This phrase, which first caught me as a theme during the postulants’ proclamation on November 19, was chosen by FMSI as the Advent Prayer/Reflection for the Brothers throughout the world. The emphasis was on the article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ensuring “that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment…”. As Brothers and educators, we are challenged “to become sensitive to this issue in our daily and regular contact with children.” In the daily reflections are featured children up to their teens, from 9 countries representing third to first world countries, whose stories “highlight the myriad ways in which discrimination displays itself” (Br. Jim Jolley).

As we enter the lives of these children from Argentina to Kenya, from Kiribati to the USA, we can’t help but see the world of discrimination through their very simple eyes. All they need is acceptance for what they are and providing the environment for growth and compassion. One of the songs in the musical Les Miserables, expressed this so aptly, “When I look at you, I see the face of God”. Certainly, children are the most vulnerable to crime and punishment; but they are also the most sensitive to our kindness and proper guidance, given that we act justly towards them.

Happy Feet, Two, one of the animated pre-Christmas movies shown lately featured a young penguin named Erik who wanted to fly but was dissuaded by his father Mumble that “penguins just do not fly”. So the little penguin left his family in search of the bird who looks like a penguin. Upon seeing Erik on his lone journey to the unknown, Mumble left the large flock of penguins in search of his son. When the father found his son, Mumble merely accompanied him in the journey and at the same time injected some words of wisdom for Erik to learn about life. As they journeyed together, Little Erik saw how his father risked his life to free a sea elephant from a solid wall of ice surrounding him and how his father tried to save the large group of penguins that were trapped when the ice shell collapsed. Their effort was to no avail; so they went to the sea elephants to seek for help, but they were refused. The most poignant scene was when the father walked away after refusal, and little Erik, upon seeing the pain in his father’s face, turned to the sea elephant. Through a very touching song, he defended his father, recalling how he tried to save the lives of many including the large mammal’s,… putting his life at stake… He ended his song with,“HE is MY FATHER, MY HERO”. Little Erik touched the heart of the whole crowd of sea elephants that later provided the path to recovery of the endangered penguin species. Erik’s meaningful journey to learn that he doesn’t have to fly to save others and be a hero is a growthful journey that can only be provided by an adult, accompanying with a genuine compassion and paternal guidance towards what the child should become.

This Christmas allows us to see life as it is, and like Erik, learn to accept the reality of becoming and the pain that growth entails. Just like the baby Jesus, going through the process of birth, growth and maturity to become human. Children can challenge us in their simplicity to see our future a better place and to respond to their call for compassion and just treatment of man and nature. We are thus invited to see our world through the eyes of these children. For that exactly is what Christ challenged us to be, “Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter heaven” (Mat 18:3-4). “Seeing the World Through the Eyes of the Children”

Download the PDF File of Amihan Issue for December 2011.

Br. Manny de Leon, as provincial, challenged the group to be “inclusive” rather than be merely exclusive in their activities and presence as members. The challenges extend to their being active in animating and recruiting vocation to our way of life. He praised the enthusiasm, dedication and longing to imbibe the Champagnat and Marist Spirit in each sector. Video presentations were shown to attest to each CMMF sector’s authentic vision and mission.

The whole day activity was focused on 3 aspects: Liturgy, Video and musical presentations from each sector and picking up the challenges of Brother Provincial which they would formulate for the next five years.

The entire group is grateful to Brother John Tan and the entire NDDU CMMF community for the day’s preparation, activities and documentation. Strikingly, the entire group was provided with blue t-shirts adorned simply with a colourful CMMF logo.

More photos at the Gallery.

By Br. Ted Fernandez, FMS

With the batch’s theme, “Quadros Elementos: Seeing the World through the eyes of children,” Father Angel Buenavidez presided the mass together with Father Norman Quilaguil as his co-presider.

The newly proclaimed postulants are the following:

1. Cian Marco M. Tabuada, from the Archdiocese of Cotabato
2. Jevest M. Arriate, from the Archdiocese of Cotabato
3. Jordan J. Jarandilla from the Diocese of Marbel
4. John Allen V. Timola from the Diocese of Antipolo, Manila
5. Philip Caesar C. Renacia from the Archdiocese of Cotabato
6. Jeffrey A. Gesulga from the Archdiocese of Cotabato
7. Aljon I. Yonder from the Diocese of Marbel
8. Deo Dudz B. Hizo from the Diocese of Bukidnon
9. Lloyd T. Gamboa  from the Archdiocese of Cotabato
10. Rhonnel J. Cordova from the Archdiocese of Cotabato

After an aspirant is accepted to continue his formation, he will be proclaimed Postulant. Postulancy is the preparation stage for novitiate formation that takes place at Immaculate Conception Novitiate in Tamontaka, Maguindanao.

