We could hear the merry ringing of the marimba as we drew near the house of Q’awa (Sir) Manu. We were to inaugurate ceremoniously the commencement rehearsal of the “Danza de los Venados” (Dance of the Dear) in his house. When you are versed with this dance, you can already imagine men in dear vibrant costumes joyously dancing through the said tunes of the marimba. Q’awa Manu will lead the team of 23 persons to dance the sacred Danza de los Venados.
Chicken and beef broth, burning candles, bottles of alcoholic drinks and pack of cigarettes were placed on the altar of the house. A lone wooden statue of an unknown saint was inspecting it. These gifts were being offered to the antepasados (ancestors) and without doubt to God, the giver of life, creador y formador (creator and molder); requesting their consent for their plan and calling upon them to be present on the inauguration day of their dance rehearsal. After prayers were said, the dance participants left for the parish church to do their first dance rehearsal.
The Danza de Venado portrays the characters of a hunter with his dog pursuing deer in the forest. They swirl merrily. Mythical monkey characters tease the audience. People laugh at the clumsy dog; and are moved by the death of the deer. But most striking to the dance is that it is a sacred movement. Ancestors, spirit and God visit the community by way of this dance, making themselves visible through the bailadores (dancers). The bailadores will commonly be elevated to a mystical experience. It is a kind of “exchanging” place: God descends toward humanity, human persons ascends to God’s transcendent realm. It is believed that when God dance in the community, transformation takes place. God heals their wounds caused by quarrels and disputes, hatred and as well as physical illness. God comes to reconcile them, mend what has been broken … ease their hurts. God will come to bring blessings of health, bountiful harvest and well-being.
My soul was moved as I observed the bailadores rehearsing their dance. I felt a feeling of lightness and joy as I followed the beat and rhythm of the dance – I could feel the elegance of the deer characters, swaying, swirling and flowing all over. Many people watched intently. A three-year old girl suddenly steps out the crowd toward the dancers and sways too, following the joyous marimba beat. Her mother later grabs her so that he may not be trampled by the dancers. Then an eight-year old boy is drawn towards the dancers and he hops and runs following the bailadores. Almost at the conclusion of the play, the crowd is drawn toward the center, curious on how, in the play, would the bailadores resuscitate the clumsy dog who was “killed.” They laugh as magical tricks were applied to him – and later a chorus of “ahhh” was acclaimed when, finally, the dog character leaped to dance again. Yet this occasion was only rehearsal. But for the dancers and the onlookers, it was already a sacred moment to be a community. The bailadores danced in their best, from 7pm to 1am on December 13.
For many years, the Maya people danced to see God dance and spiritually transform their communities. God embodies culture to visit humanity. His visits are always transformative. The drama of the incarnation of God into our human world is inculturation and is fully transformative. Through Jesus, he came to dance humanity through its joys and pain, celebration, suffering, brokenness, hate, marginalization, rejection, dreams and hope. He came to transform death to life.
The Maya people believe that God continue to dance until now. He visits humanity and renew the world. His wisdom is incarnated in every child that is born, which turns to be his/her vocation at the service of the community (nawual), and the magnificence of each day embodies his omnipresence (a part of God’s wisdom is manifested each day). The elders read these signs from the Maya calendar and reveal and teach its meaning to the people.
Let us dance with God this Christmas. Let us sing and celebrate. God comes to be truly present among us, in our loneliness, emptiness and desperation; and in our world where apparently God has left us to suffer abandonment, misery, injustice, violence and exclusion. When God comes visibly to us, things are transformed along with his wisdom. May God be present in your heart this Christmas. May you be filled with many blessing and surprises this New Year 2009!
Joseph Guerrero, MJ
December 21, 2008
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He Gave Us a Face
Whoever Jesus was or was not, whoever he thought he was, whoever he has become in the memories of men and women since and will go on becoming for as long as men and women remember him—exalted, sentimentalized, debunked, made and remade to the measure of each generation’s desire, dread, indifference—he was a man once, whatever else he may have been. And he had a man’s face, a human face.
The first five years …
Truth to tell, we have to ask whether, after five years, and as a community, we still have a story to tell. Is there something in our story that inspires and delights? Will those who come to know us be the wiser for the encounter? Will they be glad MJ ever happened?
Two years after our foundation, the State of the Institute Report of 2004 highlighted the following elements: the emerging MJ spirituality, community life as constitutive of our missionary calling, the need to heal the lingering hurts occasioned by our separation from CICM, God’s providence made manifest in the support and concern of friends and benefactors, and the identification of items to constitute a collective plan of action—missionary projects, professionalization, iconic communities of friends and disciples, and the prospects of more cross-cultural MJ missions.
