The Society of St Paul Philippine-Macau Province held its XXV Provincial Assembly on August 7-9, 2024. The General Assembly is a gathering of all members from the different Communities to be updated with the state of the Province, and to take a common resolve and direction in the days ahead. It has for its theme: “We press forward, steadfast in hope: transformed with renewed way of thinking” (1 Thes 1:3; Rom 12:2).
The Assembly is marked by the presence of Fr. Michael Goonan SSP from Australia, the Facilitator for this years' Annual Retreat of the Perpetual Members, and the Visitators from Rome, General Councilors Fr. Johnson Vattakunnel SSP and Fr. Alan Francisco Gamutan SSP, who are here for the Verification Visit to the Circumscription.
At the start of the morning Conference in Alberione Hall on August 7, Provincial Superior Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite SSP officially opened the Assembly. In his Convocation Address, he said that the days are for members to examine themselves on how they are faring before the goals set by the Superior General Fr. Domenico Soliman SSP and by the IX Provincial Chapter Programmatic Document of the Society of St Paul Philippines-Macau.
The first day of the Assembly was spent in listening to the reports of the Director General for the Apostolate Fr. John Klen Malificiar SSP, Provincial Bursar Fr. Ludovico Tacdoro Jr. SSP, Finance Director Brian Tayag SSP, Provincial Delegate for the Aggregated Institutes of the Pauline Family Fr. Celso Godilano SSP, Provincial Delegate for the Association of Pauline Cooperators Fr. Ramil Tapang SSP, Coordinator General for Vocation Promotion and Formation Fr. Leopoldo Botavara III SSP, and National Vocation Director Fr. Samy John Torrefranca SSP.
August 8, the second day of the Assembly, was allotted to reporting by the Provincial Government, Provincial Bodies, and Local Communities: Rector and Dean of Studies of St. Paul Seminary Foundation (SPSF) Fr. Norman Melchor Peña Jr. SSP, new Parish Priest of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish (OLSP) and President of Our Lady of Sorrows Foundation, Inc. (OLSOFI) Fr. Cris Robert Cellan SSP, St. Paul Seminary Foundation, Inc. (SPSFI) Press Relations Officer Fr. Andres Inting SSP, and Local Superiors from the various Communities—Fr. Reynaldo Reyes SSP for Makati, Fr. Leopoldo Botavara III SSP for Cavite, Fr. Restie de la Peña SSP for Pasay, Fr. Jerome Palma SSP for Pampanga, Bro. Hansel Mapayo SSP for Cabanatuan, Fr. Paul Yntig SSP for Cebu, Fr. Leonardo Ellezar SSP for Iloilo, and Bro. Alvaro Nobleza SSP for Davao. Fr. Sobrejuanite, basing himself on the Programmatic Guidelines of the last IX Provincial Chapter, underlined the lights and shadows of the Province, the hopes and the challenges it faces in the days and years ahead.
August 9, the third and final day of the Assembly, was dedicated to dialogue with the Visitators—General Councilors Fr. Johnson Vattakunnel SSP and Fr. Alan Gamutan SSP—who are having their Verification Visit, scheduled a year after the IX Provincial Chapter. In the morning Assembly, Fr. Vattakunnel read the greetings of the Superior General Fr. Domenico Soliman SSP and shared his own reflections on the challenges for the Province in the light of the last Chapter’s Programmatic Guidelines, and also in the light of the situation of the Congregation worldwide. While the Visitators were having their dialogue with the Provincial Superior, and later, with the entire Provincial Council, the Assembly listened to the reports of Fr. Rene Tañeza SSP on the CDO Community and of Fr. Ramon John Manalo SSP on Macau mission. The members then joined the different groupings and teams which tackled the concerns of their sectors, whether in formation, apostolate, or administration. The dialogue continued in the afternoon.
The Provincial Assembly officially closed with the Eucharistic Celebration on the Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) presided by Fr. Sobrejuanite who was joined in the altar by the Visitators, Fr. Goonan, and the Provincial Vicar Fr. Celso Godilano SSP. Fr. Vattakunnel, the homilist, dwelt on the meaning of the cross, symbol of shame and suffering but also of redeeming love. To this Mass were invited benefactors of the Province, friends who continue to support the SSP charism and apostolate, namely: Maria Gonzales-Goolsby, Julita Obillo-Geronimo (Globo Asiatico Enterprises, Inc.), Ramona Ustaria Morales (YMCA), Felicidad Tan-Sy Foundation & SM Foundation (received by Mel Elido), Romulus Landoy, Jojo Castillo (Asia Pacific College), Marcelo Pasco, Jr. (Superserve Corp.), Allison David, Shirley Cheung (Good 555 Deal Trading Corp.), and Irene Lloren (Primetrade Asia, Inc.). The entire Community and honorees gathered at the Alberione Hall for agapē.
