MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
Time traveler: The Glimpse of the Past Clarenz C. Magracia
FR. DOMINGO ARNAIZ, MHM Dear Readers, Greetings of New Life in the Risen Christ!
“I do believe that the lifting power of many wings can achieve twice a distance of any bird flying alone. We can achieve quite a distance if we in unison spread our wings to reach our own goal.” Another milestone of gratefulness for the wonderful year that we shared, lived and hoped as friends of mill hill missionaries. I am more than joyful for you are all there always as our loyal and committed companions in the journey. I am more than blessed for all your unwavering support all these years to our missionary outreach here in the philippines. We, mill hill missionaries are more than privileged and honored having you all for making a life giving journey with us. What else can we ask for more, for you are all out there for us? Part of the blessings we have received this year is the generosity of nine courageous young men who took the challenge of saying “YES” to the Lord of the mission. We keep dreaming our dreams that those who have taken the first step of becoming Christ’s missionaries to the world will reap abundant fruits of loving service to humanity. The world and the Church needs young men like them who are willing to make a sacrifice of themselves for the sake of the Gospel as they are responding to the missionary mandate of Jesus “Go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptise them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” (Mt. 28:19, 20). Like Saint Joseph, we are to dream and to translate this dream we have into the world by living this dream in accordance to the dream of God for us to wherever communities we are sent. I personally do pray, that with the guidance and direction of a living God, we all together achieve and fulfill our greatest DREAM of all – to give glory to God our best who calls us to be the dreamer that He wants us to be. As the song goes, Anything happens if we are open... transformed with love and the wonder of new life turn on right now.
I was in Hamtic for my onemonth pastoral exposure last January 2017. When I was introduced to the parishioners that I am a student from the Mill Hill Formation House, they started sharing to me about how Mill Hill Missionaries work in their own respective mission areas. I like hearing the stories about the Mill Hiller’s legacy and funny encounters with the local parishioners that made me so interested in listening to those untold stories of mission. Part of my tasks in the parish was to visit the barangays and homes of the local people. One day, we visited the house of a former catechist of Fr. Agustin Frenademez, MHM. She is 93 years old but she can still remember her personal experiences and stories that happened before. I thought this was a good opportunity to talk to her, she suddenly burst into tears. She told me that she was one of the Mill Hill friends who supported the activities of the Mill Hill Missionaries. For a long time she was hoping that one day a Mill Hill Missionary would visit her. She was so happy to hear that I a Mill Hill student was visiting her. For her, my visit was an answer to her prayers. She started to tell me the good deeds of Fr. Agustin and at that moment, it was as though I traveled back to the
time when Fr. Agustin was still the Parish Priest of the Parish of Hamtic. According to her when Fr. Gustl (as they fondly called him), as their Parish Priest, they would always go together with the Catechists and Parish Youth, whenever he celebrated mass and pray the rossary in the barangays. Fr. Gustl was well-liked and popular among them because he was so kind-hearted. When Fr. Gustl left the Philippines, they all felt something had changed in the spirit of the parish. I was so happy to hear their stories and I wondered as to how significant Fr. Gustl’s gentle presence was for the people of Hamtic. Until now, whenever they encounter a Mill Hill Missionary or just a Mill Hill student, the old stories that were kept for a long time likes Pandora’s box, slowly kept coming back to life. While walking back to the parish house I said to myself, one day I will surely write extensively about her living testimony as an example of a devout and loyal Filipino Friend of the Mill Hill. Listening to her story I felt as though, I too was a time-traveler feeling the nostalgia of the past. I marveled at how the Mill Hill Missionary creatively left a living legacy in the many hearts of the people they served. This is truly the Mill Hill Missionaries at its best! Friends of Millhill 2017 | 1
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MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
The Song and the Unforgotten Story
“Pearl of Africa” and beyond experience
Sr. Delia Masculino, MSLT
Michael Gemanga, MHM
