Mass with Generalate and mission sending

Fr. Jordan Formation House, Talon, Amadeo; March 23, 2014 – The Third Sunday of Lent saw a joyous celebration graced with the Generalate of the Society of the Divine Saviour the different members of the society represented from the Asia Pacific region which included priests from the Philippines, China, Australia, India and Sri Lanka.

The Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Agustin Van Baelen, SDS from the Belgian Province who is serving as our Mission Secretary in the Generalate. Concelebrating with Fr. Agustin were Fr. Milton Zonta, SDS, Superior General of the Society and the Vicariate Superior of the East Asian Vicariate as well as all the other priests from the different countries mentioned above together with Generalate members.

After the homily given by Fr. Agustin on the day’s readings, we all witnessed the blessing and commissioning of a new mission to Rev. Joseph Cong, SDS; the newly ordained deacon of our East Asian Mission Vicariate.

Fr. Milton gave a few words of encouragement in Spanish to Rev. Joseph which was promptly translated by Fr. Agustin. He also presented to Rev. Joseph the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Francis together with the Mission Cross which will be placed in the new mission house. The Mass ended at 12.30 pm with a photo session outside the chapel.  After Mass, all guests were treated to lunch at the refectory. This was also a time for the seminarians from the Fr. Jordan Formation house to mingle with the Generalate members and get to know them. When lunch ended the atmosphere was still very much alive with Fr. Milton going around and speaking to all of the brothers, there was also a short time for table tennis with some of the Generalate members. The members left the house at about 2.30pm for Bethany Retreat House in Tagaytay for the day’s activities.