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MF NEWS BULLETIN

No. 11 July 2018

Prot. AE n° 50/14

Special request…….

I kindly request every confrere to inform the Secretary General whenever the telephone number or e-

mail address is changed. This will help us to update the information and also facilitate the

communication among the members of the Congregation. I will be happy if each one of you can send

me once again your correct mobile number and the e-mail id.

Fr. Thomas Edassery, mf., Secretary General.

With joy we bring out the 10th issue of our News Letter aimed at keeping all the members informed

of the various activities, undertakings and events that are happening in the various parts of the

Congregation. May we kindly remind everyone, especially the Provincial, Vice Provincial and

Delegation Governance, to send us on time the news items to be published. Let us, as one family,

share among ourselves all our achievements and our endeavours. We always welcome the

corrections and suggestions for the betterment. We regret also for the errors and omissions if any.

We also take this opportunity to extend Our Hearty Congratulations to the new Provincials of the Philippines, St. Paul’s (IND), St. Peter’s (IND), Vietnam, Vice-provincial of Myanmar, Oceania and their respective teams of governance. May the Lord help us all that our lives may be of edification to our brothers and

sisters and that in us the Good News may be lived, witnessed to, proclaimed and may shine out.

Editorial Team

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INSPIRING THOUGHTS OF THE SUPERIOR GENERAL

The Joy of community life

Dear Confreres,

Joy according to Webster’s definition, is an emotion, a feeling of great happiness. In our

motto, the “Gaudium” is to rejoice.

JOY is “Jesus, Others and You” in service.

JOY is “Jesus Opportunity for You”, our chance to serve the Lord in our journey to

discipleship.

JOY is “Jesus Offers You” what God wants to give, as a gift of lasting joy.

In our community life it relates to God’s presence, to follow and trust in Christ. It is an

invaluable gift from God that radiates to others. God simply wants to give us the gift of joy when we

choose to trust Him. Joy is a gift that we don’t have to summon ourselves. In our community, the life

of service, we too, want an authentic, lasting and real joy. We should allow the joy in us to transform

our difficult circumstances into times of blessings. Gratitude enables Joy.

“Psalm 4:7 implies a celebratory aspect to biblical joy akin to a farmers’ great pleasure when

gathering an abundant harvest. One of the greatest truths about joy in the Bible. Biblical joy is a gift

what we don’t have to summon ourselves.”

Joy that is not only a human aspect (as in emotion) but it comes from the joy of the Lord. The

joy of our community life is with Christ. As Missionaries of Faith in service, we are one with Christ.

We are here to bring His people to know and reconcile with Christ. Today, as we encounter so much

secularism, perhaps even in our own community, we have to reflect and be mindful of our faith and

our mission. How can we be able to proclaim the Good News beyond our community, if we have

only the joy as an emotion and not the lasting joy of the Lord? When we truly follow and trust Him

in deeds, then joy is in the midst of us. Christ is joy.

According to our charism no. 64, the community life of the Missionaries of Faith are as

follows:

• lives for the Mission – we consecrated our lives to Christ in living up to the Good News

of salvation.

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• in the family spirit – we come from different races, background, etc., but we live as one

family.

• in the Providence of God – our vow of poverty leads us to completely trusting God’s

providence.

• in Sharing of goods with confreres – the blessings we received is not for ones’ interest

only, but rather to share it among our brothers in the community.

Our teaching/belief is to enter into the joy of our community with Christ. When we continue

to have the deeper joy in our heart to serve well, it will transform all our challenges that we face today

into grace and it will spread among our brothers and the communities we serve.

Practical ways as Missionaries of Faith or concretely living it in the community according to

our charism:

➢ not to compare our community with others

➢ not to compare ourselves as individuals

➢ allow the flow of creativity

➢ awareness of possible opportunities

➢ practice gratitude in all things

➢ share our common good among us

Our joy is always connected to our motto “Grace and Joy in Faith.”

Rome, 09 July 2018

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Hearty Congratulations to the Jubilarians

On this occasion the Editorial Team wishes to extend Hearty Congratulations to our Silver

Jubilarians.

Rev. Fr. Elorde Demetillo Rev. Fr. Jesus E. Obias

Rev. Fr. Edilberto Mesias Rev. Fr. Nazareno Senesi

In the Service of the Lord and His Kingdom

1993 – 2018.

