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WELCOME REMARKS: FR. ROMEO B.
GONZALES, MS
LA SALETTE SCHOOLS INCORPORATION
56th ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
March 04,2008
At the outset, permit me to greet all of you, Frs., Bros.,
Sisters, La Salette Educators and fellow incorporators with the
grace, peace and emrace of Christ, the Living Water of our life!
It is interesting to give some words of Welcome or Opening
Remarks in a pastoral manner based on our scriptural readings
today in our Eucharistic Celebration, and what is going on in
the country, when we are being challenged to stand up for truth,
justice, honesty and integrity, considering the many
happenings of the day like: *NBN ZTE "The North & South
Rails Projects* The Jose Pidal Case* The Bolante Fertilizer
Scam* The Hello Garci* The reported shameless distribution of
bags of cash in Malacanang* The Comelec Megapacific
Computerization deal* The PIATCO NAIA TERMINAL 3* The overpriced
Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, and so forth and so on. All these
are eroding the common good and offending the will of God and
killing or dehumanizing all of us.
A little over two weeks ago, a day after Valentines Day, we, the
CEAP National Board released our statement on the events of our
time: Speaking Truth, Seeking Justice, Setting things right.
We said that we must pray for the courage to speak the truth; we
must pray for humility in the pursuit of justice; we pray for
personal integrity in the quest, and respect for others involved
in the search for it.
We also said that we must pray and heed what our
conscience tells us; act with the CBCP and all other men
and women of good will; seek to discover the educative
moment in the happenings of the day; fight corruption in
ourselves and others; work to set things right as we see
things under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, following Jesus,
the Way, the Truth and the Life, seeking to dispel darkness by
our light, melting hatred by our love. We need and affect one
another, and all of us need some kind of cleansing and healing.
You and I long for people to recognize that the divine power,
not only to wash away our guilt, but also to make us into
wholesome healthy individuals, is to be found in Jesus Christ.
We heard from our readings during the Mass, the angel, who
appeared to Ezeckiel:47:10 pointed to a flowing river and
said: "Everything will live where the river goes." It was a
prophecy about Christ, who will come to the world as God's
living water. That is why the man who was invalid for 38
years, and could not manage to get into the pool of
Bethesda in Jerusalem the water of which was believed to
have the power of healing, was cured without the help of
that water, but at the mere command of Jesus: Rise, take up your
mat and walk'(Jn5:18). Christ will give healing to us but the
water we receive from Him must flow, through us to others. (In
Palestine, the fresh water of the river Jordan is flowing all
the time into the Dead Sea. But the Sea still remains Dead
because it is not sending out streams.). So too, though the
living water of Jesus is flowing in all our churches,
communities and schools, some of them remain half dead or dead
because they are not giving out water to others .... contrary to
CSR!
Many of us participated in the CEAP September National
Convention last year under the Theme: Beyond Borders, Within
Worlds: Catholic Schools and Corporate
Social Responsibility. We learned and decided that while we live
within the world of Catholic Education, there are times when we
need to go beyond the borders that separate us one school from
another, one sector in society from the next. We are educational
institutions whose primary task is Education, talking care of
those who come to us to learn. But we are as Christians and
Catholics, part of the Body of Christ Corpus Christi. From that
conviction flows our Corporate Social Responsibility, a
prominent feature of which is engaged Citizenship or engaged
Salettinian. We help to shape not only our respective schools,
not only our La Salette School System, but also our communities
and our nation, In the words of Vaclav Havel: By perceiving
ourselves as part of the river, we take responsibility for the
river as a whole.
Indeed we have the river of our society that is now being
destroyed and polluted by sham and corruption, violence a moral
bankruptcy. But as a catholic school and as a system or
corporation, it is our corporate social responsibility to
cleanse, to transform such a river into the river, into the
living water, Christ, Himself, who produces in us the fruits of
the Holy Spirit that should be blooming in our lives: the fruits
of joy, peace, love, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity,
gentleness, faithfulness, chastity, modesty and self control.
(Gal. 5:22ff).
What is God telling us in this moment in our history? And how
are we to respond as a school and as a system?
* To our respective communities and places, we must show and say
that we will not allow dishonesty, corruption, indifference or
neglect to rule our lives.
