FSP Profession: A Milestone In Congregation's History On Peninsular Soil
SILIBIN, IPOH(CS).- It was a milestone in the history of the Daughters of St Paul (FSP) on Peninsular Malaysian soil when Sr Elizabeth Jhon Jothee took her final vows recently.
A milestone because Jothee is the first one to make it to final profession after more than 40 years of Pauline presence in Petaling Jaya.
It was also the first time for a FSP final profession to take place in the Peninsular Church.
More than 700 people, including Daughters of St Paul coming from the Philippines, Singapore and Sabah and the Pauline Cooperators, turned up to witness the event July 15 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Silibin, Ipoh.
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur presided over the concelebrated Eucharist.
Born on 28 Nov 1970, Jothee is third in a brood of six. Her mother and siblings were present to witness the ceremony.
The Silibin Church, which celebrated its centenary last year, has given to the local Church nine diocesan priests, two religious priests and three religious sisters.
Three days later in St Augustine's Church, KINARUT, Sabah, her classmate Sr Jennifer Beatrice Han took her final vows.
Vicar General Msgr Primus Jouil presided over the concelebrated Eucharist.
Born on 4 Dec 1971 Han is the youngest in a brood of ten. Her siblings came to witness the event.
More than a thousand turned up to witness the event July 18 in spite of the sultry weather, followed by a sudden downpour.
The other vocation which came from this community is Fr David Sham who was ordained priest in November 1985.
In both professions newly-appointed Provincial Superior of the Philippine-Malaysian-Papua New Guinean-Thai Province Sr Yolanda Dionisio received the vows of the candidates.
The success of both events was due to the cooperation of the different groups/committees of the respective parishes.
Both neo-professed entered the congregation in 1997 after working for some time. They had their initial formation in Petaling Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Pasay City and Lipa City before making their first profession in Lipa City in 2000.
After first profession they were assigned to either Petaling Jaya or Kota Kinabalu before taking their media and theological studies in Silang, Cavite and Ateneo de Davao respectively from 2002 to 2005.
Finishing their studies they were again sent to either Petaling Jaya or Kota Kinabalu before returning to the Philippines in January this year to prepare themselves for their final profession in July.
With their profession the community has now 11 full fledged members (nine from Sabah, one from Sarawak and one from Kedah) and two postulants (one from Tambunan and one from Kuching).
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New FSP Local Superior
Sr Mary Sualeh has been appointed August 3 by Daughters of St Paul Provincial Superior Sr Yolanda Dionisio as the new local superior of the Sabah Community (2006-2009). She replaces Sr Magdalene (Maggie) Chong who has served the community for the past two terms.
Born in Bundu Tuhan on 6 June 1968, Sualeh is fourth in a brood of 11 (four boys seven girls). She had her education in SK Bundu Tuhan and SMK Mat Salleh Ranau.
Sualeh entered the congregation through the KK Community in 1991. She continued her formation in the Philippines in 1992 and made her first profession in 1995 in Lipa City. She had her theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology from 1996-1998. She took her final vows in 2001 in Pasay City. - CS
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FSPs Prepare For 9th General Chapter
ROME(CS).- Daughters of St Paul Superior General Sr Antonieta Bruscato launched the preparations for the congregation's Ninth General Chapter February 5 this year.
In her circular, she wrote: "We are entering into a time of grace and of renewed attentiveness to the Spirit so as to ensure that the gift of the Pauline charism remains up to date and dynamic in our many different historical and cultural contexts."
The Chapter, she continued, "is an extremely important event, not only for us but also for the Church we love and are striving to serve, and also for the world to which we are sent - a world that in the present historical period is undergoing profound transformations, in part due to the new communications technologies."
According to the Constitutions of the congregation, the Chapter is the congregation's supreme authority, exercised collegially and temporarily in the manner stipulated by the Constitutions, and the whole institute participates in this event through moments of sharing, dialogue and communication. The Chapter is an expression of the life of the entire congregation and it has the responsibility of electing the Superior General and her councillors (# 165).
Bruscato wrote that to "revive within ourselves all the energy of our charism" the Pre-Chapter Commission (PCC) has chosen the theme Chosen and Loved in Christ Jesus, We Communicate His Word to Everyone.
