Congratulations to Frs. Jimel, Midyphil, Benny

Fr. Jimel Varela earned by far his Licentiate degree in Philosophy after facing the academic tribunal of Rev. Professors in June 19, 2006. Fr. Midyphil Billones got the same degree (accordingly, with some poise and passion) in Dogmatic Theology last June 20, 2006. Today, Fr. Benny Calsado dramatically obtained also the same degree in Moral Theology after submitting his thesis entitled "The Novelty of Freedom in the Thought of John Paul II". Congratulations!

Departure for the U.S. for the summer pastoral ministry: Fr. Nemer Chua (June 19), Fr. Lito Jopson (June 20), Fr. Melchor Braga (June 21).

Feast Day of the Sacred Heart

PCF Priests are very devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today, our early morning Holy Mass, like the rest of whole Christendom, was offered in celebration of this devotion.

History of the Devotion
Margaret Mary Alacoque entered the Visitation Convent in 1671 and six years later Christ appeared to her in a vision in which "I could plainly see His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, too, coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my very heart from me and place it there in His heart. In return He gave me back part of His flaming heart."

In all, there were four revelations, during which the now-familiar Twelve Promises were made, the last of which is responsible for the nine First Fridays' devotion. Also requested by the Sacred Heart was the establishment of a feast in His honor. We now celebrate this Feast of Sacred Heart on the first Friday after the octave of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, in addition to honoring the Sacred Heart every first Friday of the month.

Salesian Connection
The Sacred Heart of Jesus was loved by Francis de Sales whose writings focus deeply on the Divine Love of God for humanity. Salesian spirituality utilizes the heart aflame as a motif for the love shared between God and all Creation. It is not an image of judgment, but of unconditional love: the unconditional, communal love shared by the Triune God and the unconditional, compassionate love of God for humankind.

Margaret Mary was a member of the Visitation, the cloistered sisters founded by Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. Much of what Margaret Mary experienced in her visions of Jesus was shared by her spiritual director, Claude de Columbiere, SJ, a Jesuit priest, and through her journals.

Oblates' Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(to be renewed on the first Friday of every month)

O Heart of Jesus, we religious, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, come to consecrate to you our persons and our lives. We give you our actions, our desires, our troubles, and our sufferings. We give you our apostolates, our foundations, our benefactors, our friends and our families. In the future we wish to live only to honor and love you and bring you glory.

We have made a decision we cannot change - to belong completely to you, to do everything for your love, and to renounce wholeheartedly all that can displease you. It will always be our heart's desire and the aim of our efforts to love you more nad more and also to make you known, loved and served by the souls to whom you send us.

Therefore we take you, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, as the chief object of our love, as the one who protects our lives, guards our apostolates, provides a remedy for our imcompetence, our unfaithfulness, and our instability and makes satisfaction for all the deficiencies in our actions - in one word, as the one who answers for us, our all-powerful aid during life and our secure refuge at the hour of our death.

We know this, O Sacred Heart of Jesus! You are the faithful friend, the heart's intimate friend. You are the one who never deceives nor betrays. You are also our heritage and our possession. We trust ourselves to you. Above all, give us love. Bind our hearts together.

May these hearts which you have brought together in your name and in that of your holy mother be not scattered; those whom you have called together be not dispersed; and those you have joined together be not separated. Grant rather, that the names of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales be written forever in the book of the Living with the just who reign with you in the life of everlasting happiness. Amen.

In Memoriam - Cardinal Sin

June 22, 2006

At 5:00 p.m., former Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin was remembered by the pcf priests through a Holy Mass at the main chapel of the pontifical college. Fr. Albert Flores, who is set to be back to the Archdiocese of Manila after years of excellent research and studies, presided over the Holy Mass. The PCF Rector, Msgr. Stude Santos, preached the homily. According to him, Cardinal Sin could be remembered by three S's. The first one was his SMILE which he readily gives to anyone who comes to him. The second was his STORIES which he often tells to the people in his homilies, a sign that he knows very well the people he served. The third one was his self-less SACRIFICE for the restorarion of Democracy in the Philippines.

