May the ongoing Chapter deepen and strengthen our longing for God who always goes with us! May Mary, our

Mother continue to show us the way to humble service and commitment as she did!

***INVITATION***

Ordinations to the Priesthood

• REV. EMERY MWAKO EBUMEA, CICM

missionary to Simbalan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, will be ordained priest by Most Reverend Juan de Dios Pueblos, DD, Bishop of Butuan on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at 9 o’clock in the morning

at St. Joseph Cathedral Diocesan Shrine, E. Luna St., Butuan City. Thanksgiving Mass is on June 22,

2017, 10 AM, at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Brgy. Simbalan,

Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

• REV. LEO JOSHUA GARCIA, CICM missionary to Senegal, will be ordained priest by Most Reverend

Prudencio Andaya, Jr, CICM, DD, Bishop of Tabuk on Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 9 o’clock in the morning at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Quirino Ave., Parañaque City.


JULY Age 09 Constancio Milanes 79 09 Celso Tabalanza (US) 52 1 2 Eugeen Van Ackere 78 1 2 Emery Mwako 35 1 5 Karel Lindemans 86 19 Jean Lefebvre (BNL) 95 20 Romeo Aquino, Jr. 46 2 1 Raul Caggauauan (RD) 46 2 1 Charles Ron Capin (Th4) 32 23 Pedrito Peñaranda 57 24 Hector Guazon 48 24 Jonardo Jonel Dalimag 34 28 Nazario Caparanga (CA) 45

AUGUST Age 0 1 Ernesto Amigleo (IND) 75 02 Louis Vuadi 36 03 Godefroid Mombula (KIN) 5 1 03 Maurice Galasa 37 05 Gilbert Sales 55 06 Vergel Fernandez (Lang studies) 32 1 3 Sony Pierre (Int 1) 30 19 Marlon Duallo 37 20 Luke Moortgat 78 2 1 Wilfried Gepts (BNL) 80 22 Gilbeys Keith Tomol (GUA) 3 1 25 Rene Cabag (RO Studies) 37 28 Jean Kanyinda 49 29 Marlee Abao (US) 37 29 Thiago Silva 35 29 Francis Mahilum (HK) 39 30 William Wyndaele (US) 82 3 1 Melanio Michael Reyes (RO) 49


ANNIVERSARIES OF ORDINATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD

Congratulations to those who celebrate their Ordination anniversary in:

A U G U S T

- 65 yrs 1952.08.03 - Dieryck Gabriel - 53 yrs 1964.08.02 - Ingelaere Eric - 64 yrs 1953.08.02 - Flameygh Herman - Lambrechts Gustaaf - Geladé George - 52 yrs 1965.08.01 - Moortgat Luke - 61 yrs 1956.08.05 - Lindemans Karel - 51 yrs 1966.08.07 - Van Ackere Eugeen - Schreurs Clem - 50 yrs 1967.08.06 - Obin Gilbert - Seys Michel - 49 yrs 1968.08.04 - Bouckaert Gerard - Smits Joseph - Colla Luc - 60 yrs 1957.08.04 - Catry Paul - 29 yrs 1988.08.01 - Malu-Malu Valentin - Mellebeek Louis - 26 yrs 1991.08.25 - Tembo Philibert - Verlinden Evaristus - 20 yrs 1997.08.31 - Oasan Charlie - 59 yrs 1958.08.03 - Foulon Paul - 18 yrs 1999.08.15 - Lubur Paulus Dalu - Gevaert Frans - 15 yrs 2002.08.24 - Candelaria Rene - 58 yrs 1959.08.02 - Anthonissen Jan - 11 yrs 2006.08.13 - Lugbu Jean - Declerck Hubert - 11 yrs 2006.08.19 - Badianga Didier - Wyndaele William - 9 yrs 2008.08.16 - Mallare John - 56 yrs 1961.08.06 - Bodson Raymond - 8 yrs 2009.08.06 - Gella Fransiskus - De Schutter Louis - 7 yrs 2010.08.01 - Tsiaku Michel - Lesage Marc - 7 yrs 2010.08.15 - Bakando Jean-Eddy - Staes Paul - 7 yrs 2010.08.22 - Kalonda François - 55 yrs 1962.08.05 - Desmet Jaak - 5 yrs 2012.08.18 - Silva Thiago - Gepts Wilfried - 3 yrs 2014.08.31 - Vuadi Louis - 54 yrs 1963.08.04 - Clement Romain - 2 yrs 2015.08.14 - Isaac Rumpearl Tenkings - Van Parijs Paul 14 yrs 2003.08.29 - Padilla Wenceslao - Wostyn Lode (Episcopal Ordination)

ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS VOWS Congratulations to those who celebrate the anniversary of their vows in:

J U L Y

- 66 yrs 1951.07.22 - Van Cauwenbergh R. - 17 yrs 2000.07.14 - Mombula Godefroid - 66 yrs 1951.07.29 - Parré Jacques - 13 yrs 2004.07.24 - Gestoveo Garry

- 65 yrs 1952.07.27 - Bonarius Theo - 13 yrs 2004.07.26 - Mulumba Jean-Claude - 55 yrs 1962.07.22 - van Gaalen Jos - 13 yrs 2004.07.29 - Gonzales Randy - 53 yrs 1964.07.15 - Lubina Eligio - 7 yrs 2010.07.03 - Cabag Rene Jr. - Milanes Constancio - 7 yrs 2010.07.25 - Makolo Jean Bosco - 52 yrs 1965.07.09 - Cenzon Carlito - 1 yr 2016.07.30 - Bijaksana Robertus - Valencia Manuel D. 14 yrs 2003.07.16 - Andaya Prudencio Jr.

(Episcopal ordination) - 22 yrs 1995.07.16 - Brazas Graciano Jr.

J U L Y - 10 yrs 2007.07.31 - Isaac Rumpearl Tenkings

- 09 yrs 2008.07.13 - Keban Kaha Paskalis

- 06 yrs 2011.07.15- Bijaksana Robertus

- 05 yrs 2012.07.31 Pranatal Emanuel Enjang

NOVA ET VETERA • MAY-JUNE 7

May 08 : Jessie Hechanova, to Rome for the General Chapter

26 : Prosper Mbumba, back to Mongolia

28 : Hervé Ngadima and Gervais Tsimi Mesina, to Cameroon for a short vacation

Clauvis Gatumba, Patrick Kabanza, Bertin Kengele and Dieudonne Tsimba, to Congo for a short vacation

29 : Jean Kanyinda, to the USA for mission appeal; then to Congo for

his regular vacation

30 : Morel Delphonse, to Haiti for a short vacation

June 01 : Ramon Caluza, Gilbert Sales and Ador Castillo, to Rome for the

15th General Chapter Paskalis Keban Kaha, to Indonesia for his regular vacation

03 : Hervé Daty Bobo, back to Congo

08 : Sony Pierre, to Haiti for a short vacation

May 01 : Luisito Divino, back from his short sabbatical in Australia

04 : Ronald Magbanua, from Mongolia

11 : Prosper Mbumba, from Mongolia for medical checkup

12 : Kevin Saministrado, from the Dominican Republic, for a short vacation

23 : Ronaldo Benueza, from Brazil

24 : Ryan Carnecer, from the USA for his regular vacation

28 : Wilfredo Sabarillo, from the IRF program in Chicago via Jerusalem

June 27 : Ramon Caluza and Gilbert Sales, back from the General Chapter in Rome

July 02 : Ador Castillo, back from the General Chapter in Rome

Several confreres from the Province of Asia, who are over 25 years in the priesthood, arrived for

their Ongoing Formation Session to be held from May 22-26, 2017 at the CICM Maryhill Mission

Center in Taytay.


