The Superior General and members of his Council make visits to various circumscriptions of the Congregation for a variety of reasons. They may come for a “canonical visitation” (in accordance with the provisions of the Canon Law, and of the SSP Constitutions and Directory) to consult members of the province in view of constituting a new Provincial Government. They may come also for a “verification visit” to formally preside over evaluation meetings that could help the province see itself vis-à-vis targets set for the Apostolate, Common Life, Spirituality and Administration. They may come for “fraternal visits” – just to experience fellowship and conviviality with confreres, in an effort to know more the realities surrounding a circumscription.
The agenda for Don Sassi’s and Fratel Rodriguez' presence in the Philippines and Macau from January 16-27 are those of a “fraternal visit.” The Superior General even often used the expression—“very fraternal visit.” Don Sassi and Fratel Walter are passing by the Philippines and Macau, on their way to the SSP Region of Australia, where they are scheduled to attend our confreres’ Regional Assembly.
True to his usual self and substance, Don Sassi, however, wasted no time, and he made use of every opportunity to encounter communities, various provincial bodies, and various persons of official competencies to engage in what he often referred to as “moments of reflection about our Pauline life.” He opened each encounter with very substantial opening remarks, followed by free-for-all sharings regarding the aspects of Pauline life being highlighted. He also ended each encounter with very frank and down-to-earth exhortations.
Monday, 18 January, beginning at 8:30 AM, the Superior General and Fratel Walter spent time with the priests and brothers of the Makati Community. In the afternoon of the same day, they visited the SSP Community at the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Pasay, City. They also took time to visit the ST PAULS Bookstore at the SM Mall of Asia. Then, on 19 January (Tuesday), the visitators motored south of Manila to Silang, Cavite where they had lively moments with the aspirants of St Paul Seminary.
On 20 January, Wednesday, Don Sassi and Fratel Walter proceeded north of Manila to visit the Novitiate Community at San Fernando, Pampanga. It was the turn of Fr. Jose Aripio and his two novices, and of Fr. Tim Melliza and his community to have personal exchanges with the Superior General who was enjoying every moment of his first visit to the Philippine-Macau Province. Late in the day, they came back to Makati to prepare for their morning flight to Cebu on 21 January (Thursday).
Aside from the SSP Cebu Community under Fr. Joel Baguna, our confreres from Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Iloilo also welcomed Don Sassi and Fratel Walter in Cebu. The Superior General was, above all, touched with his encounter with the 8 postulants who are presently in Cebu. He would refer to them as a “force” that the members of the province have to be thankful of, and a “force” that have to be properly guide into the noviceship.
Don Sassi and his party arrived in Makati in the evening of 22 January, to prepare for the next day: a long day of important meetings. In the morning of 23 January (Friday) he and Fratel Walter had a “reflection session” with the Team for Formation and Vocation Promotions (TFVP). In the afternoon, starting at 3 PM, it was the turn of the Team for the Apostolate (TFA) to meet with the visitators.
24 January (Sunday) was first marked by a celebration of the Eucharist with the Pasay Community of the Daughters of Saint Paul. Back in Makati, Don Sassi and Fratel Walter – as has been the custom – capped their Philippine Visit by meeting with the members of the Provincial Government. The meetings, which comes after the visitators had the chance to hear out the members of the province and the various provincial bodies, was an opportunity for the Superior General to share with Fr Ruben Areno and his Council his observations and reflections about the Philippine-Macau mission. He and the Provincial Government tediously went through an evaluative sharing of the various aspects of the Pauline life: Spirituality, Formation and Vocation Promotion, the Apostolate, Community life and Administration. Don Sassi said that he will put together his reflections about his visit through a letter that he will write for the whole Philippine-Macau Province.
Ever mindful of the fact that the future of the Congregation is greatly among the young, Don Sassi decided to reserve his last hours of meeting with the young priests, and young perpetually professed brothers. He exhorted them to grow in their Pauline conviction about their vocation. To the young priests, he strongly expressed the primordial idea of Blessed Alberione that the Pauline priesthood is first exercised in the apostolate of proclaiming the Word through the communications media engaged in by the circumscription as a body.
From the Philippines, the Superior General and Fratel Walter—accompanied by Fr Areno—flew via Cebu Pacific Airlines to Macau, on the second leg of their province-wide fraternal visit. Surely, the confreres in Macau (Frs Manalo, Pasaporte and Bento) will also experience Don Sassi’s contagious “passion” for the congregation.
With thanksgiving to Jesus Master for the grace of the fraternal visit—Fr Domie SSP (Provincial Secretary).
