DOMINICAN PROVINCE OF THE PHILIPPINES
From April 16 to 18, 2018, the Dominican Province of the Philippines inaugurated its first annual national assembly for its nine newly erected fraternities of priests. This was part of the resolutions from the first meeting of the National Council on 20 February 2018. Fr. Honorato Castigador, OP, former Provincial and Rector of the University of Santo Tomas Seminary in Manila, accompanied the priests in a reflection on following the spirit of St. Dominic in the context of the diocesan priesthood. The event was an opportunity for the priests to share fraternal moments of community and prayer at the Rosaryville House in Baguio City.
On the second day of the gathering, 17 April 2018, two priests from outside the country were admitted in the fraternity: Fr. Charles Chiew (Diocese of Keningau, Malaysia), and Fr. John Bosco Auram (Diocese of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea). The rite was held within the Holy Eucharist with Most Rev. Victor Bendico (Diocese of Baguio) as celebrant, and the Promoter fr. Florentino Bolo Jr., OP, as presider of the rite. Prior to this, the lone member of the fraternity from a foreign diocese was Fr. John Mi Shen of the Diocese of Zhao Xian, China. Bp. Bendico hopsted the dinner for the priests after the rite.
On the third day, the priests visited the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, DD, himself a member of the fraternity, and who is distinguished as the first to be received in the fraternity of the Province as an ordained bishop. The priests were treated to a generous serving of lunch at the bishop’s residence in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, before proceeding to the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. There the priests joined the Dominican friars’ community in celebrating the Marian feast with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Ap. Villegas, after which they joined the solemn procession around the town of Manaoag, Pangasinan, before finally heading back to Manila.