The said proclamation rite was attended by the parents and benefactors, visitors from other religious congregations from the locality and by the Marist Brothers from nearby communities. It was followed by a simple dinner at the Marist Province Center in Lagao.

More photos at the Gallery Section

On top of the graduating class is Br. Raphael Fakaia of Solomon Islands in the High Honors category. Bros. Roy, Cocoy and Nelson are all in the Honors category.  Other honor graduates in this category are two Brothers from India and Sri Lanka and the two Vietnamese Sisters.

Br. Joseph McKee, vicar general, distributed the medals of the awardees. Br. Peter Rodney, MAPAC rector, delivered the graduation message while Br. Raphael gave the address of thanks.

Among the board members present on this occasion were Br. Ken McDonald, chairman of the board and district leader of Melanesia, Br. Shanthi Lenayage, provincial of the South Asia Province and Br. Manuel de Leon, provincial of the East Asia Province. ###

By Br. Romy Porras, FMS 

Br. Manuel De Leon, the Brother Provincial congratulated the Brothers especially Br. Alfredo Herrera, one of the Mexican pioneers in Korea, who was present during the jubilee celebration.

There was a brief presentation of the history of the Marist Brothers and its apostolic mission in Korea, and was followed by the Eucharistic celebration. What the Brothers have done so far, is to manage social welfare houses and giving retreats to the youths.

The said event was attended by the Brothers’ benefactors and friends, youth from the Marist Houses and Religious congregations in Seoul.

Brothers Niño Mark John, Albert and Jeff Rhey professed perpetually in the presence of the Superior General’s delegate, Br. Manuel De Leon, the Brother Provincial of East Asia Province.

Bishop Angelito Lampon, OMI, DD was the main presider of the Mass, which was assisted by other three priests.

Br. Niño Mark John Suarez (from the Diocese of Marbel) is presently assigned at Notre Dame of Cotabato in Cotabato City. Brother Albert Muñoz (from the Diocese of Kidapawan) is assigned at Marist School in Marikina City, while Brother Jeff Rhey Antiquesa (from the Diocese of Kidapawan) is working at Marcellin Home Foundation in Katangawan but stays at Aspirancy House, his community assignment at the moment.

The said special event was attended by religious sisters, brothers and priests and lay mission partners of the Brothers in the Philippines coming from the different Marist schools.

More photos here.

Brother Niño Mark Suarez, representing the Brothers, led the group of Ms. Vangie Cadilena, a former Palawan mission volunteer, Mrs. Thelma Almonicar, Ms. Lita Albarracin and Ms. Irene Sison, from Cotabato. Ms. Ivy Yecyec is the lone representative of ND Kidapawan’s CMMF group. Thelma’s interesting account on page 19 gives an encouraging insight of our CMMF’s vision towards a more active participation in the Marist mission in the future.

In the spirit of lay volunteerism, the group prepared for their month-long itinerary, amount to spend for their transportation and allowances and most of all, their physical health in order to withstand arduous treks, exposure to malariacarrying mosquitoes and living among inhabitants with their simple primitive vision of life. What all the Brothers did in this venture was merely to prepare the place where these volunteers were intimately welcomed by the natives.

The Marbel Diocese is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, highlighted by the “Gabi ng Parangal” on November 20th when individuals, institutions, corporations responsible for building up the local Church of Marbel are recognized. Bishop Gutierrez through his vicar, Fr. Buenaobra came up with low-profile enrichment activities centering more on programs based on the acronym “NATURES” (N-atural agricultural practices; A-dvocacy; T-otal waste management; U-nited actions; R-eforestation; E-ducation; S-pirituality), the Youth and Indigenous People and Christian Family enrichment. Some historical facts are found on page 26.

