St. Hannibal`s Statue Enthroned in Pototan

The Official Newsletter of the St. Hannibal Mary Discernment Center
Brgy. Capul-an, Mina, Iloilo
Second Issue: Sept.— Oct. 2010
St. Hannibal’s Statue Enthroned
in Pototan
Last September 25, 2010,
Saturday, the parish of the
Patronage of St. Joseph, Pototan, Iloilo organized the
Laity Week. For this reason,
the parish organized activities for the people and one
of which was the conference
for all the religious organizations of the parish. The
theme was “Balaan kag
Maayo nga Manugpangabudlay sa Kaumhan sang
Dios” (Holy and Good Laborers in the Harvest of the
Lord). Fr. Marcelino Diaz II,
RCJ was the speaker of the
said conference and he underlined the role of the laity in
the harvest of the Lord. It
was held at the parish pastoral
center of St. Joseph. It started
at nine o’clock in the morning
and it ended at twelve.
After the conference, there
was the procession of the
statue of St. Hannibal Mary
Di Francia from the school to
the church. Then, the statue
was enthroned and blessed at
the side chapel of the
main church together with
the image of St. John
Mary Vianney. The song
“We love you Father Hannibal” was sung by the
people.
Before the concluding
prayer there was the kissing of the relic of St. Hannibal Mary. Magazines,
prayer for vocations guide,
brochures and newsletter
of the
RogaMina
Community were given to
the people for the diffusion
of the Rogate. The UPV
was also introduced to the
people who were enthusiastic about it.
First Friday Adoration for Vocations
The parish priest of the Patronage of St. Joseph Parish, Pototan, Iloilo, Fr. Tomas “Tom” Delicana, a devotee of St. Hannibal Mary, invited the RogaMina Community to animate the first Friday Mass and the Eucharistic adoration for vocations. He is inviting all the schools in Pototan to
attend the said adoration. It is celebrated every first Friday of the month because the prayer for
vocations is coming from the intimate pain of the Heart of Jesus who deigned to stay among His
people in the Eucharist. He is also organizing a weekly (Friday) novena and the kissing of the
relic of St. Hannibal. The community started it last October 1, 2010. The people who attended the
mass remained for the adoration. The theme was “Called to be Apostles of the Heart of Jesus”.
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
Page 2
EVENTS
Postulants’ Exposure
Postulancy is the formative step that precedes and immediately prepares the candidate to the experience of the Rogationist religious life in
the novitiate.
The postulants’ program of the Philippine Delegation has three phases
namely Enclosure which is from June to September, Exposure from October to December and Integration from January to May. The exposure program includes exposure to the different communities of our Delegation
(October-November) and to their respective family (December). Last October 1, 2010, Friday, Postulants Clenton “Anthony Therese” Oplas and “Jozef Marie” Ernie Lozada arVisit of Fathers Eric, Herbert and Noel and the thanksgiving Mass of the
newly ordained priests
Father Eric Raveza, RCJ, and the newly ordained
priests, Fathers Herbert Magbuo, RCJ and Noel Balquin,
RCJ visited the community. They arrived in Iloilo on
September 28, 2010.
They had the opportunity to talk with Mrs. Sally
Caspillo who is helping the Rogationists in processing
the titling of the lands in Iloilo.
The newly ordained Fathers Herbert Magbuo,
RCJ, assigned to Indonesia and Noel Balquin, RCJ, to
Vietnam had their thanksgiving Mass with the community. Fr. Noel was the first one who said his thanksgiving mass then in the next day Fr. Herbert.
They extended their gratitude to the people who prayed for them. They also had the chance to
go around in some places in Iloilo like the old churches.
Commission on Vocation
The RogaMina community was
invited to attend the monthly
meeting of the Council of Vocation
promoters (Commission on Vocation) on September 18, 2010 at the
Archbishop’s palace at 3: 00 p.m.
The commission was participated
by the vocation directors from the
various congregations present in
the Archdiocese of Jaro. It was an
opportune time for the RogaMina
community to present herself and
to introduce the Founder, the Rogationist Congregation, its Charism
and the name of the community in
Iloilo, its nature and its apostolate
to the priests, sisters and brothers attending the meeting.
