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4 November 2019 INFO SSCC Brothers Nº 137 Page 1

During the canonical visitation to the Flemish Delegation, Jean-Blaise and I went to visit

one of the "elders" in the congregation. God willing, he will be 100 years old next year.

He has difficulties in hearing and seeing. This did not prevent him from welcoming us

warmly and showing a lively interest in what is happening in the different areas of the

Congregation. In the course of the conversation, I asked him to pray to the Lord for our

religious family. And as he searched within for the words to say, he opened his arms and

prayed: "May all [the members of the Congregation] be convinced in the Lord and

forever united to him”. Listening to him and aware of the health limitations that have

come to him with age, all of us who witnessed this prayer said to ourselves: "This brother

A check-up on the health

of the body of the Congregation

126

Congregazione dei Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria;

Via Rivarone 85; 00166 Roma www.ssccpicpus.com

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137 • 4 November 2019

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is in good spiritual health”. It was his way of witnessing to us. Blessed by a life lived

fully, this brother exhorts us to be convinced about what we have received as gift: faith,

the spirituality of the Congregation, the ministry, the brothers and sisters with whom we

walk and many other gifts besides. He encourages us to live united to the one who wants

to unite himself forever to our lives, the Lord Jesus. It was as if in him we were seeing

the fulfilment of the words of St. Paul:

“What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or

persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor

present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other

creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Rom

8:35, 38)

A time for intercession, a time to profess one’s faith

Another moment to check the health of the Congregation is when a brother decides to

leave the community. No one departure is the same and each decision results from a

specific discernment. In the last few weeks, I have received countless letters from

brothers, sisters and laity regarding Javier Álvarez-Ossorio’s decision to leave the

priesthood and the congregation. In them, people have shared with me their reactions:

surprise, pain, confusion, disillusionment, some their anger and a few their judgment. At

the same time, many have shared with me their prayers for Javier, for the Congregation

and for me as Superior General. In this I also perceive a sign that the body is in good

health. These are prayers that in the first place express gratitude for what this brother

has brought to the Congregation with his life and service. They are also prayers that are

to be understood in the context of the mystery that is the human heart, unfathomable to

us though not to God who calls each one of us by name. Prayers, too, that intercede for

the body of the Congregation and which are, at the same time, a profession of faith and

a renewal of confidence in the Lord who leads the Congregation and each one of us,

supporting us with his providential and faithful hand. In these sentiments brought to

prayer before the Lord, I can see how the whole body suffers when a member of the

community leaves. This in itself tells of the strength of the bonds that we have been able

to weave among ourselves by virtue of our belonging to the Congregation and the

journey we have made together. And I also see

a light visible in the eyes of faith and an

openness to welcoming grace as we re-visit our

own vocation and read it as an acceptance of

the Lord who leads us and an acceptance of his

irrevocable love for each one of us, for his

Church and for our Congregation, his “work” as

our founders loved to call it.

Rereading ministry as a gift

As I write these lines Thomas and I are making a canonical visitation to the Philippines

and Japan, and Derek and Jean Blaise are making a canonical visitation to the province of

Brazil and the region of Paraguay. During the visit to the Philippines we were present at

the ordination of José María Dumagat sscc who was ordained a priest on 20th October in

his homeland, in Sagay in Negros Occidental, in the region of Bisayas. One of the rites

that accompanied his ordination was the Christian community processing with an image

of Our Lady of the Rosary, patroness of the parish that bears her name. The community

processed with the Virgin to the family home of José Marie. There the newly ordained,

