FEATURE
“Loaves and
Fishes:
An Offering of New Leadership and the Provincial Community of the Salesian Philippine South Province” By: Fr. Keith Amodia, SDB
T
he Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes was filled with around 200 guests. There could have been more attendees and the pews would have been filled but the restrictions of the pandemic had to kick in. It was the 24th of May, Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians. Several were wearing pink. These were the members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) who came for the occasion. The day was a special one since it is also the feast day of the Philippines South Province (FIS) which was named after our Lady. The FIS Province was canonically established from the Salesian Philippine Province (FIL) back in 1992. Fr. Peter Zago, SDB then was its first provincial superior. Now, its sixth superior would be installed. Fr. Fidel Ma. Orendain, SDB was Rector of Don Bosco Technical College when he received the call from Rome last December. The consultation for the new provincial just concluded a few months before. Recognizing an overseas number, Fr. Fidel knew what it already meant for him. “Pray over it. The discernment of the council guided by the Holy Spirit led the choice to you,” the Rector Major, Fr. Miguel Angel Artime, told Fr. Fidel. “Using the words ‘discernment’ and ‘Holy Spirit’ leaves you defenseless,” Fr. Fidel told this author. Fr. Fidel gave his consent to be the sixth provincial of the FIS Province. The outgoing provincial, Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB, Marian as he is, picked the Feast Day of Mary Help of Christians for the installation date. Fr. Fidel would take on the service of leadership for 106 confreres, which is particularly challenging to begin in the middle of a pandemic. The front pews were filled with Salesians priests and brothers from Cebu. While most of the confreres from the
Fr. Fidel shared
that he said yes to the appointment not because he was good at it but because God and the people have been good to him. He said he gave his ‘yes’ because it affirms what religious life stands for, otherwise, the faith he preached would have no meaning. St. John Bosco Today | April - June 2021
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