The new song recently composed and entitled Mill Hill Ako Misyonero, made me to recall the story shared to me by Sr. Caridad Yyance to me about the “martyrdom” of a Mill Hill Missionary Priest Rev. Fr. Adrian Johannes Aarts, MHM. Sr. Caridad is one of the pioneering sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Lord’s Table. Before she joined the Religious Congregation of the Mensa Domini Sisters, she was active in the Church’s activities in the Parish of St. James the Greater, Maasin, Iloilo. It was in the year 1942 when our Municipality of Maasin was infiltrated by the Japanese soldiers. Fr. Aarts a Dutch Mill Hill Missionary assigned in Maasin, Iloilo. Like any other Priests, Fr. Aarts was a true symbol of the “Good Shepherd” who never got tired, for no one could stopped him from going to the remotest places to visit the people he served. According to Sr. Caridad, she together with other pious women, the Sacristans and Acolytes used to go with Fr. Aarts for the celebration of the Mass in the far flung areas. It was an unanticipated day in one of the mission areas when they caught the attention of the Japanese. They were immediately stopped and the Japanese soldiers interrogated Fr. Aarts who explained that he was a priest but they didn’t listen to him. He pleaded to the Japanese soldiers not to harm his companions (the local people) and to set 2 | Friends of Millhill 2017
them free. At a distance, they saw what they did to the priest. They tied a rope around his body and bound him at the pillars inside the bamboo house and burned him alive. Caridad by then and her companions made a sign of the cross while crying and praying for their beloved Parish priest. It was impossible for them to save him. I would always remember this story about the heroism of this Mill Hill Missionary, now that I am connected to this congregation which brought Fr. Aarts to the town of Maasin. Time flies and I realized that it’s almost a year since I became part of the Formation Programme of the Mill Hill Missionaries; journeying with the students that are coming from Malaysia and the Philippines. Truly, this far it has been a joyful learning experiences for me to associate closely with them within a Formation setting. What struck me most is their way of relating and living together as one community in Mill Hill family spirit. The students are treated as an adults responsible for their formation with the guidance of the Formation Staff. As part of the Formation Programme, we are hoping and praying that they will gradually imbibe the spirit of the Mill Hill Missionaries, willing to live a life of sacrifice, deep missionary goal and ever ready to shed their blood for the glory of the mission as reflected in their motto “Amare et Servire”.
“Life is truly full of surprises as you journey on this vocation of love and service…” This new chapter of my formation as MEP student of Mill Hill Missionary here in Mbikko, Uganda, East Africa, is a challenge which I will cherish as I continue the program of the MEP for the next two years in this Mill Hill mission. Five months after my arrival here, I affirmed that Uganda is truly the “Pearl of Arica” because of its rich natural resources and above all its gem : the wonderful people who I have met in this journey. As a Mill Hill Missionary student, I will always remember the natural richness and the human resources of this country which would make my MEP very memorable as I approach to the final chapter of my formation as a Mill Hill man. Looking back on the first day I arrived in Uganda, I realized I had to settle down to an entirely new environment. The atmosphere was not that easy as I thought. This was the first time I stepped on African soil and it was indeed a new experience. My first reaction was to think of the adjustment I will to make, having grown with the mind set and culture of a Filipino. I had to be very attentive and observant. I focused on how I could fit in the movements and the activities in the parish such as going with the parish workers in visiting the sick, assisting
when mass is celerated, and attending catechist meetings, among others. As I immersed myself into these parish activities, I told myself that I still need to learn much on this journey – on becoming full-pledge Mill Hill Missionary. I felt blessed in the many experiences I have been through so far – the personal encounters and mental yearning to cope with the adjustments. I recalled the difficulties my companions and I
experienced to settle our visa extension. Thanks for the help of our fellow Mill Hillers. We were happy to know that by securing a working visa we can travel around East African Region during vacation without hassle. We have a nice weather here in Uganda where it is cold in the evening and early morning but quite hot during the day. This is far better than the other areas in the Northern part of the country Friends of Millhill 2017 | 3
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where it is hot and dry. One unforgettable experience that happened to me for the first time in my life was when I ate fried grasshopper. Unluckily, I got rashes all over my body which disappeared only after one week of medication for allergy. Will I eat fried grasshopper again? Hmnn, why not! Truly, life in the mission is rewarding and totally different from what I learned from books and academic milieu in the schools. The realities of life in the outstations make me think as to what kind of life I could introduce to this people. How could I share the presence of Christ in this community which will be my home for two years? Lastly, how could I bring my presence of Christ in this community and able to inspire the flock entrusted to my care? This is my journey and I feel I’m lucky enough to
be assigned to the St. Karoli Lwangga, Mbikko Parish of the Diocese of Lugazi, Central Uganda., where I can grow as a person and as a missionary. What I had been through in my Mill Hill Formation, made me a better person. In a sense, I discovered the meaning of
my existence and still wish to discover more as I journey in the Pearl of Africa. This is where I set my heart set to discover the essence of my Mill Hill calling.
