JANUARY 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

Rogate: New Creation Spirituality. January immediately denotes new beginnings or moving forward. But traced to its root word, Janus, January more appropriately means both movements, forward and backward. The Kingdom mission of Jesus, which is the same mission that moved St. Hannibal, and same mission which SHEC continues, is a mission which has backward and forward elements. Such mission is about learning form the past, in view of transforming the old world, or the first creation, until the establishment of the new world or the new creation (see Gen 1, Rev 21:1-5) where justice dwells (see 2 Pt 3:13). 

Happy Birthday, Fr. Dex! It’s too good to be true, they usually say, but there are too good things and persons that are exceptionally true. Fr. Dex is such a person. His very existence, celebrations of which fall on January 6, can be truly attested as meant for SHEC, for since its inception to date, Fr. Dex has always been there. SHEC and Fr. Dex are too intertwined that one seems inconceivable without the other. This is not rhetoric. It is actual logic, a sheer reality, so to speak. And the beneficiaries of SHEC and Kingdom workers are grateful to God for letting Fr. Dex be born for the Kingdom, for the Church and especially for SHEC. Ad multos annos!

Multiple Jubilation! January 11, 2015 is a reason to grandiosely celebrate and to thank God wholeheartedly due to wonderful reasons: Priestly Anniversary of Fr. Dexter, Foundation Day of SHEC, SHaCC and PABaNAL, blessing and groundbreaking of SHaCC Phase 17 land and housing project. Needless to say, the events were celebrated with the Holy Eucharist as highlight. The communities, staff, benefactors and friends of SHEC, through said celebrations, manifested the joy of the Kingdom, an anticipation of the bliss of the New Creation to come.

Welcome, Sean Lovett! To be visited by people from the Radio Vaticana is indeed an honor. Last January 14, 2015, Sean Lovett and companions from the Radio Vaticana, Vatican City, graced SHEC as they visited St. Hannibal Subdivision, Phase 2. The exchange of stories and experiences, as well as friendship between the visitors and some leaders and members of Phase 2 had been heart-moving. And such moment, needless to say, would be aired in Vatican soil.

Happy Priestly Ordination Anniversary, Fr. Orville! January 21, the day of Fr. Orville R. Cajigal’s sacerdotal anniversary, is yet another instance of a too good thing yet true. Indeed, throughout his ministry Fr. Orville or Jiggs has chosen to stay and walk with the poor who struggle for a more just and humane society, until the New Creation shall have come. Happy Anniversary, Apo Orville!

RCJ Postulants’ Immersion. To rub elbows with the poor, to share their day to day life, to take part in their experiences and stories—these are the best ways by which a future Kingdom worker can understand and eventually work more efficiently for the poor’s plight. This has been the goal of the precious moment of immersion which some RCJ postulants undertook last January 26-31 at St. Hannibal Phase 17. Truly, a taste of the Old World of poverty and oppression may make one be more motivated to promote the New World’s peace and justice.

Thank You, Lord! Last January 31, 2015, to thank the Lord for the blessings poured out throughout the year, some leaders and members of SHaCC did a supplica or prayer encounter at St. Hannibal Phase 17. Gratias tibi, Domine!s