On February 11, 2011 the SVD Quasi-Parish of Busao, Maribojoc, Bohol celebrated her 4th anniversary. The simple and rather quite celebration was highlighted with a mass attended by representatives of the four Barangays which comprise the parish. The majority who attended were the youth from the Busao National High School.

As part of the prefect’s conference given to the brother seminarians last February 13, Brother Bela Lanyi, SVD gave a glimpse of the life of Blessed Gregory Frackowiack; a Divine Word Missionary brother who was killed by the Nazis in World War II and was one of the Polish martyrs beatified in 1999.

Rain poured intermittently but that did not prevent the SVD seminarians, professed brothers as well as some SSpS sisters to attend the Archdiocesan Vocation Jamboree held at the Blessed John XXIII seminary last February 27, 2011. In spite of the rain it was a joyous occasion where the seminarians were able to introduce and invite the youth to consider the vocation to enter the Arnoldus family.

Last February 1, 2011, the Saint Joseph Freinademetz Formation community, was graced by the presence of Fr. Dondion Soriano, SVD. Fr. Dondion, who hails from Magsaysay,Mindoro has spent the last three years as a missionary in Republic Democratic of Congo. In his homily, he shared his unique experiences of adjusting and adapting to a different language and culture which has also led him to deepen his missionary vocation. In his sharing he stressed the value of the brothers and their contribution to the missions and encouraged each of us to opt for the foreign missions in the future and to grow in our missionary calling.

As part of the Archdiocesan vocation month, the SVD seminarians and some professed brothers attended the facilitators gathering which was held at the Gualandi Center for the Deaf located at Banilad, Cebu. The aim of the gathering was to discuss and prepare for the upcoming vocation jamboree on February 27, 2011 at the Pope John XXIII seminary in Mabolo.

Fr. Heinz Kulueke, SVD, the provincial superior of the Philippine Southern Province was conferred a Federal Cross of Merit Award by the Federal government of Germany last January 17, 2012 in Cebu City. The prestigious award is given by the German government to any of its citizens who have contributed so much for the development of humanity. The award was personally given to him by His Excellency Ambassador Joachim Heidorn, Germany’s ambassador to the Philippines, who came to the city of Cebu for the glorious event.

*SVD – USC Mission Team Delivers Relief Operation to Victims of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro*