First Profession in the Philippines

Six novices of our Delegation, Mother of the Church have made their first profession. It was held at the St. Luigi Orione Seminary, in Montalban in the Philippines, in the feast of the Visitation of Our Lady. 

The novices, Anthony Gachau Mbuthia from Kenya, Ramon Padilla Rosin from the Philippines, Shibu Thomas Packarampel from India, Etson Telabangco Agarin from the Philippines, Rey Jones Sedaria Guanzon from the Philippines and Mark Oritz-Luiz Mangulabnan have professed the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience to Father Malcolm Dyer, Delegate, in the presence of all the Sons of Divine Providence of the Philippines, the parish priest of Montalban, the 8 new novices who had entered the novitiate last night, the 57 seminarians, the Orionines Sisters, some parents and relatives of some novices, friends of the community in Montalban, Payatas and Lucena.

On their way to the Novitiate

From the Kenya, six of our young postulants have taken the path to the novitiate.

Six young who have completed their cycle of philosophy and period aspiranat and postulantat:

Joseph Ngugi

Emmanuel Kirwa

Harrison Ngigi 

Kipsang Emmanuel

 Philipp Mwaluko

Kennedy Kipchumba 

have taken the flight to Payatas in the Philippines where they will be for a year of full configuration to Christ and discernment in the Little Work of Divine Providence.

Pray that St. Luigi Orione, the Blessed Virgin and our holy family with them.

Mary, the way to Jesus

Celebrating this day the feast of Mary Help of Christians, we believe it necessary to share with you a truth dearest to Don Bosco and Don Orione : Mary is Mother and Mediatrix of all Christians and all people.

            To speak about Don Orione’s love, but also Don Bosco's love for Our Lady means speaking about their person, so much did they fill their whole life with Mary. These words of Don Orione show this: ‘Read on my forehead, read in my heart, read in my soul, and you will see nothing that does not bear the writing:  Thanks to Mary’.

              This close link with Mary is explained by the strong experience that Don Orione had had of Christ; for whom, following the example of St. Paul, he could also say: ‘For me, to live is Christ’ (Gal. 2:20). Our Father has offered us the love for Our Lady as the way and the road that leads us to Jesus, because she is the perfect model of the love of Jesus.  But to reach the point of living Jesus, Don Orione was as much convinced of the necessity of imitating Mary, since she is the Mother and the disciple who permits us to reach her Son.

Divine Providence, inspirer of charity

O Divine Providence, O Divine Providence!  Nothing is more loveable nor adorable than you, who like a mother feeds the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields: the rich and the poor! You open the way to God and fulfil God’s great plans in the world!

All our trust is in you, O holy Providence of the Lord, because you love us much more than we love ourselves! No, with divine help, I no longer wish to investigate you; No, I no longer want to tie your hands; No, I no longer want to cripple you; I only want to abandon myself completely into your arms, calm and peaceful. Make me take you as you are, with the simplicity of a child, with that generous Faith that sees no limits! ‘Faith, Faith like that...’ like that of Blessed Cottolengo who found light everywhere, and saw God in all and for all!

Divine Providence! Divine Providence!  Give me, your poor servant and cobbler, and those souls who pray and work silently, sacrificing their lives among the poor, and give to our dear benefactors that largeness of heart and of charity, that does not measure good by the meter, nor by human calculation: that charity which is sweet and gentle, which does everything for everyone: which places its happiness in doing every good to others in silence: that charity which builds up and unites in Jesus Christ, with simplicity and candour.

O Holy Divine Providence! The inspirer and mother of that charity which is the motto of Christ and of His disciples: animate, comfort and fully reward in Heaven and on earth those who, in the name of God, act as father, mother, brother or sister to the unhappy ones.

 Don Orione

          From a page of 20/6/1927,

                                                        In the name of Divine Providence, 71-72.

Pope Francis’ five fingers prayer.

A simple prayer method from our Pontiff, Pope Francis. Really he is a man of his people, and a father who communicates to his people in a fashion that they seem to like.

More evidence of this is a means to prayer that the Holy Father authored when he was still the Archbishop in Argentina. It is a lovely way to pray, and it showcases Pope Francis’ sense of simplicity, his priority for family, his love for the poor and also his recognition that prayer is powerful.

1. The thumb is the closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a “sweet obligation.”

2. The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers.

3. The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those who have authority. They need God’s guidance.

4. The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even that it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers.

