The majority of the Visitors from all over the world arrived June 22, 2019 for the Visitors Meeting of the Congregation of the Mission which will be held in the Manresa Retreat House located in Quezon City 9 km. away outside Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
The Philippines is an archipelago with more than 7,100 islands located in Southeast Asia, that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The current population of the Philippines is 108,046,839 — equivalent to 1.4% of the total world population (based on the latest United Nations estimates). Eighty six percent (86%) of whom are Roman Catholic (according to Jack Miller of the Center for Global Education).
Two years from now on 2021 the Philippine Catholic Church will be celebrating 500 years of the establishment of Christianity in the country. The Christian faith was brought to the Philippines by the Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who arrived in Cebu, south of Philippines on March 17, 1521. The first mass was held on Limasawa island, southern Leyte, Philippines on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521.
At present “The Economist” reported the socio-political and economic climate in the Philippines in these terms: the position of President Rodrigo Duterte has been strengthened in the legislature following the mid-term elections that were held on May 13th. Preliminary results show that the coalition of parties that support Mr. Duterte increased its representation in the upper house and is set to command a supermajority. The economy will remain steady, growing at an average rate of 5.7% during the period 2019-23.
The Philippine Province, host of the Visitors’ meeting is composed of 2 Bishops, 104 Priests, and 3 brothers who are engaged in different ministries: Formation of Diocesan seminarians and seminarians for the Congregation, parishes, foreign and local Missions, and education. These confreres reside in 13 canonical houses.
The Visitors’ meeting formally opened on June 23, 2019 with the welcome address of Fr. Gregorio Bañaga CM, Visitor, Philippine Province. His opening remarks was very informative about the Philippines. and the coming of the first Vincentian Missionaries, four Spanish Vincentians and 15 Daughters of Charity who came to Philippine shores on July 22, 1862. After which, there was two video presentations: one about “What it means to be with Filipinos” and the other one was a brief history of the presence of the Vincentians in the Philippines.
It was followed by the Eucharistic celebration on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, which was presided by the Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM, Superior General with the participation of concelebrating delegates, the different committee members of the meeting, confreres within the Manila area, DC Visitatrices and companions of the Asian Provinces Preparation for the Assemblies, CM seminarians, candidates to the Asia Pacific Internal Seminary, collaborators and lay members of Vincentian family. Fr. General delivered a very inspiring homily quoting Vincent’s words: Love is inventive unto infinity. He spoke of this reality in relation to the Eucharist and encouraged everybody to make the Eucharist the center of their life. One can feel the internationality of the assembly through the liturgy with a touch of Filipino culture and the songs and responses in different languages.
After the Mass a festive mood ensued as the students from Adamson University greeted the assembly with Filipino folk dances while they proceeded to the garden reception. To cap the evening everybody was treated to a wonderful dinner, a fusion of Asian and European cuisine while being serenaded by the Adamson University acoustic band.
