July 7, 2010 (Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church, Pasay City) A solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Adams ushered in the yearlong observance of the 75th Anniversary of the foundation of the Society of St Paul in the Philippines and Macau. This was most appropriate since it was also the Apostolic Delegate Msgr William Piani who officially welcomed the first Italian Pauline priests—Frs Gaetano Marco Grossi, and Matteo Bernardo Borgogno—when they arrived here from the Italy on July 7, 1935.
The Pauline priests led by Fr Ruben Areño, Provincial Superior, joined the Papal Nuncio in offering the Eucharist which was also graced by the presence of Bishop Deogracias Iniguez of Kalookan; Msgr Bobby Canlas, rector of the Shrine of Jesus Way, Truth and Life; Fr Tony Navarette, Vicar Forane of Pasay District; and Fr Joey Tuazon, diocesan priest of Manila and member of the Institute of Jesus the Priest. Members of the Pauline Family, and the Aggregated Institutes also had their respective delegations. Friends and benefactors of the SSP Philippine-Macau Province, among them Mrs Felicidad Sy of SM and Mrs Maria Goolsby of Unionbank, also came. Local government officials headed by Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto were also on hand. The organizing committee led by Fr Rey Reyes invited the Choir of the College of Music of St Paul College (SPC) Manila under the baton of Sr Anunciata Sta Ana to lead the songs for the Eucharist.
After the parade of colors that included the flags of the Philippines, the Vatican, and Macau, the Eucharist started out with the solemn procession of the SSP Juniors, the Professed Brothers, and the concelebrating priests. Fr Ruben Areño, the Provincial, formally announced the opening of the Diamond Jubilee with these words...
7 July 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today we formally open our Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Pauline presence in the Philippines and Macau. Seventy-five years ago, on July 7, 1935, the Italian Pauline priests —Fr. Marco Grossi, and Fr. Bernardo Borgogno—arrived in the Philippines to plant the seed of the Society of Paul. In 1936 two more Paulines—Fr. Isidoro Selvo and Brother Gregory —also came from Italy. In 1939 another Pauline priest, Fr. Jerome Casolari, arrived from Rome. These pioneers introduced the Pauline way of life and the Pauline apostolate of the press in Lipa, Batangas.
Asides from our Pauline pioneers, we remember also with joy and gratitude to God the first Pauline Filipino vocations, particularly Bro. John Marcelino Punto who, together with the Italian pioneers, moved to the Archdiocese of Manila on August 10, 1941. Here, they founded Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, in Pasay City. Together with the parish ministry that was asked of the Paulines by the archbishop, the SSP priests and brothers transferred to Pasay the facilities for the apostolate of the press. The Paulines also built a house for the fast growing community, and for the seminary. We express our thanks to the early settlers of Harrison Street in Pasay. They helped our confreres in the reconstruction of the Church and the buildings after these were destroyed during the liberation of Manila from the Japanese forces.
We rejoice in the Lord for the gift of the first Filipino Pauline priests —Fr. Moises Pascual Leviste, Fr. Francisco Joseph Villena, and Fr. Zosimo Augustine Gile. They were ordained by the first Filipino Archbishop of Manila, The Most Reverend Gabriel Reyes, on December 16, 1951. At about this time, the SSP Philippine mission was also augmented by the arrival of Pauline missionaries who fled from China: Fr. Giuseppe Bertino, Fr. Ercole Canavero, Fr. Isodoro Selvo, and Bro. Alfonso Panaro. These Paulines turned out to be instrumental in launching a more active apostolic presence here through the publication of two monthly magazines—the “Homelife,” a family magazine that began to be published in 1954, and “The Youngster,” a magazine first produced for the youth in 1956. Meanwhile, on May 21, 1955, Fr. James Alberione came for first visit to the Philippines.
We remember, too, the third batch of Italian Pauline missionaries: Fr. Silvano Gratilli, Fr. Leonardo Zega, Fr. Stefano Cane, Fr. Aristide Marson, and Ambrogio Panero. They gave a boost to the formation program for aspirants; they served as formators and teachers of the seminarians. During their time, the Pauline apostolate in the circumscription also grew with the expansion of the operations of the printing press. We acknowledge today the valuable efforts of Bro. Michael Miccoci, Bro. Adriano Banfi, Bro. Paolo Ocelli and Fr. Anselmo Pietro Campus. We take note how their resoluteness, hard work, and determination enabled the Pauline mission to grow steadily. Such growth necessitated the opening of the SSP Makati Community on June 30, 1960. Since then, 7708 St Paul Road, San Antonio Village, Makati City became the hub of the apostolic and formation activities of the circumscription.
The grace of the Divine Master has made it possible for us to build more local communities. Aside from the SSP communities of Pasay and Makati, Pauline priests and brothers are in 9 communities all over the Philippine Archipelago: St. Paul Seminary Foundation in Silang Cavite (establish on June 20, 1993); the Cebu Community which also hosts the Postulants (established on May 29, 1991); the Apostolic communities in Cagayan de Oro City (established on September 15, 1995), in Pavia, Iloilo (established on August 20, 2000) and in Davao (established on June 12, 2002). Our confreres who witness and labor in these communities, are the real treasures of our SSP Philippine-Macau Province.
Today we give thanks to the Lord for our most important harvest of 75 years: 63 Filipino Paulines that include 53 perpetually professed members, 10 temporary professed clerics, 47 college seminarians, 8 postulants, and 4 novices. The presence and works of “Aggregated Institutes” whose administration and formation have been entrusted to the SSP by Blessed Alberione himself also extend our Pauline presence and mission. These institutes aggregated to the works of the Pauline priests and brothers are: the Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation (for single ladies), the Institute of St Gabriel (for single men), the Institute of the Holy Family (for those in marriage and family life), and the Institute of Jesus the Priest (for the diocesan clergy). The Institute of the Holy Family and the Institute of Jesus the Priest began in 2006 and in 2008 respectively.
