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WITNESS The Varsitarian FEBRUARY 14, 2021
EDITOR: MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA
Ex-UST vice rector is new head of Filipino Dominicans FORMER UST Vice Rector for Religious Affairs Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, Jr., O.P. has been elected as the 13th prior provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines. The Master of the Order of Preachers, Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., confirmed the election on Monday, Jan. 18. De la Cruz was elected to his post on Sunday during the 12th Provincial Chapter held in Caleruega, Batangas . It was spearheaded by the Convent of Saint Albert the Great. By virtue of his position, he will also serve as the University’s vice chancellor for four years, until 2025. He will also be chairman of the board of trustees. De la Cruz succeeded Fr. Napoleon Sipalay, Jr., O.P., who was prior provincial from 2016 until de la Cruz’s appointment. According to the Rule of St. Augustine and the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations, a prior provincial or superior of a province “must promote regular and apostolic life, provide for the brothers’ needs [and] should be concerned that the brothers fulfill their personal obligations.” The newly elected Filipino Dominican head is a former director of UST Center for Campus Ministry and is teaching sacred theology at the University. De la Cruz obtained his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies in 1986. Born in Manila, de la Cruz earned his canonical degree in sacred theology and his master’s degree in theology in UST in 1991 and 2006, respectively.
‘Our mission is to be faithful, not successful’ SUCCESS will follow if we prioritize God and work on building our faith.
Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, O.P. (PHOTO FROM OP.ORG)
De la Cruz entered the Dominican pre-novitiate program in 1980 and professed in the Dominican Order on May 11, 1984. He was ordained priest in 1992. Before he was elected, de la Cruz was assigned to San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs Parish in Navotas. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the superior of the Dominican community of Rumah Santo Tomas in Surabaya, Indonesia. He was also appointed head of the Dominican Clerical Fraternity (2012 to 2014), provincial councilor (2012 to 2016) and socius or assistant of the prior provincial (2014 to 2016). MA. ALENA O. CASTILLO AND SOPHIA T. SADANG
NAZARENE FEAST:
‘Amid pandemic, Jesus remains with us’ MANILA APOSTOLIC Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo exhorted Catholics to connect with Jesus amid their sufferings during the Covid-19 pandemic in a Eucharistic celebration for the feast of the Black Nazarene at the Quiapo Church on Jan. 9. “We do not deny the sufferings that are with us, but put Jesus there. Ilagay si Hesus, at mata-transform po ang ating kahirapan at magiging kaligtasan (Put Jesus there and our sufferings will turn into salvation),” Pabillo said. Pabillo reminded Nazareno devotees that Christ is one with the people in their problems as he discussed the theme, “Huwag kayong matakot, si Hesus ito!” “Ang Poong Nazareno ay parang isang magnet … hindi lang tayo naa-attract sa kanyang pag-ibig, at hindi lang sa isang imahen, ngunit sa Diyos din na nakikiisa sa ating kalagayan na pasan ang krus,” he said. The theme was derived from Matthew 14, where Jesus’ walking on water frightened his disciples. Jesus reassured them, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” In a previous interview, Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, reminded Catholics to remain faithful to the Lord amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “Ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo ay sinasamahan tayo sa ating paglalakbay sa ating pagsubok. Hindi naman niya tinatanggal ang
FEAST OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS:
kahirapan o problema, kasama natin sa paglalakbay. Kaya kumapit tayo, magtiwala tayo, umasa tayo,” he told the Varsitarian.
This was the message of Fr. Rudolf Steven Seño, O.P. of the UST Ecclesiastical Faculty of Philosophy during the University Mass for the solemnity of St. Thomas Aquinas, UST’s patron saint, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the St. Dominic de Guzman Chapel. “Our mission is not to be successful; rather, it is to be faithful. If you are faithful, if and only then, success will follow. Be like Aquinas and put things in order. We should focus on more important things: Prioritize God, seek Him” he said. In his greatest work Summa Theologica, Aquinas tackled the proofs of God’s existence, man’s ultimate purpose, faith and morality. Aquinas wrote that the pursuit of knowledge and truth could only be found in God. Seña also urged Thomasians to develop traits like faith and wisdom amid the pandemic and not merely become health- and wealth-conscious individuals. “Ngayong may pandemic, we are becoming health and wealth conscious. Aanhin mo ang mga milyon-milyon o bilyon-bilyong pera kung sa huli ay magkakasakit ka? It should not stop from there,” he said. (In this time of pandemic, we are becoming health and wealth-conscious. What will you do with millions or billions of money if you will only get sick in the end? Our efforts should not stop there.) Seño led the Triduum Masses from Jan. 25 to 27 in preparation for the feast, which had the
Fr. Rudolf Steven Seño, O.P. delivers the homily for the University Mass for the solemnity of St. Thomas Aquinas. (PHOTO FROM SANTÍSIMO ROSARIO PARISH - UST/ FACEBOOK)
theme, “A Mind to Know You, A Heart to Seek You, Wisdom to Find You.” During the first and second Triduum Masses, Seño called on Thomasians to have a heart like St. Thomas,’ who both loved and contemplated.. “We can have a mind that is not just thinking but also loving and concerned with the welfare of others and strives to make itself understood. It could only be possible if our mind is closely connected with the heart,” he said. The new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic warrants reinforced faith such as that of St. Thomas, Assoc. Prof. Allan Basas, faculty secretary of the Institute of Religion, told the Varsitarian. “In the midst of all chaos, confusions, crises, pluralities, subjectivism and relativism… St. Thomas dared to meet the changes and challenges of his
times by being faithful,” Basas told the Varsitarian. “St. Thomas is a shining example of a Catholic scholar who has dedicated himself to the service of the contemplation and transmission of the absolute truth, the effective communication of the truths of the faith as the fruit of his sedulous contemplation; the analysis… of the propositions of his allies and objectors alike, as a way to expose and propagate the faith; [and] the life-long learning of the truths of the faith by ensuring anchorage on the sacred traditions and being open to dialogue with new realities of his time,” Basas said. Fr. Lester Mendosa, a doctorate student from the UST Faculty of Canon Law, urged seminary students to emulate St. Thomas’ passion in truth-seeking and truth-telling in his homily M.AO. CASTILLO AND S.T. SADANG
Traslacion’s new normal
Pabillo said the pandemic changed the way traditions were being celebrated, but more people became nearer to Christ. The Covid-19 crisis caused the grand procession to be canceled, but Manila Police Chief Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco reported that at least 400,000 devotees had flocked to the vicinity of Quiapo Church on Jan. 9. Localized celebrations were also observed, where a replica of the Black Nazarene was brought to different areas around Metro Manila and nearby cities from Dec. 31 to Jan. 7. Novena Masses were also held from Dec. 31 to Jan. 9 and the traditional pahalik of the image of the Black Nazarene was replaced by a patanaw (viewing) from the balcony of Quiapo church and in Plaza Miranda. A total of 15 Masses were celebrated for Nazareno’s feast. Only 400 churchgoers were allowed to enter the Quiapo Church for each of the 15 Masses, allowing a total of 6,000 devotees to attend the Eucharistic celebrations in-person. The mesquite wood image of the Black Nazarene depicts Jesus Christ kneeling while carrying the cross. The image of the Black Nazarene was partially destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945. S. T. SADANG WITH REPORTS FROM MARIEL CELINE L. SERQUIÑA
St. Thomas Aquinas ART BY CHRISTINE ANGELIE P. ORINES
