A sendoff Mass was held on January 14 at the chapel of the Sanctuary of St. Joseph at the back of Gourmet’s Café followed by an Italian lunch hosted by Mr. Ernest Escaler, owner of Gourmet’s Café. Fr. Gabby Flores, councilor for the Missions, underlined a relevant passage during the homily: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come” (Mark 1:29-39). Fr. Gabby said that “this meeting should be an impetus for us to bring our experience from the Summit to our respective communities and re-ignite our zeal and concern for the poor and the ‘Rogationist Prayer.’”

Afterwards, there was a general assembly with recapitulation and evaluation of the past activities and interventions. Missionary crosses were re-consigned to the participants. The delegates had a closed-door meeting with the Superior General. A closing Mass was then held with dinner at the newly constructed Rogationist College-Paranaque School Building. A despedida program was also held highlighted by the rendition of acapella songs by the Neo-Nocturne Choir of Manila, and songs and dances from the pupils of the multi-level school of our parish, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. All the Filipino Rogationist priests also rendered a song number. And a souvenir was given to all the delegates—a Filipiniana picture frame with a group picture of the delegates—given by Fr. Bruno Rampazzo, Major Superior in the name of the Philippine delegation.

The open forum saw the opening of hearts as missionaries spoke with Rogationist formandis and shared their experiences. To the question of age in doing mission work, Fr. Aveni opined that generosity has no age and that language does not matter for it is a matter of witnessing with one’s life.

One novice suggested that formation should focus on the preparation for the poor in the Philippines. Fr. Bruno shared that we are preparing for missions here in the Philippines though there are many expressions of helping the poor in the country. Fr. Herbie said that for them in Poland, they are opening minds to respond to the needs of people including  those in the Philippines. Fr. Guarino said that the mission of the church is to bring the gospel to others, in which the poor are part. He added that as Rogationists, we bring the gospel as working with the poor is not exclusively our work. To Fr. Antonio who works in Albania, he said that the poverty they have there is that of vocation.

When asked what triggers them to go for a mission, Fr. Francesco shared that being missionary is a vocation within a mission and that the vocation for the mission should be in response to God’s call. Fr. Carucci said that in his experience, the vocation is missionary by principle and it is the Lord who gives us the strength to live our mission. To Fr. Guarino, on the other hand, mission is just a transfer from one house to another, for we are at home in any Rogationist house, in one’s country or abroad.

Fr. Christian shared that what sustains him in mission is the thought that each of the confreres in many other parts of the world are suffering for a labor of love. Fr. Taguibao said that everybody is capable of going to the mission. What is usually missing is the enthusiasm. For him, what inspires him is his consecration as a Rogationist. Fr. Alfonso, for his part, said that you cannot separate mission from vocation and Fr. Dante added that the missionary vocation is part of God’s call. So we need generosity to answer that call and the purpose is love. Fr. Antonio shared that if we go out of obedience and sacrifice, it is then we become happy.

Fr. Guido talked that in Italy, the seminarians are called “small apostles” and in the early years of formation, they openly speak of the missions and let the students watch missionary films. There were also great feasts when missionaries come back. They even modify the schedule of the community in order to listen to the missionaries. He suggested that the formation to mission be a part of our formation.

Fr. Cesare shared that once you start serving the realities of the Congregation, there is no distinction. He said that as someone working in formation, there is no contradiction between his work and working for the poor.

Father General shared that the religious has a catholic dimension depending on the organization of the Congregation, thus the possibility to go out of one’s country. He added that when Father Founder left Messina, he brought to another place what he had been doing in Messina, to propagate prayer for vocations and to help the poor. He said that we should always consider the universality of the Church.

After the Mass, Cardinal Rosales led the ceremonial turnover of 54 housing units at the St. Hannibal Subdivision Phase II to poor beneficiaries. Republic of the Philippines Vice President Noli de Castro also attended the special event. Then Archbishop Adams presided over the blessing of the housing units.

Afterward, the summit participants visited the RCJ religious house at Rodriguez Street, Malibay, Pasay and outlying areas where RCJ confreres are working. Then they proceeded to the St. Hannibal Training Center in E. Cornejo Street, Malibay where Fr. Dexter, who oversees SHEC, presented the status quo and apostolate with the poor of the SHEC in Pasay. Dinner followed.