5. And finally we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.

The saint of the unexpected

From his friendship with the modernists to the uniquely effective policy of the Our Father. From his beginnings in Tortona to the visits to Latin America. Some episodes from the life of Don Luigi Orione that reveal the fascination of the man

by Stefania Falasca

No. One just can’t keep away from someone like him. And it should be said straight out: to adopt his attitudes, his unmistakable gestures, one would have to be him, Don Luigi Orione... or rather, something unique, providential and, above all, unexpected. Quite. And let’s say that straight off as well. Because perhaps never as in this man has the unexpected gone hand in hand with holiness. Indeed. It was all one.

How was the 16th May ?

We are still in the joy of  the 16th May. More about the celebration of the Feast of St. Luigi Orione in Dalahican. Bishop Emilio Marquez presided the celebration of the Holy Mass and after he blessed the new statue of St. Louis, the new facade dating from the Chapel of San Rafael with new doors and bells.

Fr Malcolm

 

Dear Confreres,

I would like to wish you a Blessed Solemnity of Pentecost.  I would also like to say "Happy Birthday" as it is the celebration of the birth of the Church because of the gift of the Holy Spirit of the Son and the Father to the first Christians, especially Our Lady and the Apostles but also to all the Disciples.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit who lives in us and in the Church, to keep us close so that we may live in the Spirit and so transform all creation into the Body of Christ.  May Mary, Mother of the Church help us to appreciate the gift of the Holy Spirit and cooperate ever more fully with it.

Graduation in Nairobi

Today Friday 17th May, 2013, there was a Graduation ceremony at the Consolata Institute of Philosophy, Nairobi, Kenya... Six (06) seminarians from the Sons of Divine Providence were among the graduates who received their certificates from their formators. Most parents, friends and acquaintances attended the colourful event. The graduate students were very happy after a three year formation in philosophy and religious studies.

Our six candidates prepare by the end of this week to flight to the Philippines where they will be for their year of novitiate.

Congratulations to them and good academic harvest time.

(Reported by ACCHAEUS  J.)

Thank you for the trust

Hi

We asked some time ago if it was an ingenious idea this blog SDP.Kenya.

We wondered if anything could motivate them to continue and if it was well worth it.

But I think an answer you have given us.

The numbers can certainly wrong, but encourage to not give up.

Especially knowing that someone on the other side of the world want to know what is happening here. And the Solemnity of the canonization of Don Orione just gives us this hope.

Brief statistical songage of SDP.Kenya

Thank you for the trust, Ave Maria and forwards with St. Luigi Orione.

The SDP.Kenya team.

Solemnity of San Luigi Orione

On this day, 16th of May 2013, the orionine family in its entirety was celebrating the Solemnity of the Canonization of Luigi Orione and the liturgical feast in his honor. Each one according to where he was, have tried to make it festive and better to live it as is required.

In Rome, this commemoration was tripled of meaning with the renewal of vows of two young members of our delegations from India and the institution of the acolyte of four other confreres including Anthony Njenga of our delegation and native in Kenya.

Happy Orione day!

16th May 2013 in Philippines

Dear Confreres,

As we celebrate the feast of St Luigi Orione, the words of the Holy Father at the General Audience of 15th May 2013 give us the comforting reminder that our faith in Jesus Christ is based on solid truth and leads to ever greater knowledge of the truth because of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. Don Orione has shown us and continues to show us that charity or love is putting the truth into practice, like our Mother Mary.  I wish myself and all of you ever greater knowledge of the truth and the grace to be able to make it become love in our every thought word and deed.

Happy feast day!

Feast of St Luigi Orione at Lucena, Philippines

CHAPEL OF SAN ROQUE, TALAO-TALAO

Today 2013-05-16 the Lucena Community celebrates the feast of St Luigi Orione at the chapel of San Rafael, Dalahican, Quezon Province, Philippines. 

The Most Reverend Emilio Marquez, Bishop of Lucena has come to celebrate our founder’s feast day at the chapel he entrusted to our congregation in 2010, when he accompanied our Superior General, Fr Flavio Peloso and Fr Martin Mroz and others to this place which had been somewhat abandoned.  Now after nearly three years he has come to bless not only the new facade of the chapel, the new statue of St Luigi Orione but also the Confreres, Fr Martin Mroz and Fr Joseph Van Cu Nguyen and all the people and volunteers who have worked so hard to revive the faith of the local people and give them, together with the Eucharistic Bread of the Risen Lord, the Bread of food for hungry bodies, the Bread of health for sick bodies and the Bread of education for minds and hearts thirsting for truth.

Pope John Paul II about Don Orione

MEETING WITH THE PILGRIMS PRESENT IN ROME
FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BLESSED LUIGI ORIONE

ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II

Saturday, 15 May 2004

1. It is with great joy that I meet with you this evening, dear brothers and sisters who represent the entire family of Bl. Luigi Orione.