We give thanks to God for the Pauline Family in the Philippines. These religious congregations coming from the charismatic legacy of Blessed Alberione are our immediate partners and collaborators. Among these, we note in particular: (1) the Daughters of St. Paul, who have borne the brunt of distribution and propaganda for our magazines and publications, (2) the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master who prayed for and cared for our seminarians, priests and brothers through their congregational vigils, liturgies, and sacerdotal apostolate, (3) the Pastorelle Sisters who accompany us with their pastoral sensitivity and spirit. We also thank our lay employees and collaborators on whom we have always counted on.
This day, our sincerest thanks also go to the Papal Nuncio, The Most Reverend Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, who presides over the Eucharist. We take note of the fact that it was his predecessor – the Apostolic Delegate Msgr Pianni—who welcomed our first two Pauline pioneers in 1935. Through the Papal Nuncio, we renew our pledge to be of service to the teaching office of the Pope in all that regards our apostolic activities. Likewise we are honored by the presence of Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of Kalookan, and diocesan priests who have been our mentors and friends. In their presence, we renew our commitment to also make our apostolic presence be at the service of the Local Church in the Philippines.
Our heartfelt gratitude to our benefactors, friends, and cooperators. We say “thank you” for sharing with us your spiritual, human and material resources. We are grateful too to the Honorable Mayor of Pasay, Antonio Calixto and the barangay officials for their presence and assistance.
Jesus Divine Master has accompanied us all these years—as he promised our Founder James Alberione “Fear not, I am with you from here I want to enlighten. Have a contrite heart.” To him we recommit ourselves as his apostles and servants. We take our cue from the very words of St. Paul, our true father, exemplar and inspirer. He wrote: “Rekindle the gift you have received.”
Together with everyone we are at the service of the Jesus, the Divine Master,
Fr. Ruben C. Areno, SSP
Provincial Superior
Philippine-Macau Province"
During the homily which followed the Gospel proclamation about the call and the sending of the Twelve Apostles (Matt 10:1-7), Archbishop Edward Adams underlined two salient points in his homily. First, he spoke on the strong Eucharistic inspiration that powered the charism of Blessed Alberione. Hence, he exhorted the Filipino Pauline priests and brothers never to forget the mysticism that underlines the very active apostolate of Paulines. Second, he called attention to the unique 4th vows of fidelity to the Pope that Paulines professed as regards their exercise of the communications apostolate.
Before the final blessing, the Provincial Secretary read the Greeting and Message sent by the Superior General Don Silvio Sassi. The full text is rendered as follows:
General House
The Superior general
Rome, July 7, 2010
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERIOR GENERAL
to the Paulines of the Philippine-Macau Province on the occasion of the 75th Foundation
Dear brothers,
In this solemn celebration, which marks the beginning of the 75th anniversary of the Pauline presence in the Philippines and where many are gathered at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, I wish to express my spiritual closeness, and sharing the joy of you all, I associate myself with you in the Eucharistic thanksgiving. The members of General Council also express their sentiments of congratulations and solidarity.
How can we forget that day on the 7th of July, 75 years ago, when Fr. Gaetano Marco Grossi and Fr. Matteo Bernardo Borgogno arrived in Manila from Italy. They were without material resources and without human support, but they trusted solely in God. They also drew support from the mandate of the Founder, Blessed James Alberione, to "spread the Divine Word with the press, to give it with the heart of the Divine Master, with the ardor that animated St. Paul, and with the humility of Our Lady.” They began their works only in sincere humility, and with diffidence on themselves, because "neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God gives the growth "(1 Cor 3, 7).
Today we wish to thank the Lord together for the "abundant riches of His grace" that he poured out on the persons and the works in your country, from the day of foundation until now. These gracious gifts received through generous hearts have produced a flowering of initiatives and apostolic accomplishments that are visible to everyone.
This beautiful reality of the anniversary, however, is not just a cause for celebration. It brings a challenge of looking towards the future with renewed enthusiasm. Fr. Alberione reminds us with acute wisdom and healthy realism: "to gloat over the progress of the Institute and the good things done is like sowing and then grinding the seed: nothing more is born! You always need a deep humility. Do not stop to look at what you have done, but strain forward. We are still few, and few that are good."
Dear brothers, you were born in Lipa, but you were raised up by two Pauline pioneers in Pasay City—at the site dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. You were born from the heart of Mary, mother of the apostles and of every apostolate. She revived the gift you have received; be vigilant about your people and communities, about the apostolic activities and the employees, and about the entire Pauline Family Filipino. I invoke a special blessing from the divine Teacher upon initiatives planned for your jubilee year, and I express my best wishes for an ever greater development so that new apostles will consecrate themselves with total dedication to the expectant people of God in your very promising nation.
Send my deepest respects to the Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Most Reverend Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, who presides over the Eucharistic celebration. His presence is a comfort and encouragement for us to always work better.
Sincere thanks go to the cooperators and benefactors, who believed in our charism, and to all those who appreciated and supported the congregation during its years of growth. It is good to remember that today "their names are written in heaven," and not in heaven alone, but in our hearts as well.
With fraternal affection,
Don Silvio Sassi
Superior General
The Opening Rites of the 75th Foundation Anniversary was capped by an early lunch for everyone. The Pauline priests and brothers later had their supper and fellowship in the Makati Community.
PRAISED BE JESUS CHRIST!!!