“I also see a light visible in the

eyes of faith and an openness

to welcoming grace”


along with his family, and neighbours, joined the procession and made their way back to

the parish. A small band accompanied them. As we passed through the streets of their

neighbourhood, the neighbours looked out to see what was happening: "The Virgin is

being carried in procession through our neighbourhood because one of our own, who has

grown up among us, has been ordained a priest”. The whole neighbourhood did not

remain indifferent to this visit. They were happy along with his family to see José Marie

ordained a priest. To rejoice with those who rejoice and to celebrate what God is doing in

the midst of his people is a sign of the good health of the spirit of this community. It was

also a strong message for José Marie as he walked as a priest through the streets that

had seen him grow up. This was an invitation to reread the ministry he received as the

story of a gift that has come to him through these people, family and friends who have

helped him mature both as a person and as a believer. In addition, this rite reminds him

that he also belongs to this body, that he is not to forget this place, nor the people who

live there with their joys, their pains, struggles and hopes. Finally, it helps him see that

as a shepherd he will never be alone, but that he can count on this people who will

continue to accompany him. They now ask that he holds them in his prayer and ministry

as he engages with the new communities that will be entrusted to him.

Responding to God's overwhelming love

During this month of November in which we recall the dies natalis of our foundress, it is

good for the health of the body for the Congregation to savour once again Henriette’s

way of responding to the unfathomable love of God, manifested in the Heart of his Son,

Jesus. Henriette Aymer united her prayer and her service to the community in such a

manner that she was able "in a special way to enter into the interior crucifixion of his

Heart" ("entrer particulièrement dans le crucifiement intérieur de son Cœur" (Cf. Billet de

la Bonne Mère au Bon Père, 3 février 1802, LEBM 63). That is to say, by conforming our

lives to identify with the attitudes, feelings and choices of the Heart of Jesus it will then

be Jesus who loves and acts through us. It is this that ensured – and ensures - the good

health of the body of the family that the Good Mother, along with the Good Father,

helped to care for.

Maintaining the good health of the Congregation

It would be good for us to help each other, along with the People of God, to do what we

can to ensure that the body that is the Congregation stays healthy.

- Keep the Congregation in our minds so that we may remain convinced of the gift

that we have received from the Lord who is forever faithful and united to us.

- Cultivate day by day the bonds of fraternity among us through sincere affection

and by praying for one another.

- Stay close to the people with whom we walk, making our own their joys, their

pains, their struggles and their hopes.

- Ask the Heart of Jesus to help us enter more and more into his crucified love, a

love which assumes our weaknesses, our darkness, our struggles, our falls and

our desires to walk with him wherever he leads us.

Fraternally in the SSCC,

Alberto Toutin sscc

Superior General


NEWS

Between 17 October and 1 November, Thomas Sukotriharjo and Alberto Toutin

visited the brothers and sisters in the Philippines. The group of brothers is composed of

15 members, plus 7 postulants. The main ministry is parish ministry, with two parishes

and a quasi-parish in which they collaborate in the pastoral service. All of these are

located in Manila.

A significant work is the Damien Centre that operates in the parish and Bagong

Silang. There brothers and sisters, together with volunteers and contracted staff, offer

various programs: food, medical or ophthalmological care, physical therapy, school

support for people with special needs, scholarships, training in hairdressing and

manicure, etc. All these services are financed with the support of donors from

abroad and through networking with other congregations and with the Philippines

state.

Another significant service is the attention paid to the Saint Damien chapel located

within the José Rodríguez hospital complex in the Tala neighbourhood (Manila).

There the brothers accompany the sick in the hospital, especially those who are

there for leprosy treatment. Every day - except Saturday - they celebrate the

Eucharist.

Alberto and Thomas have urged the brothers, together with the sisters and pastoral

councils, to enter into an apostolic discernment of our parishes in view of a pastoral

and missionary conversion. And having in mind their good health the brothers, were

strongly encouraged to face certain tensions that exist between them and to take

care of their strengths as well as ensuring the quality of the pastoral service, which in

itself is always demanding.