Lest we forget, the Marist Brothers have been an active force in building the early Christian community by way of education in this southern part of the Cotabato empire province, a part of which eventually became South Cotabato where the diocese of Marbel had its foundation. In our early Marist recruitment, our first Filipino Brothers came from this diocese, particularly in the Banga-Tantangan-Norala-Marbel areas. These young men ventured to travel from Marbel to New York in the early 50s to start the formation of our first Filipino Marist Brothers. Today, out of 66 Filipino Brothers in vows, 28 have come from the Marbel diocese. That makes 42% (almost half of the Philippine sector) of our persevering vocations come from the diocese of Marbel. It is thus fitting that during this memorable occasion, we thank the Lord for having reaped the harvest of our predecessors’ hard work and commit ourselves to cooperate in implementing the thrust of the diocese.

The prominent issues that face us currently is the morality of House Bill 4244 “Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development”. The Bishop stressed its immoral ground based on the doctrinal principles found in GS 48, 1 (Vatican II in its Constitution on the Church Today declaring the purposes of Christian Marriage) and Pope Paul’s encyclical letter “Humanae Vitae” (July, 1968) on Human Life, forbidding the use of contraceptives. There are innumerable oppositions, but, as a writer once said, “morality based on religious principles is non-debatable.”

The diocese, a staunch supporter of the “No to RH Bill” has convinced our school constituents to be more pro-active in our concern for health, the unborn, sanctity of marriage and poverty-alleviation. Our Marial stance should allow us to be more prophetic than reactive, acting more freely out of conviction than that of fear and uniformity. This is what the diocese has impacted on us… where our two universities are the main Christian education institutions that promote this wholistic Christian learning in forming effective leaders in this part of Mindanao.

Our 3 Brothers – Jeff Rhey, Albert and Niño Mark – are due for perpetual profession by September 10th of this year. They have chosen the Cebuano liturgy (their common dialect) so as to be one with their families , the mission they commonly served in the past and the challenge of addressing our God with their perpetual commitment in their grassroot language. We shall devote some articles and pictures of that celebration in our next Amihan issue.

We join the American Brothers in celebrating the 75th year of Brother Bernard Curtin and Brother Jim McKnight’s 50th. Both Brothers were in the Philippines for the most part of their Marist life, and had key roles to play in the province. Br. Bernard was among the pioneers in Marbel, Lagao, Jolo and Marikina. He also served as master of scholastics for 7 years, an important role in forming our first Philippine-trained Brothers. Br. Jim came as a scholastic and left us after serving as provincial for years. Page 30 is dedicated to them in this issue.

EDITORIAL

by Br. Ted Fernandez, FMS

Download the Amihan Vol. 31, Number 1 here.

by Br. Emili Turú, Superior General

In recent months, various groups of Marist pilgrims have passed through our General House in Rome after visiting the Hermitage. I have taken the opportunity to meet with most of these groups, and have been able to observe the great impact produced in their lives by contact with the places of our Marist origins. Many, when they find themselves physically present in this damp and narrow valley through which the river Gier flows, wonder how such a worldwide expansion of the Marist Institute could have taken place from this humble spot. But I think what also leaves a great impression is knowing oneself to be part of a marvellousstory that began in these lands in 1817 and which continues into our times on the five continents. We know that we are carrying on the dream of Fr. Champagnat, Br. François, our first Brothers and so many others who have followed since.

All of us have experienced, probably at one time or another, the delightful sensation of knowing that our ‘little’ stories connect with a greater story which is unfolding around us and of which we can be part. For many of us today, in fact, it has become almost impossible to separate our personal journey from the Marist journey, one among many which come together in the great story of humanity and which seek to contribute to making the world a place of greater fraternity and harmony.

It seems to me that this sentiment is well expressed in Tolkien’s famous novel, “The Lord of the Rings”. Frodo and Sam, two hobbits, find themselves, without knowing very much how or why, suddenly involved in a great and exciting adventure. They leave the comfort they have known to encounter dangers and constant surprises. They do not realise it, but they have a fundamental role in securing the future of the “Middle Earth”.

On one occasion, finding themselves in danger, Sam addresses Frodo:

- … I wonder what kind of tale we’ve fallen into.

- I wonder —said Frodo—. But I don’t know. And that’s the way of a real tale. Take any one that you’re fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of a tale it is, happy-ending or sad-ending, but the people in it don’t know. And you don’t want them to.

-… Don’t the great tales ever end?

