Novices on a 30-Day Journey

“Openness…  Patience… Letting Go and Let God”

These are the three basic aids that the novices prepared for their 30-Day Retreat on October 15-November 15, 2010.

Three days before the retreat proper, Fr. Ruben Mandin, MI, the Novice Master and also the retreat facilitator took charge of the Orientation and Preparation. During the said activity, we were once again asked to go back to our personal prayer and discernment, so as to understand the pattern of the retreat, given that the 30-Day Retreat is a thorough examination of God’s presence in our lives. In fact, in the actual retreat, everyday we had five formal prayer schedules. Each prayer should last up to one hour or more.

A team building program for Camillian religious took place at Corregidor Island, Cavite City on September 28-30, 2010.  The purpose of this get together was to strengthen community life and teamwork among the religious, while having fun and relaxing time.  The activities were facilitated by LUBID or Learning and Understanding Behaviors and Insights for Development.

The celebration of World Mission Sunday on October 24, 2010 had a historical significance for the Camillian presence in Indonesia.  Two Camillian religious, Fr. Cyrelus Suparman Andi, MI and Fr. Avensius Harung, MI, together with eight other religious of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), were ordained to the Order of Presbyters in the town of Maumere on the island of Flores. The ordination was presided over by Msgr. Kherubim Pareira, SVD, Bishop of the Diocese of Maumere. More than 50 concelebrating priests including two Filipino confreres, Fr. Rolly Fernandez, MI, Provincial Superior of the Philippine Province and Fr. Tex Rico Buntol, MI, a former formator of Indonesian seminarians, and several guests graced the occasion.

Flood-hit Communities Revisited

On November 16, 2010, I joined Fr. David Mughal, OFM, some Caritas personnel, and OFM youth volunteers in revisiting the Hindu and Christian communities, which Fr. Aris and I visited a month ago. We measured the houses so that we could buy roofing materials that would fit the structures they have built.

Almost 25 families who registered will get roofing materials. Another 25 beneficiaries will be identified in another Christian community in Jati, part of the Diocese of Hyderabad. There are still many flood victims living inside makeshift tents in Sindh area waiting for help.