The year 2005 saw us attempting a congregational evaluation through a survey. The results were rendered inconclusive because of the rather limited responses. By early 2006, we began prioritizing our commitments. The process of evaluating the consistency of our involvements, especially those that were taken up because they were the only ones available to us at the beginning, was undertaken in earnest. Consequently, the parish of Sablan was turned over, under very trying circumstances, to the diocesan clergy of Baguio on Easter Monday, the 17th of April 2006. In turn, we accepted the invitation of the Bishop of Digos, Msgr Guillermo Afable, to serve the members of the Tagakaolo tribe in Malita. Prioritization continued through 2007, resulting in the turnover of San Rafael Parish in Montalban on Easter Monday, the 9th of April.
A very significant area of development was Vocation Animation and Initial Formation. When we started out in 2002, we had two students doing their theological studies, Ferdinand Banggiacan and Aris Villanueva; and one in philosophy, Kirby Bagaslao. There was a slight increase in 2003 and 2004, when two more joined the postulancy in Baguio, Marlon Llovido and Jolly Torrella. After some time, we were down to two, Bagaslao and Villanueva. In school year 2005-2006, thanks to the efforts of our vocation animators and God’s providence, we went up to eight, thanks to six additional formands—Joel Aguilar, Noel Apuan, Eddieson Bautista, Quincy Gonzales, Loyd Maquilan, and Diosdado Santiago. When Aguilar and Gonzales left before the end of the school year, the total went down to six. When school year 2006-2007 started, however, we had thirteen: one in missionary training (Villanueva); three novices (Apuan, Bagaslao, and Santiago); two postulants (John Paul Delfin and Efren Pepito); and seven aspirants (Dennis Batucan, Eddieson Bautista, Vincent Lawana, Keyven Managat, Loyd Maquilan, Michael Jude Naparan, and Henry Quiñones). With the sacerdotal ordination of Villanueva and the exit of Apuan, Delfin, Maquilan, and Quiñones, we were down to eight formands—two novices, one postulant, and five aspirants—during the early part of this year. This school year, 2007-2008, gives us four new faces: Roldan Intrina, Gabriel Lindo, Gener Pito, and Joshua Rabago. We are up to an auspicious dozen.
The present distribution of MJ members
Overseas, in Papua New Guinea, there are five confreres—Toy Cordero, Greg Domilies, Apol Dulawan, Chris Lape, and Albert Sayson; in the United States of America, five as well—Manny Gacad, Mike Montoya, Melchor Villero, Mer Viuya (preparing to depart), and Ike Ymson.
In the Philippines, there are three confreres in Davao City—Bernard Maes, Ely Ubag, and Stan Young; three in Malita, Davao del Sur—Ver Pozon, Naz Sawey, and Elmo Tactacan; three in Marawi, Lanao del Sur— Roger del Rosario, Noel Octaviano, and Peng Reyes; two in Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro—Freddie Pinuela and Gino Santos; and two in Modesta, San Mateo, Rizal—Gerry Charcos and Wren Reyes. Two are engaged in the teaching apostolate—Luk Mees and Monching Coronel; and one in education administration—Percy Bacani (based in Baguio City). Three are in formation work—Eugene Cañete (Novitiate Socius and concurrently General Secretary), Primo Fagel (Vocation Director, based in Baguio City), and Dict Lagarde (Rector of the Pre-Novitiate); while two are in fulltime administration—Joel Canuel (General Treasurer) and Freddie Dulay (General Coordinator). Three are assigned for a mission in Guatemala—Joe Guerrero, Rey Tejico, and Aris Villanueva. Joey Evangelista is pursuing doctoral studies at the Loyola School of Theology. Teo Lopez is on vacation while awaiting a new assignment. Two are on leave of absence—Marlo Delos Trinos and Jes Doctolero; and one has decided to end his journey with MJ—Beni Rimando.
Jesus gave us his face
Our struggle to become what we are—the missionaries of Jesus—has been characterized by the use of symbols and images. Though still limited and consisting mostly of reflections and reports, MJ literature bespeaks of a certain fondness for the imagery of dreams and journeys. Immediately we found missionary significance in the fact that we began as a community of religious missionaries in Antipolo City, where the historic wooden image of our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is enshrined. As missionaries, we value mobility and have readily placed our itinerancy under the safekeeping of the Virgin of Antipolo.
