Four friars from the Province attended the 12th Asia-Pacific Augustinian Conference (APAC) Triennial Convention held at the Mother House of the Augustinian Sisters of the Divine Mercy, Ketapang City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia on October 21-24, 2014.
The attendees are Rev. Fr. Eusebio Berdon, OSA, Prior Provincial, Rev. Fr. Andrew Batayola, OSA, Rev. Fr. Victor Gonzaga, OSA Provincial Counselors and Rev. Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes, OSA, Provincial Secretary.
Berdon attended in his capacity as the Superior of OSA Cebu Province while Batayola and Gonzaga attended in their capacity as Treasurer and Chair of Vocation and Youth Commission of the APAC Executive Council, respectively.
Reyes attended to help in the documentation and secretariat of the Convention.
The four were among the 26 official delegates coming from congregations and religious orders affiliated to the membership of APAC.
The opening of the Convention was unbolted with rich cultural motif of a diversified Indonesia. The welcome rites at the Mother House of the Augustinian Sisters were elaborate as well as the Opening Mass at Ketapang Cathedral was culturally immersed in the use of Bahasa language in prayers and songs.
The convention focused on the theme “New Evangelization through Collaboration in Asia-Pacific”. Under this inspiration, the delegates listened to inputs shared by resource speakers invited specially for the convention.
Among those who gave insightful sharing were Bishop Pius Riana Prapdi, DD of the Ketapang Diocese, Fr. William Chang, OFMCap. and Fr. Anthony Banks, OSA, Asst. General for Asia and Pacific of the Augustinians.
The APAC members were also given time to be heard through congregational reports and through group sharing and deliberations specifically on the ways members of APAC can collaborate in apostolates, spirituality formation and professional and language training.
At the last day of the Convention, the delegates approved the set of proposals as resolutions and goals for the next three-year term.
They also elected key official posts to newly lead APAC. It re-elected Fr. Bernard Holzer, AA as President, and newly elected Sr. Niceta Vargas, OSA as Vice President.
Fr. Victor Gonzaga, OSA was elected Treasurer and Sr. Diose Tangca-ag, OSA was elected Secretary.
The Final Mass was held at the Chapel of the host community, followed by dinner and a special program prepared by the studentry of Saint Peter High School run by the Augustinian Sisters of Divine Mercy.