Reflecting on the theme, Bruscato wrote that this theme "will accompany our efforts to grow progressively and dynamically so that the Pauline charism will always be up to date."
It is meant, she said, to "help us make coherent and wise choices that are guided by the Spirit, open to the future and in keeping with continuity and innovativeness."
This powerful and demanding theme can help give new thrust to "our passion for God and for humanity" because it touches the "deepest motivations of our life, consecrated to God through our mission," she continued.
The Ninth General Chapter will be celebrated in Ariccia, Italy from 20 August to 20 September 2007.
The PCC met in December 2005 and with the help of a methodologist, Fr Santiago M Gonzalez Silva cmf, Claretian Institute President, prepared a Participation Document to help all the sisters in the congregation to share in the forthcoming Chapter.
Following this was the drawing up of the Working Document which took into account the contributions of everyone for the Chapter.
In June this year the Provincial Chapters and Delegation Meetings were officially convoked. Each circumscription was asked to set the date of its chapter or meeting between September 2006 and end of January 2007.
The Philippine-Malaysian-Papua New Guinean-Thai Province (PMPT) has set its date for the Provincial Chapter from 26 Dec 2006 to 7 Jan 2007.
Delegates to the General Chapter will be elected during the Provincial Chapter.
In February 2007 the Ninth General Chapter will be officially convoked and the list of the Chapter delegates will be published, together with directives regarding the proximate preparations for the Chapter.
The Congregation of the Daughters of St Paul is one of the 10 institutes (The Pauline Family) founded by Blessed James Alberione on 15 June 1915 in Alba, Italy, with the help of Sr Thecla Merlo.
The members use the communications media to evangelise. They run media centres, visit families and parishes and conduct media education courses.
At present the congregation has 2,499 members in 249 communities scattered in 10 provinces, 16 delegations and 13 houses directly dependent on the General Government in 50 countries. They run 6,158 media centres worldwide.
The FSPs came to North Borneo (now Sabah) in 1961 but were forced to leave the state in 1971 due to the Mustapha Expulsions. They were able to open a house in PJ in 1965 and in 1989 local FSPs returned to Sabah to resume their Pauline mission there.
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Parish Pastoral Council Members 2006-2008
TAWAU PPC: Thadeus Sibir (chairman), Michael Wong (vice chairman), Mario Domingo (secretary), Salva Sibaton (asst secretary), Paul Voo (treasurer), Agatha Choo, Catherine Chung, Cristin Liew, Danny Carreon, Florentinus Kumanireng, Gabriel Nunang, Jocelyn Angar, Melvin Lajanti, Dr Marcus Chin, Theobold Laudi
LAHAD DATU PPC: Desmond Kok (chairman), Romeo Soria (vice chairman), Jocelyn Fiesta (secretary), Rosalia Yapuan (vice secretary), Rosalinda M Tan, Rita Jokinin, Annie Khoo, Juliana Chong, Noe Legada, Petrus Dalu, Yakobus Palea, Teodulfo Rosalia Jr, Patrick Chong, Edwin Kouju, Alexius Garaman, Fredolin Karim, Santos Bukarak, Arturo Teneros Jr, Nicholas Tsen, Loreto Roble
SANDAKAN PPC:, Michael Pang (chairman), Francis Tan (vice chairman), Sr Mareysia Angku fsic, Sr Gertrude Yap sshm, Philip Mosinoh, Rosaline Pinso-Jilimin (secretary), Christopher Tsen, Rosita Liaw, Anthony Lee, Anne Jalani, Pius Gorohom, Richard Atilano, Jerry Lo, Leonard Kimol, Paul Chin
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Keningau Diocese To Host Divine Mercy Convention
MEMBAKUT(CS).- The Second Asian Convention of Divine Mercy will be held Nov 17-20 at the Rumah Retret Keuskupan Keningau, Tatal, Keningau.
It will be hosted by the Diocese of Keningau under the auspices of Bishop Cornelius Piong with the presence of Archbishop John Ha of Kuching.
