Images from Divine Word Seminary

RIP Bishop Miguel Cinches, SVD (1932-2010)

Bishop Miguel Cinches, SVD, after a lingering illness,  passed away this this afternoon (April 12) at 2:55 pm in a hospital in Manila. He was 78 years old. He was bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Surigao.

He was born in Dauis, Bohol on February 7, 1932 and ordained priest in 1961. He taught philosophy from 1968-1973 here at Divine Word Seminary where he served as rector from 1970 until his election in 1973 as the bishop of the Diocese of Surigao by Pope Paul VI. He served this diocese in Mindanao for 28 years.

A prolific composer of liturgical music, Bishop Cinches was one of the few outstanding musicians of the Philippine SVD. During his seminary years as student and professor, he handled the seminary choir and led it in concert performances both inside and outside the seminary.

Last year, senior SVD members of  Divine Word Seminary, under the direction of Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (himself from Surigao) recorded a CD Album as a tribute to him on the occassion of the 100 years of Philippine SVD. The album entitle, Complines and Vespers is a testimony of his many beautiful words and of his spirituality. These songs can still be heard today in the Tagaytay seminary when the SVD community gathers for its Saturday prayers (complines) and Sunday vespers.

Below is a cut from the album which you can order by sending email to rrandy33@yahoo.com.

The song is the so-called Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon in the Gospel of Luke. At Jesus' presentation, Simeon, a devout and righteous man, was promised that he would not see death before he had see the Lord's Messiah. When he saw Jesus, he took him in his arms and praised God: "Master, now you let your servant go in peace, according to your word" (Luke 2:29) -- wonderful words for Bishop Cinchess who had composed a song out of Simeon's prayer.
[from the album's write-up]

NUNC DIMITTIS

Antiphon: Lord, save us while we are awake,
protect us while we sleep;
and Christ with  whom we keep our watch,
will guard our souls in peace.

At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant to go in peace,
according to your promise.

For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations

The light you enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israe your people

Glory be to the Father....

Holy Week in Tagaytay City - Schedule of Liturgical Activities at Divine Word Seminary Chapel

TRA and TMF at ABS-CBN's DZMM on Sunday March 14

Tune in to Radio DZMM 630 Khz or Cable Channel 65 (in Tagaytay and Amadeo) on March 14, Sunday at 8:30pm to 10:30 pm - Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) and the Tagaytay Ministerial Fellowship (TMF) will be guests at Salitang Buhay and discuss the churchers in Tagaytay and their ecumenical partnership in the March 28 Tagaytay Candidates Forum and in the May Elections.

Fundamentals of church-state relations - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Fundamentals of church-state relations - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Tagaytay Candidates Forum

The Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA) is organizing a Candidates Forum for those running for local positions in Tagaytay City. Date: March 28, 2010, 1:00 PM at the SVD Chapel.
For more information, go to
http://www.tagaytayforum.blogspot.com/

Announcement:
Feb 22 (Monday) at 2:30 PM - Talk on PPCRV and Automated Election sponsored by SVD Manila District. Venue: SVD Retreat House

Feb 25 (Thursday) at 3:00 PM - Talk the socio-political condition of the country by Professor Randy David, sponsored by Divine Word School of Theology.

SVD Mission Awards and Other News

The SVD Mission Awardees
with Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio

For those who missed the SVD Ordination last Dec, 5, 2009, you can watch the video of the photos uploaded by "Digna" here.  Six SVD deacons were ordained by Bishop Chito Tagle -- new SVD Fathers Benedicto Awitin, Ferdinand Bajao, Dante Barril, Severo Biton, Abraham Borja and Crisostomo Salar. Another classmate was ordained in his home country, Papua New Guinea, Fr. Michael Namba, SVD.


A number of us joined the 2nd National Clergy Congress last January 25-29, 2010. 87 SVDs out of more than 5,500 priests were at the Congress/Retreat presided by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, preacher to the Papal Household.

Some alumni of Divine Word Seminary who were at the Congress

In the afternoon of January 29, the Feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz, we held the much-awaited SVD Mission Awards at St. Jude Catholic School in Manila. Here's a "summary" from the Provincialate notes:

On January 29, 2010, feast day of St. Joseph Freinademetz, the first SVD Mission Awards were handed out in a formal but uplifting awards presentation ceremony held at the Fr. Peter Yang Auditorium of Saint Jude Catholic School Manila. The affair was graced by the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams. The following awards were given out: The Saint Arnold Janssen Mission Award to Fr. Leo Schmitt SVD; The Communio Mission Award to St. Martin Mission Hospital of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro;The Divine Word Mission Award to Mrs. Beatriz Buenavista Evangelista; The Vivat Cor Iesu Mission Award to Samahang Bagong Buhay Foundation, Incorporated; The Father Peter Yang SVD Mission Award to the St. Jude National Shrine Manila; The Centennial Mission Award to Fr. William Van Kuijk SVD; The Abra Mission Award to the Catechists of Abra; The Saint Joseph Freinademetz Mission Award to Fr. Ewald Dinter SVD; and a Special Recognition to the CICM for helping the SVD in its early years of mission in the Philippines. Each awardee received 50,000 pesos and a gold-plated medallion with the face of the Founder on one side and his favorite prayer in Latin on the other (His life is our life and His mission, our mission). Our special thanks to Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and the administration of St. Jude Catholic School; and the SVD Mission Awards Committee under whose watch the search for SVD Mission Awardees was undertaken.