CALLED TO LIFE death anniversaries

J U L Y

Age

02 Fr. Napoleon Flameygh 1969 81 Schilde, Belgium 03 Fr. Andres Altamirano 1999 54 Quezon City, RP 05 Fr. Paul Bollen 2000 82 Leuven, Belgium

05 Fr. Albert Van Nuffelen 2003 86 Montreal, Canada 06 Fr. Albert Depré 1998 78 Halle, Brabant, Belgium 06 Fr. Gaston Nollet 2010 87 Torhout, Belgium

07 Fr. René Michielsens 1952 63 Los Angeles, CA, USA 09 Fr. Rufino Velasco 2000 77 Baguio City, RP 09 Fr. Wout Willems 2014 91 Teteringen, NL

11 Fr. André Nowé 1998 70 Torhout, Belgium 12 Fr. George Vromant 1966 87 Quezon City, RP 13 Fr. George Hantson 1984 79 Baguio City, RP

13 Fr. Jozef Tonnelier 2006 67 Kessel-Lo, Belgium 14 Fr. Ignacio Gayomali 2015 62 Quezon City, RP 16 Fr. Karel Aerts 1965 52 Brasschaat, Belgium

16 Fr. Noel Vander Plaetsen 2012 81 Baguio City, RP 18 Rev. Gerard Heuvelmans 1945 43 Pakanbaru, Dutch Indies 18 Fr. Harry Versteden 1982 61 Quezon City, RP

18 Fr. Maurice Wageners 2014 87 Huy, Belgium 19 Rev. Jozef-Marcel Motte 1988 86 Mortsel, Belgium 20 Fr. Godfried Aldenhuysen 1976 93 Paco, Manila, RP

22 Fr. Oscar Michel 1983 78 Quezon City, RP 23 Fr. Remi Schelstraete 1992 85 Baguio City, RP 24 Fr. Regino Balein 1990 40 Baguio City, RP

24 Fr. René Jansen 1969 59 Baguio City, RP 26 Fr. Louis Fossion 2007 92 Singapore 26 Fr. Jean-Marie Tchang 2015 90 Baguio City, RP 27 Fr. Egbertus Kraaykamp 2003 78 Sparrendaal, Netherlands

28 Fr. Jan Wulleman 1979 38 Quezon City, RP 30 Bro. Gerard Verrijdt 1955 66 Sparrendaal, Netherlands

Correction on June Death Anniversaries: G De Busshere is 87 years old and NOT 97.


Let us pray for the repose of the soul of:

FR. JAN DUFRAING, CICM-BNL, born in Meer, Belgium on November 11, 1927, died in Malle, Belgium on April

30, 2017 at the age of 89. He had been a missionary in Congo (Inongo and KIN), Chad and Belgium.

BRO. LEON H. DELANOY, CICM-LAC, born in Radville, Canada on December 23, 1948, died of cancer in

Manoguayabo, Sto. Domingo, Dominican Republic on May 4, 2017 at the age of 68. He had been a missionary in the Dominican Republic.

FR. AUGUST WIJNS, CICM-RP, born in Hoboken, Belgium on February 18, 1940, died in Brasschaat, Belgium on May 10, 2017 at the age of 77. He

had been a missionary in the Philippines and in Belgium.

FR. MICHEL HAELTERMAN, CICM-BNL, born in Zandbergen, Belgium on February 1, 1934, died in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium on May 15, 2017 at the age of 83. He had been a missionary in the Philippines and in Belgium.

FR. URBAIN DE MEY, CICM-BNL, born in Zomergem, Belgium on March 16, 1928, died in Torhout, Belgium on May 22, 2017 at the age of 89 years. He had been a missionary in Congo (NC) and in Belgium.

FR. URBAIN INGELBEEN, CICM-BNL, born in Geluwe, Belgium on May 27, 1927, died in Torhout, Belgium on June 1, 2017 at the age of 90. He had

been a missionary in Congo (KAS) and in Belgium.

FR. MARCEL MESTDAGH, CICM-BNL, born in Oostende, Belgium on August 9, 1932, died in Torhout, Belgium on June 3, 2017 at the age of 84. He had been a missionary in Congo (KAS) and in Belgium.

O God, the bestower of forgiveness and the lover of

human salvation, we beseech Thee, of Thy tender love,

to grant that the brethren of our congregation,

with their relatives and benefactors, who have passed out

of this life, may, by the intercession of Blessed Mary,

ever Virgin, and all the saints, come to the fellowship

of eternal bliss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


In Memoriam

FR. AUGUST WIJNS, CICM

1940-2017

If I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and will take you to myself,

so that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3

Born in Hoboken, Belgium on February 18, 1940; pronounced his First Religious Vows on September 11, 1960;

ordained priest on August 1, 1965. He first arrived in the Philippines on October 30, 1966.

He died in Brasschaat, Belgium on May 10, 2017, at the age of 77 years.

Mission Assignments: 1967-1970 : Assistant Priest, Bokod, Benguet

1970-1971 : Assistant Priest, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya 1972 : Assistant Priest, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya 1972-1975 : Assistant Treasurer, CICM Procuration Office, Quezon City

1975-1977 : Parish Priest, Rizal, Cagayan 1977 : Ad Interim Parish Priest, Pugo, La Union

1981-1982 : Parish Priest, Quirino, Ilocos Sur 1983-1988 : Parish Priest, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur

1988-1991 : Parish Priest, Cordon, Isabela 1991-1993 : Mission Rector, Pudtol, Kalinga-Apayao

1993-1995 : Mission Rector, Tinglayan, Kalinga-Apayao 1995-1996 : Procurator, Maryhurst Seminary, Baguio City 1996-1999 : Missionary in Belgium

2000-2001 : Associate Pastor, Maddela, Quirino Province 2001-2004 : Parish Priest, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya

2004-2007 : Parish Priest, Irisan, Baguio City 2007-2009 : Vicariate Treasurer, Vicariate of Tabuk, Kalinga

Assistant Mission Rector, Dagupan, Tabuk, Kalinga 2009-2010 : Parish Priest, Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Parish, Lingsat, San

Fernando City, La Union

2010-2017 : Retired, Home Sweet Home, Baguio City


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Born in Zandbergen, Belgium on February 1, 1934; pronounced his First Religious Vows on September 8, 1953;

ordained priest on August 2, 1959. He first arrived in the Philippines on November 19, 1960.

He died in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium on May 15, 2017, at the age of 83 years.

Mission Assignments: 1961-1964 : Assistant Priest, Natonin, Mt. Province

1964-1975 : Mission Rector, Pinukpuk, Kalinga

1975-1990 : Mission Rector, Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga

1990-1996 : Mission Rector, Kabugao, Apayao

1996-2008 : Parish Priest, Agbannawag, Kalinga

2008 until the time of his death : Retired, CICM-Zuun, Belgium

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the just judge, will reward me,

on that day, and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming.

2 Timothy 4:7-8


By Bro. Patrick Kabanza, CICM-AFA 2nd Year Theology-MST

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something

to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me

clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

(Matthew 25, 35)

The phenomenon of street children is not new in Manila. In fact’ who are they? First, “street children” is a term used to describe those kids who live and work in streets. They have to live under the open sky. Usually, they pass their nights on the footpaths, railway stations, bus stands. And often, they move from one place to another place around the city in search of livelihood. Moreover, they struggle to earn their livelihood by working hard for their survival. For instance, they have to carry loads, break bricks, sell flowers. Most of them are forsaken by their parents which results to the deprivation of parental affection, care, and security. They are also deprived of education, healthcare and nutrition, etc. In fact, they are

or they become a burden to the society. Therefore, it is one of the missionary commitments as CICM to rehabilitate them. We can rehabilitate them by collecting and sheltering them into vagrant houses or orphanages, by giving them vocational training and elementary education, by giving them small loans and by helping them out in their self-employment. This was indeed the mission of Father Francis Senden CICM, who put up a shelter for such children in Binangonan where we, as seminarians, are assigned for our weekend apostolate.