* We, the whole school community, must look into ourselves
and ensure that what we decry in others we do not do ourselves.
* We should pledge to continue to teach and live the
truth, honesty and integrity in our schools so that when our
graduates leave us they bring with them not just skills and
knowledge, but wisdom and love to inspire and change the world.
Fellow incorporators and educators, let us thank God for the
gift of Christ, the living river or water that cleanses us, so
that in the way we live, and in the way we love, others may be
able to experience for themselves, perhaps for the first time
God's love, truth and justice for them even in the marketplace,
specially in our schools.
It is within this context of my musings that we extend to you,
once again, our warm welcome. Thank you and God bless you all.
BOT CHAIRMAN'S
REPORT: FR. MANUEL DELA CRUZ, MS
Today, we come together for this 2008 General Assembly to review
the happenings of the schoolyear 2007-2008, and to look into
what we intend to accomplish in the future before us. Certainly,
we have some pains and sacrifices as we journeyed together
towards making our vision-mission a reality.
We are grateful, however, for the accomplishments and successes
each La Salette School has achieved during the schoolyear
2007-2008. We thank and acknowledge the work of the Board of
Trustees, the schoolheads and the Superintendent's Office.
Likewise, we acknowledge and thank our teachers and staff
personnel who have served and continue to serve generously in
order to achieve the avowed goals we set forth. What follows are
the programs and activities accomplished by the BOT-SO, in
collaboration with the individual La Salette Schools'
administration, to raise the standards of excellence in Catholic
and Salettine education.
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
For the schoolyear 2007-2008, the BOT-SO has undertaken the
following relevant programs and activities:
On Personal Faith and Spirituality
A colloquium on the Companion in the Ministry of Teaching was
held on May 2426, 2007 at the University of La Salette by a
team headed by Fr. Redentor Corpuz, Regional Director of CEAP
Region 04. The colloquium was participated in by 269 school
personnel who expressed a "very good" rating on the implications
of the Colloquium to their personal and professional life. The
first-two day meetings was focused on deepening the awareness of
teachers to the meaning of teaching as a baptismal commitment as
well as promoting the spirit of service in the teaching
profession by following the teachings and example of Christ the
Teacher. The third day activity was used for personal reflection
with Bible reading sessions and culminated with a Eucharistic
Celebration.
On Corporate Social
Responsibility
The schoolheads attended the Catholic Educational Association of
the Philippines (CEAP) general assembly held in Cebu City. The
theme: "Beyond Borders, Within Worlds: Catholic Schools and
Corporate Social Responsibility" raised issues and challenges,
and among these are: (1) "that many of the graduates of our
schools, despite distinct advantage of their schooling, do not
seem to have sufficiently assimilated Christian values in such a
way as to renew the Christian living and make them lay apostles
in their respective field of endeavors.", and (2) "the faith
dimension, as a unique contribution of Catholic schools, as our
Corporate social responsibility. Our efforts towards unity, our
expression of sharing and participation, the various forms of
services within the school or around us – all these done for the
love of God and people bear fruits." These were re-echoed in the
schoolheads' conference, and a one-day seminar sponsored by the
CEAP Region 02 through the leadership of Rev. Fr. Gonzales, MS
as CEAP Region 02 Director, was a similar opportunity for those
who were unable to go to Ceby City. Fr. Antonio Ancheta,
Director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Ilagan,
gave a talk on Corporate Social Responsibility to the
participants.
Curriculum
Development and Instruction Improvement
The Board of Trustees-Superintendent's Office initiated a 3-day
seminar-workshops on Supervision of Classroom Instruction, a
necessity for our academic administrators, coordinators and
faculty, was held on April 12-14, 2007 at the University of La
Salette high school as venue. The seminar workshop focused on
supervision and evaluation of instruction as a sustained,
integrated and ongoing process involving all teachers, including
the Principal's role in the educational system as learner,
mentor, supervisor, leader, advocate and innovator, thus
promoting teachers' growth (both personal and professional) as
well as evaluating educational results/outcomes. This 3-day
seminar-workshop was sponsored by DANE Publishing House through
Mrs. Eva Morato-Baytic, DANE Educational Consultant.