A Narrative of My First Missionary Journey Gerald Caniban, MHM
August 01, 2016 was the exact date when the plane landed in Entebbe Airport, Kampala, Uganda. I thanked the Lord that I arrived safely. I was so grateful to Fr. Paul and George for their assistance and direction. Honestly speaking, from Nairobi until I arrived at Entebbe Airport, I was not really feeling comfortable. I met some Africans in the Philippines before coming to Africa and I have seen some of them in television or the movies. But it was very different experience being 4 | Friends of Millhill 2017
to Kotido and Panyangara Parish. Arriving in Panyangara Parish, the first impression that struck me was the traditional and old style practices of the people. I noticed vividly many young men shepherding or herding their domestic animals, and I mentally took note of some observations. There were also many children roaming around coming from what I suppose are miserable conditions. Their faces looked very messy and they wore tattered and dirty clothes. The first pleasant experience with the people was their soulful happiness
surrounded by them in reality. At first I was really scared. I felt I was drifted in a different world. I thought, I cannot settle in this place for more than a month. Robert, the taxi man collected me from the Airport to the Mill Hill House in Kampala. I stayed there for a night. The next day I joined Fr. Philip Adede, MHM to Jinja Formation House. I stayed there for four days while waiting for the two (2) Cameroonian MEP students Norbert and Athanasius to arrive. The dawn of August 06, 2016, we hit the road heading
and gesture of warm welcome. Generally, they were glad to see me and eager to introduce their language to me. It was a very helpful and friendly gesture for they wanted to teach me their native language. I also hoped to learn the vocabularies of their native Nakarimojong language. On August 07, 2016, a day after we arrived, we visited Potongor Village for Sunday’s Eucharist Holy. It was an overwhelming experience in sharing with them Eucharist their joyful and energetic way of celebrating the Mass. They sang very well with their local instruments. Indeed, I was truly amazed. That experience reminded me of the Pope’s Apostolic Exhortation on the proclamation of the Gospel: EVANGELII
GAUDIUM The Joy of the Gospel. It was a joyful celebration and I was awed by that first impression. There were so many pleasant things that I experienced here in Panyangara Parish, Karamoja which I have not experienced in my home country, the Philippines. In contrast, there are also unpleasant experiences and encounters. As I mentioned earlier, people here are welcoming and can converse very well but most often in the middle or at the end of the on-going conversations many of them would insert these words e.g. “akoro” and “inakinae ngisilinga” meaning “I am hungry” and the latter “give me money.” These expressed words connotes b e g g i n g . Though I understand begging is universal, yet I consider this as one of the unpleasant experiences largely because of my faircoloured skin. As what I have over heard, many people believed that once a person is a foreigner - a “mzungu” or “white man”, their pre-conceived idea is that he or she has got a lot of money. In my case, they think I have lots of it as well. I tried to explain but they did not believe what I said. The climate of the place is very hot in midday especially from October until December. It can only be freezing cold early in the evening and early in the morning. I also noticed that rain is very rare in this place. People grow only few species of crops that can survive in a Friends of Millhill 2017 | 5
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short period of time. The most common plants they grew are sorghum and corn for these can survive in just a limited rainfall, and harvested in a short span of time. However, water shortage can also be experienced as well whenever there is less wind. As of now, our mission area is blessed because of the strong wind which run the windmill.. The most important of all is food. I am glad that our table never runs dry of healthy good food and fruits. When I first arrived here, I was struggling to eat goat’s meat. I discussed my situation with the
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER community and our cook. I am thankful at least some adjustments were taken into consideration. The parish and missionary realities here are truly challenging and I envision it as a tough mission area. The senior Mill Hill Missionaries reallyt worked hard to bring the message of the Gospel to the people at the same time helping them to uplift the people’s life and welfare. I admire their missionary zeal and dedication particularly on their perseverance to stay and continue to work with such a great enthusiasm and energy. In the meantime, despite the many struggling moments so far in my missionary discovery, I still see the hope that I will survive. I believe I can face the future with courage with burning spirit as I adhere to our Society’s motto: “To love and To serve” God and His people. Bye for now and till next.
Let us carry on the Journey and pursue our Dreams The MHM Philippines’ Retreat/Assembly 2016
Fr. Benny P. Quinto, MHM
Our Mill Hill- Philippines retreat/ assembly was held on 21-24 November, 2016 at our Central House in Molo, Iloilo City. Both occasions were opportune times for all of us to strengthen our connections with one another and to renew our commitment as MHMs working here in the country. The retreat was facilitated by a Dominican friar, Fr. Ramon Claro Mendez,O.P. who is presently the rector of the Angelicum School in Jaro, Iloilo City. While preparing for his input, Fr. Ramon 6 | Friends of Millhill 2017
was inspired by our Society’s patron, St. Joseph in his slumber. Thus, the whole retreat was inspired and enlivened by the word SLUMBER: S-silence, L-listen, U-understand, M- meaning, B- bear, Eenthused, and R-renewed. In our silence, according to Fr. Ramon, we should be able to listen and understand the song (message) which God is singing to us, and what it means to us, in order for us to bear it and be enthused by it and ultimately be renewed by it. He guided us identify the earliest
song we learned as children and the music we first learned in our missions. Then we reflect deeper into the song and what they says to us in relation to our life as missionaries and our missionary experiences. What is our song in relation to God’s own song? What could He be singing? Do we sing the same song? As we shared our experiences and stories, we learn from one another and our own stories became part of the bigger story/ picture. He said that “as we tell our stories, we learn from one another, and our stories are interwoven into others’ stories, and became part of the whole Mill Hill’s story. He also invited us to recollect our early experiences of God both in our personal and pastoral life as missionaries. These experiences continue to affect us and influence us in our life and mission. It is in these experiences that we gather strength and courage to fulfill our dreams. In one of our Eucharistic celebrations, we identified one Mill Hill missionary either dead and alive, who has made an impression on us. Through them, we were able to discover both the beauty and challenges of being Mill Hill Missionaries. Likewise, they provided us with valuable
experiences to inspire and boost our commitment as Mill Hillers and to help us clearly experience God’s presence in our lives and in other peoples’ lives. In the end, we were led to slumber with St. Joseph, our patron, and identify the dreams we have for our beloved Mill Hill Missionaries Society- Philippines. We, the Filipino, African and Asian MHMs are grateful for the dream of Bishop Cornelius de Wit, who during his time as the Society’s superior general, and those together with him dreamt and pursue the dream of having members from the mission areas join St. Joseph’s Missionary Society. We are products of that dream and we will continue to pursue it, making alive and real the general Society’s dream of continuing to proclaim and share God’s Good News of love and salvation to all. However, we also realised and identified the conflict that may arise in pursuing these dreams. There are lots of dreams- personal, local church’s dreams, Society’s, the ones of the universal Church, and ultimately God’s plan. How will we harmoniously sing in the same tune with these diverse dreams posed an enormous challenges? However, we are also positively aware that we can only Friends of Millhill 2017 | 7
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER fulfill something if we could go back to the “cause” of all our dreams- our founder’s dream and ultimately God’s dream. Identifying the limitedness and working together by looking at or discovering the common grounds of all our dreams could be a challenging aim to pursue, but assuredly fulfilling and consoling. We are only called to have faith, to respond with gratitude and be aware that we all have to sing one song together and move on together. We are called to look forward for a future grateful for everything that God had provided us, for whatever our ancestors and predecessors have achieved and contributed in the fulfillment of God’s and our Society’s dreams, Based
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER on this, we as the present and future generations of MHMs, will continue to achieve our goals and accomplish our Society’s missionary ventures and endeavors. We will continue to move forward and work for the integration of everything that we dreamed of, utilizing both our human and material resources, identifying and employing the unique contributions of each one for the realization of our missionary’s vision wherever we find ourselves working as Mill Hill Missionaries. With St. Joseph’s intercession, we continue to journey and pursue our dreams with hope and assured of God’s blessings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God that naïve young boy was meant and destined to be a Mill Hill Missionary. After quite a number of years in the mission, the young missionary was withdrawn from his mission to train for missionaries candidates back in the Philippines. At home, by accidental, the young missionary happened to hold his Baptismal Certificate that was kept for quite a number of years inside a paperbox. He found out right there that the one who baptized him was the white middle aged visitor Priest he met years ago and asked of the question “WHY?”. The Revelation. The living presence of Fr. John Ambrose, MHM in the life of a boy was truly a blessing. Fr. John’s words he said once upon a
A Piece of Impression There was a young boy who used to sit outside and at the front of a little store opposite the Bugasong Central Elementary School in Bugasong, Antique, Philippines on a Sunday afternoon. That boy was almost a teenager and occasionally minded the little family store during his free time. One Sunday afternoon, there came a middle aged white Priest and he stopped for a short while. The boy was sitting at the old bamboo bench at the left corner side of the store facing the east. Out of curiosity, he asked the white visitor why he was going around visiting homes every Sunday afternoon with his long and black umbrella as he went around. The priest visitor responded with a perfect confidence telling the boy in a 8 | Friends of Millhill 2017
local dialect “nagapangita ako sang mga nadula nga Karnero!.”- ( I am looking out for the lost sheep!). This honest to goodness idiomatic biblical expression of the white visitor was instilled in the young mind of the boy for quite a period of time. With the passage of time, the boy now a young man and joined a certain Society of Men who recruited for the Young professionals and College graduates to join them. Pure luck so it seems but more of grace that the boy who was a young man by then entered the Mill Hill Basic Formation Programme for training to be a missionary, and not knowing, not even a clue whatsoever but one thing he knew that he was determined to follow his childhood dream. And by the grace of
New Pastor installed in Anini-y, Antique May 16,2017, In the Parish of St. John Nepomuceno, Anini-y, Antique, in the occasion of the Parish annual Fiesta, Rev. Fr. Benny P. Quinto,
time became alive in the life of a boy which is now a Young Missionary. He was so grateful to Fr. John for passing on to him the missionary spirit when he was baptised by Fr. John. It is indeed a humbling experience for him to having known and met Fr. John who is still active in his ministry in the Philippines. The departure of Fr. John last April 4, 2017 back to Ireland was a momentum of gratefulness and thanksgiving for all he had shared and done for Christ’s mission here in the Diocese of Antique, Philippines for more than half of the century. Fr. John , we are wishing you for a well deserved homecoming to your home IRELAND. Thank you!
MHM was installed as the new Parish Priest by his Most Rev. Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo, DD Bishop of Antique in the presence of Fr. Domingo P. Arnaiz, MHM the Mill Hill Society Representative Philippines, together with other Mill Hill Missionaries, Diocesan Clergy, Religious and the Lay parishioners. Fr. Benny took over from Rev. Fr. John Ambrose, MHM for over 18 years of serving the Parish and now he is back to his home country Ireland. A good wish to Fr. John as you deserve a happy retirement and good luck Fr. Benny on your new ministry.
“
Our fingerprints never fade on the lives we touch. We encounter different individuals in our journey. Some make us happy, some make us sad, others easy to get along with and some hurt and put us down. But what truly matters is not what they did to us, what counts is what good you did for them.
