On December 7, Fr Roger Champoux (PHI), Director of EAO International Tertianship wrote, “The Tertians are on their way for their second experiment – the Christmas Ministries. We finished the long retreat one week ago and all seemed very happy with this most important experience of the Tertianship. We were in our Jesuit Novitiate of Novaliches, together with a group of other retreatants (Jesuit novices, seminarians, priests and religious of various congregations), which made it a Church experience indeed. After a few days of recovery for a smooth transition into the 5th week (or, as the bishop who presided at mass on the last day of the retreat said, quoting a Chinese proverb, “After the ecstasy, time to do the laundry.”), now is the time for mission. Since the Philippines celebrate Christmas in grand style with the famous “Aguinaldo Masses” (novena mf masses before Christmas), the Tertians are going to the Mountain Province in the North of the country to help in those parishes that have no priests. A good way to test not only their resistance to cold weather but also the apostolic and spiritual fruits of their retreat. They will come back to our Loyola House home after Christmas, and then get ready for the month of study on the Institute in January.
A photo/video album of his tertianship experience has been created by Fr Eric Eusebio (PHI). Visit this link: http://filsjtertian2009.blogspot.com/
Contributor: Fr Roger Champoux