There is definitely a felt intensity in our desire to pattern our lives on that of Jesus’. How often have we asked ourselves, in varied and different situations, when confronted with challenges or facing one or another crisis, the question: “What would Jesus have done were he in this situation?” We found wisdom and grace in the image of Jesus. His face was always before us. Our very first major fund-raising project was named Rostros de Jesus (Faces of Jesus). MJ friend and artist Rey Paz Contreras sculpted from discarded hardwood and traviesas (wooden rail tracks) forty-one images of Jesus in honor of the founding members. Since then, he has reproduced scores of Christ images that were presented to our relatives and friends, benefactors all who came to our help at the hour of our greatest need.
Figuratively and literally, we searched for our identity in the face of Jesus. Or, better still, in the many faces of Jesus. We wanted to be more like him in every way. We sought refuge in him as friend and brother, as teacher and master, as the beloved who loved us first. Jesus gave us a human face. He gave us his face. And now—let all be warned—we risk becoming his faces to the world. That’s tough but I guess that’s what we really want to be for the people we meet and would like to serve in his name. And all because we have seen his face and heard his voice.
—Frederick Buechner, 1974
The first five years …
Truth to tell, we have to ask whether, after five years, and as a community, we still have a story to tell. Is there something in our story that inspires and delights? Will those who come to know us be the wiser for the encounter? Will they be glad MJ ever happened?
Two years after our foundation, the State of the Institute Report of 2004 highlighted the following elements: the emerging MJ spirituality, community life as constitutive of our missionary calling, the need to heal the lingering hurts occasioned by our separation from CICM, God’s providence made manifest in the support and concern of friends and benefactors, and the identification of items to constitute a collective plan of action—missionary projects, professionalization, iconic communities of friends and disciples, and the prospects of more cross-cultural MJ missions.
The year 2005 saw us attempting a congregational evaluation through a survey. The results were rendered inconclusive because of the rather limited responses. By early 2006, we began prioritizing our commitments. The process of evaluating the consistency of our involvements, especially those that were taken up because they were the only ones available to us at the beginning, was undertaken in earnest. Consequently, the parish of Sablan was turned over, under very trying circumstances, to the diocesan clergy of Baguio on Easter Monday, the 17th of April 2006. In turn, we accepted the invitation of the Bishop of Digos, Msgr Guillermo Afable, to serve the members of the Tagakaolo tribe in Malita. Prioritization continued through 2007, resulting in the turnover of San Rafael Parish in Montalban on Easter Monday, the 9th of April.
A very significant area of development was Vocation Animation and Initial Formation. When we started out in 2002, we had two students doing their theological studies, Ferdinand Banggiacan and Aris Villanueva; and one in philosophy, Kirby Bagaslao. There was a slight increase in 2003 and 2004, when two more joined the postulancy in Baguio, Marlon Llovido and Jolly Torrella. After some time, we were down to two, Bagaslao and Villanueva. In school year 2005-2006, thanks to the efforts of our vocation animators and God’s providence, we went up to eight, thanks to six additional formands—Joel Aguilar, Noel Apuan, Eddieson Bautista, Quincy Gonzales, Loyd Maquilan, and Diosdado Santiago. When Aguilar and Gonzales left before the end of the school year, the total went down to six. When school year 2006-2007 started, however, we had thirteen: one in missionary training (Villanueva); three novices (Apuan, Bagaslao, and Santiago); two postulants (John Paul Delfin and Efren Pepito); and seven aspirants (Dennis Batucan, Eddieson Bautista, Vincent Lawana, Keyven Managat, Loyd Maquilan, Michael Jude Naparan, and Henry Quiñones). With the sacerdotal ordination of Villanueva and the exit of Apuan, Delfin, Maquilan, and Quiñones, we were down to eight formands—two novices, one postulant, and five aspirants—during the early part of this year. This school year, 2007-2008, gives us four new faces: Roldan Intrina, Gabriel Lindo, Gener Pito, and Joshua Rabago. We are up to an auspicious dozen.
The present distribution of MJ members
Overseas, in Papua New Guinea, there are five confreres—Toy Cordero, Greg Domilies, Apol Dulawan, Chris Lape, and Albert Sayson; in the United States of America, five as well—Manny Gacad, Mike Montoya, Melchor Villero, Mer Viuya (preparing to depart), and Ike Ymson.
