ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

From 11-26 April, Fr. Sim Sunpayco was quite busy assisting and leading retreats for the G.S. faculty, administrators and non-teaching staff, and for the Pre-school faculty. Taking the theme from the school’s coat of arms, “Fortes in Fide,” the retreats were geared towards a more heightened awareness of God’s love and mercy and the experience of genuine community spirit. This provided an appropriate disposition and preparation for the 28 Apr visit of Fr. Provincial, who offered a special session for the G. S. faculty on “Gratitude and Mercy for Peace and Reconciliation.” Fr. Sim also guided retreats for the H.S. faculty from 14 May till 8 Jun.

May was a time of transitions. The Community said goodbye to Sch. Frank Savadera, who returned to Manila for Theology, and welcomed Frs. Irvin Salanio and Kim Lachica, along with Schs. Marck Kwan and I.J. Chan-Gonzaga. The newcomers went straight to their assignments. Fr. Salanio will teach Math in the H.S., while also helping in the Campus Ministry Office there. Fr. Lachica will be with the Campus Ministry office of the College. Sch. Kwan teaches CLE in the H.S. and Sch Chan-Gonzaga takes over as Director of Daigler House Prenovitiate while also teaching History in the College.

From 17 – 22 May, Fr. Acting Rector Albert Alejo and Schs. Aldwin Mahusay and Chan-Gonzaga were in Iloilo City to join the “Re-visioning” colloquium of the Society of Jesus Social Apostolate (SJSA).

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ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

Fr. Vic Badillo received a singular honor when the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid after him, the “Asteroid 4866 Badillo.” The news appeared on the front page of Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin. The official IAU citation, published in Minor Planet Center Circular No. 54173 (23 May) reads in part: “Victor L. Badillo . . . has popularized astronomy in the Philippines for more than three decades, inspiring Filipino astronomers.”

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ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY

The old Jesuit House, an all-wooden building with much history, is presently disappearing. Various members of the Community took a final stroll through it for old times’ sake. A new building will have four stories, with the two top stories serving as dormitories and the first and second floors as a commerce center. The work is being financed by the Doña Chita Madrigal Foundation. Construction piles need to be driven into the ground for a strong foundation. To avoid disturbing classes during the day, the piles will be driven into the ground at night. Since the old Jesuit Residence is very close to the new one, some Jesuits might not sleep very well for several months.

At the end of May, the Community went all out to give directed retreats to 56 dorm scholars in a local retreat house. The retreats were for 8-days and in complete silence. Feed-back on this style of retreat was very positive.

May welcomed four new members into the Community: Frs. David John de los Reyes and Vidal Gornez, and Regents Sch. Renel Dimacali and Bro. Rez Negapatan. DJ and Rez will work in the H.S. Vidz and Renel will teach in the College and forego the daily ride to the Pacol Campus.

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LOYOLA HOUSE OF STUDIES

The annual retreat for Scholastics and Brothers was at Villa Sta. Luisa in Tagaytay, 15 to 23 of May. Fr. Cel Reyes directed the retreat and provided the insightful points while Frs. Bill Abbott, Vic Salanga, Tony Moreno, Jboy Gonzales and Rudy Fernandez helped out as spiritual directors. Sch. Nono Alfonso generously oversaw and coordinated preparations for the occasion.

The Juniors/Philosophers had another installment of the Leadership Development Program, this time focused on “Jesuit Education Leader, Manager of Organizational Resources.” Some of the topics and speakers included the following: “The work of Education in a Jesuit School” by Frs. Johnny Go and Jett Villarin; “The Education Apostolate: Vision and Strategic Direction” by Fr. Ben Nebres; and “The Jesuit Leader as Animator” by Fr. Bill Kreutz. The three-day program began on 25 May and culminated with Mass at which Fr. Rector Jojo Magadia presided.

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SACRED HEART NOVITIATE

A week after Villa in Baguio, the Novices were back there again for their annual 8-day retreat, directed by Fr. Noel Vasquez. The retreat lasted from 16 to 23 May. The cool weather and silence of Mirador were also very conducive for prayer. Homilies delivered by Frs. Joey Fermin, Art Borja, and Manoling Francisco also abetted personal encounters with God.

Two very significant events also took place in May: Entrance Day and Vow Day.

Five young men from the Philippine Province entered the novitiate on 30 May. The traditional good-byes and the closing of the door were very dramatic. The ceremony reminded all the Jesuits present of their own entrance day, and especially Frs. Provincial, Jojo Magadia and Vic de Jesus, who were celebrating their 25th anniversaries of entrance.