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
Page 3
EVENTS
St. Hannibal Mary Discernment Center Introduced to the
Campus Ministers
Last September 18, 2010,
Saturday, the community attended the meeting of the
campus ministers coming
from the different schools
and universities of Jaro,
Iloilo. The community also
had the possibility to introduce the congregation and
her apostolate in the Arch-
diocese.
The community was able to
attend because of the help of
Fr. Rafael Clavel, the assistant
parish priest of the Patronage
of St. Joseph Parish, who is incharge of the campus ministry
in the archdiocese. He thought,
since the charism of the Rogationists is to pray for more
good and holy vocations, it
is necessary that the community be introduced.
The meeting was held in
the residence of the Bishop.
Most of those present were
campus ministry organizers.
UPV Youth Rumbang (Relaunched)
In the year 2009, the UPV youth
of Rumbang, Pototan, Iloilo, was initially organized. They were Fr.
Marcelino Diaz, RCJ, Bro. Rogie Quinga,
RCJ, Seminarians Ronald Padernal and
Aljohn Provido who started organizing
the youth. They had a talk and they also
celebrated the Holy Mass with them .
In 2010, Fr. Ruel Desamparado,
RCJ, who was going around the province
to follow-up the incoming aspirants, visited them. Then, he was able to invite the
youth of Rumbang for the triduum of
World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
With the presence of the Rogationists now Iloilo, on October 17, 2010,
UPV Rumbang was relaunched. Together with the RogaMina Community
were seminarian Aljohn Provido, his
family, and the two postulants Clenton
“Anthony Therese” Oplas and “Jozef
Marie” Ernie Lozada.
Rosary Month Closes
In view of the month of the rosary, the community organized the
Dawn Rosary for the people. The rosary started at 4: 30 a.m. and after
which the celebration of the Holy Mass followed. There was a good number of people mostly members of the UPV who participated in it.
The marian activity was closed on October 30, 2010, with the living
rosary with the altar boys, choir, UPV-Senior and Youth of Capul-an,
UPV-Youth of Rumbang and some devotees from Zarraga. There were
more than sixty persons who attended the culmination activity.
The people wrote a simple letter of thanksgiving and petitions to
Mama Mary. Towards the end of the rosary they offered their letters by
burning them. The people participated attentively during the prayer. After the celebration they had snacks offered by the people from Brgy.
Rumbang, Pototan.
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
Page 4
EVENTS
Baptism at the RogaMina Convent Chapel
The number people who are coming for Sunday Mass
is increasing. Many people already knew about the RogaMina community. The convent is becoming smaller and
smaller for all to enter the house for Sunday celebrations,
Thursday Eucharistic adoration for vocations and Saturday Rosary. Some people even asked for blessings of their
vehicles and some asked for their children to be baptized
in the convent chapel. With due process and necessary
permissions from the parish priests of Mina and of Pototan, documentations and seminars, baptism was administered.
Campaign for the Construction of the
Temple of the Evangelical Rogation Starts
Being a community dedicated
primarily to prayer and thus socalled the House of Prayer of the
Philippine Delegation, designed
for prolonged adoration for more
holy and good vocations, with
gratitude to God, the community
Temple of the Evangelical Rogation
started the project, which is the
construction of the The Temple of
the Evangelical Rogation (Shrine
of St. Hannibal Mary) . Now the
community is on her first phase
which is the solicitation process.
Shrine of St. Hannibal Mary
Archdiocesan Vocation Month
On the month of November, the Archdiocese of Jaro will hold the Vocation month. It
will be officially opened on November 7, 2010 during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist to be presided by Msgr. Gene Velarde at St. Clement’s Church, La Paz, Iloilo City at
6 p.m.
The Commission on Vocation is organizing activities such as the Exhibits in the
Gaisano Capital mall on Nov. 10—19, 2010 and at the Robinson’s on Nov. 20-30, 2010,
the Vocation Caravan in schools and parishes.