The Second Asian Convention is a follow-up of the First Asian Convention of Divine Mercy held on 27-30 Nov 2005 at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Sta Rosa, Bulacan, Philippines. It was attended by 271 delegates from 11 Asian countries and 29 dioceses in the Philippines.
The primary objective of the convention is to serve as a platform for Divine Mercy promoters in Asia to meet annually for consultations and deliberations on how to effectively bring people in Asia and the world to entrust their lives to Jesus the Divine Mercy.
Through this body, the promoters are reminded to live the Divine Mercy spirituality and be instrumental in the establishment of spirituality centres at parish and diocesan levels within Asia.
This convention is open to all who are already involved and those who are interested in the devotion and in the apostolate of the Divine Mercy.
The main organising team (MOT) comprises Fr William Poilis (chairman), Moses Phua (secretary), Betty Phua (Promotions/Publicity), Msgr Gilbert Engan, Fr Vicente Robles, Fr Edgardo de Jesus and Henry Ukang.
A MOT meeting was held recently in Keningau to finalise the arrangements for this convention.
For more information please contact the secretary at tel: 65-9752-6748 or asian_convention_of_divinemercy@yahoo.com.
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Catechists Challenged To Live The Word Of God First
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- Catechists in the Kota Kinabalu Diocese were challenged to love, reflect and live the Word of God themselves first before they could share and spread it to others during their annual retreat recently.
One hundred catechists attended the retreat June 30-July 2 at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre here, mostly members of the Diocesan Catechetical Commission (CCKK) and office bearers of the parishes' catechetical committees (PCC).
Retreat Master Fr Erik Patrick Jerome expounded on the theme Catechist: Live the Word of God: that it is a reminder, a call, an encouragement and a challenge to all catechists to live out the Gospel in daily life.
The theme is in line with the theme adopted by the Malaysian Catechetical Commission for this year's Catechetical Sunday, which falls on Sept 17.
The retreat master also challenged the retreatants to take the Bible not only as a guide and source of hope but to derive from it everything that would lead them to be optimistic and to live a holistic and fulfilling life.
He emphasised that the Word will become their source of strength in their commitment as transmitters of the faith in the face of globalisation.
Jerome reinforced this statement with a quotation from St Jerome: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
Besides the talks, the retreatants had time to share their experiences of the Word, to practise Lectio Divina (divine reading) and to experience God's healing touch of affirmation through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They were commissioned during the closing Mass to "go and make disciples..." - CCKK
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Youth Animators Hold Second Gathering
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- Youth Animators (YAs) from both dioceses met July 20-21 for the second time at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre here.
The first time they met was in April last year when they were only 12 as not all the parishes were represented.
This time more YAs were able to come and share their experiences and to deepen their understanding of their role of accompanying the Parish Youth Pastoral Team (PYPT) members under their care.
Those who took part in the gathering were eight Franciscan Sisters, one Good Shepherd Sister, Fr Federick Raymond and five lay leaders.
In the first session faciltated by Sr Dora Obod fsic of the Diocesan Youth Office, the participants were asked to illustrate their experiences during the past year.
It was rather revealing to see how they illustrated their experiences: some very bright and colourful, others rather light and monochromatic.
In his presentation, Diocesan Youth Commission Head Dominic Lim asked the participants what their visions for the youths were.
He stressed that the focus of youth ministry is threefold: on the person, not programme; on relationship, not religion (rites and rituals); on Christ, not Creed (beliefs).
It is only when we have a living relationship with Christ that we can live as Christians without fear in a world bent on erasing Christianity, Lim said.
Lim also focused on the three aspects of animation: content, community building and outreach/evangelisation.
At the beginning the focus should be on community building (80 percent) while content and outreach should be 10 percent, he explained.
As time passes, the content and outreach should increase while community building decrease, Lim added.
Youth Office Head Sr Terry Loukang fsic led the participants through a group dynamics on how the work of animation needs full concentration and focus, not something one does in one's spare time.
She explained the difference between the circle of concerns (wide-ranging) and the circle of influence (within one's reach).
The gathering ended with the participants renewing their commitment to serve as animators through one particular area or aspect (patience, gentleness, love, etc) they have to work on.
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