The next day was Vow Day for ten second-year Novices. About 400 to 500 guests were on hand to witness the momentous occasion.

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SACRED HEART SCHOOL – JESUIT

In May, Fr. Director Ernie Javier and Fr. Eric Velandria took turns facilitating a month-long Summer In-service Program of the G.S. and H.S. faculty. Fr. Superior Julian Hernando was kept busy monitoring the enrollment of students. Meanwhile, Bro. Louis Tremblay supervised cleaning and repainting to prepare for beginning of class. He was also busy renovating the Lilo-an beach house, which is being converted into a recollection facility for the school.

The Community welcomed its newest members. Fr. Vic Helly will reside in Jesuit Retreat House, Banawa and Fr. Monching de Guzman, fresh from Culion, will help out in the SHS-J’s Campus Ministry Office. The Community also bade farewell to Fr. Mon Mores, who left the retreat house at the end of May for a well-deserved sabbatical in the U.S..

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XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Fr. Miguel Bernad ended his editorship of KINAADMAN Journal with the publication of Vol. 27 (2005) and a 27-year index covering all issues from Vol. 1 (1979) to Vol. 27. Fr. Bernad’s successors, who will take over next month, are an editorial team headed by Dr. Imelda Pagtolon-an, hitherto Dean of Arts and Sciences. Her co-editors are two lay professors and Fr. Rector Asandas Balchand.

To outgoing President Fr. Antonio Samson’s nine large buildings (five in the main campus) he has added a tenth. Now nearing completion is the large six-story building intended for student activities. Also, he is leaving a legacy of smaller constructions, among them the bridges connecting the various buildings. The latest is the one between the Engineering and Industrial Technology buildings. The longest and most elaborate is the semicircular bridge connecting the Commerce with the Engineering building.

Fr. Samson returned from a trip abroad on 4 May and on 6 May was honored with a despedida dinner by Capitol University, held in the executive house of the university president. Members of the Jesuit Community were among those invited. Fr. Calvin Poulin was one of the speakers at the dinner.

Schs. Braulio Dahunan and Christopher Fajardo left for Iloilo on 16 May to attend a seminar on the social apostolate.

Fr. Ruben Reyes made a pilgrimage to Punot, Zamboanga del Sur, to pray at what is believed to be the grave of Fr. Francesco Paleola, the Jesuit proto-martyr in the Philippines. He was killed by Suban-on tribesmen in 1632. Fr. Reyes was praying for Fr. Alfeo Nudas, who is now in Manila for treatment of a brain tumor and other brain lesions.

Fr. Bernad and Sch. Porcia accompanied Fr. Carampatan to the latter’s mountain mission of Miarayon in Bukidnon, traveling over very rough roads and arriving there at night in total darkness. During their entire visit from 13-15 May, there was no electricity in the locality. On Pentecost Sunday 15 May a sung Mass in Visayan was celebrated with Fr. Archie as main celebrant and Fr. Bernad as homilist.

Fr. Balchand returned on 28 May from a month and a half sabbatical in the United States.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

In his decree dated 17 Feb 2005, Fr. General suppressed the Community of the Manila Observatory. Members of the MO Community were reassigned: Fr. Dan McNamara, to Loyola House of Studies; Fr. Jett Villarin, to Xavier University; Frs. Victor Badillo and Sergio Su, to the Jesuit Residence of AdMU. Fr. Marianna Lourdu Pasala [AND], who was residing at MO, has moved to LHS. As a work of the Province, MO will, of course, continue to function with Fr. Dan as its Director.

In his letter dated 1 Apr 2005, Fr. General approval the suspension of the Community of Jesuit Retreat House-Cebu. Jesuits working at JRH are now affiliated to the Jesuit Community of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit. Only Frs. Victor Helly and Roland Doriol [GAL] remain residents of JRH. Fr. Ramon Mores left for sabbatical in the U.S., and Fr. Jose Embile is assigned to Xavier University.

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DEATHS

Fr. William J. O’Rourke, a former Jesuit who did Philosophy and Regency in the Philippines from 1947-53 and later became a diocesan priest, on 12 Apr in Hebron, Connecticut.

Mrs. Carmen L. Go, eldest sister of Fr. Candido O. Lim, on 16 May in Cebu.

Fr. Venancio S. Calpotura, on 21 May in Quezon City.

Sr. Mary Meehan, S.S.N.D., sister of Fr. James Meehan, on 31 May in Wilton, Connecticut.

Mr. Renato P. Hontiveros, brother of Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, on 2 Jun in Roxas City.

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© 2003 Philippine Jesuit Foundation