“
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Fr. John D. Clement Remembered Mill Hill Missionary
John Dudley Clement was ordained to the missionary priesthood in Kings Hall, Bell Vue, Manchester, on 2nd June 1973. After ordination, he was sent to the Philippines for his first appointment to the Diocese of San Jose de Antique with full of excitement of the work he was doing. He was first appointed curate in Hamtic, Antique with Fr. John Nep. Pamer, then to the parish of Casay where he did well especially with the Catholic High School. On May 26th, 1976 he was appointed as Parish Priest of Guisijan, Laua-an, Antique. There he worked hard to put some life to the parish. In 1978, he went for a well-deserved home leave. After his return to Antique, Fr. John was appointed
parish priest of Patnongon, Antique. As a missionary to a country not his own, John listed some of the supports for the people: the Basic Christian Communities, Family Life Movement, and Parish Catholic High Schools. He was assisted by the Mensa Domini Sisters or Lay people who were trained in the Catechetical Institute of the Mensa Domini. In 1989, he was recalled to the British Region where the rest of his missionary life was spent.. He was known as very good at administration and at various times he served as Regional Bursar of St. Joseph’s College Mill Hill, Mission Animator and Vocation Director. Fr. John, you may rest in Peace!
Congratulations Fr. Bill Mill Hill Missionary
Sixty years of faithfulness, perseverance, love and service were the highlight of the 60th year Sacerdotal celebration of Fr. Bill. Kudos to Fr. Bernard van Spandoonk who preached in jubilation and bringing back significant memories of life of Fr. Bill as he knew him. The jubilee celebration of Fr. Bill was attended by the MHM priests, Mensa Domini sisters, diocesan priests, 10 | Friends of Millhill 2017
other religious men and women and friends. Fr. Bill was extremely grateful to all those who celebrated with him. In the words of Fr. Bernard, he urges Fr. Bill to keep counting and more the graces and blessings received all throughout his missionary life. A gracious banquet was prepared after the Eucharist for the Guests and Friends and a simple program of songs and greetings surprised everyone. Ad Multos Annos Fr. Bill! Friends of Millhill 2017 | 11
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
The Resurrection of the Old Missionary Spirit Elden John
Living in the animistic community of the Dusun tribe in Tambunan, Sabah, a lady witnessed the arrival of a strange white man with a wooden cross and spoke a foreign language. His missionary work among the people established close relationship with the local chiefs who gave him a special place in the community as he showed respect to the local traditions and mastered their mother tongue. The lady who has observed the strange white man since the beginning was among the witnesses of conversion to Catholicism when the white man brought Christ into the life of the Tambunan Dusuns. As a ritual the newly converted people burned their animism relics which they believed possess supernatural powers. Instead, they put their faith and trust on the Cross and the Eucharist. The story is part of the history of the Mill Hill Missionaries whose mission was to bring Christ and the Gospel to North Borneo which was then feared for legendary headhunters known to drive away the missionaries including the Spanish missionaries. However, the Mill Hill priests were able to cover more areas and converted more people from other tribes increasing the Christian population in Sabah. Their success met a few challenges in the political environment and radical
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Casay Credit Cooperative Celebrates 50 years Fr. Mario Dimapilis,MHM
Parish Priest-Sta. Teresa de Avila, Casay, Anini-y
Islamization took place in the 1970s. The event was aimed to destroy the local church by expelling most of the Mill Hill priests by force and hunted those who refused to leave. Despite the many injustices, two of the Mill Hill priests managed to hide and lived in Sabah until their older days and witnessed the church becoming stronger and firmer in faith. The death of the last of the older generation priests of North Borneo Missions somehow marked the end of Mill Hill Missionaries in Sabah, at least, as what everyone thought. However due to the effort of Mill Hill priests’ in the neighboring Sarawak Mission, the Society once again gained its foothold with the first batch of Malaysian students and members of the Society who were born and grew up in Sabah. The time is still long to ever see a Malaysian born in Borneo to be a Mill Hill priest, but the_ vision and hope are always there as an inspiration to the local Catholics. The number of young men who join the society are growing and the new generation of Sabahans still need to know about Mill Hill Missionaries. But we leave everything in God’s hand who knows the ultimate purpose of a missionary work. In the past, our people were evangelized by foreigners and in the present, let a true born son of Borneo serve the poorest among the poorest, lowest among the lowest with “true missionary spirit of the Mill Hill missionaries with love, sacrifice and humility of heart.