In fact the major problem concerning

street children is their visibility on the streets


and the violation of their human rights. So many children begging, peddling, stealing, sniffing, and loitering is the problem growing by the second. Not only is the problem growing but also human rights are being violated. “Street children throughout the city of Manila are subjected to physical abuse by police or have been murdered outright, as government treat them as a blight to be eradicated rather than as children to be nurtured and protected.

Indeed, street children are confronted

by a large number of problems. In fact, growing up in an environment generally regarded as dangerous, they are exposed to considerable risks. As a consequence, some of their rights are very often compromised. They want working in some odd jobs; if they have no job, for them it's normal to steal in order to eat, and if they have extra money, they buy drugs. Toward this issue, we religious are called to make a step and go on the street to encounter them. This encounter aims a call to conversion and to new lifestyle. This new lifestyle has to take root in prayer and in faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.

Since I entered CICM, as seminarian, I

have been sent in two shelters of street children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in one shelter here in Manila. I have had this privilege to be and share life with them. As religious, my task was first of all to teach them catechesis and some basic knowledge on morals. However, I have seen these children and their activities and ministered to them in different shelters. My message in their trials is that, Jesus loves them, and He looks beyond their appearance and mannerisms. In addition, i am not offended by their smell or their language. As follower of Christ, I need His eyes and heart toward these people. Being with these people has changed my life in the way to treat children wherever I am. I have deepened my compassion. As their elder brother, I have to show them good example by doing dishwashing and cleaning the house with them. Furthermore, they will understand and follow

my example. And Fr. Francis Senden in his mission statement said: “An individual gospel without a social gospel is a soul without a body, and a social gospel without an individual gospel is a body without a soul. One is a ghost and the other is a corpse.” Beyond our teaching and concrete examples with them, there is a need of food, of health care and education.

In effect, street children often don’t

have access to a healthy and sufficient food. Indeed, they don’t produce any and don’t have money to buy. This is what moved Father Francis Senden as well as we today, to be present in the midst of the little ones and experience their hunger and thirst. However, to feed them, requires cooperation with lay people and all people of goodwill who can provide something for them. Moreover, the health of children growing up on the streets is strongly compromised. In fact, they don’t have access to sanitary facilities: they are often dirty and infested with fleas. Also, because of their lack of hygiene, street children are exposed to different diseases. Their health is often troubling. Without a family to take care of them, these youth must take care of themselves. Thus, staying with these children is an occasion for me to show them how to take care of their bodies, for instance, taking a bath everyday and washing clothes, cleaning the rooms and the surrounding.

Since its foundation, Senden Home has Education as one of its pillars. Each child has the right to education. Because of this, they don’t have the same opportunities as other children. In fact, because they don’t see a future for themselves, and because they have no professional training, they are hindered from finding a job and from finally leaving the streets. It is in this perspective that Fr. Senden and lay collaborators have stressed on educational and spiritual services by teaching some skills training on home management and behavior, income generation activities such as gardening and piggery. Aside from this, as seminarian, I keep on encouraging them to go

http://www.humanium.org/fr/comprendre/droit-a-l-education/




to school and study hard for their bright future because some of them don’t want school. At night, we often have some exercises in helping them how to read and do some home works.

Along my stay with these children, one

of them told me one day: “People speak badly of us, they blame us for everything, and call us sorcerers.” Considered as marginal, they are oftentimes victims of discrimination. Generally, adults have prejudices that stigmatize them as “street children”. Consequently, they are often associated with the dangers of the streets. It is often difficult for these children to reintegrate into society. What can be done to help street children? The problem of street children is dependent on their situation and not on their status. In fact, each child has a personal history with the street that cannot be generalized. Because of this, the care we give to street children, in order to be effective, must be hinged on the different situations on the streets or the so called “child profiles”. Since that time I have been staying with street children, I have deepened my gaze on them. I love to be with them, going to attend the mass on Sunday together, eating together and working together.

In doing so, they feel loved and cherished not only by human beings but also by Jesus Christ who loves them.

To conclude with my experience, love is

a key word in such a mission. In principle, street children fall through the gaps in the safety net of society. Poverty and family background have always been associated with street children. Most families of street children have experienced persistent discrimination and social exclusion within societies where inequalities are high and/or growing. Few have received economic support, childcare assistance. Our mission as CICM is to evangelize them and plead their cause to those in charge of. I have seen missionaries and para-church organizations, even the multi-national ones coming to serve these children and going back. Finally, through the programs and the dedications of CICM brothers and social workers in Senden Home, children gain confidence, social values and most importantly

skills which will carry them further in life.

WHEN WHAT WHERE

June 4-25 CICM General Chapter Rome, Italy

June 20 Priestly Ordination of

Emery Mwako Ebumea St. Joseph Cathedral Butuan City (9 AM)

July 31-August 4 CICM Annual Spiritual Retreat Maryhurst, Baguio City

August 14 PG Meeting CICM Provincial House

August 21-25 CICM Ongoing Formation Session for

38-59 age bracket (Group 2) CICM Mission Center – Maryshore, Talisay City

August 26 Priestly Ordination of

Leo Joshua Garcia St. Andrew’s Cathedral Parañaque City (9 AM)

October 9-12 CICM Provincial Assembly Maryhurst, Baguio City

October (9-12) PG Meeting Maryhurst, Baguio City

December 4-5 PG Meeting Provincial House


By Luke Moortgat, CICM April 2017

NOT A SEVERE PERSECUTION, STILL

UNEXPECTED AND QUITE HARD

The family members of Juanita joined a Christian group that was far from ecumenical.

Juanita wanted to become a Catholic. That was a very grave offense. She had to leave the house and sleep on the street. Juanita persevered. Catechists of De La Salle University volunteered to teach Juanita

catechism. In the meantime, she continued scavenging for her daily food.

Last Easter Vigil she was baptized. A person had arranged for her blouse, another for her

pants, a third for her slippers. A member of a catholic organization for street people gave P500 so that she would not have to scavenge

on Easter Saturday (with its rehearsals, etc.) and on Easter Sunday. This way she would

have at least one day of her new Catholic life without having to scavenge for her food.

BECOME AN OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER

(OFW) TO SAVE FOR A HAPPY FUTURE?

Anselma worked abroad. She saved much. She could send enough money home for a

house and lot. Upon her return, she realized that she had now a stepmother. It was easy for that new

family member to pick a fight and make Anselma leave the house she worked for and sleep on the street. While on the street, Anselma still cared for a

young boy who was abandoned by her aunt. She cared for him even on the street. Thanks to a Catholic organization for street

people, the financial support from two foreign countries and the strong help of the Montfort

Brothers, she could enroll in a special skills development program with all expenses paid,

including transportation, accommodations,

tuition and food. However, two days before leaving for the training program, she was picked up by the

police together with the abandoned boy she cares for. Her crime? Doing what street

dweller do: sleep on the street. It is hard to guess what went on in the mind of Anselma. She had worked hard in a

foreign country and saved much for a house and lot, but lost it and had to sleep on the

street. Then just before she would leave for that special training that would mean the end

of that life on the street, the police picked her up for being on the street. Luckily, this Catholic organization happened

to learn about her arrest and could obtain her freedom, just on time to leave for the

training. In the meantime, she finished the training.

She is ready for a work with an income so that she can sleep in a room instead of running to risk to be picked up by the police

again. Thanks be to God.

A NOT SO RANDOM STORY

Warning: Only the first half is correct.

Being in an unfamiliar city, Father Juan was looking for the post office. He asked the first

person he saw on the street for information. The lady got her kind of I-pad out of her

purse and said: “Post Office”. Immediately, the instructions followed. Fr. Juan was impressed. He quickly bought

such an I-pad. The first evening he tried it out for some entertainment asking his I-pad:

“Sweet Moon”. Immediately there was the answer: “Father, this is not for you.”