The closing of the vocation month is set on November Nov. 27, 2010 at 8: 30 a.m. at
St. Julian Parish, Janiuay. It will be concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and with the talk to be given to the young people, mostly students from different
schools.
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
Page 5
EVENTS
Ordinations
Five rogationist deacons were ordained priests. They are Fathers Noel Balquin, RCJ,
who was ordained on August 21, 2010, Jeffrey Jagurin, RCJ who was ordained on August
28, Herbert Magbuo,RCJ on September 4, Rey Villamonte, RCJ on October 9, 2010 and
Tirso Alcover, on December 19, 2010. Another four brothers are preparing for the diaconal ordination on Nov. 6, 2010 at FDFCS. They are Brothers King Cena, RCJ, Edgar
Dacaldacal, RCJ, Arlene Gumangan, RCJ and Vincent Dumdum, RCJ. They will be joining
Rev. Ricky Caperina, RCJ in the order of diaconate.
St. Hannibal Mary Text Box
Devotion to the Souls in Purgatory
Praying for the holy souls who are in
purgatory is to be a pre-eminent devotion as well as a practice of piety; therefore the probationers will often read and
meditate on purgatory concluding the
prayer before any action with a requiem.
They (Rogationists) will offer the mass
and the Communion to the holy souls in
purgatory every Monday; In November,
they will offer all the exercises of piety
(P.R.P.). Before taking the vows, they will
make the pious donation (Heroic Act of
Charity) in favor of the souls in Purgatory.
that these souls need our help in order
to transfer from purgatory to paradise.
By reason of that, it is everyone’s duty to
remember them.
They (Rogationists) will offer the mass and the
Communion to the holy souls in purgatory
every Monday; In November, they will offer all
the exercises of piety.
Piety for the dead is as ancient as
death itself. But Christianity, which sanctifies everything, fostered piety for the
dead beyond measure making a point of
remembering them, owing to the fact
it! On the contrary, the souls in purgatory long for God with an intimate, inexpressible desire because they saw
Him when they were introduced at
his presence; they saw his infinite
beauty, the beauty enrapturing for
ever the myriads of elected; but the
vision lasted an instant: on and off!
And yet, what deep impressions the
vision of God left inside them! All
flames in purgatory are not enough
to make the souls divert their mind
from that lovely attention. They think of
God, loving him, longing for him, being
eager for him, and desiring him: like
doves that are taken into custody, they
flutter their wings over and over the
subject of their longing, but in vain. They
cannot take off to God before satisfying
His justice.
Misssing God, however, is the most
bitter pain for the souls in purgatory.
God! We do not know him in this world!
We are like the blind by birth who do not
long for light, because they do not know
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia.
Rogationist Anthology pp. 148—150
Page 6
Reflections
O Happy Fault! O Necessary Sin!
me. However, the wisdom of the olds has proven
I believe that it was by the grace of God that I
me wrong. In my very hectic apostolic, religious
was called, chosen to become a religious and
and ministerial life I started to feel the bites of
finally a priest. Indeed, it is by the mercy of
these wake up calls. They were ringing increasGod! It has been more than a decade ago that
ingly loud to my ears; they knocked vividly at my
I have been serving the harvest of the Lord as
a rogationist religious priest in various field of mind and tremors in my flesh I felt. The ground I
was standing on was melting. No body has seen it;
apostolate of our congregation. I have always
tried to use to the full the God-given energy in no body would believe me if I dare share it, even
my confessor and spiritual director down played it.
my apostolic ministries. I even once wanted
But the experience was real! Was I a fraud? I
to go beyond the boundaries of our country
heard this question deeply in my heart repeating
but my spiritual director, oh that holy man!
with a constant cadence. The cry was so intense
advised me otherwise. More than oftentimes I
but no body minded it. But why? Maybe I did not
was surprised to discover that in God’s maniknow how to express it for it was something unfold goodness and mercy He has made me His
usual for a supposedly man of
instrument of
When the Lord calls He humbles and God? So I stood still, though with
love through the
works I was as- confuses the one called. Oh happy fault! trembling knees, I pretended to
signed to which, O necesary sin of Adam. It has become a be ok and projected a well
grounded face. There were real
as I examine my
moment of Kairos! That makes me
human capacity stand still, confused and apprehensive of cries in my obstinate heart. I
and professional what will happen next yet I am sure that started to deny to stoop down and
to bend my knees: “that’s not for
preparation,
one day things will become clearer
me; I am good; I and ok!”
seem to be rather
and surer.
