The month of October has been one of the busiest months for the Arrupe community. From October 1 –10, Fr Adolfo Nicolas officially visited the Arrupe community, spending sufficient time for personal chat with each member of the community. Our heartfelt thanks to Fr Nicolas for listening to our concerns.
In an expression of their solidarity and concern for the people of Myanmar, the Arrupeans participated last October 5 in a special Mass and prayers offered for peace and reconciliation in Myanmar. This Mass was organized by the seminarians of San Jose Seminary, an interdiocesan seminary located in Ateneo de Manila University. The main celebrant was Fr Danny Huang, the Provincial of Philippines. Fr Danny gave a very inspiring and touching homily. At the end of the mass, Sch Francis Htjaru (MYN) gave a brief report about the situation in Myanmar. We continue to pray for the people of Burma so that they may be able to live their lives with true freedom and joy.
On the eve of October 15 the Arrupe community bid farewell to Thai scholastics Yoht Manasan Wongvarn and Jimmy Rivera, and celebrated the end of the semester.
With the final exams over, the community had a community villa from October 15 to 18, going in separate groups. Some scholastics departed on October 15 for mountain climbing in Baguio under the guidance of Fr Manny Flores (PHI). Another group went to a private beach in Subic Bay on October 16, accompanied by Fr Koichi Matsumoto (JPN), the Rector. One of the most exciting and thrilling experiences they had during their villa was the encounter with the unchained tigers in the Subic Safari. A special thanks to Sch Joel Liwanag (PHI) and his team for organizing this villa. A third group stayed at Arrupe and visited different places around Manila. This group villa was organized by Filipino scholastics Roy Ragas and Henry Ponce and the group is thankful for their service and spirit of availability.
On October 20, Sch Roy, Henry and Andy Abing (PHI) went to Baguio with the minor staff for a three-day retreat. There were seven participants in this retreat.
On October 21, the first year juniors went to Navotas for their five-day exposure. They facilitated a day of recollection for some families.
On October 22 – 30, some of the brothers went to the Canossian House of Spirituality, Tagaytay to make their annual retreat. This retreat was organized for those who got sick during the last retreat and were unable to continue. The retreat directors were Frs Jim Meehan (PHI), Bill Currie (JPN), Manny Flores (PHI) and Chris Spalatin (KOR). At the end of the retreat, the retreatants renovated their vows.
On the eve of October 22, Fr Mark Raper, the Provincial of Australia, celebrated mass with the Arrupe community.
The Arrupe community had its Triduum from October 28–30 followed by the renovation of vows. The points were given by Frs Norris Seenivasan (MAS), Pham Van Ai (ASL) and Koichi Matsumoto (JPN).