VOCATION

Filipino Sacramentino on Mission to Ireland

Posted by on Jun 2, 2017 in Church, Community, Congregation, Reflections, Uncategorized, VOCATION | 0 comments

Mission and evangelisation are two indispensable and inherent tasks of the Church not only in contemporary time but since the time the Church was established, where in obedience to the mandate of Jesus, the disciples were determined to  go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus have commanded (Mt 28:19-20). Thus, we see how the risen Christ sent his followers to preach the Gospel in every time and place, so that faith in him might spread to every corner of the earth. Therefore, as members of a missionary Church, baptised in water and spirit, we are called to confess the Faith in full adherence to the Word of God, celebrated in the Sacraments, and in lived in charity, the principle of Christian moral existence.    All are called to mission… all- without exception – are called to evangelise.     Pope Francis in the many occasions of his audience with the catholic faithful in various places and cultures has been emphatically persistent in reminding his audiences that “all of us are invited to “go out” as missionary disciples, each generously offering their talents, creativity, wisdom and experience in order to bring the message of God’s tenderness and compassion to the entire human family.” Attentive and ever obedient to our calling as religious-consecrated persons of the Church, all missionary endeavours are but natural realities of our journey. The mission of every religious derives from the Lord’s mandate and the life of God’s grace within us.  As Catholics, and as religious we are privileged to receive the Lord’s charge of bearing witness to the Faith and to the Christian way of life as a service to our brothers and sisters, and as a fitting response to God (Redemptoris Missio, 11). Conscious to these basic tasks of a missionary, in which by nature is particularly responsible with the evangelisation efforts, how does a  Sacramentino missionary engage in a unique and distinct way when one is being sent forth for a mission? The Rule of Life of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament clearly mandates every member religious that, “Our idea is to live the mystery of the Eucharist fully and to make known its meaning so that Christ’s reign may come and the glory of God be revealed to the world” (ROL, 1).  And “Following in the footsteps of Father Eymard, our mission is to respond to the hungers of the human family with the riches of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist” (ROL, 3). Apparently, the task is not merely about celebrating the Eucharist or bringing people to the Eucharistic celebration and adoration but to go beyond the tendency of religious devotion and piety that is, to consider its role with regard to humanity and its transformation. However, the movement of this transformation must start from the authentic participation and celebration of the Eucharist and deepening one’s commitment to Christ, which is directed to the on-going church renewal, and then to a larger social involvement, to become witnesses in the world as proclaimers and bearers of the Kingdom of God manifested in the Eucharist. Last May 30, 2017 (Tuesday), during the Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Ronnie Bancud, SSS at the Provincialate House of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in New Manila Quezon City, the Provincial Superior Fr. Joseph Matitu, SSS officially sent-off Fr. Leonard Ayuyao, SSS for a mission in Ireland under the Ireland-Great Britain Province of the Congregation. Despite of being a newly ordained...

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Thanks be to God!

Posted by on Feb 11, 2017 in Church, Community, Congregation, NEWS, VOCATION | 0 comments

We bring you tidings of great joy! Many of our Chapel Faithful will remember with fondness our Confrere Brother Renoir Oliver, a scholastic of our Congregation, who came here from the Philippines in mid 2013. The purpose of his visit was to gain pastoral experience. In the next ten months, he took a very active part in the life and mission of our Community and he endeared himself to all who met him. He returned to the Philippines as planned in mid 2014 to resume his studies and his journey towards priesthood. This journey came to its glorious conclusion in our Church in Manila on Saturday 4th February 2017. We send our congratulations and best wishes to the newly ordained Fr. Renoir Oliver, SSS, and we assure him our constant remembrance in our prayers. We also congratulate Fr. Renoir’s two fellow Ordinands, Fr. Leonard Ayuyao, SSS, and Fr. Bryan Adona, SSS, and we pray that their priestly ministry may be fruitful and fulfilling. Fr. Leonard (known as Fr. Leo) will come to Dublin in March to help in the Pastoral Ministry of the Chapel. He was born on September 24, 1974 in Makati city, Philippines. He went to Canossa School for his elementary and secondary education which he finished in 1987 and 1991 respectively. He took up B.S. in Industrial Engineering in the University of Santo Tomas and graduated in the year 1996. In the same year, he joined Epson Precision Philippines Incorporated (EPPI) and worked as Manufacturing Engineer for almost 11 years. In 2007, he resigned in order for him to follow the Lord’s call for him to enter the seminary. He made his first profession on May 1, 2010. He had his pastoral exposure in the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Davao City in the years 2013 to 2014. He graduated in San Carlos Seminary Graduate School of Theology with a degree in M.A. in Theology major in Historico-Liturgico for Pastoral Studies in 2016. He took his final vows and ordination to the order of deacons last August 2016. He had his diaconal ministry in San Vicente Ferrer Quasi Parish in Taguig City. We look forward to his arrival, and will give you further details in due...