In the Philippines, there are three confreres in Davao City—Bernard Maes, Ely Ubag, and Stan Young; three in Malita, Davao del Sur—Ver Pozon, Naz Sawey, and Elmo Tactacan; three in Marawi, Lanao del Sur— Roger del Rosario, Noel Octaviano, and Peng Reyes; two in Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro—Freddie Pinuela and Gino Santos; and two in Modesta, San Mateo, Rizal—Gerry Charcos and Wren Reyes. Two are engaged in the teaching apostolate—Luk Mees and Monching Coronel; and one in education administration—Percy Bacani (based in Baguio City). Three are in formation work—Eugene Cañete (Novitiate Socius and concurrently General Secretary), Primo Fagel (Vocation Director, based in Baguio City), and Dict Lagarde (Rector of the Pre-Novitiate); while two are in fulltime administration—Joel Canuel (General Treasurer) and Freddie Dulay (General Coordinator). Three are assigned for a mission in Guatemala—Joe Guerrero, Rey Tejico, and Aris Villanueva. Joey Evangelista is pursuing doctoral studies at the Loyola School of Theology. Teo Lopez is on vacation while awaiting a new assignment. Two are on leave of absence—Marlo Delos Trinos and Jes Doctolero; and one has decided to end his journey with MJ—Beni Rimando.
Jesus gave us his face
Our struggle to become what we are—the missionaries of Jesus—has been characterized by the use of symbols and images. Though still limited and consisting mostly of reflections and reports, MJ literature bespeaks of a certain fondness for the imagery of dreams and journeys. Immediately we found missionary significance in the fact that we began as a community of religious missionaries in Antipolo City, where the historic wooden image of our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is enshrined. As missionaries, we value mobility and have readily placed our itinerancy under the safekeeping of the Virgin of Antipolo.
There is definitely a felt intensity in our desire to pattern our lives on that of Jesus’. How often have we asked ourselves, in varied and different situations, when confronted with challenges or facing one or another crisis, the question: “What would Jesus have done were he in this situation?” We found wisdom and grace in the image of Jesus. His face was always before us. Our very first major fund-raising project was named Rostros de Jesus (Faces of Jesus). MJ friend and artist Rey Paz Contreras sculpted from discarded hardwood and traviesas (wooden rail tracks) forty-one images of Jesus in honor of the founding members. Since then, he has reproduced scores of Christ images that were presented to our relatives and friends, benefactors all who came to our help at the hour of our greatest need.
Figuratively and literally, we searched for our identity in the face of Jesus. Or, better still, in the many faces of Jesus. We wanted to be more like him in every way. We sought refuge in him as friend and brother, as teacher and master, as the beloved who loved us first. Jesus gave us a human face. He gave us his face. And now—let all be warned—we risk becoming his faces to the world. That’s tough but I guess that’s what we really want to be for the people we meet and would like to serve in his name. And all because we have seen his face and heard his voice.
—W. T. Dulay, mj
The VI° MJ General Assembly
When all was set and done by the members of the Preparatory Committee (Gerry Charcos, Joel Evangelista, Fred Pinuela, and Gino Santos), it was time for the Assembly to commence.
From the 18th to the 23rd of April 2007, the Missionaries of Jesus gathered for its 6th General Assembly at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Baguio City. Present were twenty-seven (27) confreres, including two representatives from the Districts of Papua New Guinea and the United States of America. The theme was “MJ Corporate Commitment, Revisited”. Although “real” chapters belong to institutes with diocesan and pontifical rights, this assembly functioned like a chapter as it tried to appraise the missionary project of the institute and the quality of its missionary presence.
The opening liturgy set the theme of the assembly. Manny Gacad used the symbol of the dream-catcher to establish that as MJ’s we are God’s dream-catchers. Whether we stand in the early morning sun of our lives or in the midday sun or in the afternoon sun, and whether or not we will see our missionary dreams come true, the commitment is there for every MJ to remain a catcher of God’s dream. This is important if we are to be firm in our belief that God’s dream will never die.
Then we listened to Atty Randy Baniaga Kinaod and Ms Rhoda Galang. They gave the first of the inputs on Extra-Judicial Killings and Elections 2007. As situationers, they helped us to analyze the state of the nation, challenging us to be vigilant and involved.
Freddie Dulay, our General Coordinator, later presented a report on the State of the Institute. Highlights of his presentation included the important events in the institute and the decisions made since then. He also dealt with the ad intra and ad extra concerns of the institute, which include missionary professionalization, the renewal of the members, and the planning, systematization, and updating of MJ’s missionary commitments. The offices of the Secretariat and of the Treasurer also gave their reports.
The actual reflections on the theme of the assembly came from the input of Luc Mees. The points he made focused on the foundational texts of the institute. He insisted that the MJ Constitutions, the vision-mission statement of the institute, and the texts of the MJ assemblies should serve as reference points when reflecting on our corporate commitment. Likewise, he mentioned that the emerging MJ Spirituality could also easily serve as a guide for our reflection. Luc’s presentation was followed by the reports of the various MJ communities and committees on their respective attempts to evaluate the different aspects of their religious missionary life.