Some fifty years ago, most of the parishioners in the parish of Santa Teresa de Avila in Casay were mostly fisherfolks and farmers. The first bishop of the newly created Diocese of San Jose de Antique tirelessly visited Casay to encourage the parish priest (Fr. Bernard Hartering, MHM) and the people of the parish to establish a credit cooperative. This humble endeavor, was aimed to help the people of Casay and its neighboring barangays to manage well their hard earned money, learn to save some amount and to give others the opportunity to borrow these God-given blessings as capital to start or to sustain their source of living. Throughout its 50 years of existence the Casay Credit Cooperative experienced some ups and downs, trials and glories, like life itself. However, the celebration of its Golden Anniversary proved that life anchored in God triumphs. On the eve of March 25, 2017, its golden anniversary, the joyful and colorful celebrations commenced with a motorcade and noise barrage. The following day, some members attended the morning mass and the remaining days were spent in jubilation with cultural presentation, pageant, presentation of awards, gala night, business meetings, and election of new board members. Most members of the cooperative joined in this four-day celebration. In recognition of the contribution of the Mill Hill Missionaries, our missionary efforts were recognized as well. Throughout
this time, our support to Casay Credit Cooperative continues. The entire Parish of Santa Teresa de Avila congratulates the board and members of Casay Credit Cooperative. God bless you all.
(CCC outgoing and incoming Board Members)
The New Saints of the Church Francisco, and Jacinta Marto aged 11, and 10 respectively, are the youngest nonmartyrs to be canonized in the history of the Church. The brother and sister, who tended to their families’ sheep with their cousin Lucia Dos Santos in the fields of Fatima, Portugal, witnessed the apparitions of Mary, now known as Our Lady of Fatima. During the first apparition, which took place on May 13, 1917, Our Lady asked the three children to say the Rosary and to make sacrifices, offering them for the conversion of sinners. The children did, praying often, giving their lunch to beggars and going without food themselves. They offered up their daily crosses and even refrained from drinking water on hot days.
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MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
Mill Hill Missionaries, Receives a Centennial Award
In October 1918, Francisco and Ja cinta became seriously ill with the Span ish flu. Our Lady appeared to them and said she would to take them to heaven soon. Bed-ridden, Francisco requested his first Communion. The following day, Francisco died, April 14, 1919. Jacinta suffered a long illness as well. She was eventually transferred to a Lisbon hospi tal and operated for an abscess in her chest, but her health did not improve. She died Feb. 20, 1920. Pope John Paul II beatified Fran cisco and Jacinta on May l3, 2000, the 83rd anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, teaching us that even young children can become saints. On the occasion of the 100th year anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis canonized Francisco and Jacinta and elevated them as saints of the church.
