PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - On Sunday, August 29, 2021, at the Church of Saint Louis, King of France in Turgeau, the Montfort Missionaries celebrated the solemn Mass of the jubilee of the 150 years their presence in Haiti. It was on August 30, 1871 when the first French Montfort Missionaries arrived in Haiti and were welcomed by the then Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Mgr. Guilloux. They were Fathers Ruppin (64 years old), Boulanger (44 years old) and Henri (38 years old). It was a great manifestation of joy in Port-au-Prince...
ECATEPEC, Mexico - On August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (Montfort Missionaries) officially received the kiss of peace from the Diocese of Ecatepec, Mexico, represented by Bishop Oscar Roberto Dominguez Couttolenc and the faithful who, for this welcoming celebration, participated in the Eucharist...
MBARARA, Uganda - On 17th August 2021, the Mbarara Community of Montfort Missionaries in Uganda gathered together with few religious around Mbarara to celebrate Holy Mass in honour of the life of Fr. Olivier Maire, SMM. Fr. Olivier had worked in Uganda as a Novice Master and also did his pastoral work around the community. It was a moment to celebrate the wonderful and transformative work of Fr. Olivier that came from his faith. The Holy Mass was led by His Grace Lambert Bainomugisha, the Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese together with few concelebrants. Confreres, religious men and women and lay people within Nyamitanga Hill participated in the Holy Mass. According to Archbishop Lambert, the life of Fr. Olivier has been an encyclopaedia, not only to the Montfortians but also to the entire church...
NAIROBI, Kenya - On 15th August 2021, the Montfortian community in Nairobi was privileged to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven as they witnessed other three occasions. It was a moment of joyful thanksgiving. Firstly, they had the renewal of vows of the two Montfortian scholastics, namely Bro. Alex Muhwezi, SMM and Bro. Amos Hope Makina, SMM. Secondly, a consecration to Jesus through Mary was also made by Ms. Esther Wanjiru who is from Kenya and other 18 lay associates renewed also their consecration to Jesus through Mary. The words of the Psalmist were evident in their hearts, that is, “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me”...
MALANG, Indonesia – On August 15, 2021, it became a blessed day for the Montfortians in the Province of Indonesia because, as it coincided with the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary to Heaven, Bro. Sintus, SMM and Bro. Aran, SMM, who had attended the consecration ceremony the day before, made their perpetual vows...
QUEZON CITY, Philippines - In the afternoon of August 5, 2021, the Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, the Congregation of the Company of Mary-Philippine Delegation accepted the new candidates for the Pre-Postulancy and Postulancy programs. The ceremony for the rite of entrance to the Pre-Postulancy and Postulancy formation 2021-2022 began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Delegation Councillor Rev. Fr. Santiago T. Casing, SMM, who was delegated to lead the ceremony by Rev. Fr. Norwyn Baydo, SMM, the Delegation Superior. It was concelebrated by SMM priests Rev. Fr. Federick Yumang, the Pre-Postulancy Director, Rev. Fr. Richard Magararu, Rev. Fr. Sherwin Nuñez, Rev. Fr. Benjie Notarte and Rev. Fr. Arnel Pagaduan. Some temporary professed SMM brothers were also present, namely Lester Bonete, Samuel Gonzales, Harold Montoya, Glenn Bongcas and Christopher Mejia. Friends from Santa Teresita Parish were also present to witness the celebration...
MADAGASCAR – In this month of August, the Vice-Province of Madagascar of the Montfort Missionaries experienced the joy of the priestly ordination of its two members. The first was the ordination of RAMANANDRAIBE Solofoniaina Victor (Solofo) which took place on August 8, 2021, in Ambatomarina, during a solemn Mass presided over by H.E. Mgr. RAKOTONARIVO Fidélis, bishop of the diocese of Ambositra. Father Solofo was ordained here with four other deacons from this diocese...
