summit January 14th, 2009
After days of work, the delegates were treated to an excursion in Tagaytay City and Nasugbu, Batangas on January 13. The participants had a boat ride around the islands of Nasugbu, enjoyed themselves in a kayak race, ate barbecue for dinner and had time just to relax and unwind. The day at the beach was held through the generous support of Mr and Mrs. Dino and Coy Cortez who accommodated and hosted the delegates. Continue Reading »
summit January 12th, 2009
Late afternoon, the sisters shared their own experiences. Sr. Elvira said that when she was asked to go to Australia, she immediately said yes, adding that as consecrated persons, people appreciate them in their habits. Sr. Eva Marie, for her part, said that any place where we work is our place of mission. And for Sr. Alma, being missionary is being a person with an open heart, embracing the culture of the people you work with. Continue Reading »
summit January 12th, 2009
Monday morning’s activities included an intervention by the Philippine delegation major superior, Fr. Bruno, Rampazzo. He shared that the missionary impetus is inherent in the Christian. In the same manner that Jesus is motivated by love and does not limit himself to a certain place or a certain group of people, and even offered himself totally, so should the Christian. Fr. Bruno added that the mission is universal and that there are new forms of mission as there is a crisis due to the weakening of faith. He said that through the mission, the Church is renewed and faith is strengthened. Continue Reading »
summit January 11th, 2009
After feasting to a hearty lunch, the delegation members proceeded to the St. Hannibal Subdivision Phase II in Barangay Rodriguez, Pasay City, where they concelebrated a Mass presided by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila together with His Excellency Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. The Mass was held in honor of the 6th Foundation Day of the St. Hannibal Empowerment Center (SHEC) and the priestly anniversary of Frs. Dexter Prudenciano and Rodolfo Patiag, RCJ. The Mass was attended by the leaders and members of the St. Hannibal Christian community, the people’s organization being assisted and guided by SHEC, housing beneficiaries, representatives of different partner agencies from the private sector and the government, donors, groups and individuals who helped in the realization of the SHEC housing project. Continue Reading »
summit January 11th, 2009
“Does Christmas really end? To Fr. Hannibal, to Fr. Diego, it does not.” Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo and chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) stated in his homily during the Mass following the Rogationist Mission Forum.
It was an apt tie-up to the morning’s activity where Fr. Antonio Dammay presented Project Bataan to the participants as well as to the public who came to the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Multinational Village in Parañaque, a parish being ran by the Rogationists. Project Bataan or the Fr. Diego Buscio Skills Training Program, which has been chosen as this year’s Rogationist Mission Day project was presented to the people to respond to, according to Fr. Dammay. Continue Reading »
summit January 10th, 2009
Saturday afternoon saw Mr. Luigi Lorenzato giving a presentation on the “Projectual Mentality in the Missions and Missionary Adoptions.” He explained that being in the missions does not mean just working there but also of being on the lookout for possible concrete activities—projects—for the benefit of the people. It is opening ourselves to needs that can be addressed by concrete activities. According to Mr. Lorenzato, the “projectual mentality” also means interlinking with funding agencies and being able to collaborate effectively with them, including actual implementation of a project and being able to see a project to its end as agreed in the project proposal with such agencies. Continue Reading »
summit January 10th, 2009
“We cannot afford to waste our efforts and opportunities to share the message of Christ through our charism. We should start to avoid improvising and fragmentation as far as our apostolate of the mission is concerned.”
These were Fr. Gabby Flores’ words during his talk “Towards a Rogationist Missionary Project.” He said that we need to update our understanding of mission in our congregation by “expanding” it and even modifying our norms if necessary. He explained that while we give due importance to missio ad gentes, we must also see it as only one of the dimensions of what we know as apostolate of mission in the congregation which includes pastoral care of the church abroad as well as new evangelization. Continue Reading »
summit January 9th, 2009
Fr. Herbie Cañete gave a presentation of their community in Poland during the Friday afternoon session. He gave a history of Poland, the Rogationist houses there, their works in vocation promotion and the difficulties that they face. According to Fr. Herbie, being in another place is good as it opens you to various experiences, noting that the movement from Asia to Asia is a bit different from moving from Asia to Europe.
Then the province of Italy Center South also gave their presentation through Fr. Francesco Bruno, Fr. Michele Marinelli and Fr. Antonio Lueci. They told of the history of the Rogationist mission in Albania, the forms of apostolate they have in the area, their present situation, and the difficulties and challenges that the mission face.
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summit January 9th, 2009
“Who is my absolute value?” This was the personal question that Bishop Chito Tagle of the Diocese of Imus, posed to the summit participants as he gave his keynote talk on the morning of January 9, Friday.
Bishop Tagle related the journey of the mission in Asia with that of St. Paul, whose jubilee year we are celebrating. He said that St. Paul’s encounter with Jesus changed the apostle’s fundamental beliefs. St. Paul came to believe that resurrection is real and that therefore it is right to call Jesus Lord — Lord of all. According to Bishop Tagle, these are the things that we as missionaries should bring with us as we go on mission.
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summit January 9th, 2009
The 1st Rogationist Mission Summit 2009 at the Oasis of Prayer in Silang, Cavite literally opened in colors, as flags representing the Rogationist presence in various parts of the world were paraded during the entrance of colors at around 10 a.m. Flags from Italy, Brazil, USA, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Albania, South Korea, and many other countries — including the Philippines of course — were paraded by novices, and signaled the start of the seven day international event. Besides the RCJ participants from around the world, students from the Rogationist College also attended.