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Mission Views: The Uganda, Africa Experience

Posted by on May 14, 2015 in Church, Congregation, NEWS, Reflections, VOCATION | 0 comments

The Holy Father Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel) has described a striking challenge for the church in our times. He wants a Church that “goes forth”. He said that the word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in him “to go forth” (20). Because it is vitally important for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear (23). The Church which “goes forth” is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. These statements have become my stout foundation during my pastoral exposure (June 2014-April 2015) in Uganda, Africa. Over-all I would say, by the grace of God the experience was life-enriching and to some extent successful. There I realized that one does not need to be expert in theology in order to be effective in the mission. The mere presence of a missionary with a heart to be with the people is actually more than enough. As St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians rightfully exhorts: “and whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”(Col. 3:23). Moreover, this presence must be self-initiated and generous. In my experience the call was, I have to go and find them. Activate myself and move toward others, to involve people of all walks of life which is inclusive and non-discriminatory. Having imbibed and worked in this context, significant mission success were attained. As a theology student absorbed in theological perspective, at times I am confident and inclined to impose certain norms and practices in theology during liturgical celebrations and other religious activities in our parish in Uganda. Little did I realize that I am in a culture far different from what I used to, and far from the western character of church liturgy – defined and standardized.  In John Paul II encyclical Redemptoris Missio (#53) succinctly characterised that “Missionaries, who come from other churches and countries, must immerse themselves in the cultural milieu of those to whom they are sent, moving beyond their own cultural limitations. Hence they must learn the language of the place in which they work, become familiar with the most important expressions of the local culture, and discover its values through direct experience. Only if they have this kind of awareness will they be able to bring to people the knowledge of the hidden mystery (cf. Rom 16:25-27; Eph 3:5) in a credible and fruitful way. It is not of course a matter of missionaries renouncing their own cultural identity, but of understanding, appreciating, fostering and evangelizing the culture of the environment in which they are working, and therefore of equipping themselves to communicate effectively with it, adopting a manner of living which is a sign of gospel witness and of solidarity with the people.” So without this respect and appreciation of the culture, it will be difficult to pursue your mission initiatives. Typical African values are not “out-going” or extroverted personality. In my observations, unless I will approach them first with a greetings and sincere smile they will look at you as a threat or just snub your presence. Conscious to this dynamics of people and culture, I need to be sensitive and reassuring in my engagements with them. Peoples, their feelings, culture, background, state of economic well-being are paramount. Every decision, program and activity must take into account these factors because their cooperation largely depends how you deal with them....

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Patterns of Thinking for Our Way of Living: The New House of Studies- Chicago, IL.

