| OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PROVINCE | – MAY 2010 Number 1 DOMINICAN MISSIONS 8-10 Eastbourne Rd, Block 2 Kowloon Tong, HONG KONG Visit of the Master to Hong Kong - Macau From April 6 to 13, 2010 the Master of the Order was with us here in Hong Kong and Macau. He was accompanied by his assistant for Intellectual Life, the Brazilian Fr. Márcio Couto. Although it was not a formal canonical visitation (it was called “fraternal” visit) they were able to meet all the brothers both individually and in group. According to the schedule prepared in advance, they stayed one day in this House of St. Joseph, in Kowloon, three days in our Priory of Saint Dominic in Macau, and two days in the convent-novitiate of St. Albert, in Rosaryhill, where eventually they concluded the visit. Both Fr. Carlos and Fr Márcio were much interested in having meetings with our young people in formation (students, novices, postulants) spread in the three communities. It was a memorable trip for the two of them, because they had also the opportunity to cross the border and meet the brethren... They also met the bishops of Hong Kong and Macau, the members of the Dominican family in HK and other authorities. The two were apparently well impressed for what the Province has done and is doing in this region. They appreciated our hospitality, which was a joint effort of all, for each in his own way contributed to make their stay with us enjoyable. We are grateful to them, too. Fr Socius’s Visit to Poland On the occasion of his visit to Spain with Fr. Provincial, Brother Jarvis visited the newly elected Provincial of Poland, Fr. Krysztof Poplawski, to reiterate our interest towards a closer cooperation with his Province. After his encounter with him, Brother Jarvis visited Krakow to meet also the Polish student brothers as well as to venerate the tomb of St. Hyacinth, the patron saint of Dominican missionaries. Easter Celebration and Provincial’s Greetings As in all our communities, also here in Kowloon, the Paschal Triduum was solemnly celebrated. It was in fact a family celebration with the group of parishioners who regularly joins us. The joy of the resurrection ended in a fraternal agape at the end of the Easter Vigil. The beautiful Easter candle painted by one of our novices remains a luminous witness to the presence of the Lord among us. On this occasion, through internet, the Fr. Provincial greeted all the members of the Province with some words of thanks, of shared joy and of encouragement, inviting everyone not to look for the living among the dead! Holy Thursday at our chapel in Kowloon . FR. PROVINCIAL´S TRIPS TO BANGALORE, SPAIN AND ROME Pag 2 In addition to the fraternal visits conducted by the Provincial during the past months to the vicariates and houses of Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Rome, two of his trips deserve special attention: one, to Bangalore (India) for the meeting of Provincials of the Asia-Pacific region (February 3-6) and the other to Rome (March 1-14) to attend a workshop for new Provincials in Santa Sabina. They have served to establish a first contact with the brethren and their working places. A marginal note is that in the interprovincial meetings he has noticed a certain admiration towards our Province as well as some expectations from the Order. It may be partly due to the unique Province’s international character, its missionary spirit, and to the vocational boom experienced in recent years…, factors which put new challenges for us, especially in the field of formation. At the Provincial Curia in Bangalore “SACRED HEART” CATECHETICAL AND FORMATION CENTER The 18th of April, 2010 was the day chosen for the opening of the “Sacred Heart” Catechetical and Formation Center, in Northern PROC. This is a joint project with the Sacred Heart Sisters, a local diocesan Congregation. The aim of this Center is to provide theological and pastoral formation for the religious and other pastoral agents. Our contribution will be mainly imparting the teaching of some subjects as well as giving technical advice on its administration and organization. The Center has been placed under the spiritual protection of the Dominican Saint Francis Coll, a catechist who managed to survive in difficult times. We are confident that now, in the current no-less-easier circumstances, he will also protect the future of this project entrusted to him, so akin to his apostolic dreams. May he confirm our Dominican new presence in those regions! GOLDEN PRIESTLY ANNIVERSARY This year 2010 three of our Brethren celebrate their Golden Priestly Jubilee: Augusto Antolínez (12 of October, 1960), Javier Arrázola (22 of July, 1960) and Ignacio María Díez (18 of April, 1960). Our sincerest congratulations and best wishes, together with our prayer for them. NEW POSTULANTS Recent Assignments: - Fr Miguel Ángel Sanromán, from Taiwán to our community of Via Condotti, in Rome. - Fr Víctor Martín, from Chile to our Convent of Santo Tomás in Ávila. - Fr Isaías Hong, from Macau to