CHRONICLE ST. DOMINIC’S PRIORY (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011)

September-October. Not much to report through the month of September. Our twenty students enrolled in the different years of philosophy/theology at the University of Saint Joseph’s School of Christian Studies. They started their classes on September 19. The Priory of St. Dominic is composed then of six Dominican priests and twenty student theologians.

A New Member for our Priory. On October 12, Fr. Dionisiso Cabezón, OP arrived in Macao. He came from Manila, Philippines from the University of Santo Tomas, where he was assigned for over forty years. The previous month, he had asked Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP, Prior Provincial of the Philippines Province (the UST Priory is under the Philippine Province) to allow him to go back to the mother Province, that is Our Lady of the Rosary.  Permission granted with gratitude, Fr Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial of our Province welcomed Fr. Dionisio back to the Province and on October 13, assigned him to St. Dominic’ Priory, Macau. On October 11, St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, Manila, tendered a special lunch in honor of Fr. Dionisio. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, OP, Prior, expressed the deep gratitude of the community to Fr. Dionisio, who answered by saying that he enjoyed very much his years in the community. The whole community answered his words with a standing ovation.

An old member returns. Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP came back to Macao with Fr. Dionisio. Fr Fausto was in Manila for over one month and a half fulfilling his commitment to teach at least once a year at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Santo Tomas, where he was assigned for forty four years. This time he taught Social Doctrine of the Church, Justice, and Basic Bioethics.

Commencement Exercises. Fr. Athanasius CH., OP. and Bro. Hilario Plureh, OP. received their graduation diploma from the University of Saint Joseph on October 8 and 15 respectively. With about fifty five other graduates, Fr. Athanasius was granted the diploma of Master in Religious Education, and, with about two hundred other graduates Bro. Hilario, the diploma of his licentiate (Portuguese nomenclature, in reality a bachelor’s degree) in Theology. The other five classmates of Bro. Hilario are already assigned to different places and could not be present at the solemn Commencement Exercises. Where are our six graduates with the licentiate in theology? Bro. Patrick Boreh is on leave from the Province for one year; Bro. John Maung Sui is in Myanmar helping in the administration and pastoral work of our first Dominican house in Yangun; Bro. Terence Aye Win Aung is in Avila (Spain) learning Spanish; Bro. Simon Saw Sele  is in Manila learning Tagalog; Bro. John Bosco is in Rome studying moral theology at the Angelicum, and Bro. Hilario Plureh is in Bangkok to study interreligious dialogue at the Assumption University.

Mass of the Holy Spirit. Although the present academic year began on September 19, 2011, the school year 2011-2012 opened officially on October 17, with the concelebrated Mass of the Holy Spirit, which was presided by Mons. Jose Lai, Bishop of Macao and concelebrated by six religious priests, including a Dominican from St. Dominic’s Priory, and a secular priest, Fr. Joao Eleuterio, Deputy Rector and coordinator of the School of Christian Studies. Our students animated the Eucharistic celebration with appropriate songs.

Special Lecture at USJ. On October 17, 2011, the School of Christian Studies organized a special lecture on the Bible. It was introduced and presented by Prof. Arnold T. Monera of the same School of ChristianaA Studies. Two excellent speakers interacted with each other while speaking to us on The Problems of Bible Translation between different languages, confessions and cultures.” Dr. Willen A. M. Beuken, SJ, professor of the University of Leuven (Belgium), and Dr. Jonathan Ting-Pong Tsoi, professor of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong. Dr. Edgar Javier, SVD, reacted to the double presentation. Fr. Joao Eleuterio, USJ Deputy Rector and Coordinator of the School of Christian Studies closed the enlightening session with a word of gratitude. The conference was well attended. The audience included most our students.

Our Prior Repeats. On October 19, Fr Provincial Javier Gonzalez, OP, confirmed Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, as Prior of our St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau. Fr. Alejandro was elected the day before by the voting members of the community. On October 23, the community celebrated the appointment of Fr Alex for a second consecutive term with the solemn Sunday Eucharistic celebration, in which Fr. Alejandro made his Profession of Faith. Thereafter, the whole community joyfully celebrated the new term of our Prior with a delicious lunch. Congratulations!

New Subprior. Fr. Dionisio Cabezon, OP, the newest member of our community was chosen by Fr. Prior and confirmed by the Chapter of the Convent as the new Subprior (October 26). He succeeds our dear Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP, who now rests in God’s peace. Congratulations!

Our Visitors. On October 27, 2011, Fr. Rafael Carpintero, OP, from our Convent of La Santa Cruz in Manila visited us with his sister and brother-in-law. We hope that next time Fr. Carpin will visit us to stay with us for a while and teach liturgical songs and Gregorian chant to our community. On the same day we had the pleasure of the visit of five Korean members of the Dominican Confraternity connected with our Dominican brothers in Seoul and Ansan.

Distribution of duties of the Priory though 2011-2012. Fr Prior convoked a meeting of the Chapter of the House on October 26, 2011. The main item of the agenda was the assignment of the brethren, including priests and students, to the different posts or works to be done in the community. These assignments comprise, among others, assistant treasurer, secretary to the council of the house, archivist, liturgist, sacristan, infirmarian, guest master, librarian, chronicler, web page, etc.

Meeting of Religious Men in Macau. On October 28, representatives (nine) of different Congregations of Religious Men working in Macau, including our Priory met again, this time at the Jesuit House. The meeting was presided by Fr. Alberto Rossa, CMF; Fr. John Ledesma, SDB acted as secretary for the meeting. After the reading and approval of the minutes of the previous session (September 29), the religious men present commented on various points previously discussed, in particular the future of the Macau Catholic Center and their possible participation in its program, and Bishop Jose Lai’s request to the religious men to collaborate in the elaboration and implementation of a new pastoral project for the Diocese of Macau. This project is being planned now with the participation of the different agents of evangelization in the diocese. The next meeting will be at our Priory on November 25, 2011, at three (3:00) in the afternoon. The main agenda for this meeting will be: the current mission of the different religious congregations of men in Macau, and our cooperation as religious men in the contemplated pastoral project of the diocese. Indeed, things are moving “slow by slow.”

Our Incipient Library Keeps Growing. An important part of the collection of books of Fr. Donald Goergen, OP of the American Province of St. Albert (three boxes) arrived safely from St. Louis, Missouri.  Fr Dionisio donated some excellent books of psychology. The whole rich collection of Fr. Lionel (RIP) was placed in our Library. Gratitude is the memory of the heart. We remember: Thank you very much!

Closing words. At the end of the month we have to remember our beloved Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP, whom the Lord took from us on October 19, 2011. He rests in God’s peace. The community is deeply, deeply grateful to Fr. Lionel, who will continue, we believe, helping all its members (see separate write-up).We also continue remembering in our prayers our former dear member and Master of Students Fr. Lucio Gutierrez, OP, who continues gravely sick in our Sty. Martin de Porres’ Hospital in San Juan, Metro-Manila.  We understand that come January 1, 2012, a new member will be added to our Priory: Fr. Jose Luis Miguel, OP., classmate of Fr. Lucio. He shall be warmly welcomed! (FGB)