| Holy Saturday | ||
 God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
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| Prayers before the Cross | ||
 Lord Jesus, Redeemer of all, hear my prayer. For the love you bear to those who ask forgiveness, look mercifully on me, as once you looked on Mary Magdalene and on Peter who denied you. Look on me, Lord Jesus Christ, as you looked on the thief on his cross and on every sinner whom you have ever forgiven. Look on me, merciful Lord, as you looked on your mother, Mary, standing in sorrow beneath your cross. Let me feel in my heart her compassion for you, and let my eyes weep for the sorrows my sins have caused. Call me from darkness to my Father's house, give me a new heart and a place at your side at the banquet of your kingdom. Amen. * * * * * Lord Jesus, at our baptism we were marked for you with the sign of the Cross. May your cross inspire us to act justly and love tenderly. May the crosses in our lives be for us invitations for growth and new life as we place our trust in you. Renewed by your love, may the way we live proclaim you as Lord: you who are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen |
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| Easter Greetings from the District Superior | ||
 From Betrayal Reconciliation! + From Hatred Love! + From Death Life! Dear Confreres and Friends, In the name of all members of the Philippine District, I am happy to extend our warmest Easter Greetings to you and the entire SCJ community. This is the blessed time for us to renew our commitment to Reconciliation, to Love, to Life! Together with all the Dehonian Family, we are happy to be instruments of the Sacred Heart chosen and sent to enkindle in this beloved Country Christ’s passion for the Father and for Man, following the trail of Fr. Dehon Please, be united with us in our thanksgiving for all God’s graces showered upon our District, keeping all of us happy safe and in good health. With God’s blessing we grow slowly but steadily: We just admitted 11 postulants to the noviciate on March 25th and 5 novices are about to have the profession of First Vows on May 13th Through the generosity of our SCJ benefactors, our little family could finally complete its formation structures: last September 29th, 2006 we celebrated the blessing of the new Theologate in Manila and this coming May 13th 2007 we will bless the new noviciate in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur. God is great indeed! Have a blessed EASTER! Fr. Rino Venturin scj. District Superior |
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| Pearl of the Orient No. 10 | ||
 Please click one of the following links to see the No.10 issue of our newsletter. PDF Version: Pearl of the Orient Flash Version: Pearl of the Orient To save it on the disk - use right click and "Save Target As..." |
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| The Last Supper | ||
 Lord Jesus, once in the wilderness your people ate heavenly manna and they were filled. And once in a desert place you fed the hungry with blessed bread. A simple thing, we say, costing our mighty God litte effort. But what if bread is a body offered for all, and a cup of wine your own life-blood given to those who hardly care? A costly thing, we say, Is there anything more God could have done? Anything more Love could do than lay down his life for his friends? |
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| Washing of the Feet | ||
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when he had eaten with his disciples, poured water into a basin and began to wash their feet, saying: "This example I leave you". (See John 13:4,5,15) "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus said to him: "If I do not wash your feet You can have no part with me." So he came to Simon Peter, Who said to him: "Lord, do you wash my feet?" "Now you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand. Lord, do you wash my feet?" (John 13:6-8) "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed you feet, then surely you must wash one another's feet." (John 13:14) "If there is this love among you, all will know that you are my disciples." Jesus said to his disciples: "If there is this love among you, all will know that you are my disciples." (John 13:35) "I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you", says the Lord. (John 13:34) "Faith, hope, and love, let these endure among you; and the greatest of these is love." (I Corinthians 13:13) |
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| A Short Prayer for Holy Week | ||
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Lord Jesus Christ, you gave your all so that we might have life; you counted yourself as nothing so that we might rejoice in the wonder of your love; you endured agony of body, mind and spirit, so that we might receive mercy and know the peace that only you can give. Help us today to recognise more clearly everything you did for us, and so inspire us to give a little of ourselves in return. Teach us to walk the way of the cross and to bear the cost gladly for the joy set before us, for your name’s sake. Amen. |
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| Admission to the Novitiate | ||
 On March 25, 2007, a batch of 11 Postulants was admitted to the Novitiate. The ceremony took place at the chapel of the Holy Infant Seminary in Pagadian City and was presided by the District Superior Fr. Rino Venturin. It was also attended by members of the local community of Dumalinao who joined the concelebrated Mass.  The new Novices started their 14-month long Novitiate, the time of preparation to the religious life and first profession of vows which will take place in May 2008. At the moment there are 16 Novices including the old batch of 5 who will make their first vows on May 13, 2007.  On Monday, March 26, 2007 all the Novices moved to the new location in Upper Lucuban, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur. The official inauguration and blessing of the new Novitiate is also scheduled on May 13, 2007. |
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| Admission to the Postulancy | ||
 On March 18,2007, seven of the Aspirants were admitted to the Postulancy program.  The ceremony took place in Cagayan de Oro on March 18, 2007. Fr. Indra Pamungkas, the local superior and formator of the Aspirants presented the candidates to the District Superior Fr. Rino Venturin and the new Master of Postulants Fr. Andrew Sudol.  Fr. Andrew was the main celebrant and homilist. Five of the new Postulants are Filipino and two of them come from Vietnam.  The Postulancy program is a year of preparation for the Novitiate, the next step of SCJ formation program.  Please press "play" button to listen to Fr. Andrew's Homily   |
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