Photo Album of the visit by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/36j7tBy

Canonical visit to the Province of Japan-Philippines

Visit our WEB

www.ssccpicpus.com

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As you read this, Jean Blaise Mwanda and Derek Laverty have completed the first part of

their canonical visitation to Brazil-Paraguay. So far, they have visited Belo Horizonte,

Victoria, Catuji, Tijuca and Campo Grande. During these visits they had the opportunity to

meet with each brother and with each community.

Campo Grande: Paulo Roberto Teixeira de Abreu sscc, Rafael Azanza Pellejero sscc and Alexandre De Campos Leite sscc

Tijuca: Lorenzo Arbeloa Arbeloa sscc and Geraldo Abilio Ribeiro sscc

There was also a number of opportunities to meet with our sisters and Secular Branch

members and to see the various pastoral works that the brothers are committed to.

On Friday, 1st November Jean Blaise and Derek headed to Paraguay to meet with the

SSCC family there. They are grateful for this opportunity to visit Brazil and get to know the

Province and its members and are happy with the way the visit has progressed. They were

very fortunate to visit the famous, “Christ the Redeemer” monument situated at the top of

the Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro.

Tijuca: Members of the SSCC Secular Branch Rio de Janeiro: “Christ the Redeemer”

Photo Album of the visit by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2JxOUju

Canonical visit to the Province of Brazil-Paraguay


The Dutch Delegation gathered

for their annual assembly on 15

October 2019 in Teteringen

(Nederland).

13 members of the Dutch Dele-

gation attended the meeting

during which Jan Munsters was

elected Superior of the Dele-

gation for the period 2019-2022.

Jan Wouters will serve as

vicar and Theo Van Zoggel

as councillor.

Thomas Sukotriraharjo, representing the General Government and Raja Sebastian were

also present at the Assembly.

On the morning of Sunday 6 October

2019 SSCC brothers Patrisius Breket

Mudaj and Dionisius Carytas Watun

arrived from Indonesia at the airport of

Düsseldorf (Germany).

With their arrival the project "Berlin

International Community" enters a new

stage. Patrisius and Dion will begin their

language course in a few more weeks,

as they wait for Brother Crispin Badinga

from Kinshasa (Dem. Rep. of Congo) to join the new community. The brothers will

initially live in the Provincial House of Werne until they finish their German studies and

then move to Berlin to begin the SSCC mission there.

From 30 September to 12 October, a meeting of priests in their first five years of

ministry was held in the house of Macul, Chile. José Vicente Odriozola (Chile) and

David de la Torre (Ecuador) along with Guillermo Rosas (Chile), CIAL Coordinator for

Ongoing Formation accompanied the group.

Assembly of the Dutch Delegation

Berlin International Community

Meeting of young priests from Latin America

https://www.ssccpicpus.com/cms/_news/info.aspx?id=11837


The participants of the meeting were: Marco Ramírez (Mexico); Brian Cruz, Franklin

Astorga (Peru); Fabián Cifuentes (Colombia); Víctor Gualán, Luis Quishpe (Ecuador);

Edmar Oliveira, João Lucas Alves, Alexandre de Campos Leite (Brazil); and Nicolás

Viel (Chile).

The meeting offered a time for a review of life, a time of fraternity and common

prayer. The participants worked on various themes in the line of self-care and the

directions for their ministry that come from the Church, the Congregation and the

culture of today.

The first meeting of the newly constituted

Commission for Spiritual and Historical Patrimony

took place on Wednesday, 9th October in the

Generalate of the brothers.

The commission consists of the following members:

the Postulator, the Archivist, the General Secre-

taries of the two branches and one member of

the General Government (brothers).

Patricia Villarroel and Alberto Toutin were also

present at the meeting.

During the meeting we reviewed the Chapter

2018 document on patrimony and the directions that it gave. We see a clear

connection between this service and the spiritual and missionary animation of the

Congregation, all the time keeping in mind mission.

In this moment of service there is a lot of good things going on in the Church and the

Congregation: Pope Francis, to whom we feel closely connected, the Positiones

regarding our Founders which will provide us with more written material as will the

forthcoming 150th celebration of the martyrs of the Paris Commune.