Since obviously the discussions could become too heavy for everyone, a much-needed break in San Fernando, La Union was scheduled. We spent the whole day swimming, singing, and playing games, aside from eating and drinking, of course.
After the one-day break, the assembly was ready for the workshops. The body was divided into four workshops on the following topics: the MJ Formation Program; Vocation Animation; Financial Policies and Fundraising; and Budgets and Financial Reports. Each workshop presented their recommendations to the assembly.
The “heavy” part came when the assembly listened to the reports of the different workshops and deliberated and voted on their recommendations. There were a total of 53 recommendations addressed to the General Administration, Initial Formation, and Financial Management of the Institute. Everyone felt that the assembly was a chapter, and were it a “real” chapter, would there have been more recommendations?
There was much to learn from this assembly. And obviously, there is much to follow up after. But one thing was clear—we needed this assembly. We needed simply to meet one another, to celebrate everyone’s presence, and to find anew that presence to one another is indeed important. We needed the voice of every confrere and co-disciple so that our collective thought could make a contribution to understanding what it means to enter into the lifelong process of becoming missionaries of Jesus.
And when all was done, the assembly voted unanimously for Mindanao District to prepare for next year’s assembly. Shall we see each other in Mindanao next year?
From the 18th to the 23rd of April 2007, the Missionaries of Jesus gathered for its 6th General Assembly at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Baguio City. Present were twenty-seven (27) confreres, including two representatives from the Districts of Papua New Guinea and the United States of America. The theme was “MJ Corporate Commitment, Revisited”. Although “real” chapters belong to institutes with diocesan and pontifical rights, this assembly functioned like a chapter as it tried to appraise the missionary project of the institute and the quality of its missionary presence.
The opening liturgy set the theme of the assembly. Manny Gacad used the symbol of the dream-catcher to establish that as MJ’s we are God’s dream-catchers. Whether we stand in the early morning sun of our lives or in the midday sun or in the afternoon sun, and whether or not we will see our missionary dreams come true, the commitment is there for every MJ to remain a catcher of God’s dream. This is important if we are to be firm in our belief that God’s dream will never die.
Then we listened to Atty Randy Baniaga Kinaod and Ms Rhoda Galang. They gave the first of the inputs on Extra-Judicial Killings and Elections 2007. As situationers, they helped us to analyze the state of the nation, challenging us to be vigilant and involved.
Freddie Dulay, our General Coordinator, later presented a report on the State of the Institute. Highlights of his presentation included the important events in the institute and the decisions made since then. He also dealt with the ad intra and ad extra concerns of the institute, which include missionary professionalization, the renewal of the members, and the planning, systematization, and updating of MJ’s missionary commitments. The offices of the Secretariat and of the Treasurer also gave their reports.
The actual reflections on the theme of the assembly came from the input of Luc Mees. The points he made focused on the foundational texts of the institute. He insisted that the MJ Constitutions, the vision-mission statement of the institute, and the texts of the MJ assemblies should serve as reference points when reflecting on our corporate commitment. Likewise, he mentioned that the emerging MJ Spirituality could also easily serve as a guide for our reflection. Luc’s presentation was followed by the reports of the various MJ communities and committees on their respective attempts to evaluate the different aspects of their religious missionary life.
Since obviously the discussions could become too heavy for everyone, a much-needed break in San Fernando, La Union was scheduled. We spent the whole day swimming, singing, and playing games, aside from eating and drinking, of course.
After the one-day break, the assembly was ready for the workshops. The body was divided into four workshops on the following topics: the MJ Formation Program; Vocation Animation; Financial Policies and Fundraising; and Budgets and Financial Reports. Each workshop presented their recommendations to the assembly.
The “heavy” part came when the assembly listened to the reports of the different workshops and deliberated and voted on their recommendations. There were a total of 53 recommendations addressed to the General Administration, Initial Formation, and Financial Management of the Institute. Everyone felt that the assembly was a chapter, and were it a “real” chapter, would there have been more recommendations?
There was much to learn from this assembly. And obviously, there is much to follow up after. But one thing was clear—we needed this assembly. We needed simply to meet one another, to celebrate everyone’s presence, and to find anew that presence to one another is indeed important. We needed the voice of every confrere and co-disciple so that our collective thought could make a contribution to understanding what it means to enter into the lifelong process of becoming missionaries of Jesus.
And when all was done, the assembly voted unanimously for Mindanao District to prepare for next year’s assembly. Shall we see each other in Mindanao next year?
—Eugene Cañete, mj
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