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.

—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?

—Eugene Cañete, mj

Why Are You Looking For Me?

The closing liturgy of the VI° MJ General Assembly

Introduction

Two unrelated sets of scripture texts are running parallel in the readings of today. One is about the martyrdom of Stephen as the ultimate expression of the following of Jesus; the other, about the Eucharistic discourse of Jesus after the multiplication of bread.
Jesus confronts us with a fundamental question that requires a radical response. He is asking us, “Why are you looking for me?”

Kirby Bagaslao and Diosdado Santiago, Jr have applied and have been accepted for first profession in our congregation. They, too, like us, have been looking for answers to fundamental questions about fundamental things—the meaning of life and human existence, of enduring love, of service, of faith. The Lord has, in fact, turned around their questions and is asking them: Why are you looking for me? Will they respond in and through our community, our vision, our mission, our calling as the Missionaries of Jesus?


Homily

By virtue of our vocation as religious-missionaries, we are convinced that we have found the Lord in the Community of the Missionaries of Jesus. To his question—“Why are you looking for me?”—we have answered, “Because you have called us. You have called us your missionaries. Because you have called us by name and we want to follow you.”

Thus when we gather in assembly every year we ask ourselves, “How have we been following Jesus now that we have found him?” The General Assembly is an appraisal of our discipleship.
That today the “Acts of the Apostles” puts at center stage the figure of Stephen, the protomartyr of the Church, is patently significant for us. A meditation on the martyrdom of Stephen is a focused way of determining how close, or how far we have come in the following of Jesus. The Mindanao District has cautioned us that our vocation is not a calling to success (attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta). We are reminded, therefore, of the constant need to re-state, to re-claim our vocation to serve, lest we stray into paths not intended for us. The calling to serve in the name of God is not circumscribed by either success or failure. It is beyond success or failure. Its only measure is the intensity of our desire to re-create humanity into the image and likeness of the Son of God; how far we are willing to be consumed by the Spirit of Christ, the fire that builds as its consumes. We go by the passion with which we engage ourselves in the mission of Jesus to serve and not be served.

We have set our goals very high, perhaps, too high. And so at times we are tempted to re-interpret our calling by citing one or another theological flavor of the day, or twisting set paradigms and rules of engagement, cutting corners, or accommodating to the practical. Yet year after year, assembly after assembly, we have re-affirmed our unwillingness to let go of our dreams. They may not be surrendered to the practical, to what is pragmatic. Like Stephen, the martyr, we have decided to go for broke!

The dream must be caught time and again, pursued relentlessly as did our ancestors in the faith—like Sarah and Abraham, who preferred displacement to security when Yahweh called; like Joseph, to whom God spoke in a dream; like Mary, who never stopped gazing at her beloved child who ended up hanging on the tree of the Cross.

The dream must be caught and pursued, as do our tribal brothers and sisters, the aborigines of this world who keep painting dreamscapes, unwilling to surrender their ideals to the practical and the pragmatic, to the impure of heart. Were God pragmatic and practical, he would not have called us. Were God pragmatic and practical, he would not break imperishable bread with us nor give us drink from his cup. Were God pragmatic and practical, he would not have loved us.

But because the Lord was a catcher of our dreams, he called us to embrace his dream of the Cross. He trusted that we could find our way to Golgotha and there climb the tree of dying to self. Dying for a dream is what our life is all about; without a dream, we live to die; with a dream, we die to live.

When Jesus asked us, “Why are you looking for me?” Did we not say, “Because you have called us to follow you outside the gates (Heb 13:11) to find the tree of life?” Once again, the Lord is calling, asking Doods and Kirby the very same question, “Why are you looking for me?” They seem to say, like Peter, “You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God (Jn 6:68-9). You have called us by name.”

—W. T. Dulay, mj

The MJ Community

In celebration of our fifth anniversary, we are featuring the individual members of the Missionaries of Jesus and some excerpts from their stories of life and faith.