our House in Ansan, S.Korea. Last month four new postulants joined our community of San Joaquín Royo. Their Christian names (for us) are the following: Antoninus, José Cueto, Jordan and Manés. To the community of San Francis de Capillas, in Singapore, two new postulants have recently arrived from Myanmar. We welcome them and pray for their perseverance in their pursuing to serve the Lord in the Dominican way of life. . Pag 3 WEEK OF PROVINCIAL COUNCILS The week from 22 to 26 of March was all devoted to Provincial Councils. They were three, namely, the Formation Council, the Economic Council and the annual Extended Council. The sessions were held in our Convent of St Albert, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong. Formation Council Economic Council With the attendance of the Provincial and the Regent of Studies, the formators in the Asian region shared their views and tried to find solutions to concrete problems in the difficult task of educating our young Brothers, spread in various communities. One of the main tasks of the Council during the two-day meeting was the revision of the Ratio Formationis Particularis as well as the formulation of the Ratio Studiorum Particularis, two basic documents in the formation ministry of our students, novices and postulants. It was chaired by p. Joseph Salas, who as a Syndic of the Province presented his Memoria (Financial report) of the fiscal year 2009 of the Province, prepared along with Fr. J.A.Legido, former Syndic of the Province. Before presenting in detail the annual accounts and budgets of the convents, houses, institutions, vicariates and of the Province, Fr Salas thanked his assistants in the different vicariates and missions, as well as the syndics of convents and houses, who have to carry out a job that is difficult, unwanted and often hardly appreciated by others. Extended Provincial Council PRAYERS FOR FR AMADO DIAGO In this annual extended Provincial Council there were in attendance representatives from Spain (Frs. Pedro Juan Alonso and Fernando Mañero), Taiwan (Frs. Tomás Miguel Blázquez and Juan José Veneros), Philippines (Fr. Jesús Prol) and Korea (Fr. Javier Arrázola, guest), in addition to the Council members from Hong Kong-Macau area. Given the vast agenda of the meeting it is not possible to offer here even a summary of the minutes, which will be published in the Bulletin of the Province. The Council approved the pertinent resolutions of the two previous Councils – Formation and Economic. One of the decisions adopted at the request of the Provincial Vicariate of Taiwan was the gradual transfer of the Mission of Ban-Kim to our Dominican Brothers of the General Vicariate 'Queen of China', to be followed later on also by the turning to the local Bishop of our Lady of Fatima (Tai-Wu) parish. The Holy Week brought us bad news regarding the health of our Brother Amado Diago in Taiwan, who has recently been operated. The whole thing is serious, but miracles happen. Let us ask the Lord for Fr Diago´s speedy recovery and for strength to accept this cross. The Vicar of Taiwan, Fr Thomas, sent to us a first note that we want to share with everybody: "After some medical check-up, Fr. Amado Diago was diagnosed with cancer in the stomach; his doctors recommended urgent surgery in the hope that with the removal of his stomach he might be cleared from the cancer; but it wasn't so, the cancer having already been extended to the intestines. Hence the doctors prescribed some sessions of chemotherapy once Fr Diago had recovered from the surgery This morning the stitches were removed and so were almost all injected medicines. It is already several days that he can normally take his meals and most importantly: our Brother Amado Diago has assumed this medical verdict with great serenity of spirit and deep faith. May the spirit of the risen Lord comfort him, alleviate his suffering and strengthen him.” (Signed) “Fr. Tomás Miguel, Provincial Vicar in Taiwan." NOTES Fr. Prakash Anthony Lohale, OP, Assistant to the Master of the Order for the Apostolic Life, at the end of his canonical visit to our Vicariate in Taiwan, paid a visit to our communities in Hong Kong and Macau, on April 20-23. He showed special interest in meeting those on formation: students, novices and postulants. Fr. Hilario Singhian, OP, Assistant to the Master of the Order for the AsiaPacific region, paid a short visit to our mission in South Korea, on April 1720. He met all our brothers in Seoul and Ansan. Fr. Javier, Bishop John Tong of Hong Kong and Fr Carlos Azpiroz Costa. May 2010 The Master of the Order and Fr Márcio with novices and formators in Hong Kong. May 2010 Frs. Carlos and Márcio withthe Dominican Laity of Hong Kong, in Rosaryhill. May 2010 Frs Carlos and Márcio visiting the Kinder Department at Rosaryhill School. May 2010 Fr Hilario (Larry) Singhian with the Dominican Community in Seoul. May 2010 Frs. Ed Ruane, R. Ombres and M. Couto with new Provincials at Santa Sabina. March 2010 Front view of our chapel at St Dominic’s Priory, Macau