Taking into account the present situation of the Administration of France (after the death of Fr. Olivier Maire, S.M.M., provincial superior). On 16 August 2021, Father Luiz Augusto STEFANI, S.M.M., Superior General,
with the consent of his Council, has appointed Father Robert CHAPOTTE, SMM...
with the consent of his Council, has appointed Father Robert CHAPOTTE, SMM...
KALIMANTAN, Indonesia – On Easter Day 2021, in the midst of a resurging pandemic, the Parish priest of the Epiphany Parish sent us to hold a service at the farthest station, which is called the Tanjung Lokang Station. In addition to celebrating the entire Easter mystery, we had the opportunity to have a dialogue and share our faith with several community leaders. From this dialogue and sharing, there are several pastoral concerns that demand real action. First, the dualism between Catholics and Protestants regarding respect for the dead. Second, the limited understanding of the Catholic faith has an impact on the appreciation of the faith which is purely administrative in nature. Again, they are not able to account for the Catholic faith in the face of satire or attacks that are blaming the Catholic faith from Protestant circles. Third, the assistance of early childhood and youth, as well as Catholic Youth, is very minimal. This leaves them with insufficient knowledge of the faith from an early age and lacks interest in being involved in Church activities...
On 28 July 2021, Father Luiz Augusto STEFANI, SMM, Superior General, with the consent of his Council (C 215), appointed Father Aloisius BANGGUR, SMM, Superior of the General Delegation of Papua New Guinea (PNG), for a second mandate of three-years...
CEBU, Philippines - On July 24, 2021, the Association of Mary Queen of all Hearts (AMQAH) was officially accredited by the Archdiocese of Cebu Council of the Laity for the Lay Organizations, Movements, Associations and Services (LOMAS) during the first-ever launching of the Lay Tertiary and Marian Councils at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 10:00 AM. Originally, the venue is supposedly at the International Eucharistic Congress Convention Center IC3 Hall C, but due to the limited number of persons allowed by IATF at the IC3 Hall C, the officers of the councils transferred the venue to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 10:00 AM, instead of 9:00 AM...
BALAKA, Malawi - On 16th July 2021, two confreres, namely Bro. Horrice Mkandawire, SMM and Bro. Laurent James Juma, SMM from Africa Anglophone made their Perpetual Profession at St. Louis Catholic Church - Balaka Parish in Balaka district. Bishop Emeritus Alessandro Pagani, SMM who is also the only priest at Kankao Parish presided over the very solemn Eucharistic celebration. Archbishop Thomas Msusa, SMM of Blantyre Archdiocese concelebrated as the confreres, the clergy, the Daughters of Wisdom, the Brothers of St. Gabriel, and the congregants witnessed the profession...
WEST KALIMANTAN, Indonesia - New history was created in the pilgrimage of the Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Pontianak and also of the Montfort Missionaries of the Province of Indonesia. On July 20, 2021, a new parish was formed in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, precisely in the District of Monterado, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan Province. Present in this celebration were the Regent of Bengkayang, the Chairman of the Bengkayang House of Representatives, the Provincial of SMM Indonesia, and the Archbishop of Pontianak as well as hundreds of parishioners of St. Montfort, Monterado...
DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines - In the morning of June 15, 2021, after a year of academic program, two aspirant brothers: Bro. Jessie James Datulayta and Bro. Ivan Benedict Dadula, together with the Collegians Director, Rev. Fr. Federick B. Yumang, SMM, went to Dagupan City for Pastoral Exposure. Before they left the Collegians Formation House, a send-off liturgy was held with a blessing from Rev. Fr. Richard Magararu, SMM, who is staying in the community while waiting for his new mission in United Kingdom. The program for pastoral exposure is a month of firsthand experience for the aspirants on how the Montfort Fathers do their missionary apostolate. They were asked to help the Chaplaincy of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort in Bolosan District, Dagupan City, Pangasinan through the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Rene Bustillo, SMM, to journey with the youth of the parish...
ROME - Father Peter MAKINA, Malawian, after completing his youth pastoral specialization at Università Pontificia Salesiana (UPS) in Rome is preparing to return to his entity of origin, the GDAA. We interviewed him about his studies and his future mission...