The Province of Santo Niño de Cebu-Philippines held its 10th Annual Assembly on March 1-3, 2023, at the Santo Niño Spirituality Center in Tolo-Tolo, Consolacion, Cebu. This gathering was organized every two years after the celebration of the Provincial and the Intermediate Chapters.
Twenty-nine (29) friars attended the said assembly wherein the main objective was to evaluate the various programs that were implemented in the Province (cf. Statutes No. 54). The friar-participants consisted of the members of the Provincial Council, Priors/Superiors of communities and residences, chairmen of Provincial Commissions, and the Vicar Superior of the Vicariate “Christus Totus” Papua-Indonesia (the Vicariate affiliated to the Province).
Provincial officials who attended were led by the Prior Provincial, Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., OSA. Members of his Council included Fr. Nelson Zerda, OSA, Fr. Frederick Comendador, OSA, Fr. Jose Rene Delariarte (Provincial Treasurer), OSA, Fr. Sisinio Paderog, OSA, Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, Fr. Donato Ellezar, OSA, and the Provincial Secretary, Fr. Nestor Bandalan Jr., OSA. The Vicar Superior of the Vicariate of Christus-Totus of Papua was Fr. Jan Pieter Fatem, OSA. The Vicariate had sent a delegate in the person of Fr. Athanasius Bame, OSA.
The gathering commenced on the morning of March 1 with two talks centered on the theme “Synodality in the Church” given by Most Rev. Midyphil Bermejo Billones, D.D. (Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu). Regular sessions officially started in the afternoon of the same day and ended on March 2. On the morning of March 3 (Friday), there was a closing Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Prior Provincial.
Continually inspired by the theme for the term 2020-2024, “Filipino Augustinians Beyond 45O: Renewal of Community Life for New Evangelization,” the Province looked forward to brighter hopes as a result of the said gathering in preparation for the upcoming 11th Ordinary Provincial Chapter to be held in February 2024.