CREATION SPIRITUALITY

By Matthew Doming and Joe Nacianceno

In response to Pope Francis’ call to all

humanity to show mercy to our Common Home, the #Mercy2Earth Weekend was

organized by the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) on April 22-23, 2017 to

mark the commemoration of Earth Day and Divine Mercy Sunday, which happened on the same weekend. Consequently, the Creation

Spirituality Group of Maryhill (Taytay) spearheaded an event for the Earth Day with

a meaningful “Cosmic Mass” on April 23, 2017. The celebration was held in the 9-

hectare forest sanctuary of the CICM Maryhill Mission Compound and participated by representatives coming from different groups,

namely, the CICM, the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) group of the ICM,

Religious Education students from Cainta Catholic College and the Bedan Environmental

Philosophers Organization (BEPO) from San Beda College-Rizal.

The event started with a short getting-to-know activity. Each one briefly introduced

themselves and the organization they represent. Then the participants proceeded to the highlight of the activity--the Cosmic Mass,

a Eucharist celebrated while journeying along the forest yet the essential meaning is deeply

rooted to the vision of Creation Spirituality. The Eucharistic celebration started as the

participants gathered at the stone altar table along the forest for the entrance rites. It was then followed by the blessing of water before

the participants walked all the way within the forest, dubbed as BanalnaKagubatan,

stopping at some stations for the liturgy of the word and the Eucharist. The whole event was

concluded with a simple picnic along the

riverside of Maryhill.

The Cosmic Mass has been one of the main activities facilitated by the Creation Spirituality

Group of Maryhill. The Creation Spirituality Group of Maryhill is a reflection group established in November 2015 and is

composed of religious and lay alike. Its vision is to promote “fullness of life to all creation”

through influencing others to expand their awareness to the vast love of God through the

whole creation. The group is grounded in the great spiritual movement known as Creation Spirituality that leading theologians and

philosophers like Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Berry, Denis Edwards, and Matthew Fox have

been committedly promoting. This spirituality recognizes the sacredness of all that God has

Cosmic Mass Earth Day: "Creation Spirituality group of Maryhill together with the representatives from some organization during the celebration of the Earth Day last April 23, 2017.


created and thus promotes awe and respect towards everything in creation up from the

stars and the supernovas down to the grasses and the soil. It believes in the loving embrace

of science and religion to make sense of the great love of God towards creation. This is the

heart of some of the influential writings which includes Pope Francis’ Laudato Si.

As such, the Cosmic Mass is a culmination of creation spirituality. It is essentially a

celebration of the Eucharist together with the whole creation. Thus, unlike the celebration of Eucharist where the Church is commonly

associated with humans alone, the Cosmic Mass is a Eucharistic celebration together with

the trees, the birds, the sky, the stones, and with the whole universe. Through this, when

we say brothers and sisters, we also include all the other beings aside from humans. We also treat the silence of the forest as an agent

of the word of God. The singing of the Lord’s Prayer even brings to mind that the whole

creation sings with us. Exchanging peace may also mean offering peace to the sky, the wind

and the water. And after all, the concluding rite may pose a challenge to us humans to “spread the good news to all Creation.”

Altogether, the Cosmic Mass is a heartfelt realization that “other living beings have a

value of their own in God’s eyes (Laudato Si’ n.69),” and that everything in the universe

gives glory to God.

* * * * * * *

The Creation Spirituality Group, through Fr Nemesio Huesca, CICM, and Jose Nacianceno, from Marist School, facilitated in

January and February overnight recollections (based at the CICM Postulancy house,

Taytay) to eight groups of year 11 students of Marist School, Marikina City. Highlights of

the recollections were the Cosmic Mass, Cosmic Walk (a ritual created by Sr Miriam MacGillis of Genesis Farm, NJ, for an

experiential appreciation of the deep time 13.8 billion years universe story) reflections

on Laudato Si’, film viewing (the Dr Seuss' Lorax, an animated story of hope), and

prayers. The recollection helped the students to be grateful for God’s goodness in all creation, be aware of the interconnectedness

of everything, and thus to be responsible in protecting God’s precious gift of creation.

Students, away from gadgets (cell phones were not allowed) and the humdrum of the city, had the opportunity to walk the forest,

bivouac at night, and contemplate the beauty of God’s creation.

Walking in the forest: Participants of the Cosmic Mass walking along the "Banal na Kagubatan" (9-hectare forest of Maryhill

compound).


By Kevin Saministrado, cicm

In the Bible, we read of people whom

Jesus brought back to life. For example, Jesus restored Lazarus to life after he had

been dead for several days (John 11, 38-44); and out of compassion for the widow of Nain, he raised her son from the dead during a

funeral procession (Luke 7: 11-17). Even more glorious is the Assumption of the

Blessed Virgin. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was taken up to heaven, body and soul, by

her Son. This was her reward for saying "Yes" to God's requesting her to be the Mother of the Savior. God did not allow the

body of the Immaculate Conception, the Mother of God, to see corruption. The only

man ever to rise from the dead was Jesus. He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, and

then to many others -- all of whom were witnesses to His resurrection.

Is it possible for us, as mere humans,

to raise people from the dead in our day and age? I think the answer to that question is,

"Yes." Most people would be amazed at seeing a human body raised from the dead; however, it is a far more miraculous thing to

breathe life into the soul of another. One is a

merely physical resurrection; the other is a

spiritual resurrection of the kind that leads to eternal life.

In the parish of Saint Martin de Porres, many people showed their compassion for the hurricane victims last year by extending their

helping hands. Our refugee building welcomed and gave shelter to those people

whose homes were flooded. Also, on this past Easter Sunday, by the grace of our God,

we were able to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of constructing and repairing some of the victims' homes. As we handed

over the two new houses to their owners, we witnessed their indescribable joy! It was

plain to see just how much the charity of our benefactors, and of all involved, had breathed

new life into their souls; they were simply beaming with gratitude and had a renewed sense of faith, hope, and love. Their sorrow

and pain had turned into heavenly joy as shown by their smiles and laughter. I wish to

express my heartfelt gratitude to our benefactors, and to all those who helped. I can never thank you enough for your many

sacrifices, and for being such powerful


instruments of God's love to His children. This is what it means to love others as Jesus

loves us. May our God, who is Love itself, bless all of you in return!

Do you really want to experience God’s resurrection in this season of Easter? Be

another Jesus to others by reaching out to the poor people around you. It sadly has become our culture to acquire so many

material things that fade and disappear. We must not forget, however, that it is sacrificial

love that gives our lives true meaning -- such

as caring for the poor. In so doing, we store up for ourselves treasure in Heaven. The

effects of such true love never fade; they linger and spread throughout time and

eternity. The love and resources we share with others can offer them a new life, and

new opportunities. The hands that help are the hands of Jesus, and they are transformative and life giving. In the end, it

is not how much we give to the less fortunate that matters most, but how much love we put in our giving.

Construction of the

house with Fr. Kevin

Mercelia

NNNeeewwwlllyyy cccooonnnsssttt rrruuucccttteeeddd

hhhooouuussseee ooofff MMMeeerrrccceeelll iiiaaa

OOOlllddd hhhooouuussseee ooofff

MMMeeerrrccceeelll iiiaaa

OOOlllddd hhhooouuussseee ooofff

LLLooouuurrrdddeeennn (((wwwooommmaaannn aaattt ttthhheee rrr iiiggghhhttt ))) Newly constructed

house of Lourden


FFiiffttyy YYeeaarrss ooff ““MMiissssiioonn”” iinn tthhee AAccttss ooff tthhee CCIICCMM GGeenneerraall

CChhaapptteerrss By Jesse Hechanova, CICM

“The general purpose of the congregation is the

conversion of the infidels, the particular purpose is the preaching of the faith to the people of China and the salvation of children that are abandoned there” (original CICM Statutes, 1862).