The SVD Mission Awards Committee members were: Fr. Joey Sepe, SVD (head); Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD; Fr. Randy Flores, SVD; Fr. Aris Martin, SVD, Fr. Bobby Ebisa, SVD. They were assisted by Bro. John Xue (Claretian seminarian), Ms. Ka Ling Yiu, Mr. Camilo Gelido, Frt. Sedfrey Nebres, SVD, Frt. John Paul Marquez, SVD, Mr. Tristan Ferrera, and Mr. Mark Nillo.

Before the end of the ceremonies, the SVD Centennial Book, Witness to the Word: Society of the Divine Word Philippines 1909-2009 (Logos Publications, 2009) with the speech of the SVD historian, Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD, the main editor.

 Emcees: Fr. Aris Martin, SVD and Ms. Mariz Umali of GMA 7

Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD delivering his speech at the SVD Centennial book launching

The Abra Catechists

  

 Awards main director, Fr. Joey Sepe, SVD (5th from left)

From left: Fr. Vic Rayco, SVD  (St. Jude); Fr. Aris,

Fr. Lino Nicasio, SVD (St. Jude), Ms. Mariz Umali,

Ms. Nita Trofeo, and GMA 7 newscaster Raffy Tima

CTS students with awardee Fr. van Kuijk, SVD

Click here for more pictures

Simbang Gabi Homilies 2009

Please click here. Merry Xmas to all!

TRA supports the call of Bishop Ambo David for GMA NOT to Run for Congress

The talk of Bishop Ambo David at the TRA meeting last night was well appreciated by its members. Bishop Ambo explained, in the light of his experience at Synod of Bishops on the Bible, how the Sacred Scripture finds its home in the Church and how Church life is permeated by the Word of God. He argued that after the destruction of Temple of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E, the Synagogue became the new home of the Torah. For the followers of Jesus later on, the home became the new house of the Word--the home becoming the first place of the Church. Today , he says, the Church is the open house for the Word and the world.

This "house" is supported by four pillars -- teaching of the apostles; koinonia or fellowship; breaking of the bread; and the prayers.


He ended his talk narrating how the Church in Pampanga (Diocese of San Fernando) tries to become the real home of the Word, revealing that 500 hectares of church land have already been given up by the Diocese for land reform.

While waiting for his turn to talk, we had an a chance to ask Bishop Ambo some questions on the politics of Pampanga. He confirmed that the GMA is running for Congress; his older brother Prof. Randy David has ditched his plan to run against the President for obvious reasons; and that by running, GMA is going against basic Christian principles of power and decency. He is therefore urging the President not to run for Congress. His prayer: "God save Pampanga!"

The Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA)--an organization of nuns, lay people, priests, and brothers belonging to 100 religious houses, seminaries, houses of formation, retreat houses, convents, secular institutes, and monasteries in Tagaytay and its environs--supports the call of Bishop Pablo Virgilio David for GMA NOT to run for Congress.

Seminarian-members of TRA at a prayer rally (file photo)

Talk of Bishop Ambo David - The Church: The House of the Word

Tagaytay Religious Association (TRA)
Divine Word Seminary
SVD Road
4120 Tagaytay City

Dear fellow TRA members:

Shalom!

In behalf of TRA Council of Officers, I would like to invite you to an afternoon gathering on Nov 30, 2009 (Bonifacio Day - Mon) from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Aula Magna of Divine Word Seminary. Our constitution states that one of the objectives of TRA is to “provide opportunities for spiritual, educational, apostolic, economic, and formational enrichment of all TRA members of the affiliated communities” (Article II, Section 2).

The main talk of the gathering is on “The Church: The House of the Word” by Bishop Pablo “Ambo” David (auxiliary of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga). Bishop Ambo, an Old Testament expert, obtained his doctorate in Biblical Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain and did courses at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem (Israel). Member of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God (2008), he is also the former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP). He teaches at major seminaries and religious formation centers (like Loyola School of Theology and Our Lady of Angels Seminary); serves as the parish priest of the biggest parish in Pampanga (Angeles City); and is the newly appointed chairperson of the Episcopal Commission for Biblical Apostolates (ECBA) [and the younger brother of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s columnist, Prof. Randy David].

Here is the order of the afternoon:
1. 2:00 pm – Registration and Welcome
2. 2:30 – 4:00 – General Meeting of TRA
3. Break
4. 4:20 – 6:00 – Talk of Bishop Ambo

and the agenda of the TRA meeting:
1. TRA activities for honest, peaceful and orderly election in Tagaytay.
2. Socio-political and economic condition of the city.
3. TRA and future relief and rehabilitation operations during and after calamities.
4. Re-creation of retreat teams for the retreat apostolate of TRA.
5. CLAIM’s activities

Each community shall bring own “baon” for the afternoon snacks (KKB). Hot coffee (Barako) will be served. Please be there. Blest be the Lord.

Sincerely,
Fr. Randy Flores, SVD
TRA Chairperson
Email: rrandy33@yahoo.com; Text: 0927-390-9863