Father Purdy's Letters       January - February 2006 The New Year begins with the Feast of the Circumcision. After witnessing a marriage on December 31, I was invited to the second wedding reception/New Years party located in the provincial town of Mambusao. The Holy Mass was s offered there, normally only once a month, then the festivities. Another wedding was announced in a solemn manner on the Feast of the Holy Family with the ceremony of betrothal. This is the first time that this ceremony has been performed in our chapels in the Visayan Region. At first glance, perhaps such a ceremony seems to be a novelty, resurrecting some past ceremonial of the Church, which is no longer customary. The reason for such a ceremony is simple. In the Philippines, there are so many irregular marriage situations, many civil marriages, and dishonest dating, etc. Such a ceremony is especially valuable to place an example of honest dating, of basing the friendship in Christ and around his Church. In early February, most of the priests of the Asian district gathered together for the annual priest meeting. In attendance was Fr. Francois Laisney, from New Zealand, as guest speaker. Also Fr. Davide Pagliarani, prior of Singapore, and Fr. Patrick Summers, prior in India. Fr. Laisney in his conferences spoke of the Donatist schism, and how it is applicable to the situation in the Church today. Of course the priests cannot meet, and take no opportunity for some recreation. This happened in the form of a basketball game, East vs. West, which was fun for all. The House of Bethany, along with the three oblate sisters, were also happy to receive all the priests for lunch. The meetings, aside from the conferences given, are a great opportunity for the priest to better know their companions who labor with them in the vineyard of the Lord. On the bottem right is pictured Fr. Ray Dolatina, newly ordained in December at Holy Cross Seminary, with the Sisters and the Bethanians. The Novitiate also welcomes a newly ordained priest, Fr. Albert Ghela. As with any priest, he was received well by the Filipinos. Enclosed also is a photo of his First Solemn Mass at his new assignment. Fr. Ghela is to take the place of Fr. Saa in Jaro. As it is in the Society of St. Pius X, as one priest is gained, it usually means one is transferred elsewhere. Fr. Carlo Magna Saa, who had been stationed at St. Bernard Novitiate for three years, has been assigned a new flock in Zimbabwe, Africa. He will certainly be missed in Jaro for his paternal affection and organizational skills with the parish, as also at the novitiate for his jovial and uplifting spirit. We wish him many blessings and graces for his new, and very difficult assignment.   back to Philippine page back to Fr. Purdy's letters page 2