PERCY G. BACANI
born in 1956 (Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya)
first vows, 1978; sacerdotal ordination, 1982

I find myself connected through uniqueness and differences and my vocation as an MJ is both to respect borders and markers and to go beyond them as well. Jesus, the border-crosser went through the incarnation to embrace our world of limits, and his cross and resurrection gave the reason to dream of a world of communion and compassion, of a new humanity capable of going beyond violence and embracing the power of shalom.

KIRBY G. BAGASLAO
born in 1979 (Mandaue City, Cebu)
first vows, 2007

My initial formation is the very first step in achieving my dream of
following Jesus through the Missionaries of Jesus.

JOEL G. CANUEL
born in 1965 (Tigbauan, Iloilo)
first vows, 1987; sacerdotal ordination, 1995


I dream of MJs who dare to live in community and who commit themselves to work together for the mission of service and total self-giving. I dream of a community of friends and disciples of Jesus who trust and support one another and who work in solidarity with the struggle of the poor, the marginalized, and the neglected towards the fullness of life.

EUGINIUS L. CAÑETE
born in 1966 (Liloan, Cebu)
first vows, 1987; sacerdotal ordination, 1995

The days following my stint in Zambia were by turns heady and chaotic for CICM. I went home tired and frustrated, wondering what happened to us in the General Chapter in Rome. Such situation reached a crescendo, which left me with no better option except to be one of the 41 founding members of the Missionaries of Jesus. I don’t mind saying that I wrote “MJ” after my name with immense pride.

GRACIOSO G. CHARCOS
born in 1962 (Balamban, Cebu)
first vows, 1985; sacerdotal ordination, 1993

As co-pastor in Modesta, San Mateo, Rizal, I am beginning to discover little by little the real challenges of being an MJ missionary. I am discovering the MJ dream—to be a sign of newness to the community, to be a sign of life and love
and unity for all, working humbly together with others in the spirit of partnership to realize God’s project.

ANTONIO M. CORDERO
born in 1964 (Maasin, Iloilo)
first vows, 1986; sacerdotal ordination, 1993

I heard these words from the mouth of Tatay (Daddy), “Remember always that you are a son of a farmer; you are to grow wherever you are planted.” Yes, to grow. Those words somehow echo a commitment always to grow and grow in commitment. I simply did not know much at the beginning. But the taste of my first “attempts at mission” turned out to be quite pleasant. And so I always said that I would always give it another “try”. Year after year, I keep saying the same words, “Give it another try.”

RAMON G. CORONEL
born in 1954 (Manila)
first vows, 1978

More than once, we have commented that our choice of name, “Missionaries of Jesus”, was either astonishingly serendipitous or overly daring. We carry Jesus’ name! What a huge responsibility this is, and what a wrenching cry for grace …

ROGELIO D. DEL ROSARIO
born in 1951 (Hagonoy, Bulacan)
first vows, 1973; sacerdotal ordination, 1977

In 2002, I was celebrating my 25th year of priesthood and we were parting ways with CICM. The pain was not so much in leaving the mother congregation but more in having to separate from the people we have learned to love in Africa. My decision to be an MJ was not traumatic. I was lucky to be with three others who were thinking in the same way. I simply said “yes”. Now, I am coming to know the meaning of that response. The ‘yes’ means to be more trusting in God’s Providence.


GREGORIO D. DOMILIES
born in 1962 (Mangkayan, Benguet)
first vows, 1985; sacerdotal ordination on, 1992

I was appointed parish priest of All Saints’ in the Diocese of Lae, Papua New Guinea. It is a parish located inside a huge settlement area. Alongside my work in the parish, I was also asked to help out in our Diocesan HIV-AIDS Center
and Clinic, a pioneering work. In all these experiences I feel I am part of the MJ dream, especially the dream to do mission differently.

