news and events read his article. But I would not let him go that easily, and asked again, why? Well, other than the reasons he outlined in his article, Fr. Gutay, with an amused countenance, bantered with some “perhaps.” Perhaps, Rizal realized how well-loved the Franciscan friars were not only during his time, but even before it. It may be worth mentioning that, of all friar Orders who came to the Philippines in the 16th century, only the Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor) is exempt from the pejorative term “Friar Lands” because they were the only ones who refused to accept land donations and tributes from the authorities. The first friars who came to the Philippines in 1578 come from the reformed branch of the Alcantarine Franciscans.
Fr. Jose Femilou D. Gutay,OFM studied towards his doctorate in Church History at the Gregorian University in Rome. He was the former Provincial Archivist of the Philippine Franciscan Province of San Pedro Bautista and is now a missionary to the Navajo Tribe in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the US. After he left for the US, the Archive was sort of abandoned for a triennium.
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Father Cayetano Sanchez Fuertes, OFM, Archivist of the Archivo Franciscano IberoOriental in Madrid, Spain whom I had the honor and opportunity of working with for almost five years in AFIO-Madrid, and a renowned Franciscan scholar and author of various books and publications related to the Franciscan history in the Philippines and the Far East, published last year a small book “Pocos Medios, Grandes Impeños, (Limited Means, Great Achievements), Madrid 2013” on the intrepid and pioneering efforts of the early Franciscan friars and how they succeeded in their ministries in the mission with very little or no resources to back them up. This was primarily due to the austerity, poverty, dedication to prayer and contemplation, and single-mindedness of purpose typical of the Alcantarine friars that their mission succeeded, producing great works in catechesis and Christian doctrine, community organizing, music and the arts, education, engineering, health and urban planning, despite meager resources. Needless to say, the Franciscans were well-loved by the people. They were the closest in relation to and in solidarity with the natives and had supported and encouraged
SECOND QUARTER 2015
New Missionaries for Myanmar and Sri Lanka By Jhay Vasquez Ogmar
Provincial Definitory Elects New Minister Provincial and Vicar Provincial By Fr. Dexter A. Toledo, OFM
The Provincial Definitory has chosen Fr. Cielito Almazan, OFM as the new Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Province of San Pedro Bautista Philippines and Fr. Reu Jose Galoy, OFM as the new Vicar Provincial in a solemn rite of election held at the OFM Provincial House last June 17, 2015.
Rizal, the creator of the fiction Franciscan friar character Padre Damaso who has unpleasant portrayal of a Franciscan friar.
native skills and talents, as well as defending the natives from the harsh and oppressive treatment of the Spanish authorities. So, “Why Padre Damaso?” Perhaps, Fr. Long proposes, it must be because Rizal knew that the Franciscan friars could take it, secure in their knowledge that the natives genuinely loved them because of what they had done for them. Having no clear answers, I was left to my own sources, and may I stress, that I have very few in my possession. The real reasons or motives Rizal had for using a Franciscan friar as the chief villain in his novel is unclear. I can only hazard my two-cent’s worth of opinion but in the end we are faced with the glaring fact that Padre Damaso is but a fictional character, and in no way representative of the Franciscan friars of his time. You can verify this by reading various articles on the missionary works of the Franciscans in the Philippines and the Far East from the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental in Madrid or our archives at the Archivo Franciscano Filipino in Frisco, Quezon City, not excluding the other written and published articles on the Spanish Franciscan Missionary efforts in this part of the world.
THE PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATOR
Two of our Franciscan brothers voiced their desire to be Franciscan missionaries abroad. Their desire was heartily welcomed by the Provincial Definitory and the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. Br. Mario Ricablanca, OFM has joined the international community in Myanmar and Fr. Andro Fernandez, OFM will be in Sri Lanka. The rite of mission sending for Br. Mario and Fr. Andro was held last April 18, 2015 during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Santuario de San Pedro Bautista Parish in Quezon City. It was presided by the Minister Provincial, Fr. Greg Redoblado , OFM in the presence of the Director of the Office for Mission and Evangelization, Fr. Oscar Ante, OFM and some Franciscan Friars. Bro. Mario is a solemn professed friar for more than 30 years. He formerly served as Provincial Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and until recently was assigned as Guardian in the friary of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Palanan, Isabela. He took the preparatory program under the Office for Mission and Evangelization and a similar program in Brussels, Belgium as part of his preparation for the mission. The Minister General of the Franciscan Order, Br. Michael Perry, www.ofmphil.org
The special election was conducted due to Fr. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM’s election as new General Definitor for Asia, Australia and Oceania during the General Chapter held in Rome last May 2015. Thereafter, Fr. Cielito Almazan, OFM was appointed as an interim Minister Provincial whose primary task is to convene the Provincial Definitory for a special election. The rite of election was preceded by a Mass of the Holy Spirit held at the chapel of the Provincial House with Fr. Greg Redoblado, OFM presiding the celebration. In his homily, he stressed that an “election is not about ourselves but about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.” He further stressed that “the very reason why we exist is because we are sent to show God’s mercy and love in our lives.” He also shared to the brothers an important lesson that he learned during the General Chapter that “a Minister Provincial does not ‘run’ a Province but he animates the brothers.”
Almazan, OFM, Fr. Cristino R. Pine, OFM, Fr. Generoso B. Pastidio, OFM, Bro. Jerome Oringo, OFM and Fr. Andres Rañoa, OFM went to the Conference Hall together with Fr. Lino Gregorio Redoblado, OFM, as representative of the Minister General. Fr. Dexter Toledo, OFM; Fr. Esmeraldo Enalpe, OFM and Fr. Andro Fernandez, OFM were also present as members of the election committee. Following the election procedures, Fr. Cielo was elected as new Minister Provincial. His election was confirmed by Fr. Greg Redoblado, OFM, in behalf of the Minister General. Fr. Cielo, besides being the Vicar Provincial, was also the Guardian of the Santuario de San Pedro Bauitsta Friary in Quezon City. On the other hand, Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM, will retain his ministry as Parish Priest of Santuario de San Antonio Parish in Forbes Park, Makati City. The newly elected members and the rest of the Provincial Definitory shall fulfill their respective offices until the Provincial Chapter in April 2016.
After the Mass, the members of the Provincial Definitory Fr. Cielito The new elected Minister Provincial during his oath of office on June 17, 2015 at the Provincial House
OFM, has assigned Br. Mario to the St. Francis of Assisi Foundation in Myanmar. Last April 20, 2015, he left the Philippines to begin his new life as a Filipino Franciscan missionary in Myanmar. Fr. Andro will join the Franciscan friars of St. Joseph Vaz Foundation
in Sri Lanka. He will still have to undergo some preparations for his future assignment in Sri Lanka and prepare his travel documents. His recent assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. He was ordained priest only last year.
SECOND QUARTER 2015
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