Having set the scene and identified some of the tasks ahead of us, we will meet

again on Tuesday, 10th December at 3.30pm at the SSCC Sisters Generalate.

Commission for Spiritual and Historical Patrimony

https://www.ssccpicpus.com/cms/_news/info.aspx?id=11846


Pope Francis this morning in Rome (18 October) has

appointed Fr. David Israel de la Torre Altamirano sscc, as

the new auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Quito

(Ecuador). The Superior General of the Congregation of

the Sacred Hearts, Fr. Alberto Toutin sscc, on a canonical

visit in the Province of Japan-Philippines, had previously

been informed of the good news by Monsignor Andrés

Carrascosa Coso, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ecuador. On

behalf of the Congregation, he expressed his delight at

the decision of the Holy Father. Father David will join

Monsignor Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus, Metropolitan

Archbishop of Quito and Primate of Ecuador, and Mons.

Danilo Echeverría Verdesoto, auxiliary bishop, in sharing

responsibility for the diocese.

The new auxiliary bishop will be ordained on 7 December at 10 am in the Basilica of

La Dolorosa in Quito. The Metropolitan Archbishop will be presiding celebrant. Fr

David’s episcopal motto is inspired by the Letter to the Hebrews 12.2: "Fix your eyes

on Jesus."

The General House was delighted to receive

a visit from Mgr. Paul Donoghue, Bishop of

the Cook Islands. Bishop Paul came to take

part in the "ad limina" visit of the Conference

of Pacific Bishops (CEPAC) to the Vatican.

He took the opportunity to meet with the

Superior General, Alberto Toutin. Afterwards,

he stayed for lunch with the community.

Mgr. Paul lives in the same community with

the SSCC Dutch father, Daminanus Marinus

(90 years old). Daminanus is the only missio-

nary of the Congregation who remains in the Cook Islands.

A group of 16 brothers of the German

Province spent a number of days in prayer

and reflection from 15-18 October. They were

accompanied by a layman, a psycho-

therapist and theologian who helped them

reflect on the scripture passage: "Among you,

it must not be so" (Mk 10:43).

Pope Francis appoints David Israel de la Torre sscc as bishop

Visit of the Bishop of the Cook Islands to the General House

Days of prayer and reflection in the German Province


The participants began by reflecting on their own experiences of abuses of power,

also in religious life. In no time at all in small groups accounts were given of personal

experiences connected to the vow of obedience. The participants came to

understand how many wounds there are, and how difficult the path of liberation and

healing is. The letter by Alberto Toutin sent to the congregation in early October was

very useful. It is difficult to place ourselves in the perspective of the victims, but there

is no other way except to enter into the victims' suffering, listen to them and take

them seriously, empathising with their story of suffering and asking for forgiveness in a

credible way. The days concluded in gratitude to the Spirit for what we were helped

to see and discover and for showing us ways forward.

Message from the Provincial

Government of Chile in the

face of the serious crisis

unfolding in the country.

“As Provincial Government of

the Congregation of the Sacred

Hearts in Chile, we fully endorse

the words of the Standing

Committee of the Episcopal

Conference of Chile and of the

Conference of Religious of Chile

[CONFERRE], in their call to unity

and to prayer in order to face

the issues of social justice that

lie at the heart of this outbreak

of discontent that we are experiencing in these days and which is most distressing.

We are on the side of those who have helped us to wake up as a country; without

hatred, without violence, but with the sureness of knowing ourselves to be children of

God, and therefore, brothers and sisters to each other, with the dignity that this

implies. This is also the time to restore that dignity to every human person, that each

person receives what God has given them, which each one deserves ... a country in

which is found equal conditions, reciprocal relations of equality, not a country in

which there is a scandalous gap that we have witnessed for so many years.

In moments of violence from place to place, we must accompany our brothers and

neighbour residents weaving networks of solidarity, which sustain us and free us from

every day and invisible prisons such as lack of opportunities or drug trafficking.

We call on all lay people, permanent deacons and all those who participate in our

pastoral works, to be united in prayer, for only prayer will strengthen our hopeful

commitment to use active nonviolence as a way of peaceful protest, and it will

renew our resolve to work in building a fair and equitable Chile, seeking together

and creatively, the deep solutions that our people seek.”

Call to active non-violence (Chile)


On Friday, 25 October, the first

meeting of Superiors for this

new school year took place in

the Provincial House, Madrid.

Fourteen community superiors

assembled along with the Pro-

vincial Superior, Aurelio Cayón.

At the meeting, each superior

offered a brief report of the

situation of their community and

how the initiatives of the

Provincial Strategic Plan are

being implemented.

In general, all the communities

are doing good and are working well. Also discussed was how to help communities

live this pre-capitular time, in which the Province is situated, in a spirit of discernment.

The reflections on this point led to a very lively and helpful dialogue. Finally,

summaries were made of the presentation of the communities in the Provincial

Assembly. In general this was considered an original idea and was valued very

positively.

On October 11th, during the inauguration of the academic

course in the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome, Damiano

Tonegutti received the “Dr. Marc and Rachelle Bibeau

Award” for the best Hebrew and Greek student of 2018-2019.

He was presented with the award by Henry Pattarumadathil

SJ, dean of the Faculty of Bible Studies. The principal acts of

the inauguration were the mass in the “Basilica dei SS.

Apostoli” and a key note talk by Cardinal. G. Ravasi on

“Exegesis and Theology”.

About 200 young people from St. Damien Parish,

Lau Baleng, North Sumatra - Indonesia, gathered

for two days in the parish hall (26-27 October). The

theme was to redefine the identity of young

people worldwide through the web. The young

people divided into different small groups to

organise and present creative performances of

cultural dances and ceremonies. Some presented

modern dances and songs. The hope arising from

this gathering was that young people by getting

involved in the movements of the Church might

find ways to express themselves.

Meeting of Superiors (Iberia)

Damiano Tonegutti, the best Hebrew and Greek student

Young people on the move (Indonesia)


Mission Day for young people preparing for confirmation (Leuven)

Every year, those preparing for

Confirmation in the Vicariate

of Flemish Brabant meet for

Mission Day.

This year, on the occasion of

the tenth anniversary of the

canonisation of Father Damien,

the event took place in Leuven.

On 5 October, more than 1,500

boys and girls preparing for

confirmation met for a day full

of activities around the figure

of Father Damien. There were

treasure hunts in the town,

workshops at the Father Damien

Centre, competitions, testimonials etc. At the end of the day, everyone gathered at

the railway station and each child received a copy of the recently printed children’s

edition of the book “Signed Father Damien”.

School children celebrate Damien’s canonisation

On Thursday, 10 October, primary schools came together in the chapel and around

the crypt of Father Damien to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his canonisation. With

the help of teachers and teachers, the children celebrated this in their own way: with

songs and dances. A teacher played the role of Father Damien. For the children it

was the event of the week.

10th Anniversary of the Canonisation of Fr. Damien


Leuven celebrates 10 years of canonisation

Saturday, 12 October was the highlight

of a whole week of celebrations.

With the sponsorship of the city of Leuven

and the collaboration of various organi-

zations, project "Damiaan Vandaag"

(Damien Today) organized a series of

activities on the square in front of the

Church of St. Anthony and in the crypt

where the tomb of Fr. Damien lies.

There was a guided walk to various

places in the city that were connected

to Fr. Damien. Other guided walks took

place within the church and its

surroundings. In the square, in the open air, an exhibition was set up with paintings on

the history of the church and the tomb of Fr. Damien.

Four brothers of the SSCC Dutch Delegation along with 2 lay people joined in the

activities.

In Damien Square, in front of the chapel, the head alderman of the city government,

spoke about the significance of Father Damien for the city of Leuven. His speech was

followed by a reception for everyone.

At 3.00 pm and later at 8 pm there were 2 concerts in the chapel led by the official

soprano of the city, a violinist and a pianist. On each occasion, the chapel was full

(more than 200 visitors). Between the two shows, a photo presentation of the

community and the neighbourhood were shown.

On Sunday, 20th October, Fr. Lane Akiona sscc from Hawaii joined Fr. Jef Tops sscc in a

solemn celebration of the Eucharist in Leuven. Fr. Jef, rector of the church, presided.

Fr. Lane had come to Flanders to study the renovation of the museum in Tremelo,

having overseen the establishment of the Damien and Marianne Education Centre'

in Honolulu. Fr. Lane was fortunate to be able to participate in all the festive

activities. In several churches on this Sunday, cross country, 'Damien' celebrations

took place.

http://ss.cc/http://ss.cc/


Celebration in Mexico

On Saturday, 12 October, the Brothers of the Mexican Province met in “Our Lady of

Guadalupe” Parish to celebrate the anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Damien

of Molokai. Together with parishioners of the parishes of Mexico City, the life of St.

Damien was recalled, a community rosary was prayed and after the Eucharist there

was time for simple snacks. The children in the catechism programmes organized a

painting exhibition around the theme of St. Damien.

Damien today, in the Philippines

“Father Damien” Chapel and Hospital in Tala (Philippines)

“Father Damien” Chapel, in Tala (Manila) is attended by hospital staff and some

patients, especially people with leprosy who are treated in this hospital or who live in

nearby. Also our SSCC brothers of Bagong Silang and Bag Bag attend the chapel

and professed brothers perform their pastoral service there on Saturdays and

Sundays.


Priestly ordination of José María Dumagat (Philippines)

On Sunday, 20 October 2019,

Brother José María Dumagat

was ordained priest in the

Parish of the Holy Rosary of

Sagay (Negros Occidental).

He was ordained by Bishop

Gerardo Alminaza, of the

diocese of San Carlos.

In his homily Bishop Gerardo

stressed that the life and mis-

sion of a priest is a testimony

of God's saving love mani-

fested in Jesus.

For his part, José María in his

words of thanksgiving con-

nected this day of prayer for mission to the feast of St. Caprasius, the bishop of Agen

who, inspired by the death of the young Saint Faith, declared openly his faith

leading to his death. The feast of St Caprasius marks the day our Founder left La

Motte, the place where he had been secluded, to begin a life of service in and to

the Church.

José María was accompanied by brothers and sisters

from the congregation from the Philippines, Japan and

Ireland as well as Alberto Toutin and Thomas Sukotriraharjo

who are making the canonical visit to the Province of

Japan-Philippines. Also present were his mother, brothers

and relatives, parishioners of his parish as well as

parishioners from the parishes of Bag-Bag and Bagong

Silang. There was also a delegation from Japan that

included the provincial Kenji Honma and brothers,

Franciscus Sri Waluyo and Petrus Belalawe.

The diocese of Bocolod is located in the Visayas region,

in the province of Negros Occidental. It has a total

population of 1,600,000 inhabitants of which 1,150,000

are Catholics (73% of the population).

More photographs can be seen by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/32xHowu

SSCC Celebrations

https://bit.ly/32xHowu


Priestly and diaconal ordinations (Kinshasa)

On Saturday, 26 October

2019, in heavy tropical rain,

Mgr. Édouard KISONGA,

the Auxiliary Bishop of Kin-

shasa, ordained 5 deacons

and 5 priests from different

Congregations of the Arch-

diocese of Kinshasa.

The Congregation of the

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and

Mary had the joy of seeing

two of its sons ordained as

deacons (Hervé Kamba and

Alain Emvul) and one as a priest, Ben Kumongo.

