Fr Joaquin Jose Mari “Jonjee” C Sumpaico III SJ of the Philippine Province pronounced his Final Vows in the Society of Jesus during a Mass in the Ateneo Grade School’s Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angels on 2 October, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.
Fr Xavier L Olin SJ, Provincial of the Philippine Jesuit Province, presided over the Mass and received Fr Sumpaico’s vows on behalf of Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ, while Fr Bobby Yap SJ, Ateneo de Manila University President, gave the homily. Present were Fr Sumpaico’s family, friends, members of the university community, his fellow Jesuits, Arvisu pre-novices, members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Quezon City Council, and many more.
In his homily, Fr Yap explained how the Final Vows are different from the perpetual First Vows a Jesuit professes. “First vows are made only to God, and no human is addressed. They are an offering to God to live and to die as a Jesuit,” said Fr Yap.
Fr Sumpaico professed his First Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in May 1997, two years after he entered Sacred Heart Novitiate in 1995. Nearly three decades later, with the witness of his life in various missions, the Society has fully accepted Fr Sumpaico. “By receiving Jonjee’s final vows, the Society today attests that his initial offering made 27 years ago has been accepted and confirmed by God, and that he is now fully incorporated, fully embraced into the Society of Jesus.”
“Our prayer as he takes his Final Vows is that he will grow more and more in becoming so absorbed in God and so ready to do God’s will, a contemplative in action, a true son of St Ignatius,” Fr Yap continued. He also prayed that Fr Sumpaico may embody the two main characteristics of angels: contemplation (the desire to always ponder God) and ministry (the desire to always do God’s will).
Reflecting on the occasion as “joyous” and “grace-filled,” Fr Sumpaico recalled how the seeds of his Jesuit vocation were planted when he was a student at the Ateneo Grade School (AGS). He had been a member of the AGS’ Knights of Christ liturgical organisation and served at Masses held in the very same Chapel of the Holy Guardian Angels, where he now professed his Final Vows. The Holy Guardian Angels are also the patrons of Ateneo de Manila Grade School. Ateneo de Manila Senior High School Principal Sansan Borja described the moment as a “full circle” experience for Fr Sumpaico.
Addressing the students present, Fr Sumpaico invited them to consider joining the Society, noting that it was also “vocations promotions day”. Fr Olin echoed the invitation, encouraging the boys to consider becoming part of a community of “very happy Jesuits.” [Ateneo de Manila University]