“The purpose of the congregation is…to preach the faith to the infidels and to establish the church especially among the people of China and also to procure the welfare of abandoned children “(CICM Constitution 1949).

“The CICM… has assumed the evangelization of the nations as its specific task within the church… it directs its missionary activity to the nations and groups of people who do not yet believe in Christ, to bring them the Good Tidings and to plant the church among them“ (CICM Constitution 1968).

In June of 2017, the CICM 15th General

Chapter takes place in Rome the eternal city.

Once more the congregation evaluates the state of the institute and seeks to renew its

apostolic thrust (Art.110, CICM Consti.). “Mission” once again is the central theme of

the Chapter as expressed by this chapter’s slogan: “We have a good and beautiful mis-sion, go and God will go with you” (as quoted from the letter of Theophile Verbist and

1Sam.17). The previous eight CICM general chapters spanning fifty years, from 1967 till


2017 also had focused on “Mission” as its central theme to wit: Missionary Spirit (7th),

Missionary Animation (8th), Missionary Presence (9th), Mission Ad-Gentes (10th),

Mission at the Service of the Kingdom (11th), Mission in Frontier Situation (12th),

Consecrated for Mission (13th), and Towards the Mission of Tomorrow (14th).

Since ours is an exclusive missionary

congregation (Art.1, CICM Consti.), it is but appropriate that during the general chapters

we reflect and discern for a prolonged period on “what we are all about and what we are called to do,” i.e. our identity and mission.

And so after fifty years of preparations, discussions and discernment prior and during

the previous eight general chapters, what do they tell us about who we are and what we

are called to do?

General chapters are occasions when the capitulants who represent the whole

congregation gather together for a period of discernment and respectful listening to one

another for the purpose of deciphering God’s will for the whole congregation and especially

the direction it has to take for the next six years. The product of this process of discernment during each chapter is

manifested especially in the form of “the acts of the chapter,” i.e. promulgations such as

recommendations, decrees, declarations, exhortations, monitions or desiderata. These are the final pronouncements considered by

the general chapter as significant in the life of the congregation and are usually addressed

to the individual members, their religious communities, the provinces or autonomous

districts, or to the whole congregation and the general government. These “acts” serve as course of actions and guidelines that are

mandated to be implemented normally after each general chapter. These promulgations

do reveal who we are (i.e. thru what we hold as essential values) and what we are

supposed to be doing as a religious missionary congregation.

The general chapters of the last fifty years have generated around one hundred

thirty five (135) promulgations not counting the few ones that are purely “pro-forma”; e.g.

decrees on publication of general chapter documents, ending the chapter, etc. Of the total promulgations, thirty seven (37) are on

“mission”. The rest of the promulgations are on administration, finance, formation,

religious life and others.

Of the thirty seven pronouncements on “Mission”, fourteen (14) are

recommendations pertaining to Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), nine

(9) are on Interreligious-Cultural Dialogue (IRD), and another fourteen (14) are about

missionary spirit or attitudes and missionary projects or commitment.

A qualitative analysis of all the

recommendations addressed to the individual confreres and their communities reveal that

these recommendations are in fact attitudes and values that the general chapters intended

the CICM missionaries to work on or promote in themselves and in their respective communities. Classifying these

recommendations into clusters, the following are the missionary values and attitudes that

CICM missionaries are encouraged to develop: 1. A discerning and reflective attitude towards

missionary experiences and challenges; 2. A spirit of availability and willingness to let

go and take on new missionary tasks; 3. Creativity and initiative in seeking and

responding to new missionary challenges; 4. Respectful collaboration with the laity, especially women and peoples of different

religions and convictions; 5. Concern for justice, peace and integrity of

creation;


6. Supportive of and in solidarity with those in difficulties (e.g. refugees, marginalized,

abandoned youth, etc.); 7. Courage to make a stand on important

social issues when needed.

The above values and attitudes

deemed needed by missionaries as they exercise their missionary activities around the world are not exclusive to the acts of the

general chapters. They can also be found in other official congregational documents,

especially in the CICM constitutions. Some of these are also mentioned by many confreres when they responded to the first question of

Memo 2 (i.e. “What do we have to improve in our personal life and in our religious com-

munity life to become more authentic and prophetic signs of joy and hope?”) that was

sent by the General Government in preparation for the 2017 general chapter. Many confreres mentioned the attitude of

respect, prayer and openness as important values to improve on. These attitudes and

values have been recommended by the general chapters during the past fifty years to

the confreres and the CICM communities to be cultivated. Whether these have in fact been inculcated in the lives of the confreres

and their religious communities or not, is a matter of personal and communal self-

examination.

On the other hand, content analysis of all recommendations “on Mission” addressed

on the level of the provinces and entities as well as the whole congregation and the

general government, resulted in the following as the most common and significant

recommended tasks: 1. The missionary animation of the confreres and the local churches;

2. Effective corporate missionary com-mitments inclusive of regular evaluations and

3. Missionary projects that respond not only to urgent missionary needs, but also include

the demands of ad-extra, ad-gentes, JPIC, IRD, networking and collaboration with lay

people and other groups.

A cursory reading of all the reports

submitted by the different provinces and entities in preparation for the 15th General

Chapter reveals that all CICM provinces have indeed crafted their respective missionary projects except understandably, for a few re-

structured provinces that experienced some difficulties. These missionary projects also

show that they were crafted in consideration of the corporate commitments of the different provinces and in response to the perceived

local missionary challenges. Understandably the task of missionary animation of confreres

and especially of the local churches is a conti-nuous and lifelong challenge that must

constantly be considered.

One of the recommendations of the general chapters that is constantly repeated,

is the need for evaluation particularly of our missionary commitments and thus also of our

missionary projects. Evaluations are significant to the extent that they help us to

be faithful not only to the technical evaluative processes, but more so to the missionary vocation to which we are called to as a

congregation. General Chapters have been recommending that we evaluate our projects

and commitments in view not so much to know if we are doing well in achieving our proximate objectives, but more importantly to

animate us to respond readily to pressing urgent missionary needs.

Reading the missionary projects of the different CICM provinces can make one

wonder how these entities with their limited human and non-human resources could possibly accomplish all that are written in

these missionary projects! Not one confrere has exclaimed that we are like super heroes,

trying to respond to so many missionary


needs and considering them all as priorities! One or two confreres wrote of the need of

prioritizing when it comes to responding to the many missionary challenges in the world

today.

The commentary on our constitutions

states with great common sense and wisdom that we are not expected to respond to all the missionary challenges that crop up at every

epoch or every circumstance. Instead we are invited to respond to that which we are called

to by virtue of the original charism granted to our congregation through our founder. Perfectae Caritatis reminds us that: “Insti-

tutes should faithfully maintain and accomplish the tasks that are theirs. Further

mindful of what is useful for the universal church and for the dioceses, they should

adapt their ministry to the needs of the time and place” (PC 20).

Thus the fundamental criteria for choosing which missionary needs of today

that we should prioritize and respond to, is our congregational charism. “Are we where

we are suppose to be, are we doing what we are suppose to be doing” are not just

questions, they are visions of who we are as a religious missionary congregation! Reading the reports from the different provinces and

regions, one observes a certain feeling of malaise regarding article 2 of our 1988 CICM

constitutions as manifested in demands for clarity as to the meaning of “where the gospel is not known or lived”, or the notion of

mission in “periphery“.

Indeed as long as we are ambivalent

as to who we are as a congregation and to defining our specific charism in a clearer,

focused manner, we will continue to suffer pastoral and missionary over-extension, asking the same questions all over again, and

our general chapters would continue to be passing the same recommendations! Several

confreres as noted in the different CICM provincial and regional reports have voiced

out the need to go back to our founding charism, i.e., to the original intentions and spirituality of our founding fathers! They are

in fact just expressing what Perfectae Caritatis has been

recommending: “the spirit and aims of each founder should be faithfully accepted and retained as indeed should each institute’s

sound traditions, for all of these constitute the patrimony of an institute ”(PC 2).

It may as well be that the Holy Spirit is calling this 15th general chapter to look back,

re-appreciate and re-own our “good and beautiful CICM charism” that inspired our founder, i.e. to go and proclaim the “Good

news” to the nations and to care for the abandoned, particularly the young.


NOTES FROM THE CICM ELENCHUS (2005-2017) By Jonel Dalimag, CICM

Our Missionary Tradition

World politics poses challenges to the church. Political treatises and

agreements between nations open up missionary responses to the socio-political situations of a community. When Theophile Verbist

was National Director of the Work of the Holy Childhood, he had a dream or a vision of becoming a missionary. The shortage of orphanages

in China awakens and strengthens his missionary consciousness. When the

Treaty of Pei-ching was signed on October 25, 1860 between China, England and France, Verbist’s missionary response was to go to China to take care of the abandoned children. The

Treaty of Pei-ching was an impetus for his vision to take a concrete form. His vision became a mission when he shared it with others who believe in him. Had he not shared his vision, it

would have been impossible to work it out and lay the foundations of a nascent missionary institute. This is the very essence of community life, the sharing of a vision and working it out together to form of a mission. The strength of the mission lies not on the social and spiritual

appeal of the vision (the conversion of the infidels and the care of the abandoned children in China) but on the conviction and commitment of those who share the vision or the dream (cor

unum et anima una). As CICM missionaries, we are a proud owner and follower of a missionary tradition that is well articulated and established. We share this founding dream or vision. Our missionary tradition found its root in the response of Verbist and his companions to a socio-

political situation of a community. This missionary tradition challenges us to formulate a missionary response to what is happening in the world today, like migration, refugee crises,

environmental degradations and human rights violations. After all, our Constitutions mandate us to go where we are most needed. These are the situations where we are most needed.

CICM by the Numbers

From one man to many, the vision-turned-mission impacted many people around the world. Its impact ranges from spiritual conversions to socio-economic community developments. Its

impact also attracted many vocations from different nations where it took roots. There was a time when the membership of the institute almost reached the 2000 mark. In the last twelve (12) years, which is from 2005 to 2017, the membership of the institute is steadily

decreasing at a yearly average of 1.7%. In 2005, the total membership of the institute is 1018. This year 2017, the total membership is 826.1 If this decreasing trend is not arrested,

the calculated total membership in 2030 is 6442; in 2050 the total membership will only be 364. Our missionary involvements are getting demanding and multiplying. We need missionary

vocations to respond to such missionary challenges and involvements. More animation work is needed to address this decreasing trend. Or we might as well reflect on our capacity to attract vocations. Lifestyle check might help.

1 See Table 1: Total membership from 2005 to 2017. 2 Fr. Jessie Hechanova made a study a few years ago and he came up with more or less similar prediction.


Table 1: Total Membership from 2005 to 2017

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

TOTAL 1018 999 990 954 937 907 892 881 872 853 841 829 826

There are several factors that contribute to the decrease in the total membership of the institute. Foremost of which is the decrease in vocation to the religious missionary life among the youth. This factor is not only true in the CICM but also to other religious missionary

institutes. It is a general trend. Young people find the religious missionary life out of place in this material and very technical world. The appeal of preaching the Gospel to another culture

pales in comparison to the appeal of a good life in secular life. It takes highly technical advertisement and recruitment to market the vision and mission of the institute to the young

people. It takes untiring accompaniment and animation to those who show interest in the religious life to score a commitment to the mission. But for us, we are always grateful for “we feel that our missionary commitment being moved by the power of the Holy Spirit.” We believe

that the vision-turned-mission of Theophile Verbist remains a potent inspiration to animate young people to religious missionary life. It is indeed a good and beautiful mission.

A closer look at our Elenchus, particularly on the items or figures on initial formation, would show us that we have a high rate of first profession of vows of our novices each year.

From 2005 to 2016, our average rate of first profession of our novices is 86%.3 This means that we are doing well in our formation in the novitiate level. What needs more our attention is our Pre-Novitiate level. There might be a need to asses or evaluate our formation

program in the philosophy level. There might also be a need to strengthen our postulancy program. Formation is the whole process of discernment, accompaniment and animation of

one’s vocation. It is never about academics, psychological evaluations or assessment and rigid compliance to rules and regulations. Its goal is the integral growth of the person in his vocation

and certainly not a compartmentalized or itemized training or experiment. Formation should not also be an experiment to implement a policy which is grounded on a single vague criterion: internationality. In the CICM, internationality is never about the different races of its

membership. Internationality is never about the mixing of people of different races. CICM is international because its mission is international. Since the very foundation of the CICM, it is

international because its founding vision or dream crosses borders. As was seen above, the concrete form of the founding dream or vision was a response to an international political treaty or agreement. The pioneering member of the institute were all Belgians but they were

international because their mission takes as its inspiration a social condition (abandoned children) which demands them to leave their comfort zones and embrace a challenging journey

to another reality.

Table 2: Initial Formation Table (Novices and 1st Vows)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Novices 40 26 18 20 21 23 27 19 18 25 26 28

1st Vows 31 22 15 15 19 20 24 18 16 20 23 26

3 See Table 2: Initial Formation Table (Novices and First Vows).


As for ordinations to the priesthood, our average for the past 12 years is 11 ordinations per year. Before ordination to the priesthood, some of our confreres are asked to

leave the institute; some leave the institute for personal reasons. Those who are asked to leave are adjudged as not fit to be missionaries. Sometimes, the judgment is premised on an itemized

program of formation. Those who voluntarily leave the institute might have found that their formation is not any more relevant to what they want to be in life or they might have found

their formation toxic. What makes our formation irrelevant? What are the programs or activities inside this formation period? What makes our formation toxic? These are the questions that may help us in our reflection about our formation in view of formulating animating programs of

formation. Programs or activities in our so called “formation years period”, that is, after novitiate up to ordination, are very crucial in this period. Internship programs should be taken

seriously.

Table 3: Ordinations to the Priesthood per Year from 2005 to 2016

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Ordinations 10 8 12 10 12 12 14 14 14 5 13 10

Another factor that contributes to the decrease in total number of membership is death. Death is a phenomenon that is beyond our control. The only thing we can do about death is to praise

and thank God for the missionary vocations of our death confreres and for their contributions to the building of the Kingdom. A manual count of the Necrology page of the Elenchus would give

us the following figures: (Table 4).

Table 4: Total number of deaths from 2005 to 2016

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

TOTAL 42 23 40 22 25 23 24 19 25 24 25 21

We are Decreasing in Number but Getting Younger in Membership

A perusal of our Elenchus from 2005 to 2017 shows that we are decreasing in number. However, the same perusal also shows that we are getting younger. In 2005, 53% of our total

membership is in the age bracket of 65 years old and above. Only 33% are in the age bracket of 20 years old to 49 years old. Those in the middle bracket, that is 50 years old to 64 years old are only 14%. In 2017, there is a balance in age bracket. Of the total membership in 2017,

43% are in the age bracket of 65 years old and above; while 41% are in the age bracket of 20 years old to 49 years old. Those in the middle bracket of 50 years old to 64 are 15%.4 The

trend shows that the membership of the institute is getting younger. This is a welcome development considering that our missionary involvements are getting more demanding and it is hoped that younger confreres will provide the energy needed to sustain such engagements.

This trend is important in the management of personnel, particularly in the giving of mission destination to young confreres. This development is also helpful in our mechanisms of recall and

transfers.