The more I denied, the
hard to accommore I sank down into the abyss
plish.
That is how I started my religious priestly of emptiness. And the attraction of the opposite
ministry! I felt that the Lord was with me in direction was increasingly attracting me intensely.
everything I did. I felt that I was always Although my heart still beats for my vocation yet I
guided by the spirit of God in whatever deci- reached the point of having felt that the religious
sion I made. Life then was full of blessings. consecration per se, and not only mine, was a utoWhat a life so fulfilling! I thought within my- pia. I thought for a while and I saw religious life
self that this is my ideal life; this is the life I beautifully presented in the books and talks but noalways wanted to live. I have to take good where to be found in reality. I was petrified by
care of it; I have to nurture it to the full. Psy- this thought. If it was true then my whole life was
chologists say that we might pass through the a chain mistakes! Oh what an irreparable mistake!
so called midlife crisis. But my heart bits the What would other people say of me? My heart
opposite saying may be that is valid only for questioned! Then and there, the emptiness of my
the vast majority; not for me! And other peo- “glorious” past flashed back: The teachings I
ple would say that life begins at forty. But taught, the lessons I prepared, the buildings I built,
how could that be true when even before forty the offices I held, the orders and indications I gave
I already had my life begun? Again I say may and all the achievements, if I could call
be that is true for the vast majority but not for
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
Reflections
Page 7
Permission granted. I went to confession before
I ventured into this holy solitude and silence. I
gave full attention as I could to every prayer I
say.
I felt the presence of God intensely and I
barely realized that I spent hours in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and meditation of the
Word of God in total silence. Oh what a peace
of mind and heart!
I was so absorbed in the contemplation of
the word of God when I suddenly heard deep
down in my heart a soft but a resolutely clear
voice whispering to my ears a project of life. It
is a call to deepen my call; a proper place for
me in the Church. I wandered what was the
significance those words for me. When it sank
into my mind and heart I was so scared that I
asked myself: Is this addressed to me? Maybe
that is for somebody else? I refused to entertain
those shocking and confusing thoughts for a little while but they were so disturbing that they
created a deep mark in my heart; in my being.
At first, I was apprehensive to open it to my
superiors and confreres for they might not understand me or that I might appear weird
“…you should pray unceasingly and do not lose to them. But the voice was pestering me
as a mosquito flying around my ear. So I
heart.” (Lk 18:1)
prayed and decided to relate it as faithful
It was truly a battle good and evil within me. as I could. Obedience truly, as St. Hannibal
Mary says, is the surest, safest and the shortest
What could this mean for me?
I arrived at Mary’s Hill, a place where there is way to heaven. It has given me peace of mind
quiet and peace. The silence was deafening. It and heart. Although the tension toward the opcompels one to think of nothing else but of God posite direction is still drawing me strongly yet
and of one’s self. The speaker was a Carmelite the Lord finds its way toward the gradual unfriar whose talk was centered on Jesus as the folding of His marvelous plan. When the Lord
model of contemplation. That was really a very calls He humbles and confuses the one called.
timely occasion to introspect and renew one’s Oh happy fault! O necesary sin of Adam. It has
become a moment of Kairos! That makes me
personal commitment to the Lord.
There was a voice from the depth of my heart stand still, confused and apprehensive of what
that was strongly drawing me to total solitude. I will happen next yet I am sure that one day
felt so consoled to be alone with the Lord! I did things will become clearer and surer. For in my
not understand what was that! But, it was a press- unworthiness the Lord has shown His divine
ing need to be alone with Him. So I asked the fa- Compassion and said “…you should pray unceasingly and do not lose heart.” (Lk 18:1)
cilitator if I could stay alone.
MD
them so, vanished.
The Lord invited to me to consider my life
thru Haggai 1:5-11. It was seemingly an endless
list of failures and mistakes. I remember Ben
Sirach’s oracle: “…vanity of vanities everything
is vanity!” Oh my God! I have made the greatest mistake of my life, I sighed!
Indeed, they were all vanities. Like a strong
current wiping out all things that it caught a along
its trail. They were all fading out. I wanted to
have control over them, as they fall one after the
other and I realized that I do not have any more
strength to do it.
I saw them fade out before my helpless sight.
So I asked for a pause, a prayerful pause to be
able get into myself. To be in touched again with
myself from whom I had gone far away. This request was granted without them having noticed
that I badly needed it. The ways of God is indeed
exceedingly different from ours. I traveled far
away to find my weakened self; to seek help from
people who could understand. As I went to seek
this place and person, my heart still continued to
crave for the opposite direction. I was confused!
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
Birthday
Post. Clenton “Anthony Therese”
Oplas, Brothers Christian De Sagun,
RCJ, Kenneth Cortez, RCJ, Jenessan Canoy, RCJ, Fathers. Chris Salonga. RCJ, Mariano Rondael, RCJ,
Breynard Peji, RCJ, Ronaldo Paulino, RCJ, Carlos Guzman, RCJ,
Niptale Frogosa, RCJ, Al Flores,
RCJ, Miguel de Silva Jr., RCJ,
Ordinations
Rev. Frs. Herbert Magbuo, RCJ,
Rey Villamonte, RCJ
Come and stay…
www.discernmentcenter.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com
(Discernmentcenter RogationistsIloilo)
Email:
rogamina@yahoo.com, rogamina@gmail.com
For your prayer intentions and
inquiries you may contact the
following:
09178390516 / 09228174565
(033) 3961509
Please help us build the
Temple of the
Evangelical Rogation
(Shrine of St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia)
For Your Donation:
BDO General Luna Branch, Iloilo City
Account #: 4990084244
Account Name:
MAJOR SUPERIOR
OF THE ROGATIONIST FATHERS, INC.
To P
alang
uia
St. Joseph parish
Pototan
Plaza
St.Hannibal’s statue
To Naslo
To Capul-an
Discernment
Center X
Send O Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church!
To Zarraga
Priestly Anniversary
Rev. Frs. Ulyses Angus, RCJ,
Migule de Silva Jr., RCJ, Julius
Descartin, RCJ, Gabriel Flores,
RCJ, Niptale Frogosa, RCJ, Alfonso
Heredia, RCJ, Jessie Martirizar,
RCJ,
The ROGAMINA COMMUNITY
lives an intensive life of prayer in order to help young men
discern their God-given vocation through the celebration of
the Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, Jesus
Prayer, talks and other spiritual exercises.
To Passi
We pray for you through the
intercession of St. Anthony
of Padua.
Thank You Friends!
Fr. Bruno Rampazzo, RCJ, Fr.
Tomas “Tom” Delicana, Fr. Rene
Ramirez, RCJ, Rogate Images, Fr.
Rafael Clavel, Ms. Conette Cordero,
Ms. Lourdes Parcon, Javellana Family, Dr. and Dra. Oscarito Diaz, Mr.
and Mrs. Mario Genecela, Mr. and
Mrs. De Juan, Silva Family, Mr.
and Mrs. Alfredo Provido, Dr. Rex
Penaranda, Mrs. Virginia Penaranda, Fr. Eric Raveza,RCJ, Rogate
Press, Fr. Herman Abcede, RCJ, Fr.
Jessie Martirizar, RCJ, Fr. Cesare
Bettoni, RCJ, Queen Mary Enterprises, Mr. and Mrs. Ranilo Seberias, Mina pilgrims, Mrs. Patria
Diaz, Dr. Eduardo Diaz, Mr. Mark
Gregory Elloso, Arch. Lita Jover,
Mrs. Delia Abad, the people of
Brgy. Capul-an and of the nearby
barangays.
In solitude & in silence we raise
our prayers to God for you on
your...