New government, new leadership, new perspective but same old problems!” Criticisms and doubts cover us with new leaders in the Philippines, in our Province, in our communities and institutions. Some questions our leader’s capacity to lead and ability to handle difficult situations. Some have qualms on different upcoming programs and plans.

In the same light, Camillus swallowed harsh words like “an unlettered, ‘country-bumpkin’ is incapable of handling situations in St. James Hospital.” It was clear to him that these are the outcome of accusations leveled against him and made clear that he and his companions never had in their wildest dreams aspired power in the hospital. Camillus assured that their only aim is for patients to receive “more maternal care, for the love of God.”

Camillus’ experience in June 1575, emerges from an encounter involving his whole being. The subject of his encounter is Jesus Christ, the Word who was made flesh to live among us. Camillus is a witness to this Word and revealed the presence of this Word within us as well as among us. His personal and intimate experience with Jesus is the foundation on which all his apostolic work of bringing love for the sick was built.

Hence, as servants of the sick, our life in Christ and our ministry in his name belong together as the two beams of the cross and with Christ saying to our leaders and to all of us, “Do not be afraid faint-hearted-one! Carry on! I am with you to help you. You will reap great fruit from all this trouble.”

Faithful Soldiers of Christ in the Healthcare World

Fidelity to our commitment as soldiers of Christ in the healthcare world is something that we have to work for. And we have to work hard for it!

As faithful soldiers of Christ, we have to follow the chain of  command. We have to follow Camillus as Christ's “chief of staff”… 

We have to pass through a process of purification of our motivation in following Jesus in the religious life as Camillians. It is not a process of proving that we can do this or that so that we can gratify ourselves and/or impress others. It is actually a process of weeding out in us the things that are self serving. It is all about allowing Jesus to be first in our life. As faithful soldiers of Christ, we have to follow the chain of command. We have to follow Camillus as Christ's “chief of staff”… who said, “The sick are my lords and gods”; “we have to see Christ in the sick, and the sick should see Christ in us”.

Breaking tradition, the present batch of scholastics celebrated the renewal of their vows not on May 31 but on May 28 at Maryridge Retreat House in Tagaytay City.  Those who renewed their temporary vows were: Fr. Joseph Yang, Mushtaq Anjum, Eusebio Cabonegro, Jr., Ignasius Sibar, Roderick Tampis,  Rodolfo Cancino, Jr., Eliseo Navarro, Jayson Labrador, John Jay Magpusao, John Paul Alvarado and Bon Arimbuyutan.

First Profession of Vows. Four novices namely, Albert Solis, Seo Jungju,   Charito  Borra and  Henry Angupa II, made their first profession of temporary vows on May 31, 2010.

Perpetual Profession of Vows. Two Indonesian scholastics – Cyrelus Suparman Andi, Avensius Harung – and two Filipino scholastics – Placido de Jose and Brian Vincent Rances – made their perpetual profession on May 31, 2010.

SCCS Unveils the New School Year

Academic Year 2010-2011 of St. Camillus College Seminary began with the traditional opening rites. Jose Emmanuel Cabarles, Seminary Beadle, led the collegians by knocking on the entrance door of the college building in search of wisdom. Dean Estrellita Madriaga then unlocked the portal of knowing, loving and serving.

Give Blood, Save Lives

On June 7, members of the staff of National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) spearheaded by Dr. Mahilom conducted a bloodletting activity at St. Camillus College Seminary. The event was part of the series of activities that the college-seminary launched in preparation for its silver foundation anniversary in September with the theme “25 Years of Knowing, Loving and Serving”.

Pinning of the Red Cross   

Every social institution, organization, or congregation makes use of symbolic initiation rites. In these rites, a person formally becomes a member of a group.  For the St. Camillus College Seminary Community, the initiation consists of the pinning of the Camillian Red Cross.

Seminary 'Master’ Installed

The master is here again! He is not Jesus Christ, but you can see Christ in him. Hopefully, that would also be your impression when you meet this priest. Well, that is, if you don’t get scared in meeting him face to face, you might see Christ in him. His preaching inspires seminarians and people. Above all, his actions speak louder in the things he does best - forming seminarians who will preach the gospel and heal the sick.

Who am I talking about? None other than the rector of St. Camillus College Seminary -  Fr. Renante T. Sentillas, MI, also known as Fr. Rey and famously known among the seminarians as “master”.

Baguio, here we are!

On the 30th of May, 2010, at exactly 6:30 in the afternoon, the eight Camillian postulants received their white habits during the investiture ceremony that initiated them into Camillian religious life.  Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI, Provincial Superior, presided at the ceremony integrated in a Mass held at the St. Camillus College Seminary chapel. The occasion served as a thanksgiving celebration for the God-given vocation to religious life.  

June 20, 2010, Father’s Day. It was apostolate day for the novices and a chance for me to join them once more. It was a day of nostalgia and reminiscing as I set forth to visit the sick again in the hospital as I did many times when I was still in the seminary.

I remember a shirt from the “Year for Priests” worn by many in SCCS.  It carried the statement: “I want to become a priest.” I wanted so much to wear such a shirt with the line paraphrased into: “I wanted to become a priest…but God had other plans.”

I showed up 15 minutes early at Sacred Heart Hospital.  The meeting was at 9:00 AM.  Sadly though, the mass was moved earlier to 8:00 AM and had just finished when I arrived.  I asked the guard if the Camillians had arrived but he said they haven’t.  I decided to walk home after some time. However, I met the taxi my batch mates were riding, so I walked a hundred meters back to the hospital to join them.

Fr. Angel Installed as SCH-Mati Director

During a Eucharistic celebration held on June 9, 2010, Fr. Angel Crisosotomo, MI was installed as the new director of St. Camillus Hospital-Mati.  Fr. Bong Pamintuan, outgoing hospital director, officiated the rites that formally inducted Fr. Angel into both his posts as hospital director and local superior of the Camillian community in Mati.  Part of the rites was Fr. Angel’s response of acceptance of his responsibilities which he promised to carry out to the best of his ability.  While reading his response, Fr. Angel, the youngest Camillian to be assigned hospital director and local superior, could not help but shed tears at the awareness of the weight of the tasks he had embraced.

Mati Celebrates Culmination of Year for Priests and Year of Two Hearts

The clergy and the faithful of Mati Diocese prepared for the grand celebration of the culmination of the Year for Priests and the Year of the Two Hearts by observing a triduum.  From June 11 to June 13, Masses were held to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Turn-over Ceremony

With the presence of the confreres from Essen community, Fr. Dietmar Weber (outgoing German Provincial) turned over the authority to the newly elected Provincial, Fr. Siegmund Malinowski, during a simple but meaningful ceremony held in the prayer room of the Convent in Essen last May 24 at 6:00 PM. The new Provincial pledged loyalty and readiness for his duties and obligations during his term. Fr. Weber, considering his enormous ability and know-how on financial management will continue to act as the Procurator of the Province.

Filipino Santacruzan 2010

Last June 12 - 13, the Filipino Community in the Diocese of Essen celebrated Santacrusan and Flores de Mayo held in Löwental Werden in Essen. The venue was perfect and terrific. A huge stage was erected; left and right of the stage were booths carefully arranged for vendors, exhibits, advertisements, and what have you.  Around 2,000 guests came for the celebration.