APOLONIO M. DULAWAN
born in 1967 (Tinoc, Ifugao)
first vows, 1989; sacerdotal ordination, 1998

I arrived in Lae, Papua New Guinea, on May 14, 2003. I was then assigned as
Parish Priest of Holy Spirit and as Chaplain of Buimo Correctional Institute and
the St Therese Vocational Centre. I know the journey is not over yet, but I am
ready to keep on taking risks as a missionary of Jesus.

WILFREDO T. DULAY
born in 1945 (Paco, Manila)
first vows, 1966; sacerdotal ordination, 1971

We sought refuge in Jesus as friend and brother, as teacher and master, as the beloved who loved us first. He gave us a face. He gave us his face. Now—let all be warned—we risk becoming his faces to the world. That’s tough, but I guess that’s what we want to be for the people we meet and would like to serve in his name.

JOEY G. EVANGELISTA
born in 1970 (Baguio City)
first vows, 1991; sacerdotal ordination, 1998

At present, I am doing my doctoral studies in theology at the Loyola School of Theology. Looking back at these past five years, I remain steadfast in my commitment to do mission as a member of the Missionaries of Jesus. I have no regrets responding to God’s call to leave everything behind and follow his Son Jesus of Nazareth. These past five years have been filled with blessings. Even our very low moments as a group became a means for God to make us feel that she was always with us.

PRIMO M. FAGEL, Jr
born in 1969 (Siniloan, Laguna)
first vows, 1991; sacerdotal ordination, 1998

MJ is no success story if, by success, we are dealing only with profits and losses. We are in a very different ballgame. The rules are different; the dynamics, distinct. So perhaps it is time to approach our cause, our struggle, our calling—whatever you would like to name it, differently.

MANUEL U. GACAD
born in 1951 (Bauang, La Union)
first vows, 1974; sacerdotal ordination, 1978

I am a better missionary now, of that I am sure. Had I stayed in the former group, I would not be what I am today, deeply fulfilled and more caring about my brothers in the Missionaries of Jesus. And looking back gives me a lot of pleasure, because I am able to see that my past and my training really sculpted me into what I am today, a good and happy Missionary of Jesus.

JOSEPH RICARDO G. GUERRERO
born in 1960 (Bontoc, Mountain Province)
first vows, 1981; sacerdotal ordination, 1985

In June 1985, I was sent to Guatemala for my first mission assignment. In 2001, I applied for a leave of absence to join a number of CICM’s who were discerning about a new religious missionary institute, having been frustrated with the leadership and the lack of significant support for relevant missionary
orientations and projects.

In that same year, I volunteered to undertake missionary work in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur. From 2002 up to the present, I am the District Coordinator of the MJ Mindanao District.

BENEDICTO B. LAGARDE, Jr
born in 1960 (Dingle, Iloilo)
first vows, 1991; sacerdotal ordination, 1997

I am presently assigned as Formator of Postulants and Aspirants at the MJ Formation House. Since the foundation of MJ, this is the first time that I am not living in a borrowed house! All the previous houses I have lived in remain
for me concrete signs of God’s providential love!

CRESPO A. LAPE
born in 1961 (Balamban, Cebu)
first vows, 1985; sacerdotal ordination, 1989

Here in Lae, Papua New Guinea, I am happy to say that the community we are
envisioning is gradually taking shape—through the presence of opportunities for
growth, offering venues of real communion and making members feel at home.

TEOFILO M. LOPEZ, Jr
born in 1962 (Bugallon, Pangasinan)
first vows, 1992; sacerdotal ordination, 1999

I come from a family that struggled to make a living. When I was a five-year-old poverty was imprinted in my mind as the greatest evil humankind was facing. In school I studied hard believing I would eventually find a solution to the problem of hunger. From there, but many years later, my dream to serve the poor and the marginalized in God’s name was born. I want to do this as of missionary of Jesus.