Despite the rain, Notre Dame Cathedral in Kinshasa was full. The Mass only lasted 4

hours! After Mass, there was a time for the photo sessions with the newly ordained. In

the evening, the Sacred Hearts family united with the parents and friends of our

ordained brothers in the great hall of the parish of St. Francis Xavier de Masina for the

great celebrations. By the end of the night people returned to their homes happy

and tired.

The Province of Africa gives thanks to God for this gift received and prays that these

newly ordained brothers will exercise their ministries for the good of the Church and

for the glory of God.

Beginning on Sunday, 27 October, Ben Kumongo began a series of first masses called

"prémisses".

More photographs can be seen by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2WhHS7s

https://bit.ly/2WhHS7s


How was your return to Indonesia after your

experience of 6 years in the General

Government in Rome?

First, I want to thank the General Government

for giving me this opportunity to share and be

connected again with all the brothers in the

Congregation, one year after serving on the

former General Government team. To the

whole Congregation I say “thank you;” you

trusted me to be in the service of the whole

Congregation and to know the reality of

religious congregations in general and the

blessings and the challenges we have as the

Sacred Hearts family in particular.

In returning to Indonesia, I am grateful for two

reasons. First, within the wider horizon of our

Congregation and now within Indonesia (my

province of origin), I am grateful to be able to

help our young province to be aware of and respond to the wider context of our

Congregation. The experience as coordinator of the General Commission for Initial

Formation has given me a better awareness of how to put formation into practice

where I am presently serving. I have returned to the same work in formation that I

was doing before serving in the General Government but I do so with a new

awareness and spirit in helping to prepare our young brother for the Congregation.

Secondly, I am grateful to the Congregation for giving me the opportunity to do my

Doctorate in transpersonal psychology. This is very useful for the service I offer in the

Jesuit University where I had been earlier. Again, I returned to Indonesia with a wider

knowledge and understanding as to how serving young people is one of the

expressions of our charism, namely education. I am so grateful to the Congregation

for all blessings I received to be an instrument in ministry inside and outside the

Congregation.

INTERVIEW WITH PANKRAS OLAK sscc,

Initial Formation Coordinator

of the Province of Indonesia __________________________________

““The more we reach out

to the most difficult places of mission

the more our charism gains meaning and purpose”


What do you think are the challenges of Initial Formation at this time?

Wherever and whenever, formation work is always a challenge: both for the young

people whom we receive into our Congregation and for the Congregation. Our

formation work is to accompany them in taking part in the same mission. If, a few

years ago, it was individualism that challenged our formation now it is social media

and the fast growth of technology that is the challenge. The formation process that

needs time and patience is challenged by fast information that draws us out of the

community. Our connection with Jesus in daily adoration for example can be

overshadowed by our connection with people and the world outside. There is an

ongoing work to do of integrating those contradictions in the formation process and

we need formators who are not only trained for that but who also have compassion

in witnessing the values of religious life for this new generation.

What would you highlight about the meeting held in Rome in September concerning

the Fourth Stage of Formation?

I am happy for this ongoing concern and response to the most critical stage of

formation in the Congregation, which is the Fourth Stage. The realities of our

formation programs in the Congregation are very different but this common

orientation unifies us. I believe that each province and region will apply this

orientation, considering that the brothers in the region or province are preparing for

their final commitment to the same Congregation. I am sure that this time together

for brothers will help them to have a sense of communion in spirit and mission. The

programme from 18 December 2020 to 18 January 2021 in Poitiers will help the

brothers to be rooted in our charism in order to respond to the mission entrusted to

them.

What should a brother who is about to make perpetual profession carry in his

backpack?

A deep spiritual commitment to the Congregation, humility and compassion in order

to participate in transforming this world according to our charism and mission. We

are not the only ones, but we need to work with our sisters, with the third branch and

with other groups to make of our communities and mission a peaceful and

harmonious community which is possible and needed in this diverse society.

Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, how do you think the Church in

Indonesia should engage in dialogue with Islam? What role do you think the

Congregation can play in this dialogue?

There are many good works done and services offered by the various congregations

according to their spirituality. We ourselves have some brothers, for example Felix

Supranto, who have done great service in inter-religious dialogue at a wider level

while others do so at the local level. Our sisters offer a meaningful service with the

kindergarten that caters mostly to Muslim children. I think one of the great

opportunities for us is to minister to a mix-marriage family. There are few such families.

For the Indonesian context, however, it is important for us to show to the society that

people from different religions can live peacefully and harmoniously in family.


Children can see and experience the witness of their parents and decide for

themselves of what religion they will be a part. Helping these mix-marriage families to

grow in spirituality will be a contribution for our Congregation in the context of

Indonesia.

How do you imagine the Congregation in 10 years?

We might not grow bigger in number as we are now, but we have a missionary

quality to offer to society. I believe that the Congregation will continue to grow in the

places where the church is persecuted or suppressed. The more we reach out to the

most difficult places of mission the more our charism gains meaning and purpose.

More young people will join us for that kind of mission. We only can make it if we

continue to grow in inner and ongoing conversion.


Oct. 15 - Nov. 15. Canonical Visit to the Province of Brazil - Paraguay Derek Laverty and Jean Blaise Mwanda

Oct. 15 - Nov. 15 Canonical Visit to the Province of Japan-Philippines Alberto Toutin and Thomas Sukotriraharjo

November 6 Memory of the Martyrs of Spain, Theophilus and companions

November 20 – 22 Assembly of the Union of Superiors General Alberto Toutin

November 23 Dies natalis Good Mother

December 2 - 13 Sessions of the General Government Rome

December 7 Episcopal ordination of David Israel de la Torre Altamirano Alberto Toutin Quito (Ecuador)

December 10 SSCC Spiritual and Historical Patrimony Commission Rome

† DECEASED More on our deceased brothers can be found on our web page: www.ssccpicpus.com

Alberto (Beltrán) Villegas Mathieu sscc, professed on 27

March 1937 in Valparaíso (Chile) and died on 9 October,

2019 in Santiago (Chile).

Leo Jammaers sscc, professed on 8 September 1957 in

Tremelo (Belgium) and died on 29 October 2019 in Heverlee

(Belgium)

AGENDA OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT

CHRONICA CONGREGATIONIS


Antonio (Roberto) López García sscc, professed on 29

September 1947 in El Escorial (Spain) and died on 2

November 2019 in El Escorial (Spain).

PERPETUAL PROFESSION

December 7 Yoseph Bala Roma and

Felix Kapitan Goran Indonesia

PRIESTLY ORDINATION

November 23 Óscar Casanova Silva Chile

EPISCOPAL ORDINATION

December 7 David Israel de la Torre Altamirano Andina

LEAVING

9 October José Alcindo Lopes Armas (Iberia) Incardinatio “pure et simpliciter”

to the archdioceses of Lisbon

JUBILEES

Profession

December 10 Miguel Martos Domínguez Mexico (60)

Ordinations

December 1 Hilário França Brazil Gold (50)

December 8 Paulo Roberto Teixeira de Abreu Brazil Silver (25)

December 17 Gabriel Giraud Fernández Chile (70)

New POSTS in the ………


- “Na terra do Padre Eustáquio, Vinicius Maciel sscc (Vice-

postulator of the Cause of Canonization of Fr. Eustáquio,

Brazil) [only available in Portuguese]

- “Buena Madre, mujer valiente”, Aurelio Cayón sscc (Provincial

Superior of Iberia) [only available in Spanish]

Documents

SSCCPICPUS - SSCC USA Province › wp-content › uploads › 2019 › 11 › Congregation-o… · very fortunate to visit the famous, “Christ the Redeemer” monument situated