Coordinated with the University of La Salette high school the
participation of all teachers of the school system in a seminar
sponsored by the Center for Educational Measurement (CEM)
through Mrs. Sally Delos Santos, Region 02 Coordinator, on
September 1, 2007. The seminar with the theme: "Moving forward
through Assessment and Classroom Management" was held at the
University of La Salette Center for Professional Development (CPD).
School System Services
The Superintendent's office personnel facilitated the Guidance
and Counseling seminar for Guidance Coordinators and homeroom
advisers, a program initiated by Sr. Ma. Milagros C. Dela Cruz,
SNDS, principal of La Salette of Ramon on October 20, 2007 with
Dr. Guiab as facilitator-speaker. The seminar focused on basic
counseling techniques and strategies.
The BOT-SO coordinated with the schoolheads the seminar held at
the University of La Salette for professional growth of
librarians with the objective of updating their school library
services for students and users. This seminar was initiated by
Mrs. Rosario Dionisio, Chief Librarian of the University of La
Salette Library Department.
Strengthened the supervision of classroom instruction by
assisting the schools' principles in some schools of the system
: La Salette of Aurora, La salette of Ramon, La Salete of
Quezon, La Salete of San Mateo and La Salette of Cabatuan. This
supervision was done by the Assistant Superintendents Dr.
Rebecca B. Pacag and Dr. Mariano M. Guiab during the schoolyear
2007-2008.
Conducted seminars on the Improvement of Instruction and Test
Construction and Evaluation for the teachers of La Salette of
Aurora, La Salette of Ramon and La Salette of Quezon.
LASSAA Program and
Activities
The BOT-SO with the active involvement of the schoolheads,
principals and sports' coordinators organized and implemented
the LASSAA program and activities that was participated in by
the La Salette Schools grouped into 3 clusters: Northern Cluster
(La Salette of Aurora, La Salette of Roxas, La Salette of
Quezon), Central Cluster (La Salette of Cabatuan, La Salette of
San Mateo, La Salette of Ramon), and the Southern Cluster (La
Salette of Jones and University of La Salette High School.
The theme of the two day and a half celebration: "La Salette:
Kabahagi sa Paghandog ng Makulay na Buhay" promoted harmony,
respect and humility through a healthy, brotherly and friendly
competition and culminated with a Eucharistic Celebration
presided by the BOT Chairman, Fr. Manuel C. Dela Cruz, MS and
assisted by the Priest School Directors.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Attended to the proper filing of SEC
Corporate Papers of the various La Salette Schools on General
Information and Audited Financial Statements through the
Internal Auditor, Miss Agatha G. Alcid.
The Superintendent, Rev. Fr. Romeo B. Gonzales, MS, Ph.D.
spearheaded the regular bimonthly schoolheads' conference, held
in some La Salette Schools as hosts, for the discussion of
concerns, challenges and directives of the DepEd, CEAP and CHED,
affecting our school system.
Fr. Manuel C. Dela Cruz, MS, the BOT Chairman conducted
regularly scheduled Board meetings to thresh out corporate
matters and adopted measures on the recommendations of the
various La Salette Schools.
In closing, we thank the Lord, through the intercession of Our
Lady of La Salette, for the graces and blessings that have
sustained us in making a difference in the lives of our students
and constituents.
Let's ask God to bless our plans and efforts as we continue to
collaborate with each other as a Salettine community, and our
openness to link with mandated organizations in order that we
may faithfully do our best for the realization of our
educational apostolate.
Letter
from the International Commission for Peace and Justice
Lent 2008
Dear Brother,
In the May of last year, the
first meeting ever of the Congregation’s Peace and Justice
Commission took place in Rome. This gathering was a partial
response to the General Chapter Decision #3, 1 taken in May
2006. That decision stated in part, that the council “creates an
international commission to encourage and coordinate research on
the charism of reconciliation”. The decision to create such a
commission was made by the general council in the belief that
any articulation of reconciliation that does not have justice
and peace at the heart of it, lacks understanding of these key
elements in human relations and is anemic at best. It is rather
doubtful that as a congregation or as a commission we need to
find validation for the place of justice and peace in our
charism of reconciliation, but given the situation in our world
today, we might do well to recall its importance. Clearly, our
faith community, the Church, understands that reconciliation
demands that we care for victims of conflict, violence and
injustice and that we address these deplorable situations found
in every region of our world. Reconciliation brought about
through the work of justice and peace which is at the heart of
the Gospel and Jesus’ teachings. Reconciliation has also emerged
in the Church’s teaching as a sine qua non of our mission
as disciples and followers of the Lord. If our spirituality,
individually and communally, does not have its roots in our
Scriptural Tradition and the teachings of the Church that has
emerged over the centuries, then there is something profoundly
flawed in our perspective of our mission. Allow me to attempt
to flesh this out in a little more detail, briefly however.