– No, they never end as tales -said Frodo-. But the people in them come, and go when their part’s ended. Our part will end later – or sooner…

Unlike Sam and Frodo, however, I think that we are becoming aware of the type of story into which we have “fallen”: a great story, one of those which never end, in which we want to take up “our part”.

Today, as we celebrate the life and holiness of Marcellin Champagnat, is a day of thanksgiving. Because our personal lives have become knowingly interwoven in the service of a greater project that transcends us and gives us meaning and direction. Because we feel called to be a presence of Mary in the Church and in society.

But it is also a day for renewing our commitment to the Marist charism and mission, defying all our resistances to set out in haste, with Mary, for a new land. It is almost two years since the XXI General Chapter, and the “horizons of the future” intuited in that assembly, continue to summon us urgently, demanding personal and collective commitment:

• A new consecrated life which promotes a new way of being brother.
• A new relationship among Brothers and lay people, based on communion, looking together for a greater vitality of the Marist charism for our world.
• A strongly significant presence among poor children and young people.

“I wonder what kind of tale we’ve fallen into…” We need not doubt it: it is an exciting adventure, and one to which it is worth giving one’s life. As actors in this story we do not know how it will end, but that does not matter: we know that the goal is the journey, and that is enough for us.

Let us journey, then, with joy, with hope, and with renewed commitment on the roads of the Marist story, in which we are already actors. Following this journey together helps us to be more ourselves, since, as Isak Dinesen said: “To be a person is to have a story to tell”.

May Saint  Marcellin Champagnat, in whose footsteps we follow, bless us all, our families, and the children and young people we have been called to serve on the five continents.

The ten novices were: Br. Jeffrey Abian, Br. Ismael Catulong Jr (from the Diocese of Kidapawan), Br. Roel del Rosario, Br. Jano John Evangelista, Br. Clint Guanzon, Br. Adrian Mana-ay, Br. Dolph Franz Mejia, Br. Efren Savariz (from Archdiocese of Cotabato), Br. Jeffry Guino-o (from Diocese of Tagum), and Br. Alejandro Lagos III (from Diocese of Marbel).

Prior to their first profession, they already chose the theme, “What am I that you should love me and hold me as your dearest love of all” as fruit of their retreat in preparation for the day of profession. It captures the core experience of their formation years. They chose deliberately the all-embracing and loving presence of God through Jesus Christ who embraces each one of them with an unconditional love. The theme itself was adopted from the song, “My Heart’s Thanksgiving;” by Himig Heswita.

Bishop Colin gave three points for them to remember in responding and living out the call of God in their lives. First is to listen to God in many ways. To learn in the ways that God wants them to be; just like Jesus Christ to the Father, and lastly, to make extra effort in following Christ every day. These, according to the bishop, are the essence of prayer… life of prayer.

The Brother Provincial, Br. Manuel de Leon, delegate of the Superior General Emili Turu, accepted their vows in the presence of the whole assembly.

A fellowship meal followed after the ceremony which was held at Marist Brothers Novitiate, Marian Hills in Tamontaka.

The newly professed Brothers will proceed to Marist Asia-Pacific Center (MAPAC)  this coming June for their scholasticate for three years, taking up Diploma in Religious Studies together with other Scholastics from Asia and Pacific.

More photos of the Profession of Vows at the Gallery Section of this site.

Left to right: Moses Cho, Harry Gullon, Gerex Cabajes, Br. Manny the Provincial, Richie Dean Bagsican, John Emil Alada and James Barnuevo

Five Filipino and one Korean received their habit today, May 16, 2011 at 6 ‘clock in the morning held at Immaculate Conception Novitiate, known as Marist Brothers Novitiate in Tamontaka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, Philippines.

The following novices are: Raffy James Barnuevo, John Emil Alada, Harry Gullon, Gerex Cabajes, Richie Dean Bagsican, all from Philippine Sector, and Moses Cho from Korea Sector.

Each one also received a copy of the Institute’s Constitution and Bylaws. The new Brother Novices begin to study and live out their commitment as canonical novices for one year and becoming missionary novices after a year.

The Eucharist was presided by Fr. Aliki Langi, a Marist Father while the habit-taking ceremony was done in the presence of the Brother Provincial, Br. Manuel De Leon, Br. Lindley Sionosa, the Director of Novices, Br. Demosthenes Calabria, the Director of Postulancy and other Brothers in the Novitiate.