CM Philippines celebrates sesquicentennial jubilee
Date Posted: December 17, 2021 at 11:32 AM
The Philippine Province of the Congregation of the Mission celebrated its 150th year anniversary with a Eucharistic celebration last December 13 at the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas led the concelebrated mass attended by the Vincentian Family and Vincentian Priests from different CM communities.
In his homily, Abp. Villegas urged the CM community to look back into their roots to “bear better fruits for the future.”
“As we look forward to the next 150 years, I say three questions: are you mystic enough to be a missionary? Are you ignorant enough to be a professor? Are you rich enough to be an apostle to the poor? Our richness is the Lord, our wisdom is the Lord, and our mission is the Lord,” the prelate said challenging the congregation.
Fr. Gregorio Banaga, CM, the present Provincial Visitor, echoed Abp. Villegas, recalling the Vincentians’ efforts in the Philippines.
“From the initial mission of forming the native diocesan clergy and a spiritual direction of the daughters of charity which still continue to this day, the tree has grown multiple branches of the ministry such as the popular missions, parishes, education, social services, foreign missions, and the Marian apostolate, he said.”
“We, however, do not take credit for this blossoming. It is God who planted the seed, nurtured it, secured its foundation, and made it bear abundant fruit. To Him be the glory. Everything has been an unmerited grace.”
The head of the Vincentians in the Philippines also revealed the congregation’s projects for the one-year celebration for the jubilee year including a National Conference And Consultation On Church and Homelessness to be done by the Vincentian social ministry and the Vincentian foundation in Adamson University, rehabilitation and renovation of the St. Vincent De Paul Parish Church.
He also mentioned the establishment of 500 houses under the 3Ps – Pabahay, Pabuhay, at Pamayanan – in Cebu, Davao, and Montalban, Rizal, a new foundation for the formation of the diocesan clergy and expansion of education ministry in potential areas such as Capaz, Tarlac and Dipolog.
Fr. Banaga also revealed that the CM Philippines have been tasked by the congregation’s Superior General Fr. Tomas Mavric, CM of administering the mission in Papua New Guinea.