May 19, 2017. The QuadroCentenaryo Awarding Night held in the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Igbaras Iloilo, recognized the three Mill Hill Missionaries on their contribution in propagating the Catholic faith in the Parish of Igbaras. The Awarding Committee recognized Rev. Fr. John Kaufmann, MHM (1926), Rev. Fr. Andrew Jacobs, MHM (1948) and Rev. Fr. Lawrence Oberarzbacher, MHM, (1956) - The Mill Hill Missionaries who had truly given their moment of witness of their lives in the parish of Igbaras as their pastor, in strengthening the local
faith as reflected in the Mill Hill motto “Amare et Servire.” The awards night was one of the many privileges to witness and honor the fruits of their loving service to the parish as great missionaries together with the faithful of this generation as they rejoice in jubilation for the gift of the Catholic faith received since the very foundation of the parish way back in 1617 and up to now. Congratulations to the local faithful of Igbaras, Iloilo. Keep up the Faith burning! 14 | Friends of Millhill 2017
Words
of Thanks and Farewell
The Parish of Guinsang-an @ 50 Golden Years April 27, 2017. The gathering of jubilant parishioners gave a festive col our to the 50th Golden Year celebration of the Parish of Sto. Nino de Guinsang-an. The celebration of the day began with a religious procession participated by the local people coming from the different barangays with their Patronal Saints in that one spirit of communion. The Bishop of Antique, Most Rev. Jose Romeo 0. Lazo, D.D. presided the Golden Jubilee celebration to gether with the Diocesan Clergy, the Mill Hill Missionaries, Religious Sisters, the local people and guests from all over Panay Island. The said occasion was also graced by the presence of Fr. Anton Wenker, MHM who came all the way from the Netherlands. Fr. Anton was the third Parish Priest after Fr. Pio Crazzolara, MHM and Fr. James Spruit, MHM. Fr. Anton was so delighted and happy in greeting his old time parishioners and he still remembers some of them by their names. The present Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Fernando Milani, PIME was in great jubilation in welcoming all the guests in the banquet prepared for everyone. The Golden Jubilee was a day of thanksgiving to God for the many blessings and graces received in fifty years.
We gave our thanks and said our farewell to Miss Marilyn G. Llerin last July 28, 2016 for her 24 years of faithful ser vice to the Formation House as In-charge of the Kitchen. We can never forget how the Staff, Per sonnel and Students were fed and nourished through the years of their stay in the Formation House. Thank you for being part of the life and journey of the Formation Programme since its very foundation in 1991. We also thanked and bid farewell to Mr. Leonardo G, Cabaluna last April 4, 2017 for 21 years of service as maintenance man of the For mation House. Because of his green thumb the garden is still maintained ledge and skills in repair the amenities are still in good condition until today. Wishing you both a graceful time as you deserve to enjoy wonderfully your retirement days. Sa inyo, madamo gid nga Salamat!
Friends of Millhill 2017 | 15
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
MILLHILL NEWSLETTER
The Gift of Vocation for Loving and joyful Service Fr. Abner Dimo,MHM
Every baptized Christian begins to walk the path as a Disciple of Christ as all are called to intimacy with God. Talking about “calling and vocation “ in the Christian context, requires an un derstanding of the primary vocation of all Christians that is to love and to grow in that love for God and in Jesus Christ. For every baptized Christian, vocation is a gift. It has a much deeper meaning than simply noting where one works. Vocation is a calling from the One to someone and from somewhere to any where for valuable purpose in loving and serving God with an open mind and heart. As a vocation promoter, finding a suitable candidate to join our Mill Hill Formation programme is not an easy task to do. Many young people particu larly the young professionals of today prefer to explore greener pasture abroad in order to help the family. With this re ality, I saw the decline of vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Precisely, because of the influence of the digital lifestyle, the way young people look at life has changed. As I traveled around campaigning for vocation, posting our adverts and at tending “International Youth” gatherings with the help of our Mill Hill students, I am blessed to have few young men 16 | Friends of Millhill 2017
come to attend our series of search-ins held at MHM Vocation Centre. Our students and MHM members were so helpful in finding suitable candidates for formation. At the opening of this academic year, there are two Filipinos, one Malay sian and one Pakistani candidates who generously submitted themselves to un dergo the discernment process namely: John Christopher Javier coming from our newly founded mission in Turda, Coron, Palawan, Jeremy Almeria from the Land where mountains meet the Sea, Casay, Anini-y, Antique, Cristiano Sumbat from the Land below the Wind, Sabah Malay sia and Rashid Victor from the Land of the Pure, Sargodha, Pakistan. The Visitation of our Candidate’s families was a moving experienced. It is a time of knowing and creating a stronger bond between Mill Hill and families of our candidates. It is a time for Parents to give their permission and manifest their willingness to give help and support their son as they join our Formation Pro gramme. My personal visit to the family enabled me develop a closer relationship with them as they join the Mill Hill Missionaries family with the assurance that their sons are in good hands. Friends of Millhill 2017 | Q