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. Bataan plays a significant role in the history of the Rogationists in the Philippines as it is the first parish that was assigned to the congregation as it started its mission work in the country. It was opened by Fr. Diego Buscio, Fr. Vito Di Mazzio and Fr. Antonio Barbangelo. Fr. Diego’s untimely death in 1978 due to a vehicular accident on the way to celebrating Mass is considered a seed of the growth that followed the Philippine mission soon after.

According to Fr. Dammay, Project Bataan is a project for the out-of-school youth of Parang that will train them in mechanical, electrical, automotive, electronics, and hotel and restaurant services skills that will equip them to find work. It is a program in coordination with the Rogationist College in Silang, Cavite as well as some government and non-government organizations. Modular classes will be held with trainors coming from the Rogationist College, TESDA and others.

The project will have two phases: the first from 2010 to 2015 while the second phase will run from 2016 to 2020. Each phase will have lecture and practicum. The program will be managed by the two Rogationist priests assigned in the area together with the Parish Pastoral Council.

Mr. Noel Risos, who gave the layman’s point of view after Fr. Dammay’s presentation laid out reasons why Project Bataan is a good endeavor for the youth, the parents and even for the manpower recruiters. He emphasized that the project will give a big hope for the folks in Bataan to be able to earn income if they will just have enough skills. He exhorted the participants to give hope to the people of Bataan.

During the homily, Bishop Lagdameo, wove together the day’s celebration of Jesus’ baptism, the Bataan project and the missionary work of the Rogationists by reciting: “When the angels stop singing, when stars stop shining, when the three kings are able to reach home through another route, so the missionary task begins.”

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.

Fr. Bruno said that they are reevaluating the presence of the congregation in Albania as there is so much need and the area is so large. He also added that they need to give a witness as a religious community, and to address the lack of attraction to vocation.

A dinner with the interns of the St. Anthony’s Boys village and a cultural presentation capped off the Friday activities. Participants were treated to a showcase of Philippine dances and songs. Check out the pictures!

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.

Because of the changes in St. Paul, everything became “relativized by Christ.” “Nothing is absolute in Christ; Christ is the ultimate value,” Bishop Tagle summed up. He added that mission ad gentes is therefore more than work or activity: it is experiencing Jesus as absolute value. And therefore, the missionary journey begins as an internal one, “Who is my absolute value?”

Bishop Tagle explained that the mission orientation of the church in Asia is for the local church to be the main missionary agent, and not just the ordained or the religious. The mode, on the other hand, should be appropriate in the context of persecution and should fundamentally be a dialogue of life. The bishop cited three important emphases of the dialogue of life: the dialogue with the poor, with religions and with cultures. He then told the story of Gemma who was inspired by the happiness she saw in the Christians working in a hospital in Korea. The witness of joy became Gemma’s first catechism which made her want to know Christ. Bishop Tagle said that this is what we mean when we say that mission is done in the mode of dialogue.

An open forum followed the bishop’s talk. The morning session closed after Fr. Carmelo and Fr. Bruno along with the Superior General, Fr. Giorgio Nalin, handed a token of appreciation to Bishop Tagle.

Fr. Danny Montaña served as the master of ceremonies. During the opening prayer, Fr. Michelle Marinelli asked the intercession of Fr. Founder that “he may give us the capacity to give one in order to receive a hundredfold.” He asked the Lord to grant generosity to be available in the journey of discipleship. Fr. Marinelli also asked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. Joseph.

The Philippine-Indian Delegation Major Superior, Fr. Bruno Rampazzo, gave the welcome address and Fr. Giorgio Nalin, our Superior General, gave the opening address. He told the participants of the RCJ’s opening of new frontiers, characterized by the pastoral implementation of the Rogationist charism of prayer for vocations, the poor and the children. Fr. Nalin also cited the problems that face the congregation and look forward to the collaboration and sharing between the Rogate family and its various collaborators.

Fr. Gabriel Flores presented the missionaries from the Italian Center North Province: Fr. Sebastiano De Boni, Fr. Matteo Sanavio and Fr. Herbie Canete. Fr. Matteo shared that one of their activities is starting a shelter that was requested by the municipality of Tarragona, Spain. An unused house ‘chalet’ that was being used mainly as a stockroom now houses nine children. Fr. Sebastiano also shared about a new apostolate in Padua where they extend assistance to the marginalized who are still willing to be helped and cooperate with them to receive further training for eventual employment. After the reports from the Italian northern province, the morning meeting was adjourned and lunch followed.