KAPATID holds Triduum for the Solemnity of the Annunciation

In line with the aim of promoting the devotion to Our Lady, the KAPATID conducted a Triduum prayer from March 22 to 24, 2023 as a fitting preparation for the celebration of the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This is the third Triduum prayer project of the apostolic group following those held last year for the Solemnity of the Assumption and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Compared to the previous year’s Triduum prayers which were pre-recorded at the Dominican Studentate Oratory, this year’s Triduum was conducted at the La Naval Side Altar of the Santo Domingo Church cum populo while being live-streamed.

Together with the devotees, the members of KAPATID contemplated the mystery of the Annunciation in front of the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Rosary La Naval de Manila.

Some KAPATID members share food to the children after the culminating activity has finished. (PHOTO BY BR. CORNELIUS LIEWANGSA PUTRA, OP/ KAPATID)

“Magandang umaga po sa lahat. Ako po ay si Ian Kenneth Seguis. Sa ngalan po ng mga kabataang kasapi ng Cluster 14 Buklodasal group, nagpapasalamat po kami, unang una sa Panginoong Diyos, sa BEC ng Santo Domingo (Parish) sa pagdala sa amin ng mga Dominican brothers. Dahil dito marami po kaming natutunan at lumalim ang aming pananampalataya sa Panginoong Diyos. Nagpapasalamat din po kami kay Ate Gemma (BEC Leader) dahil ginabayan niya kami at tinuruan kung paano magdasal. Sa uulitin po. Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat. Maraming salamat po.”

Words of Thanks by Ian Kenneth Seguis during the Culminating Activity of the Catechesis for Children held last June 10, 2022 at Villa España II, Tatalon Quezon City

Blessed and Grateful to Be a Legionary

MS. AESHA PAULA L. DEL ROSARIO (MEMBER, LEGION OF MARY MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PRAESIDIUM)

"Everyone should have a genuine devotion to her [Blessed Virgin Mary] and entrust his life to her motherly care.” (Apostolicam Actuositaten, 4)

Fr. Lopez reflects on God’s love and mercy for Lent

Lauro G. de Dios, OP gives a message after the catechism given

R&R features teardrop of St. Dominic in its new logo

In updating its manual of operations and procedures, the Retreat and Recollection (R&R) Committee decided to update its logo to align it with the committee’s vision and mission.

MICHAEL SATRIA ABI DILEYON, OP

The prayer started at 5:20 PM, on the first two days, and at 4:20 PM, on the third day, which was earlier than usual because of the Via Crucis. The KAPATID organized this activity in collaboration with the members of the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators (MLC) of Santo Domingo Parish, who served as prayer leaders. In cooperation with the Dominican Student’s Media Centre (DSMC), this activity was also live streamed on the La Naval de Manila Facebook page to cater to devotees who cannot join physically. KAPATID hopes that through activities like this, people will strengthen their devotion to Our Lady, who played an important role for our salvation. BR.

Last June 2022, I was appointed by my brothers to be one of the Assistant Spiritual Directors of the Legion of Mary. When was informed about my appointment, I felt mixed emotions. I was grateful because my brothers trusted me and my capacity to guide them and the legionaries in the journey of deepening their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the same time, I was anxious because I did not know how to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as an assistant spiritual director. Nevertheless, I only thought of one thing that inspired me to go on, and that is “Mama Mary, tabangi ug giyahi ko.” (Mama Mary, help and guide me.)

As months passed by, realized that being an assistant spiritual director to the legionaries was not an easy task. There were so many things that I had to bear in mind and put into practice in order to become a good and devoted assistant spiritual director to them—preparing the allocutio for every meeting, guiding them towards their spiritual growth by giving bite-sized catechesis, sharing some of my personal stories of faith, and many more.

However, on top of all those things, there is one that should always be present, and that is, living with a firm and sincere devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A brother cannot be a good spiritual director of the Legion if he does not have the devotion characterized by firmness rooted in one’s heart. In fact, it is the first and the most important element that unites the Legion of Mary as one.

As St. John Paull II says to the Legion of Mary, “Your Legion forms a part of those movements that feel personally committed to the spread or the birth of that faith through the spread or the revival of the devotion to Mary.” The devotion should already be planted in one’s heart and mind so that it can be shared with others. Personally, I will not be able to guide my legionaries towards Jesus through Mary if I myself do not have the devotion to her since the beginning. How can share something about devotion to them if I myself do not have one? St. Paul says, “For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.” (2 Cor. 8:12).

My journey as an assistant spiritual director was like a roller-coaster ride, but despite the ups and downs, I owe it to the help and guidance of the Blessed Mother. It is because of my devotion to the Blessed Mother that I was able to fulfill my responsibilities as an assistant spiritual director. I entrusted my life to her motherly care, and despite all my uncertainties, she did not abandon me on the journey. She was right there, guiding me in every step I made an making me her instrument to lead her legionaries toward her beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Ad Jesum per Mariam!

