Monthly Clergy Recollections

Our trip to Kiamba took about one hour and twenty minutes. Passing by Maasim, the first town north of Gen. Santos City, Kiamba is about ninety kilometres away. We were on our way to St. Anthony of Padua Parish to attend the joint recollection of the clergy from the Diocese of Marbel.

It has been two years now since I have been assigned in Gen. Santos City, under the Diocese of Marbel. I remember the time I was welcomed in the diocese as a Dominican Missionary. It was during the joint recollection held at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Malapatan, Sarangani. Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, DD, introduced me to the whole assembly of priests and welcomed me to their diocese, after the Morning Prayer and exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

In the Diocese of Marbel, there is a monthly recollection for the clergy. But it is only every other month that the religious clergy working in the diocese join the diocesan clergy which we call a “joint recollection” (of religious and diocesan clergy). Twelve parishes of the diocese are chosen as venues for the monthly clergy recollections for the entire year. The parish priest of the parish chosen as venue of the recollection acts as the host and mass presider for the recollection. The monthly clergy recollection is held every second Tuesday of the month. It starts at 9:00 a.m. with the Lauds or Morning Prayer, and then followed by a holy hour. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and there is a silent Eucharistic adoration for about thirty to forty five minutes, which is then followed by the Benediction.

There is also an invited speaker or speakers every month, who either gives a talk, lecture or sharing to the members of the clergy. For this month of October, the venue of the joint recollection is in St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Kiamba, Sarangani. After the holy hour, there were two lay persons from the parish who shared their “faith journey”. One was a member of the T’boli tribe who was baptized as a Catholic later in his life and became a lay co-operator in one of the GKK in the parish. Another is a former seminarian who is now actively involved in church activities in his parish.

After the sharing, the bishop presided over the business meeting. It was also during this time that our brother Dominican priest who is newly assigned in Gen. Santos City was introduced to the assembly of priests. The good bishop asked me to introduce my Dominican confrere, since I am the superior of the Dominican missionaries in Mindanao. The Eucharistic celebration followed after the business meeting. After the mass, it was time for lunch. The food for lunch was prepared by the benefactors and parishioners of the host parish. About forty diocesan and religious priests were in attendance. It was also a time for bonding for the clergy, both religious and diocesan. We get to see each other at least every other month or during parish fiesta celebrations. It is also an occasion for the members of the clergy to see the bishop and to take up any other matters with him.