Peace and Justice in
Scripture
In the Hebrew Scriptures,
specifically in the prophetic tradition, God raises up from time
to time individuals who are commissioned to speak God’s word to
a people, a society in need of hearing once again the manner in
which God has asked the Chosen People to treat one another. In
the name of God, the prophet lays before the people their wrong
doings either because they are unable or unwilling to recognize
their sinful actions. Then, as now, it was rare to find a
popular prophet. Some would say it was because the prophets
seemed so negative, however the real reason is the same now as
it was then, we do not like to be confronted with our sinful
behavior or that we live lives that do not reflect who we say we
are, namely, Disciples of Christ in our day.
As Jesus begins his public
ministry in the Gospel of Luke, he goes to the synagogue in his
hometown and quotes from the prophet Isaiah. As Jesus begins to
teach, those in the synagogue become so infuriated with him that
they want to kill him. A foreshadowing no doubt of the
opposition Jesus will encounter in his ministry. However, it is
also a reminder of how dangerous it is to speak the Word of God
even in the House of God. As his ministry progressed, some
people began to think that he was Elijah come back to earth.
That in itself is significant because Elijah the prophet was one
who called for a radical change in the society of his day. This
resulted in his incurring the hatred and condemnation from those
who held power, and of the spiritually blind. There is no doubt
that there was a very strong prophetic component in Jesus’
self-understanding and in his life style. He identified with the
poor, the suffering and the marginalized of his society, and he
did so with a heart predisposed to compassion. Divine compassion
is at the core of God’s love for humanity. It is also at core of
the mystery of redemption.
Peace and Justice in Church
Teaching
For over a century now,
beginning with Rerum Novarum (1891), the Holy See has
steadfastly promoted social justice as a key factor in the
living out of our faith in the world in which we live. Not only
has the Holy See written on this subject, virtually every
Episcopal Conference and many Synods of Bishops throughout the
world have underlined and emphasized the concern of the Church
in this area. There are two clearly stated ideas that emerged
from gatherings of bishops that continue to stand out in the
Church’s collective thinking and act as touchstones for
apostolic action.
In 1971, the World Synod of
Bishops published Justitia in Mundo (Justice in the
World).
It was a call to action for the
Church and its members to engage in action for justice as the
way of transforming the world. The bishops also stated that
actions for justice and peace were constitutive of the
preaching of the Gospel, very strong words indeed.
In 1979, the Latin American
Bishops meeting in Puebla, after examining the problems
confronting people in the world at that time, spoke of the
Church’s role in addressing these difficulties. In their
statement, they issued the expression that was, and still is
truly revolutionary. They said that we as believers must have a
“preferential option for the poor”.
Both of these teachings found
their way into countless Mission Statements of religious
communities, parishes and other catholic organizations. Many
chapters in various religious communities of men and women
passed resolutions making these teachings priorities in their
institutes. However simply saying something does not necessarily
make it so.
In 1994, VITA CONSECRATA
was promulgated as a reflection on the meaning of religious life
in the world today. (“Reflection” is certainly an
understatement.) This document called for religious to be
consistent in what we proclaim and how we live.
“Consecrated persons
make visible, in their consecration and total dedication, the
living and saving presence of Christ … they become in a certain
way, a prolongation of is humanity.” #76
“Thus today more than in other
ages, the call of evangelical poverty is being felt also among
those who are aware of the planet’s resources and who invoke
respect of and the conservation of creation by reducing
consumption, by living more simply and by placing a break on
their own desires.” #90
Simply put, as Christ lived
simply so should we. One cannot be prophetic in the living of
their religious commitment by aspiring to the life styles of the
rich and famous.