One of the most significant things I have learned as a member of the Legion of Mary is how to be close to God through our devotion to his Mother. I remember the time when I first entered the Mary Help of Christian praesidium have so many doubts about myself back then. I asked “Kaya ko ba ‘to? Makakayanan ko ba ‘to?” But then I realized, after several months of attending our weekly meeting as an active member of the praesidium you just need to be committed to the organization to remove those doubts. Now, being devoted to praying the Rosary and the Catena Legionis every day, I believe I have become closer to God. I have also felt much love from my newfound brothers and sisters in the community. The Legion of Mary helped me grow into a woman of value and virtue. I became more courteous, brave, industrious, self-reliant, and purposeful in thought as well as in action. That is why I am thankful that face-to-face meetings are back after the pandemic. Because of our weekly meetings, we became more focused and productive There are also fewer distractions, and it is easier to encourage engagement. Face-to-face meetings help us to improve communication among the members. As we finish another formation year, we thank our spiritual directors, the Dominican brothers, for accompanying us. We also look forward to meeting our new spiritual directors for the coming year.

As an annual activity and preparation for the Lenten Season, the Dominican Studentate Pastoral Board (DSPB), in cooperation with the different apostolic groups of the Dominican Studentate and the Santo Domingo Parish, organized Lakbay Buhay Lenten Recollection 2023 with the theme, “Ikaw Panginoon ay mapagpatawad at sagana sa kagandahang-loob” on March 25, 2023 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary La Naval de Manila, Santo Domingo Church Quezon City. The activity commenced with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 6 o’clock in the evening. This was ensued by the recollection proper at 7 o’clock. Rev. Fr. Allan V. Lopez, OP, the Parish Priest of the San Lorenzo Ruiz and

Companion Martyrs Parish in Navotas, was the recollection speaker. In his talk, Fr. Lopez shared the four faces of poverty, which include physical or economic poverty, cultural poverty, lack of relationships, and mental and spiritual poverty. He cited the corporal works of mercy and the necessity to be immersed (“pagbabad”) with our underprivileged brethren so that we may know their needs. He challenged the attendees to take a course of action, to give their words and mercy to let those in need feel the mercy of God through them. He also invited everyone to pray for them. In this modern time, while embracing the spirit of synodality, those who felt neglected and excluded should also be invited again to journey with them in faith and to give them the opportunity to participate. Finally, he urged the attendees to be missionaries in this modern time by letting those in the peripheries feel the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev. Fr. Mhandy S. Malijan, OP, the Parish Priest of Santo Domingo Parish, delivered the words of thanks and gave the final blessing. The recollection ended with simple agape shared by the attendees at the Church corridor. The recollection was well attended by the Dominican fathers and student-brothers, members of the different apostolic groups and of various church organization of Santo Domingo Parish, and the lay faithful. The event was also live streamed via the La Naval de Manila Official Facebook page. BR.

The new logo of R&R employs the Dominican shield with superimposed initials of the committee imitating a military coat of arms. In the Dominican Studentate, the student-brothers are trained to hone their preaching skills to effectively share the Truth Incarnate.

The teardrop, which is the focal point of the shield, is reminiscent of what the Chronicle of the Origin of the Order, compiled by Bl. Jordan of Saxony narrates about the Holy Father Dominic as often spending whole nights in the church at prayer, watering the steps of the altar with abundance of tears, and begging for the grace to gain some of unhappy souls to Christ.

The pursuit of the student brothers for personal sanctification through the ministry goes hand in hand with charity and compassion upon those who are deprived of the liberating joy of the Gospel. This desire is symbolized by the dog with the lit torch and whose front legs are lifted signifying movement, as the student-brothers pursue mission to geographical and existential peripheries to bring the light of the Gospel.

UST Angelicum College’s REAP sites welcome student-brothers

Five Dominican student-brothers were blessed to have their pastoral enrichment program on urban poor and care of creation with UST Angelicum College’s Re-Entry Education Agenda for the Poor (REAP) Program. This program commits itself to offering the same Angelicum quality education system to the less fortunate and marginalized members of society.

Under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Peter Simon dL. Ramos, OP, the current REAP Coordinator, they visited three REAP sites, namely; Laura Vicuña Foundation in Cubao; Save Our School Foundation Incorporation in Baguio; and Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres in Bulacan. They were able to meet volunteer teachers, students, and graduates of the program.

The student-brother’s visit to the REAP sites helped them realize the importance of education which fosters Christian and

From the Master of Students

The Meaning of an Encounter

IN one of his books, Charles Dickens wrote, “Man is a mystery for another.” I could not say anything else but yes. Man is truly a mystery because the idea we have about others in our minds could be quite different once we encounter them in real life. Our experience on local mission – catechetical program for adults – in the streets of Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City altered our notion of the poor and the faith itself.

The pastoral enrichment program on local mission, a part of the pastoral formation program of the Dominican Studentate, opened opportunities for the brothers to know and interact with the urban poor and the marginalized. This program is held every Saturday for four weeks.