BERNARD MAES
born in 1944 (Roeselare, West Flanders, Belgium)
first vows, 1964; sacerdotal ordination, 1969

… years of journeying with the community became for me an important stepping stone in the further unfolding of my life as a missionary: the immersion and presence in the people’s struggles and the evolving spirituality of openness,
dialogue, and solidarity as ways of being a disciple of Jesus…

EDWARD LUC MEES
born in 1941 (Lier, Antwerp, Belgium)
first vows, 1960; sacerdotal ordination, 1965

I have found all my missionary experiences humbling and enriching. The people God has asked me to hold in my heart are many and fascinating in their diversity. Thru them I keep discovering the many mysterious ways of God’s ongoing incarnation. They have helped me understand better who I am. And because of them and God’s faithful love I am determined to continue with the adventure in the MJ community of friends and disciples.

MICHAEL ARIEL M. MONTOYA
born in 1967 (Bamban, Tarlac)
first vows, 1989; sacerdotal ordination, 1994

I have decided and made commitment to be a co-founder of MJ. My response was
faithfulness to God’s call, to participate in God’s mission. The intense process
of deciding to commit made me realize that loyalty and faithfulness to one’s
vocation is not measured by how long one stays in the same position but how open one responds to the continued seduction of the Spirit.

NOEL S. OCTAVIANO
born in 1962 (Dawis Norte, Zarraga, Iloilo)
first vows, 1983; sacerdotal ordination, 1988

By opting to become a missionary of Jesus, I grow more to let go and let God take full guidance of my life. I decided to be more focused and committed to follow Him. In the process, I see myself finding more fraternal support and
correction in the community of the Missionaries of Jesus.

FREDDIE B. PINUELA
born in 1964 (Zarraga, Iloilo)
first vows, 1987; sacerdotal ordination, 1995

All in all, my experiences in the missions were very meaningful. Yet, no matter how fulfilling one’s experiences are, other calls with greater challenges always find their way to a missionary’s life. Hence, I accepted to respond to another invitation in joining the Missionaries of Jesus. I was asked to go to Lubang Island to team up with two confreres. Lubang Island is, up to today, my missionary home.

VIRGILIO G. POZON
born in 1957 (Pasig City)
first vows, 1982; sacerdotal ordination, 1987

My wish and dream for MJ is to see and experience our different MJ communities striving, firstly, to live the ideal of community life as religious missionaries; secondly, to be faithful in responding to the challenges of our MJ corporate commitment; and lastly, to be true to our name, Missionaries of Jesus.

EFREN D. REYES
born in 1962 (Taytay, Rizal)
first vows, 1985; sacerdotal ordination, 1993

What I see as the main challenge for MJ’s in the Prelature of Marawi is real immersion into the life and faith of the Maranao communities. This feat entails a basic knowledge of Islam, a good understanding of Maranao culture, and fluency in the Maranao language.

EFREN N. REYES
born in 1954 (Sta Rita, Pampanga)
first vows, 1978; sacerdotal ordination, 1982

Joining the Missionaries of Jesus is not the end of my childhood dream, which began to be realized in CICM. Joining MJ is rather the fulfillment of it. My dream has always been to follow the Lord into the deep with no other security but His Providence.

DIOSDADO B. SANTIAGO, Jr
born in 1979 (Guimba, Nueva Ecija)
first vows, 2007

I joined the Missionaries of Jesus because I want to share in its dream.




GINO A. SANTOS
born in 1965 (Parañaque City)
first vows, 1990; sacerdotal ordination, 1997

When I returned to Manila on the 31st of October 2002, the reality that I had already left CICM and joined MJ immediately crept in. Adjusting to a new way of life was in fully active mode. Whereas being a “confrere” was a way of relating among Scheutists, treating fellow MJ’s as my friends and co-disciples encapsulates a higher dimension of relationships. Meeting co-disciples for the first time as MJ’s was euphoric. Sharing our varied stories of struggles and challenges hurdled in view of founding MJ energizes and inspires me to follow the footsteps of Jesus in a more radical way in the Philippine context.

