Brief News From Japan

* On September 2 and 3 we had the Perpetual Profession and Diaconal Ordination of our Bro. Tony Matias in Yokkaichi. Most of the Piarists in Japan were present, and also Fr. Vice-provincial came for the ceremonies. The parishioners accompanied us when Mgr. Paul Otsuka, Bishop of Kyoto, ordained Deacon the first Piarist in Japan.

* Fr. Adam, after finishing his schooling to study Japanese, has gone to Poland to enjoy his well deserved holidays. He will be now more and more involved in the different activities of the mission.

* Bro. Bryan had his spiritual retreat in Hokkaido. Bro. Nelson had his in Nasu. The juniors in Komaba participated in the Ecumenical Mass organized by the Filipino Community and in the Vocation Mass with other Congregations organized in Tokyo, with the Archbishop as main celebrant.

* We will celebrate on November 26th the 60th anniversary of the creation of our Kaisei School in Yokkaichi. Fr. Pedro Aguado, Provincial of Vasconia, is planning to attend to the celebration. Fr. Jesus Lacarra, former teacher in Kaisei, will represent the Piarists in the Philippines.

Brief News From The Philippines

* After six months among us, Fr. Mario Conti has gone back to Italy. He has done a lot of musical work for us here, in Cebu and Manila, and we are very grateful to him. Maybe this is not the last time you stay with us, is it?

* We had at the end of August the usual Calasanzian celebrations in Manila and Cebu… but this year it was special in Cebu, because we had the joy to attend during those days to the Perpetual Profession and Diaconal Ordination of our brothers Dodong and Lily. Cebu Cathedral was enlightened again with the colours and the songs of the Piarists when Bishop Emilio Bataclan ordained them as servers of the Church of God.

* Fr. Juanjo returned to Spain at the beginning of September, and during a year he is assigned to the community of Riezu. Fr. Fernando Guillen arrived in Manila at the beginning of October, and he has already assumed his task as dean of studies in our juniorate.

* Fr. Jose went to Spain for his holidays. He attended to the Council of Major Superiors in Rome. He was able also to visit our juniors in Rome (Andres and Domie are doing well in the Gregoriana; Aljun will return to the Philippines at the end of December) and in Madrid (Francis and Mark are studying their last Semester of Theology, while they live and work inour House of Aluche). He visited also the house of Manila before returning to Cebu.


* During the semester break, Manila community went for several days to a resort in Batangas. The postulants in Cebu went to Mantalungong with Dodong, their master. The novices had gone before with Fr. Mirek to Surigao for a Family Visit experience.

* We learnt that Mr. Eladio Mosende, father of our brother Francis, died in Ormoc this past November 14. We offer our condoleances to the family, and we commend him to the Lord in our prayers.

* We continue our struggle for vocations, in Manila and in Cebu and many other places we visit. The traditional Encounter for Lay Vocational Cooperators and Cayl members took place this year at the end of October in Davao, with the presence of Fr. Lacarra and Bros. Lily and Marlon.

* Our cars in Cebu and Manila had to visit the repair shop. Fortunately the drivers had no other harm than the psychological shock… We are always learning how to improve our driving, and mastery sometimes is expensive to acquire.


Brief News From India

-The best news, no doubt, is the coming Priestly Ordination of our Brother Varghese John Kizhakkemattummel, on the 19th of December in Aripalam (Trissur district, Kerala). Mgr. Francis Kallarackal, bishop of Kottapuram (the native diocese of Varghese) will be the one to ordain him.
-Another very good news, this time from Bangalore. At last, after some delays, the Juniorate Community has moved into the new building. The works are not completely finished, but a part of it already is. The official blessing is scheduled for December the 16th. The Archbishop of Bangalore, Mgr. Bernard Moras, will bless it.
-With occasion of Varghese?s ordination and the blessing of the new Juniorate, Fr. Ernesto Herrmann, Provincial of Argentina, will arrive in Bangalore on the 15th of December. He will remain in India around 20 days, and he will visit all our communities and works.
-Fr. Pedro Recuenco, faithful to his commitment to the Piarist mission in India, will arrive from Zaragoza on the 25th of November, to cooperate with the same enthusiasm as always in the formation activities in Bangalore and Mantharamputhoor.
-During the month of September Fr. Fernando Negro was renewing his visa in Spain, and enjoying some days of holidays with his parents.
-Fr. Antonio Marco attended as a guest to the Major Superiors Council, kept in Rome during the last days of October.
-Bros. Varghese and Jeejo were admitted in the B.Ed. Course. They are living in our house in Aryanad and from there they attend daily to class in a neighboring town. In this way our presence in Asha Nikethan Boys?Home is becoming a reality.