Posted by on Oct 16, 2014 in Church, Community, Congregation, Province, Reflections, VOCATION | 0 comments

Returning to the United States after the completion of my Canonical year in New York in January 2013, it is funny how little things serve as a reminder that not everything is the same between Anglo-American friends.  The paperwork that accompanied me from Glasgow does not fit into the neat little pockets I purchased from Office Depot.  It was only then that I remembered the U.S. standard letter paper is not the same as A4.  However, the rest of life seems to be a good fit. The formation journey that formally began in the Community Chapel with the St. Jean Baptiste SSS Community on 6th January 2012 has many voices to narrate it.  A bit like Fr. Peter Julian’s intuitive sense of the aspects and episodes of his life being knit-together for the purpose of promoting the ‘Reign of the Eucharist’, I am mindful that I am being given a new opportunity for ministry within the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and that nothing ought to be wasted in that mission.  Formative experience in professional social work, ordained ministry in the Anglican Church, and more recently the experience of day-to-day living in countries and cultures other than my own are making this precious time of initial formation a particularly rich and internationally flavored experience. In fact the more I reflect on days past the greater the summons of today to recognize and live Religious life joyfully as the gift it is.   It is the re-wording of Soren Kierkegaard’s famous statement about the nature of our understanding. “Life can only be understood backwards”, he insisted, “but it must be lived forwards.”   Because we are never given the vantage point of remaining still in time and looking at life at it is, how we understand is always something ‘becoming.’   Increasingly, I am understanding the life of St. Peter Julian’s Eucharistic Congregation, and my place in it, as ‘life understood backwards, but as lived and celebrated TODAY.’ The Acts of the XXXIVth General Chapter clearly proclaim, “We are ‘one body and one spirit’, one single family, and we should collaborate and express a solidarity at all levels of the Congregation, as regards personnel, economy and formation.  The intercultural community springs from the Eucharist.” [Acts VI, 5, a.]   At this stage in my formation I am realising powerfully that whilst I belong to one Congregation, its life is expressed quite differently depending on location and culture.  To deny that is to naively deny the humanity of who were are as Religious.  It is for that very reason that being part of the formative days of the new House of Studies here in Chicago is such a tremendous opportunity because it is a presence that is animating where the Congregation  desires to be TODAY.   The initial student community here at SSS Chicago will comprise student priests from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, as well as a British scholastic, with Fr. Mike Arkins SSS, a native of Chicago as our pastor. I cannot stress enough how such international initiatives, when they have as their horizon a sense of trust, hope and joy in the truths contained within our Eucharistic charism, prove to be far more than fashionable gimmicks in our increasingly trans-cultural and globalized-world.  They actually lead to the formation of a more humble sense- yet at the same time- confident Religious life.  As a fellow scholastic Brother from the Philippines came to realize during his exposure-year in Ireland and Scotland, when the seed of formation is planted in different soil,  suddenly the seed becomes aware of its own growth in a radically...

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Challenging Africa

Posted by on Oct 11, 2014 in Community, Congregation, NEWS, Reflections, VOCATION | 0 comments

“In situation of widespread poverty, the proclamation of Christ must be the means for restoring human dignity.” -John Paul II’s Redemtoris Missio #37 Conscious to our vocation as religious called to spread the good news which emanate from the Eucharist, we are predisposed and unfastened to go anywhere for mission with the aim to proclaim, testify, live out, and share the profound treasures of the Eucharist. Moved by the Spirit who is the principal agent of mission, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament has had the opportunity to reach as far as Africa. And fortunately enough, our community in Uganda, East Africa has been fruitful in living out our Eucharistic charism for a valuable fifty (50) years now. Certainly our religious vocations in such place are not intended to be a soft life. The demands it makes on a Priest’s or Brother’s nerve and courage are great, they have to inevitably face the challenge and difficulty, some loneliness, moments of disillusion and hesitation, and even trepidation and disappointment. But amidst all these threats however, we can only claim with the Lord’s promise “do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Not all are called to go for mission outside one’s home country, but to those who are being sent to far places like Africa is indeed an opportunity and at the same time a test of endurance which consequently determines one’s commitment and witnessing to the real essence of religious life. Having embraced this kind of opportunity I have experienced myself the way of life in Africa particularly in Uganda. At the onset of my journey I felt I could only survive for not more than a month because psychologically and emotionally I was threatened by my own misgivings, prejudices and even biases. It was an ordeal to mingle with people absorbed by cultural differences, and a sheer travesty for one who is not used to immerse in a foreign poor land. Days, weeks, months have passed since the time I landed Uganda, and meeting with people from all walks of life is indeed life-changing. By now a different but affirmative disposition grips into my being more so to my missionary mindset. Appreciation and the desire to live and serve with the people have become my preoccupation. Realizing the value of giving out of my own self for whatever legitimate means of service enkindles the very purpose of my mission. Actually this service embodies the Eucharistic charism that I am committed to adhere as a religious of the Congregation. And to lose out consciously this Eucharistic value will ultimately wanes out the anticipated fruition of the Eucharist that we celebrate. Even if one has not personally visited Africa or has seen or tasted their way of living, our common assessment of this part of the world maybe similar. Flat, grey, dusty, disease-stricken, undeveloped – yes to some extent these are true. But interestingly enough, people survive. As much as they could, faith in God has been their strongest claim of countenance albeit the adverse impact of economic, environmental, and political uproar of the country. Moreover, amidst all these challenges and difficulties encountered by people, our Eucharistic apostolate and presence continue on because undeniably the Eucharist is the antidote to this culture of scarcity and economic upheaval. Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist is the means of restoring our human dignity injured by many external inflictions. Unfortunately enough, children mostly are the affected ones – food insufficiency and malnutrition, poor education opportunities, and health threats are among of the consequences. But what broke my heart and brought me to...