IGNACIO A. SAWEY
born in 1965 (Cervantes, Ilocos Sur)
first vows, 1986; sacerdotal ordination, 1992

On June 15, 2005, I joined Ver Pozon and Elmo Tactacan to pioneer our MJ mission in the Diocese of Digos, Davao del sur—the Malita Tagakaolo Mission (Matamis). I am beginning to like and enjoy my mission in Matamis. Inspite of the challenges or even the “extra challenges” on the road, I am inspired by
Jesus Christ to continue His mission among His “anawim,” the Lumads of Mindanao.

ALBERT S. SAYSON
born in 1962 (Libon, Albay)
first vows, 1986; sacerdotal ordination, 1993

At the moment, I look after the Parish of St Francis of Assisi, Diocese of
Lae, Papua New Guinea. What a wonderful and challenging mission to live and share the faith with the Melanesians in the Pacific!

NORMAN PEDRO Z. SORIANO
born in 1948 (Aringay, La Union)
first vows, 1969; sacerdotal ordination, 1974

The Dominican Republic was my first mission. For 21 years, I integrated myself into the history, culture, and lived reality of the slum-dwellers of the capital city of Santo Domingo as well as the farmers and sugar plantation workers (mostly Haitians) in the southwest of the country. At present, for two terms now, I am sent to witness God’s mission in partnership with the Young Christian Workers of the Philippines (YCW), one of the most deprived, oppressed, and excluded sectors of our Philippine society.

ELMO R. TACTACAN
born in 1968 (Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya)
first vows, 1991; sacerdotal ordination, 1998

As an MJ, my first assignment was in Sablan, Diocese of Baguio. The missionary challenge was to live and work among the indigenous peoples of the Cordilleras, to be part of their struggle for recognition, self-determination,
and affirmation, as well as for the preservation of their rich cultural heritage as a people. The same missionary challenge is also very much present in my actual missionary involvement among the Tagakaolo indigenous people in the Diocese of Digos, Davao del Sur.



REY J. TEJICO
born in 1958 (Zarraga, Iloilo)
first vows, 1989; sacerdotal ordination, 1994

As a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, I would like to dedicate my life as a religious for the realization of a more dynamic and responsive approach to mission.

ELIAS P. UBAG
born in 1968 (Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental)
first vows, 1993; sacerdotal ordination, 2001


Vocation Animation is the lifeblood of our religious missionary communities. Everyday and in every way we must share the MJ dream with the young people of today. Let them join in our journey.

ARIS D. VILLANUEVA
born in 1977 (Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur)
first vows, 2000; sacerdotal ordination, 2007

After almost two years in Mindanao as a missionary intern, Guatemala now looms in the horizon as my next destination.

MELCHOR N. VILLERO
born in 1951 (Manila)
first vows, 1972; sacerdotal ordination, 1976

I spent 18 years of my missionary life in Guatemala and Mexico working with
the Maya Qeqchí Indians and with the formation of basic ecclesial communities
and their leaders. I am very happy to be part of the first MJ missionary team in
the US.

MELANIO R. VIUYA, Jr
born in 1963 (Tarlac, Tarlac)
first vows, 1987; sacerdotal ordination, 1995

I am about to embark for a new assignment: setting up the Mission Promotion Office in the USA. This entails for me an experience of letting go and trusting: letting go of what I have started here in the Philippines and trusting in God’s
providence and people’s generosity in raising funds for the works of MJ.

ENRIQUE R. YMSON
born in 1950 (Baguio City)
first vows, 1970; sacerdotal ordination, 1975

I have realized that it is never too old to learn … and, in fact, it is when
we stop learning that we grow old. While a lot of learning can come from
schools, books, seminars and conferences, it is when you enter into people’s
lives, listen to their stories, eat at their tables, understand their dreams and
share their pains that learning comes to life.

STANLEY Y. YOUNG
born in 1964 (Naga City, Camarines Sur)
first vows, 1985; sacerdotal ordination, 1992

I am on my way to celebrate happily my seventh year of mission work here in Marahan. I am deeply grateful to so many living witnesses of God’s love and care among the leaders and people of the communities entrusted to me. Mission moves on and its future remains ever hopeful only to those who can wait.