SSS Fathers: Bringing people to the Blessed Sacrament

“Bring all the world to the knowledge and love of our Lord; to preach nothing but Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ eucharistic.” Such resolution made by St. Peter Julian Eymard’s in 1845 still lingers today as his spiritual sons continue his work through the Congregation he founded in 1856.

The SSS or Congregatio Sanctissimi Sacramenti is an apostolic group of men whose ideal is to assist the Church in her efforts to form Christian communities whose center of life is the Eucharist. They work in partnership with committed lay men and women in promoting knowledge and love of the Eucharist through their Center for Eucharistic Evangelizing and the Life in the Eucharist Movement. They are not limited merely to adoration but to reaching out to those who were estranged from the church and evangelizing them. The congregation can be found in different countries of the world serving in a wide variety of ministries such as administering parishes, celebrating sacraments, accompanying those who are journeying in faith through the catechumenate, liturgical training and programs of formation for ministry, writing, teaching, retreat work, promoting Christian unity and dialogue among religions, involvement in social ministries that serve the poor, extending hospitality to priests and offering programs of spiritual formation of the clergy and hospitality toward them.

The SSS community is composed of brothers and priests. In the Philippines there are more than 60 priests, where 2 are from Davao. Soon 4 more priests will be added to their number. Their known adoration center in Manila particularly the Sta. Cruz Church attracted the attention of the first Archbishop of Davao, the late Most Rev. Clovis Thibault, PME. Thus, in July 2, 1972, they began their mission in Davao by administering the Assumption Parish Church. It has been 44 years since and their collaboration with their parishioners continues to grow. Fr. Ronel Fulo Jr., SSS, one of the assigned priests, says “the parishioners’ active participation and involvement in the parish encourage them to stay.”

Currently, 5 priests are assigned in Davao, where two of them are serving their Formation House for Postulants. Fr. Fulo is the Assistant Postulant Director. His first visit to Davao was as postulant for 10 months. Now, there are 13 postulants coming from different parts of the country. One is from Davao.

“To bring people to the Sacrament” is the desire of their founder’s heart. Thus, their parish work involves them in the formation of people’s love for the Blessed Sacrament. Through the LITES or Life in the Eucharist Seminars, they promote awareness on the importance of the Eucharist and its social aspect: that each one is being sent forth. A core group composed of lay people is also organized under the spiritual direction of a SSS priest. The People’s Eucharistic League or PEL, composed of lay collaborators, are formed to meet their committed response on a minimum one hour daily visit.

The K-LITES, on the other hand, is the version for the youth where activities are centred on the Eucharist in an interactive way. It highlights their awareness of the Sunday obligation. Monthly formation sessions follow the LITE seminars.

Plans are also underway to organize what they call Aggregates of the Blessed Sacrament, an umbrella organization for all the different apostolates and organizations within the parish to serve as a coordinating arm.

Celebration of the Feast of the Corpus Christi is also highlighted by conducting a procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the parish up to the Cathedral. It is to be recalled that it was in such kind of celebration that the intense attraction of their founder to the Christ in the Eucharist was born.