Since the publications of these
teachings of the Church, it is easy enough to make the case that
our world is still in a crisis. Here are few examples, but the
list by no means exhaustive.
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The economic differences
between those living in the North and South of planet have
grown larger.
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1/3 of the world’s
population suffers from malnutrition.
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Estimates are that by the
year 2025, 2/3 of the world’s population will have no water.
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1/4 of school age children
have no opportunity of attending school.
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There are 40-armed conflicts
active throughout the world.
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Global warming.
“If they are
converted
How do we bring about a change
of heart in a religious community such as ours so that the
membership becomes passionate, or at least involved in peace and
justice issues and works? The simple answer is that no one
except God can truly accomplish such a transformation. Chapter
decisions, whether regional, provincial or general cannot bring
someone to a place he does want to be. Beautifully written
Mission Statements remain simply that, beautiful words if they
do not lead to concrete action.
We might begin by asking
questions that seem so obvious but few seem to address. Why so
many poor in a world with so much wealth,? Why are children and
women still exploited by working in sub-human conditions
throughout the world? In a world built on rapid communications,
why is there still so much illiteracy? Why does there continue
to be inadequate housing in our world for millions and even
billions of people?
There is something all of us can
do if we so choose. We can become involved in direct action:
sponsoring programs for the poor on a provincial or regional
basis, or as a parish, or as a local community; we can sponsor
or help in food collections or clothing drives or working with
groups that build shelters and homes for the homeless. On
another level, we can work for social change: lobby and advocate
for just laws; raise awareness of the conditions that cause
poverty; boycott businesses that promote unfair and unjust labor
conditions. Moreover, of course, we must never cease praying for
justice and peace for all peoples in all lands.
With so many needs in the world
we cannot not do everything, but all of us can do something.
“When I was hungry you fed me, when thirsty you gave me to
drink, when naked you clothed me…” Hopefully none of us will
ever have to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry...?” I
expect that we all know what we need to do.
May the Peace of the Lord be
with you.
Dennis J. Loomis, MS
Superior
General
International Commission for Peace and Justice:
Alfredo D. Velarde,
MS (Argentina-Bolivia),
Avelino Sangameya, MS
(Angola),
Marcel Schlewer, MS (France), Marcelino Mesa, MS (Philippines).
Brother Armand's Memories
It is already the 24th of February, 2008 and it's a day of
celebration and
thanksgiving for me to Our Lord and Our Blessed Lady of La
Salette because
on this day in 1953 is when I first arrived in Manila,
Philippines to
start working in the Missions of Our Lady of La Salette. It was
also the
even of my 21st Birthday. How happy I was when for the deck of
the Ship, I
saw on the Manila docks Fr. Conrad Blanchet and my friend
Brother Luke,
that I had lived with both of them in Enfield, NH for two years
in 1946 to
48. Fr. Blanchet was the Director of the Seminary who accepted
me in
Enfield and again asked for me to come to the Philippine
Missions. As I
celebrate my 55th Anniversary of my arrival here, I recall all
the joys of
these very precious years of God's fidelity to me and my family
and
friends.
Personally I did not want to come to the Philippines at that
time because
I was very happy in my life in Enfield where we were about
twenty Brothers
and twelve Fathers taking care of the Minor Seminary and the
vast farm
with cows, pigs, cattle's, chickens besides the milk
pasteurization, a
very lard garden and a cannery that I was in charge of that year
and we
had canned some fifteen thousands jars of vegetables from our
gardens and
fruits. We were in all about 150 people living there and the
Brothers
produced all the food except the meat. In those days we lived
our
Community prayer lives all together, morning, noon and evening.
Each
evening the Brothers had one hour of joyful recreation together.
I could
not have been happier. Besides the visits of the family every
now and then
that was a great blessing to me. With all this, why would I want
to leave
Community and family and go to the Missions in the Philippines?
Besides all this, our Religious Continuations said that a
Religious could
not be sent to the Foreign Missions unless they ask asked to go.
I did
not want to ask to go to the Missions because I did not have any
qualifications to do any of the Missionary work here as I had in
Enfield.