Cheers to you!

June 8, 2006

The Philippine Embassy to the Holy See organized a Solemn Mass at the PCF at 5:00 p.m. to mark the Independence Day of the Philippines from Spain. The main presider of the Holy Eucharist was His Eminence Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe, the out-going Cardinal Prefect of the ROman Congrgation for the Propagation of Faith. Cardinal Llevada (CDF Prefect), Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, Archbishop Fransisco Padilla, two other Archbishops, and fifty Filipino priests were also present concelebrating the Holy Mass. The guests were mosltly Ambassadors of different countries to the Holy See. Ambassador de Veyra was happy to see and entertain guests, not only her colleagues in the diplomatic world but also leaders of Filipino communities here in Rome.

June 12, 2006

In the evening, Fr. Antonio Ricarte (Cebu) celebrated his birthday and treated everyone to a barbecue party. (Tonight also was a very good night to all of us - Italia handily won their first game over Ghana [2-0] in the World Cup at Germany) to the joy and happiness of the community. Fr. Greg Gaston (Manila) celebrated his priestly ordination anniversary somewhere out there in silent and deep comunion with the Chief Priest, Jesus Christ.

June 14, 2006

Fr. Jimel Varela (Catarman) succesfully defended his thesis in partial fulfillment for Licentiate's degree in Philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. His thesis delved into the philosphy of Kant. Fr. Midyphil Billones (Jaro) has already submitted his thesis for the Licentiate's degree in Dogmatic Theology (no defense required as per policy of their school) at the Gregorian Pontifical University. Fr. Rene Retardo (Tagum) and Fr. Benjamin Calsado (Mainla-LMI) were on their final phase of their thesis writing for the Licentiate's dergree in Moral Theology to be granted by the Alphonsianum.

Fr. Archie Faustino (June 1), Fr. Wagner Nalitan(June 14), Fr. Nars Minion (June 15), and Fr. Rodel San Juan (June 16) left for the U.S. for the summer pastorla ministry.

Oath-taking before the Rector and Arcbp. Padilla

June 6, 2006 at 7:50 a.m., the newly-elected members of the PCF Council of Co-Responsibles took their oath of office before the Father Rector and Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, Apostolic Nuncio to Costa Rica, who presided the Holy Eucharist.

After the Mass, Mrs. Davide (who came here as part of the Padilla Clan visiting Rome) asked everyone to pray for her husband's new assignment to the United Nations. She treated the whole collegio community to a special dinner at the PCF Refectory.

Fr. John Brillantes (Military Odinariate) left Rome this morning to be at the side of his ailing Father. He would be back by September to defend his dissertation regarding military warfare (morality). June 7, 2006 at 11:00 a.m., Fr. Gio Argarin left for the United States for the summer pastoral ministry.

Meanwhile, starting last Monday, pcf priests were wrapped up in their preparations for the final exams. They were all quite pensive as they were seen walking (between breaks) to and fro their respective rooms.

Two Filipino Apostolic Brothers

Yesterday, the newly ordained Archbishop Fransisco M. Padilla (Cebu) arrived and stayed in PCF to present himself to the Pope after his ordination in Cebu last May 23, 2006. The new Archbishop would be assigned as Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Isalnds. Accompanying him to Rome was his elder brother himself, Archbishop Osvaldo M. Padilla who is the present Apostolic Nuncio to Costa Rica. It's the first time in the history of the Philippine Church to have two brothers who are both Bishops and both Apostolic Nuncios. The Filipinos, especially the Cebuanos, are very proud of them.

This morning, Bishop Dinualdo Guiterrez, Bishop of Marbel, arrived from the Philippines and stayed here in the collegio. The PCF priests welcomed Father Rector back to the community after weeks of absence due to the death of his father in the Philippines.