4 See Table 5: Age Bracket Table of the Total Membership from 2005 to 2017.


Table 5: Age Bracket Table of the Total Membership from 2005 to 2017

2005 % 2006 % 2007 % 2008 % 2009 % 2010 % 2011 %

20-34 161 16% 174 17% 161 16% 156 16% 153 16% 143 16% 141 16%

35-49 169 17% 178 18% 214 21% 198 21% 197 21% 191 21% 188 21%

50-64 143 14% 128 13% 119 12% 119 13% 110 12% 109 12% 110 12%

65-79 407 40% 381 38% 363 36% 327 34% 313 33% 293 32% 278 31%

80… 138 13% 138 14% 149 15% 154 16% 164 18% 171 19% 175 20%

TOTAL 1018 999 990 954 937 907 892

2012 % 2013 % 2014 % 2015 % 2016 % 2017 %

20-34 146 17% 149 17% 146 17% 150 18% 148 18% 154 19%

35-49 191 22% 184 21% 185 22% 184 22% 185 22% 185 22%

50-64 105 12% 111 13% 111 13% 115 13% 120 15% 127 15%

65-79 259 29% 245 28% 229 27% 208 25% 199 24% 184 22%

80… 180 20% 183 21% 180 21% 184 22% 177 21% 176 21%

TOTAL 881 872 853 841 829 826

In our provinces, only BNL has an age bracket that confreres in the age bracket of

65 years old and above outnumbered confreres in the age bracket of 20 years old

to 64 years old. In 2005, 87% of our confreres in BNL are in the age bracket of 65

years old and above. In 2017, 94% or our confreres in BNL are in the age bracket

of 65 years old and above. Only 5.4% are in the age bracket of 20 years old to 64

years old.

Table 6: Age Bracket Table for the Province of BNL from 2005 to 2017.

2005 % 2006 % 2007 % 2008 % 2009 % 2010 % 2011 %

20-34 4 1% 3 .8% 2 .5% 1 .2% 1 .3%

35-49 8 2% 8 2% 8 2% 8 2% 8 2% 8 2% 8 2%

50-64 42 10% 37 10% 26 7% 28 8% 19 5% 16 5% 12 4%

65-79 249 61% 233 61% 233 61% 207 58% 201 57% 184 56% 169 53%

80… 106 26% 101 26% 110 29% 115 32% 122 35% 129 132 41%

TOTAL 409 382 381 359 351 337 321

2012 % 2013 % 2014 % 2015 % 2016 % 2017 %

20-34 1 .6% 1 .4%

35-49 7 2% 6 2% 4 1% 5 2% 7 3% 7 3%

50-64 11 4% 9 3% 12 4% 8 3% 6 2% 5 2%

65-79 158 51% 148 49% 138 48% 121 45% 113 44% 103 42%

80… 135 43% 138 46% 134 47% 135 50% 130 51% 128 52%

TOTAL 311 301 288 269 257 244

(to be continued)


Global Muslim numbers

projected to catch up to

Christians by 2060

By Kevin Clarke America-The Jesuit Review of

Faith and Culture, 1 May 2017, pp. 12-14

The silver dome of Our Lady of the Spasm Armenian Catholic Church and the golden Dome of the Rock rise over the Old City of Jerusalem.

(iStock/rrodrickbeiler)

“Population jihad” is among the preoccupations that trouble some of the darker corners of the

internet. Not familiar with the expression? In briefest terms it means that territory not claimed by followers of Islam through conquest or conversion will simply be overrun with, well, more

babies.

Those concerned by such matters were fed some new data to stress over in April when the Pew Research Center released a report on the projected population growth of the world’s

major religious groups. While Christians retain a hold on the top spot—and will do so for decades—Pew predicts that by 2035 the number of babies born to Muslim parents will

“modestly exceed” those born to Christian parents: 225 million to 224 million.

That fertility edge will compound quickly. According to Pew’s projections, Muslims will move

from 24 percent of the world’s population in 2015 to a nearly equal population share with the world’s Christians by 2060—31 percent to Christians’ 32 percent. (Christians are currently at 31 percent.)

D I S P A T C H E S


According to Pew, there were 2.28 billion Christians across the globe in 2015. Among them,

according to a Vatican estimate released the same week as the Pew update, are 1.29 billion Catholics—17.7 percent of the global population. The 2015 number represents a 7.4 percent

increase in world Catholic numbers over 2010. The Vatican reports the most growth in Africa during that timeframe, up over 19 percent to 222 million. Europe’s Catholic population declined slightly, and in the Americas and Asia Catholic numbers were up by 6.7 percent and

9.1 percent, respectively.

In Europe the Christian population is dying faster than it is being replaced (with a few

exceptions, including France and Ireland). In North America, the number of Christian deaths will begin to exceed the number of births to Christian parents by around 2050.

Pew notes: “These trends signal that much of Christianity’s future growth is likely to be in the

global South, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa—the only region where natural increases in the Christian population are expected to grow even larger in the coming decades.”

Pew’s projections could be off, of course. Muslim birth rates could decrease in developing nations following the pattern in economically advanced Europe; conversely, Christian Europe

could rediscover the joys of parenthood. But if current trends continue, by 2060 the world’s two largest religious bodies should be about three billion each. Will those vying numbers inevitably lead to greater geopolitical tension, as some fear?

There are signs of hope that the “clash of civilizations” predicted by the late political realist Samuel P. Huntington, can still be avoided. Across Iraq and Syria, Muslims are dying in efforts

to tamp down the extremism of ISIS. And after suicide bombing attacks on two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday left 49 dead, outraged Egyptians of all faiths

posted messages of solidarity with Copts on social media, using an anti-ISIS slogan: “Your terrorism brings us together.”


In the United States, a survey from Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative suggests a hard path to harmony ahead. A Bridge report released in September found that Catholics often

have negative or limited views about Islam. More recent analysis produced a further surprise. Young Catholics were not much more likely than older Catholics to know other people

personally who were Muslim.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University conducted the

survey. “Usually when CARA looks at Catholic data, there are huge differences by age, ethnicity,” said Mark Gray, senior research associate at CARA. “We don’t see the same differences in this survey that we’d expect. This shows that the attitudes/beliefs are generally

widespread across the population.”

The negative views about

Muslims germinate from news reports of violence in the Middle East, about

the only exposure many Americans have to Islam,

said Jordan Denari Duffner, a research fellow

at the initiative. Those views are nurtured by fear-mongering on the

internet.

Catholics do not hear as

often about the millions of Christians and Muslims

who coexist peacefully in the Middle East and Muslim-majority nations outside the Arab world, she said. Nor do they hear about Muslim efforts to respond to extremist violence, which has taken a much greater toll on Muslims themselves than on non-Muslims.

Finally, Ms. Denari Duffner added, a look back at the Catholic population’s own history in the United States, where similar anxieties about a Catholic takeover were once stoked by

Protestant nativists, offers some needed perspective.

“What our data points to are two things,” said Ms. Denari Duffner. “One, the need for more person-to-person connections and, two, the need for increased religious literacy.” It seems

Catholics not only do not know much about Islam or life in Muslim societies, they often do not know what the church teaches about Islam and other faiths, particularly the church’s attempt

through the Second Vatican Council’s “Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions” to seek commonalities and express esteem for Islam.

Better relationships with Muslim people as neighbors, friends and fellow community members and better information could help deflect the clash-of-civilizations trajectory too many in the Christian and Muslim worlds seem willing to accept, Ms. Denari Duffner said.

That is, after all, perhaps a self-fulfilling prophecy that Pope Francis has been making great efforts to push back against in word and deed. This year he again included Muslim people in the rite of the washing of feet during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper in Rome.


PERSONNEL MATTERS

Rene Candelaria agreed to be Interim Intern Director for the months of June, July

and August 2017.