Congratulations. Wishing you all the happiness that the years ahead

can hold, may the Silver keep on glowing until it turns to Gold.

As you have just completed the Silver Jubilee of your priesthood, the whole Congregation of the

Missionaries of Faith is proud of you and extends heartfelt congratulations and prayers of

thanksgiving for the years of tireless and dedicated ministry that each of you has given in the service

of Christ, His Church and the Congregation. May you rediscover and reinvigorate your awareness

of the extraordinary and indispensable gift of grace of your ordained ministry, for the whole Church,

and for the world. May you realize day by day that your priesthood is a gift, which has been given,

first and foremost, not for you but for others. Yet, that priesthood, which is always Christ’s, is a

sacramental gift for us too. It renews our faith, our hope and our love in our service of others. At its

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heart is our friendship with a person, our Lord, our friend and our brother, Jesus Christ. Let this

friendship be refreshed and deepened as you celebrate this great gift. May you strive ‘toward spiritual

perfection, on which the effectiveness of your ministry primarily depends’. We hope and pray that

the celebration of your silver Jubilees will be an occasion for a renewal of joy in, and gratitude for,

your priesthood. May it renew in you all the joy of priestly ministry.

Ad Multos Annos, vivant!!!

NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATION

GENERAL CURIA OF ROME

• New Website of the Congregation

We are happy to inform everyone that soon the Congregation will launch its own official website:

missionaridellafede.org. More information will be given in the next MF News Bulletin.

In connection with this, we are also happy to inform you that Fr. Benjamin Irudayaraj Thomas, of

the Province of St. Paul, is nominated as the Prefect of Communication and he will be in-charge of

the new website of the Congregation.

• New Office Bearers of the Major Organisms

We would like to bring to the notice of all the Confreres the new office bearers of the following Major

Organisms of our Congregation. Here below are the names of the new Provincials, Vice Provincial

and the respective Councillors.

• Philippines’ Province

Provincial Superior: Fr. Ricardo B. Basquinez

Councillors: Fr. Michelangelo R. Costa (Councillor and Provincial Vicar)

Fr. Loretto A. Sotto (Councillor and Provincial Secretary)

Fr. Federico I. Asesor (Councillor and Finance Officer)

Fr. Edilberto G. Mesias (Councillor)

• St. Paul’s Province

Provincial Superior: Fr. Martin Alukaputhussery

Councillors: Fr. Jeyanthan Jordan (Councillor and Provincial Vicar)

Fr. Saji Vellaramkalayil (Councillor and Provincial Secretary)

Fr. Thomas Moolayil (Councillor and Finance Officer)

Fr. Joseph Velikkath (Councillor)

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• St. Peter’s Province

Provincial Superior: Fr. Maria Joji Rai

Councillors: Fr. Rajendra Prasad Madda (Councillor and Provincial Vicar)

Fr. Santhosh Kumar Pandika (Councillor and Provincial Secretary)

Fr. Sarveswararao Guda (Councillor and Finance Officer)

Fr. Ramesh Eachu (Councillor)

• Province of Vietnam

Provincial Superior: Fr. Thomas Dinh Ngoc Loc

Councillors: Fr. Dominic Nguyen Cong Khuong (Councillor and Finance Officer)

Fr. Joseph Ngo Duc Tai (Councillor)

Fr. Peter Nguyen Hung Hai (Councillor)

Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Thanh (Councillor)

Fr. Joseph Nguyen Minh Phuc (Provincial Secretary)

• Vice Province of Myanmar

Vice Provincial: Fr. Louis Gabriel

Councillors: Fr. Damiano Soe (Councillor & Finance Officer)

Fr. Basilio Khun Koreh (Councillor)

Dn. Stephen Aye Min Thu (Vice Provincial Secretary)

• Vice Province of Oceania

Vice Provincial: Fr. Talipope Vaifale

Councillors: Fr. Andrea Atonio (Councillor & Vice Provincial Secretary)

Fr. Iosefo Timu (Councillor & Finance Officer)

NEWS FROM THE MAJOR ORGANISMS

PHILIPPINES’ PROVINCE

• Rite of Entrance into Novitiate

On 23 May 2018 the Missionaries of Faith Philippines Province celebrated the rite of admission to

the novitiate for the two novices of the Province of the Philippines, Bro. Victor Bonite and Bro. Bong

Arnesto, two novices from the Province of Vietnam, Bro. Andrew DungLac Pham Huang Phu and

Bro. John the Baptist Tran Van Truyen and one from the Vice-Province of Italy, Bro. Roberto

Dall’aglio. They were also given the cassocks on that day.

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• First Religious Profession, renewal of religious vows and admission to postulancy

The novices, Bro. Jaymark Aydalla and Bro. Cezar James Grimaldo, who successfully completed

their novitiate, made their First Religious Profession of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty

and obedience on 23 May 2018 in the hands of the Provincial Superior, Fr. Ricardo Basquiñez, mf.

On the same day, there was the first renewal of the religious vows of our brothers Bro. Reymar Diarez,

of the Province of the Philippines, Bro. Joseph Nguyen Than Trung and Bro. Joseph Nguyen Van

Luong, of the Province of Viet Nam.

On the very same day four candidates were admitted to Postulancy. They are Bro. Adriane Aragon,

Bro. Dennis Calpe, Bro. Marvin Monticod and Bro. Ramil Villalon.

The Holy Eucharist on this day was presided by the Provincial Superior, Fr. Ricardo Basquiñez, mf.

The various formators and other priests of the Province concelebrants on this occasion. The above

events were witnessed by the families of our brothers, guests, sponsors and benefactors of the

community.

• Back to the Province

Fr. Francis Zurbano who was rendering service in the Delegation of North America returns to the

Philippines’ Province on 3 July 2018. He worked in the Diocese of Green Bay Wisconsin for three

years.

• Annual retreat of MF Clergy

The Missionaries of Faith clergy of the Philippines Province is set to have the annual retreat in the

majestic city of Dumaguete City, Philippines, from 9 to 13 July 2018. One of the highlights of this

event is the formal announcement of the new assignments of each member of the community. The

assignment of the house for each confrere will also be communicated at the last day of the retreat. As

the Province just recently received the letter from the general house reminding us about the taking of

the oath of fidelity before assuming office, this formality will be done on the last day of the retreat as

well.

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PHOTOS OF THE EVENTS OF 23 MAY 2018

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VIETNAM PROVINCE

• New Aspirants

On 27 April 2018, the Office of the Pastoral Care of Vocations organized for the first time a vocation

camp for three days starting from 27 April 2018, for discerning the call of God in those candidates

who really wanted to enter the Congregation of the Missionaries of Faith, Province of Vietnam.

Though 15 candidates participated in this Vocation Camp, only 11 were selected as new aspirants

who will be officially starting their formative period on 15 August 2018, at the Institute of God's

Word, M.F Provincial House. There will be a second vocation camp for discerning the Call of God,

from 3 to 5 August 2018.

• Annual Retreat for Priests, Deacons and Perpetually Professed

The Annual Retreat will be conducted from 09 to 13 July 2018 at Ordo Cisterciensis, Ba Ria-Vung

Tau Province, Vietnam. Most Rev. Alphonse Nguyen Huu Long, Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of

Hung Hoa is the resource person for this annual retreat. On the first day, Most Rev. Joseph Nguyen

Tan Tuoc, Bishop of the diocese of Phu Cuong, will give a common talk to the members at the

Provincial House before departing to the Retreat House.

• Perpetual and First Religious Profession

The Province of Vietnam is very happy to announce that on Saturday, 14 July 2018, seven brothers

will be making their Perpetual Profession and twenty novices will make the first religious profession

at Ba Tra parish as it is under the pastoral care of MF. The Holy Eucharist will be presided over by

Most Rev. Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc, the Ordinary of the diocese of Phu Cuong. Hearty

congratulations and prayerful wishes in advance to the would-be professed members.

• Rite of Entrance into Novitiate

The new batch of novices will commence their novitiate on Sunday, 15 July 2018. The Rite of

Entrance into Novitiate will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Thomas Dinh Ngoc Loc, mf, the Provincial

Superior, at the Main Chapel of the Provincial House, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province,

Vietnam.

• Priestly and Diaconate Ordination

The members of MF Province of Vietnam is extremely happy to announce that on Tuesday, 17 July

2018, at The Institute of God's Word, MF Provincial House, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong

Province, Rev. Deacon Peter Nguyen Tien Nghi will be ordained Priest, and Brothers Thomas Do

Van Lam, Joseph Nguyen Huy Thuc, Joseph Luu Quoc Toan, and Peter Huynh Van Tha will be

ordained Deacons by Most Rev. Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc, the Ordinary of the diocese of Phu Cuong.