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My colourful life with God

Posted by on Oct 5, 2014 in Congregation, Reflections, VOCATION | 0 comments

My colourful life with God

“Life is not black and white. It is a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours, textures, shades, and distinctions. it is a canvas of details, tones, differences and diversities.” Just like also the call of God— many forms, many ways, mostly unexpected; but always going towards the same direction… towards the greatest artist of all who is God. God who is the light of the world who enables us to see and understand His marvellous canvass of life. Sometime in April, 2008 a total stranger asked me what time the last train would leave the LRT station somewhere in Manila. Without any hesitation, I assisted and generously gave him the information he needed. Me, I just came from the Church and I asked God to give me a sign for what I am longing for. I believe there was a divine intervention because he introduced himself as a seminarian… a Blessed Sacrament brother. It rung a bell! I was praying for a deeper meaning in life, but I didn’t expect more than this. As we part ways we exchanged mobile phone numbers and he referred me right away to Fr. Randy Vergara, SSS, who was the vocation director then. From then on until the time I entered the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, the ray of light of God always gives meaning to my life. His wisdom, little by little, was revealed to me as I discover my vocation which is a gift of God to me. Christ is the light of the world, as whoever comes to see His light will have the light of faith. I have come to see light upon gazing on Him at the Crucifix – as Christ was revealed as the Son of Man and truly the Son of God; He suffered for us because of God     the Father’s tremendous desire to redeem us from our sins… a sacrifice born out love. As a seminarian, my prayer-life sustains me to persevere. My prayer-life connects me to God who constantly inspires me to give myself generously in His heavenly mission here on earth. Doing my ministry in my apostolate area becomes an invitation for me from God to love as He does. The Holy Eucharist is a witness to the truth and love which Christ himself teaches us from God,the Father. The Holy Eucharist is an inexhaustible expression of God’s love which fills me with His divine presence. His divine presence is a spark of hope where I always cling-on to in times of sorrow… His divine presence is a ray of light that sheds meaning to all chaos and adversities that wounds and breaks me most of the time. The Eucharist, as the source and summit of the Church’s life and my life, there, I always draw my inspiration to do my mission with joy in my heart. To become a Religious-Priest someday is to become a faithful lover of the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ Himself who is really present in the form of the Bread that is broken and shared. Like Him, in doing mission, I will also be broken and be shared to others. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————– Admin note: Br. Alvin Manaois is a professed scholastic of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Province of Our Lady of the Assumption (Philippines). He is now on his philosophy studies at San Carlos Seminary, Manila, Philippines. Would you like to follow Jesus as a priest or brother in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament?Please click here to contact...

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