Tingguian Inlaud Dialect of St. Mark's Gospel Launched

Congratulations to Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD, and the Tingguians of Abra!


Today, February 24, 2015, a new page in the history of the Abra Missions opened: the launching of the initial translation of the Bible: the Gospel of St. Mark, in the native Tingguian Inlaud dialect. This was held in the remote town of San Juan, Abra.This historic event came about because of the initiatives of Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD. 

The launching was attended by the Tingguian tribal communities, those who were instrumental in this monumental task: the Philippine Bible Society, the translators, the religious and the government officials, and people of Abra .

Indeed, this is an accomplishment of dedicated Missionaries! Abra is the first Mission station of the SVDs in the Philippines.

Fr. Oscar is a native Tingguian. He worked for a long time with the Episcopal Biblical Commission, and was deeply involved in the bible apostolate of the SVD. He is currently the assigned to the Northern Province of the Society of the Divine Word in San Fernando, La Union, as the Mission Animator. (Article/Photos: Steve Villarosa)

Trento’s First Priest Celebrated Thanksgiving Mass

February 1 was not an ordinary day for the faithful of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Trento, Agusan del Sur. It was the day of the most-awaited Thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Ritchell Salinas, SVD who was recently ordained in Germany. His homecoming was part of the Divine Word Missionaries’ program that their ordained priests go back to their respective hometowns and parishes to celebrate their mass of thanksgiving for the prayers, moral and financial support offered by the faithful in the course of the priest’s seminary formation. It was also an occasion to invite the faithful to pray for more vocations and scout for more candidates to the priesthood and religious life as well.

“Everybody was excited! The feeling of joy was very present that day. All of us were very thankful to God for the gift of vocation. It was indeed a grace-filled moment,” remarked Fr. Ritchell. The festive mood of his thanksgiving mass further moved him. The parish church was not only filled with parishioners and well-wishers, but also with friends and several SVD missionaries from other parts of Agusan, Davao and Cebu.

Fr. Ritchell entered the SVD congregation via the Divine Word Formation Center-Davao in 2001. He graduated in Christ the King Mission Seminary of Quezon City in March 2005. He took his first profession of vows in 2007 and had his theological studies in Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay City. He was sent by the congregation to Germany under the Exchange Student Program (ESP). He had his perpetual vow last September 29, 2013 and became a deacon on October 20, 2013. Archbishop Ludwig Schick, Archdiocese of Bamberg, Germany, ordained him to the priesthood last December 31 at the seminary chapel of Sankt Augustin Kloster near Bonn, Germany.

The St. Francis of Assisi Parish of Trento was founded on 1965 by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) Fathers. It was turned over to the shepherding of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) in the 70s, with Fr. Max Abalos, SVD as the first SVD parish priest. German priest, Fr. Ulrich Schlect, SVD served the parish for 17 years, and later on was granted Philippine citizenship in 2007. Fr. Heinz Kulueke, the present Superior General of the SVD, was once assigned in this parish in the 80’s.

The parish was finally turned over to the administration of the Diocese of Butuan in 1995. Fr. Celso Laluna is its current parish priest. It is under the Vicariate of Mary, Queen of Martyrs of the Diocese of Butuan.

Fr. Leo Schmitt Heads 25 Jubilarians of the SVD Central Province

 This year’s jubilee mass was held at the usual venue, the Shrine of the Divine Word at the Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City, in the afternoon of September 10, 2014. At the head of the 25 honorees was Fr. Leo Schmitt, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration; Bishop Arturo Bastes gave the homily.

In his homily, Bp. Bastes briefly recounted his life as a seminarian first in Tagbilaran, Bohol and then at CKMS in Quezon City, where he was admitted in May 1956. He recalled how he enjoyed the silence and liturgical exercises strictly implemented by their dedicated formators, among whom were two excellent Latin teachers: Fr. Constante Floresca and Fr. Peter Michael. He underscored the presence of the brothers “in all levels.” “Without the brothers,” he said, “we would not have survived.”

The bishop did not fail to stress how our founder, Fr. Arnold Janssen, “one of the greatest modern saints,” fought for the approval of the name of our Society, until Pope Leo XIII declared, “Let the name remain as it is!”


Bp. Bastes encouraged the congregation to count our blessings, including our contributions to media and communication, to science and education, and to the cause of justice and peace in the world. He did not forget to mention that the first Asian religious superior general was a Filipino. “For all this,” he said, “we have reason to rejoice! The Society has made us what we have come to be!”

At the close of the celebration Fr. Eli Mata introduced the pastoral leaders of the Shrine of Divine Word who each gave a gift to the jubilarians who were all seated as co-celebrators at the altar. Fr. Provincial Nielo Cantilado thanked the Lord and everyone for having joined the 25 confreres who have spent a solid time of their life in the mission. A video presentation, prepared by Br. Vincent Iopam, was shown before the recessional (see separate story for the text of the video presentation). The celebration culminated with agape at the seminary’s basketball court.

The complete list of the 25 jubiliarians is as follows: Fr. Leo Schmitt (60 years in priesthood); Frs. Antolin Uy, Leonardo Mercado and Heribert Lohrengel (50 years in priesthood); Bp. Arturo Bastes and Fr. Antonio Enacmal (50 years in vows); Frs. Atilano Corcuera, Benito Limsuan, Jose San Juan, Manuel Bongayan, Lino Nicasio, Dante Venus and Rudolf Horst (40 years in priesthood); Frs. Alejandro Gobencion, Agerico Orbos, Efren de Guzman, Eufrocino Bacit, Jr., Menardo Alcober, Rudyard Base and Rodrigo Advincula (40 years in vows); and Frs. Yosep Situ, Levi Meme, Renato Malbog, Rodrigo Salazar, Jr. and Vicente Rayco (25 years in priesthood).





Source: Steve Villarosa