Invitation: Lenten Recollection

LENTEN RECOLLECTION...
With Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD
SVD Mission Philippines Director

SVD Philippines-South Gave Tribute to Jubilarians

We gave tribute to our Jubilarians in the SVD Southern Province. The Holy Mass, held at the University of San Carlos, was presided by Fr. Florante Camacho, SVD. The homilist, Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD talked about his vocation story in the SVD and made mention of several interesting anecdotes, including the origin of selecting a class name for the SVDs at the Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay.

Birthday Jubilarians:

75 Years old – Fr. Florante Camacho, SVD

75 Years old – Fr. Reiner Franke, SVD

75 Years old – Fr. Ulrich Schlecht, SVD

75 Years old – Fr. Benjamin Macajes, SVD

50 Years old – Fr. Roberto Ebisa, SVD

50 Years old – Fr. Yohannes Dua Dani Bao, SVD

Jubilarians in Vows:

40 Years in Vows – Fr. Gil Espuelas, SVD

40 Years in Vows – Fr. Ricardo Dumas, SVD

25 Years in Vows – Fr. Generoso Rebayla, SVD

25 Years in Vows – Fr. Melchor Cagape, SVD

25 Years in Vows – Brother Bela Lanyi, SVD

Ordination Anniversaries:

50 Years as Priest – Fr. Florante Camacho, SVD

50 Years as Priest – Fr. Benjamin Raboy, SVD

40 Years as Priest – Fr.Rogelio Alasan, SVD

40 Years as Priest – Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD

40 Years as Priest – Fr. Vicente Uy, SVD

25 Years as Priest – Fr. Andres Guban, SVD

25 Years as Priest – Fr. Rogelio Bag-ao, SVD

25 Years as Priest – Fr. Samuel Clarin, SVD

25 Years as Priest – Fr. Dionisio Nellas, SVD

Throwback: Heartfelt Class

Text and Photo: Fr. Jun de Ocampo, SVD

Father Jun Ocampo, center back, now in Germany. To his left, Manuel Bongayan, Ben Limsuan, Roderick Salazar (all in the Philippines) To Jun's far right, Atilano Corcuera (looking down), Roger Alasan both in the Philippines. Below Roger Alasan, at the front line, Leo Bose (+), Max Chua (now lay in Argentina), Noel Gatchalian (in Africa), Popong de la Cruz (in the Philippines), Florante Camacho (not part of our class but rector of our seminary then), behind and between Popong and Florante is Rocky Albano now a diocesan priest in San Francisco, USA; to the left of Fr Florante is Johnny Balsicas, now a lay person in the Philippines; to his left is Rizal Jose (RJ) Santos now in Japan; Paul Bolanos, now lay person in the Philippines; Macky Apuya (died last year); beside Macky is Lino Nicasio, parish priest in Kamuning, QC' between them at the back, Greg Sebastian now in Taiwan;, beside Lino, partly covered is Jose San Juan (SJ for short); between the two at the back is Vic Uy, now in Bohol. Not seen in photo is Victor Bagsic, first in the class to die. We were 20 ordained in Tagaytay on June 21, 1974, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We chose this date because we consecrated ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thus, we called ourselves HEARTFELT 74. Dante Venus was ordained in 1974 but in Ireland. Tony Pernia was ordained in 1975, with the class called DIWA 75. 1975 was the centennial of the SVD. We were established on September 8, 1875. Of the original 20 Heartfelt, 3 have died, 3 are now in the lay state, and 1 became a diocesan priest. As of this date, there are 13 surviving priests of HEARTFELT 74. As we thank the Lord for the grace of vocation and perseverance, we continue to ask for prayers for continued faithfulness to the Divine Word and His Sacred Heart.