Earl Alan Cura: The PG approved the request of Earl to be fulltime in his doctoral

studies. Starting June 1, 2017 he will be a member of the MST Community. He will

continue to participate in the PCE meetings, especially in the area of Mission and

Identity.

Plutarco Belanggoy has applied for an Indult of Separation from the Institute in view

of laicization.

Marlon Duallo was again confined at the hospital after a short vacation in Baguio.

He was released from the hospital last May 13 and is now recuperating in their house

in Taguig.

FORMATION MATTERS

Joejean Dormido was given Indult of Separation from the Institute by the Superior

General.

The following were accepted to the Renewal of Vows:

First Renewal of Vows:

Niel Arca Xu “Joseph” Gao

Godofredo Dampilag Jr. Stefanus Ramli

Charles Mico Pabustan Adrianus Safarin

Yujiang “Simon” Wang

Second Renewal of Vows:

Elmer Gao-ay Maxime Ilanga

Nolito Mosqueda Saferius Doi Kromen

Mar III Josef Taguinod Yannick Mpolongeli

Benoit Bambile Olivier Nsenda

Corneille Douanla Yohanes Ria Raja

Jean Poulard Espady Jerry-Junior Senapai


Third Renewal of Vows:

Charles Ron Capin Patrick Kabanza

Cevero Ermeje Bertin Kengele

Morel Delphonse Hervé Bourges Ngadima

Clauvis Gatumba Dieudonne Tsimba

Kanisius Jenali Gervais Tsimi Mesina

Fourth Renewal of Vows:

Francis John Javelosa Theodore Muanda

Roberson Colimon David Tshiowa

Jean Lifaite Ferdinand Shuangbo Zhao

Leonard Kabeya

Fifth Renewal of Vows:

Patrick Nkolo Emanuel Enjang Pranatal

Sony Pierre

Elmer Annanga Jr and Hervé Daty Bobo were not accepted to renew their vows.

The following were accepted to the First Profession of Religious Vows:

Rafael Azebedo Silva Stevanus Pardamean

Beny Fransiskus Angelinus Fianto Randatiku

Yohanes Onekhala Hariona Ridwanto

Antonio L. Manzo Christian Budi Setiawan

Petrus Vergilius Deki Mau Gustavo Henrique Silva de Paulo

The following were accepted to the Novitiate AY 2017-2018:

from Maryhurst Seminary:

Paul Martin T. Capiangao Giltrude T. Mario

Darvin Carl B. Gaayon Ivan A. Panisante

from the CICM Postulancy and one ex-seminarian:

Meil Udiel L. Francisco Jimmy Lawas

Leonardo P. Jimenez Elson D. Magan

Clarenz Ronald F. Falsario (ex-seminarian)

The following were accepted to the CICM Postulancy Program AY 2017-2018:

(1) Rosaldo C. Andales: 36 years old, from Antipolo City, a graduate of BS

Accountancy from Rizal Technological University.

(2) Norton A. Decoy: 22 years old, eldest among 2 siblings, from Tadian, Mt.

Province, a graduate of AB Political Science from SLU.

(3) John Ervin M. Felix: 21 years old, youngest among 4 siblings, from Caloocan City,

a graduate of BS Computer Science from the University of Caloocan.

(4) Cruijssen U. Fumar: 30 years old, from Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, a graduate of AB

Communication Arts Major in Tri-Media from Fr. Saturnino Urios University in

Butuan City.

(5) Mark Joseph L. Inaldo: 28 years old, from Enrile, Cagayan, a graduate of BS

Psychology from the Cagayan State University.


from the General Government

In the GG Meeting of May 8, 2017, the Superior General, with the consent of his Council, made the following appointments:

1. Jean Eddy Bakando (RP) as formator at the AIFC in RP, for a term of three (3)

years, effective as of August 31, 2017.

2. Anthony Cabal (RP) as Rector at Maryhurst Prenovitiate in RP, for a term of

three (3) years, effective as of August 31, 2017.

3. Ananias Dundu (ASIA) as Socius at the Novitiate of Taytay in RP, effective as of June 1, 2017 until August 31, 2020.

4. Nemesio Huesca (RP) as Director of novices at the Novitiate of Taytay in RP, effective as of May 31, 2017 until August 31, 2020.

5. Wilfredo Sabarillo (AFA) as formator at Maryhurst Prenovitiate in RP, for a term of three (3), effective as of August 31, 2017.

6. Didier Badianga (RP) as Rector of the CICM Collegio Missionario in Rome for a term of three (3) years, effective as of September 1, 2017.

In the GG Meeting of May 8 and May 11, 2017, the Superior General, with the

consent of his Council, made the following transfers:

1. Rene Candelaria (RP) to ASIA, indefinitely, effective as of June 1, 2017.

2. Ananias Dundu (ASIA) to RP, for three (3) years, effective as of June 1, 2017.

3. Wilfredo Sabarillo (AFA) to RP, for three (3) years, effective as of June 1, 2017.

In the GG Meeting of May 24 and 26, 2017, the Superior General, with the consent

of his Council, gave the following missionary assignments to student confreres, effective as of October 1, 2017:

1. Students at CIFA in ACO: (we placed below RP concerns only)

Prov. of origin Assigned to Ame Jay Mark RP ASIA (MG)

2. Students at AIFC in RP:

Javelosa Francis John RP ASIA (TW) Kromen Saferius Doi ASIA ASIA (IND) Nkolo Nkolo Patrick ACO ASIA (MG) Pierre Sony LAC RP Raja Yohanes Ria ASIA ASIA (IND) Zhao ShuangboFrancis ASIA ASIA (HK)


Stories for the Missionary Disposition should be about CICM confreres, should be true, and should not require Parental Guidance.

Efforts Bore Fruit

August Vantomme brought a blind girl from Agbannawag to Sr. Sonia Teresita Balangui to include this blind girl as a scholar of Pacita Siojo Scholarship. Sr. Sonia accepted the girl who would be enrolled at St. William’s Academy. After some time August approached again Sr. Sonia for the girl’s daily fare from and to Agbannawag. Sr. Sonia told August (with accompanying action) that if given this half of the arm, he would ask the whole arm. No way, Sr. Sonia stressed. For the same girl, he was interceding that she would be accommodated at Lin-awa Center. At that time there was no transient house yet and only much later that this was provided. As expected, there was no accommodation given. Later another Sister, Sr. Gabriela was negotiating for this blind girl to take the board examination for teachers that would fit the blind.

[Sr. Aurora A. Codiam, SIHM]

It was at the height of the Vatican II frenzy (1962-1965) and every missionary gets excited talking about the would-be impact of this momentous ecumenical council to the renewal of the universal and the local churches. A few confreres, presumably isolated by the mountain ranges and the great distances from where the action was, seemed not to have much inkling or care on what the whole brouhaha was all about. August Vantomme, by then assigned in the hinterlands of Kalinga, was once asked what he thought about the Council. He replied: “uuuhhhmmm So far I’ve not yet met that’ Padi Kanto’ [Vatican II]. He seems to be very popular, hein?”

[Anthony Pizarro; narrated by Silvere Deltour]

The mails Sending snail mails at this age Has become a passé Yet we promise to do it When we part ways one day I received your first mail With thrill and excitement Hurriedly opened it With so much contentment Each word was well written Emotion, it is compacted I can feel every letter With passion, it is printed

Every bit of experience Is in every blot of ink The careful choice of words Truly shows how you think I began seeing your journey How it is there in Africa I will also tell my story Soon from Latin America Wherever our addresses are Continuing this won’t we do Let this postal promise bind us Connecting me always to you

[Adrian Louie Atonducan]

All confreres of any Provinces are invited to contribute some anecdotes about themselves or about deceased confreres. Give your stories to Rex Salvilla. You will be remembered in his masses. E-mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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