25th anniversary of Religious Life

On 22^nd June 2019, at the Chapel of the General House of the Oblates of St Joseph Congregation, drums and cymbals were rolled out in thanksgiving to God as Reverend Fathers Aurelio De la Cruz and Maxi Sevilla celebrated their 25^th anniversary of Religious Life in the Congregation. At the same time, it was a concluding thanksgiving mass for the academical year 2018-2019. All of these were celebrated within the liturgical celebration of the Solemnity of the Corpus Christi. The Mass started at about 18:00 with Fr Aurelio as the Chief Celebrant, flanked by Frs Maxi and Jan Pelczarski (Superior General) and with other priests (some who are students). On this great occasion, there were also present seminarians, medical students, workers, friends and family.

In his homily, Fr Maxi thanked God for the grace of vocation to religious life and the journey thus far. He saw this vocation as a precious gift, not paid for, just as Christ gave us His Body and Blood freely for our nourishment. In the gospel, Christ fed many people just as He continues to feed us His people; so, our religious and priestly vocation makes us to make present Jesus to the world.

The Superior General, Fr, Jan Pelczarski communicated his sentiments of joy and thanksgiving from the part of the Congregation and of the comunity to the brothers celebrating their Silver Jubilee and to all students’ priests, seminarians and medical students for a time like this. And he exhorted all with the maxim: “Yes, we can”.

After the mass, there was a time of fellowship. Thanks be to God.