VICE-PROVINCE OF ITALY

The Vice-province of Italy is happy to inform everyone that the novices, Bro. Jesus Sair Yrady

Blanco, hailing from Venezuela after having completed his philosophical-theological studies in

Venezuela and after successfully completing his novitiate in the Philippines, made his First Religious

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Profession of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience on 04 June 2018 in the

hands of the Vice-provincial Superior, Fr. Domenico Borge, mf., during the concelebrated Holy

Eucharistic celebration held at our General Curia of Rome.

VICE-PROVINCE OF OCEANIA

• Visit of Fr. Jesus Dajac, mf, Superior General, to Oceania Vice-province

It’s always a great moment of fraternal joy when a Superior General of a Congregation visits each

Major Organism of the Congregation. This was the exact feeling we did feel during the whole time

of his visit to our poor and humble Vice-province. The Superior General arrived in Samoa on Sunday

3 June 2018. A very remarkable welcoming was extended to him by our older brother Fr. Douglas

Fido and his Youth at the Faleolo International Airport on his arrival. The official welcoming

ceremony of Fr. Jesus Dajac to Samoa was held on Tuesday, 5 June, with the Kava ceremony prepared

by the parishioners of Fr. Etuale To’alepai’s parish. Before drinking his kava, he spoke about the

importance of his very first visit to Oceania and most importantly to the land of Samoa. Fr. Douglas

Fido spoke on the behalf of the Vice Province, to congratulate and thank Fr Jesus for accepting the

call to be the leader of our Congregation and especially to be the first non-Italian Superior General in

the history of our Congregation. He also assured the true support and collaboration of the Vice-

province to him and the General Council to the end.

The assembly of the priests of the Vice-province with our Superior General was started on

Wednesday, 6 June, with the concelebration of the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Jesus Dajac.

During the Holy Mass, the Vice-provincial Superior, Rev Fr. Talipope Vaifale and the Council,

renewed their respective offices, before the Superior General, in leading the Vice-province for the

next three years. The theme chosen by Fr. Jesus Dajac for his first discourse to the Vice-province

was, “I call you not servants, but friends”. Jesus was a friend of all, not of a particular person. We

must try not to have particular friends or preference of people; this is not a true friendship according

to Jesus. His friends are the poor, the humble, the lonely, the sick and the abandoned. Missionaries

of Faith with their Charism and Spirituality must become friends of the people of God, no one is to

be excluded. We must learn to know the difference between “to be members and to be owners” of the

Congregation. We are not “owners” instead we are all “members”; the owner is God alone. He also

highlighted the new system of Government or Structure so that everyone in each Major Organism

can fully participate to the life of the community. This includes the Formation, Apostolate, Mission,

Spirituality, Communication and Economy. He expressed his gratitude and joy to our Vice Province,

to be the first in the Congregation to have a residence (hospice) for our future ailing confreres. The

Superior General continued his visit to all our parishes in the archdiocese of Apia as well as the

diocese of Pago-Pago and Auckland (NZ), accompanied by our Vice-provincial, Fr. Talipope Vaifale.

He also had the opportunity to meet the Bishops and Archbishops of Samoa and Wellington (NZ) as

well as the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand. Fr. Jesus Dajac concluded his first visit to the Oceania

on June 22. The Vice-province of Oceania will continue to assist and pray for our Superior General

and his Council to remain faithful to the end. May God bless our General Council and our entire

Congregation. Gratia et Gaudium in Fide.

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• Conferring of the Ministry of Acolyte

On 04 June 2018, two of our formees, Tosoliga Consedine Malae FUIAVA e Peter Laupapa

TAUFA’ASAU, received the Ministry of Acolyte. The ministry was conferred on by Rev. Fr.

Domenico Borge, mf, the Vicar General, during the solemn concelebrated Holy Eucharist in the

chapel of Domus Christus Rex, Rome.

Hearty Congratulations to the new acolytes and may they have fruitful ministries, on their path of

becoming zealous missionary, religious priests.

MF NEWS BULLETIN

Drafting: Via Nulvi, 11 – 00148 Roma

Tel: + 39.06.45493990

e-mail: tomedasserymf@gmail.com

Wish you a pleasant reading