I greet the Cardinals, Bishops, Authorities and all who have wished to be present for this celebration. I address a particular greeting to the General Director of the Institute, Don Roberto Simionato, who has expressed the sentiments of each one of you.

I then greet the various branches of the Don Orione Family: the Sons of Divine Providence, the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity, consecrated laity and associates of the Don Orione Lay People's Movement, the devoted and pilgrims coming from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

I extend a special greeting to the young people and to the numerous disabled persons present, who give me the opportunity to embrace spiritually all the guests of your homes, looked upon by Don Orione as his "treasures" and precious "pearls". A thankful greeting goes also to the "Rai" [television and radio station] which offers to many Italians throughout the world the possibility to take part in this event.

Interview with Don Orione...

From the book: DON ORIONE. INTERVISTA VERITA’

by Don Flavio Peloso, Ed. San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo, Italy, 1997, pp. 112-122.

THE LITTLE WORK OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE PRESENTED BY DON ORIONE

Question: Don Orione, you have already told us many things about your life, your ideals and your projects. Around you has grown a spiritual and apostolic movement. To say “Don Orione” today, means not just thinking of you but also the many priests, sisters, hermits, lay people working in various houses and works both throughout Italy and in many parts of the world. Shall we speak about the Little Work of Divine Providence, the name you gave to your foundation?

Answer: The Little Work of Divine Providence wishes, with its various families, to spread the “Sensus Christi” and the spirit of the love of Jesus and of his holy Catholic Church, our Mother, through works of mercy.

It really wants to spread the Gospel and the love of the Pope, “sweet Christ on earth”, among the people, as well as a more lively and greater spirit of fraternal charity among men. It wishes to religiously and socially elevate the working classes, to save them from fatalistic and disinheriting ideologies, to build up and unite the people in Christ.

Its field of work is charity. However, truth and justice are never excluded. Charity is put into practice in truth and justice.

Something of Don Orione...

While we prepare with the whole Church to celebrate the liturgical memorial of Saint Luigi Orione during the ninth year of his canonization (16th May), we found it necessary to invite everyone to discover for some and to rediscover for others "WHO IS DON ORIONE?"

We will propose in these days some extracts from writings about our founders and some testimonials about the man someone called "the Gangster for Christ".

From the Pope's homily at the Beatification Mass (on October 26th 1980)

"Don Orione appears to us as a marvellous and creative expression of Christian charity. It is impossible to summarise in a few sentences the adventurous and sometimes dramatic life of one how called himself, humbly, but shrewdly: "God's porter". But we can state that he was doubtlessly one of the most outstanding personalities of this century, because of his openly professed Christian faith.

He was a joyful and complete Priest of Christ, going all over Italy and Latin America, consecrating his own life to those who suffer because of calamities, poverty and human misconduct. It is enough to recall his selfless work among the victims of the Messina and Marsica's earthquakes.

Building a house to the Lord (2 Samuel 7:1-29)

Final profile of the Chapel

“David has just completed the construction of his palace. He looks out and sees the ark of the Lord, housed in a tent, and then begins to wonder. . . . A plan begins to formulate in his mind. Why not build a house for God, a temple?...”

For sure, it is God who plans to build a “house”. But it have to be also the project of human to prepare a place where he may adore and sing the greatness of God.

Message of Pope Francis...

Don Orione_Pope Francis_Virgin Mary

Pope Francis continues to teach us things which were very dear to Don Orione.  In this month of May he encouraged people at the General Audience on 1^st May to pray the rosary together, as families, as groups and communities.  Let us try to pray the rosary together as a community, every day, if possible, but, if not possible, at least by ourselves.  Remember that it is part of our spirituality to be devoted to Mary the Mother of God and praying the rosary is the best way to express that devotion to our great Mother who loves us as no other mother can.

Pope Francis also teaches us to work for ending the trafficking of people, especially young people, and to try to change the environment of work from a deformed understanding of it, where the priority is to maximise profit, to a proper understanding of it, where man and woman express their dignity as people entrusted by God to be stewards and enhancers of creation as members of a world-wide community, not exploiters of either other people or resources.  The Social Doctrine of the Church has a lot to say about this (see the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church).

Fr. Malcolm Dyer FDP

“You’re mothers not spinsters”...

Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday 08 May. But yesterday, before this great meeting that attracts over 70,000 to the St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father has granted a private audience to the International Union of Superiors General (IUGS).

Pope Francis reminded women religious that they cannot serve Jesus without feeling that they belong to the Church. Before today’s General Audience, Pope Francis met approximately 800 representatives of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in the Paul VI hall. The women religious are currently in Rome, attending their plenary assembly. below is the  translation of the text: