Local Superiors’ Report on the State of the Communities

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Day 2 – August 7, 2025 | Makati City.

The second day of the Provincial Assembly was dedicated to reports on the situation of the local communities, which were scheduled for the afternoon.

The morning began with the report of Fr. Cris Robert Cellan on Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (OLSP) in Pasay City and its outreach arm, the Our Lady of Sorrows Outreach Foundation, Inc. (OLSOFI). As parish priest, Fr. Cellan also serves as president of both the outreach foundation and the parish community.

OLSP not only attends to the spiritual needs of parishioners but also serves as the hub for the Province’s social media apostolate. It livestreams Masses to complement the Sambuhay Mass based in Makati. As the parish moves toward financial independence from the Provincial Council, the community aspires to contribute more, particularly to seminary formation in Silang through the St. Paul Seminary Foundation, Inc.

Meanwhile, OLSOFI engages in various outreach programs in collaboration with Caritas Manila and partner schools—providing scholarships for students, distributing food to the poor, offering skills training, and creating livelihood opportunities. As a government-accredited donee foundation, it grants benefactors and sponsors eligibility for tax exemptions.

This was followed by the report on the Pauline Aggregated Institutes—Institutes of Our Lady of the Annunciation (IMSA), St. Gabriel the Archangel (ISGA), the Holy Family (ISF), and Jesus Priest (IGS). Fr. Ramil Tapang, the newly appointed interim Provincial Delegate to IMSA, ISGA, and ISF, together with Fr. Rey Reyes, in charge of IGS, presented the programs and plans for these Institutes. Regarding the Association of Pauline Cooperators (APC), Fr. Ramil noted that he would soon meet with the sisters-in-charge of the APC connected to their respective congregations.

Before lunch, the Director of the Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) Fr. Paul Vincent Octubre, met with the local superiors to update them on the “Kasambahay Law,” reminding them of their responsibilities toward household employees.

In the afternoon, the local superiors presented their community reports: Makati (Fr. Reynaldo Reyes), Pasay (Fr. Restie de la Peña), Pampanga (Fr. Jerome Palma), Davao (Fr. Teotimo Melliza), Cagayan de Oro (Fr. Rene Tañeza), Iloilo (Fr. Leonardo Ellezar), and Cebu (Fr. Sammy John Torrefranca, on behalf of Fr. Paul Yntig). Their presentations focused on apostolic activities and projects, house improvements and repairs, vocation promotion and formation, and the ongoing direction of St. Paul Seminary Foundation in Silang, Cavite.

The day concluded with Vespers and a concelebrated Mass in honor of Mary, Queen of Apostles, at the Sanctuary of St. Paul. The liturgy was presided over by Provincial Vicar Fr. Khris Emmanuel Llacer, with Fr. Norman Melchor Peña as homilist.

In his reflection, Fr. Peña spoke about the “formation” of Mary at the foot of the Cross, as well as that of the Apostles gathered in the Cenacle. He described three stages of formation—listening, loving, and sharing—drawing from his own experiences in seminary formation in the Philippines, his studies and mission in Australia and Rome, and his current service back in the country. He acknowledged that there were times when his expectations were unmet, yet God’s ways always proved to be for the best.