Still I had taken the vows to do the Will of God as expressed by
our
Superiors so I wanted to give them the freedom to send me to the
Missions
if it was the Will of God. So I wrote to my Provincial and
without asking
to go, I said, "if you want to send me, I would go." Thinking
with no
qualifications they would not send me. Well, after three years
in the
Philippines I was very thankful that I was named and I did obey.
God does
not choose us because we are qualified but so He can qualify us.
So it is
just a joy to see all that God has done through me over these 55
years.
How wonderful our God is to each one of us who trust in Him. It
is a
joyful time of thanksgiving to God, family and friends.
With love and payers
Armand
December 15, 2007
A 99.9% attendance for the
Community gathering cum Christmas celebration on December 13,
2007! The presence of a member was sorely missed as he
could not excuse himself from his UST studies.
The 9:00 am meeting, after
the morning prayers, proceeded as follows: (a) A
verbal report of the Provincial Superior's visit with the
members of the Hawaii-California District; (b) Fr.
Provincial Vicar's visit with the OZ brethren; and, (c)
Silang Shrine Director's report of his participation in the 3rd
Asian Congress on Pilgrimages and Shrine held in Nagasaki, Japan
on October 15-17, 2007.
(The read the reports,
please follow the hyperlinks below)
By 5:00 pm, the membership
gathered for the Eucharistic Celebration. Main Celebrant
was Fr. Jose Nacu whose homily reflected on the two signposts of
his priestly life and ministry. The first hearkens back to
the 70s; the second on the Institute of Reconciliation.
After having participated
of the catered meal, Bros. Raymond Deang and Joseph Pilotin were
given the task to animate the "impromptu-est" program.
Each cluster was called to "act-out" a Yule song;
interspersed by Christmas messages from cluster superiors;
then, the final words and blessing from Manuel dela Cruz.
|
Fr. Medina's OZ
Visit |
The
Nagasaki Event |
Summary of Proceedings |
|
Congress' Conclusions |
Congress' Recommendations |
Christmas 2007
Dear
Confreres,
Allow me to begin with an
excerpt from the great Russian writer, Dostoyevsky, taken from
his story called “The House of the Dead”. In this tale he
describes Christmas day in a Siberian prison camp.
It was a dingy little
settlement among frozen wastelands. From the grim prison at one
end of a single muddy street the convicts peered through barred
windows at the small cathedral on the hill at the other side of
town. The bells rang merrily as that Christmas dawn arrived and
villagers trooped in happy procession to the early church
service. It was Christ’s mass, Christmas. “But not for us, who
are cut off from all humanity”, the ragged prisoners wept,
huddled together for comfort from the cold.
Finally, however, when the
long cathedral service was ended, a priest came to the prison,
set up a crude altar, and began the service of worship.
“Now God has come to us!”
the convicts shouted in surprised joy.
“Oh yes”, replied the
priest. “This is where he lives all year long. You see, he
goes to the cathedral only on special occassions.”
The message of the above
story IS the message of Christmas: God is with us all
year long. That God chose to come to earth as a child, a
baby, is not all that surprising upon reflection. A baby is
earth’s supreme beauty, a sign of hope and the promise of dreams
past. When we look upon the creche scene, we are reminded that
this innocent child was born to rescue us from sin, to heal us,
to strengthen us with his strength, to give us joy and peace.
His coming was God’s announcement to the world of the friendship
and reconciliation that would exist between God and us forever.
Interestingly enough, Jesus
called his disciples “little children”. May be this is the
message that Christmas wants to bring out loud and clear? For
when we reflect on our baptismal call to “put on Christ”,
perhaps instead of trying to be teacher, prophet, king or even
messiah, we should image ourselves as Jesus the child. “Unless
you become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom
of God”, he said. It is not power that saved the world, but the
love of a child. It is not strength that helps us accept
salvation, rather it is in having the loving trust of a child.
Our faith is not a matter of believing in words, it is a matter
of believing in the Word, the Word made flesh.
And so my Christmas wish to
you my brothers comes form St. John’s letter to the early
disciples:
“Little children, let us
love, not only in word and speech, but in truth and action” (1Jn
3:18)
In the name of the General
Administration, we wish you and al the members of the
congregation, our lay associates and our dear friends, Merry
Christmas!
Dennis Loomis, MS
Superior General
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