Meeting the Marist Ad Gentes

I am blessed to have met a batch of Marist Ad Gentes from different parts of the world who are here in the Philippines to undergo formation for their upcoming missionary work in one of six identified Asian countries with a very few number of Catholic Christians.

Three of these Marist Ad Gentes stayed with the Kidapawan community for their family orientation from June 1-11, 2010: Rosana Alves da Silva of Brazil, Bro. Juan Gustavo Gil, FMS and Bro. Jose Descarga, FMS both from Spain.

During these days, they experienced life in Kidapawan and stayed with their foster families: Gabo, Yecyec, and Binoya Families.

A farewell and send-off program was held last June 11, 2010 at the St. Marcellin Student Center of Notre Dame of Kidapawan College where both the Ad Gentes and their respective foster families shared experiences and exchanged messages of thanks for the blessings of each one during this more than a week of experience.

The said gathering was also graced by the presence of the Ad Gentes who stayed with the Koronadal community for their family orientation: Abel and Cristina, a couple from South Korea and Manuel of Mexico. A fellowship dinner and party where the visitors were given an experience of local foods and the exotic fruit durian ended the celebration.

Culmination of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Marist Presence in the Philippines

With the theme "Loving remembrance of the past... Joyful thanksgiving for the present... Daring commitment to the future", I was lucky to have joined the culmination of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Marist Presence in the Philippines held last Saturday, June 6, 2009 at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU), Gen. Santos City.

I learned that 60 years of existence of the Marist Brothers in our country has brought a lot of blessings to the people. I am happy to say that I am part of this 60 years when I entered as a college freshman in June, 1997 at the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College (NDKC), a Tertiary institution run by the brothers.

I'm with Bro. Damian (left), one of the first four Marist Brothers who came to the Philippines 60 years ago and Bro. Pop (right), the first and oldest Filipino Marist Brother, taken at the NDDU, Gen. Santos City

The Marist Mission in our country began when four American Marist Brothers went to the Philippines 60 years ago as a response to the invitation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Out of the four pioneering brothers, only one is still alive in the person of Bro. Joseph Damian Teston, FMS whom I was able to meet during the said affair in NDDU. Some of the American Brothers who were also assigned to the Philippnes and are now based in the United States were also present during the celebration.

Congratulations to the Newly Professed Marist Brothers!

I just arrived this afternoon at 4:30 from Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao together with some members of the Faculty of Notre Dame of Kidapawan College. I attended the First Profession as Marist Brothers of Bro. Leonel Roy S. Arpon, FMS of Archdiocese of Cotabato, Bro. Nelson L. Beltran, FMS of Archdiocese of Zamboanga, and Bro. Nolasco O. Gavilan III, FMS also of the Archdiocese of Cotabato.

Bro. Roy, FMS was assigned in NDKC for his exposure as a Novice.

The ceremony held at the De Mazenod Auditorium of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto was very simple yet so meaningful. After long years of formation in the Aspirancy House at Gen. Santos City and in the Novitiate House at Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the three brothers will now be entering a very challenging point in their lives as Marist Brothers.

Rev. Fr. Eduardo Santoyo, OMI was the main presider of the mass while Bro. Manuel V. De Leon, FMS, Provincial Superior of the Marist East Asia Province led the Rite of Profession.

It was like attending a wedding because at the Processional of the Eucharistic Celebration, the three Brothers were accompanied by their parents. In the said event, they vowed to live a simple, chaste and celibate life. Like a groom to his bride, they promised to serve the Church as St. Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers, did.

The occasion was graced with the presence of the Brothers and Lay People coming from the different Marist communities in the Philippines such as Jolo, Buda, Koronadal, Marikina, Gen. Santos, Cotabato, and Kidapawan City. The Ad Gentes Brothers coming from Malaysia, Italy, Argentina, and Spain were also present. It was also attended by different religious people from various congregations.

After the mass, we all went to the Dining Hall for the reception. We enjoyed the food prepared by the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) Sisters. It was also a time to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the Marist Novitiate in the Philippines. During the program, Bro. Manuel, FMS and Bro. Rustico, FMS unveiled the schematic diagram of the Novitiate and the logo of its 5oth Anniversary.

Here are some other pictures taken from the said event.

I'm with Bro. Fernando Armendez, FMS, the oldest Filipino Marist Brother who was trained in New York, USA.

I met Bro. Paul, NFMS, a Korean novice who was one of the busiest persons in charge during the Celebration. This happens to be my first picture with a Korean National.

This is the logo of the Golden Annivesary Celebration of the Marist Novitiate in the Philippines.

At the Reception Hall, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Tamontaka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao

At the Parking Area of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto