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SSPX News Archive
St.
Bernard Novitiate, Iloilo
Here is the latest incident at the Noviciate which is quite serious as we are somewhat concerned about the next attack on one of the Brothers or priests. Just last Wed. 23 April 3 would be robbers came armed with shotguns and a knife to steal our last remaining diesel engine (another one previously stolen just 4 weeks ago) which is used to pump water from the well. Without which we will have no water supply as our normal wells run by electric motor dry up this time of the year. As it was necessary to guard this engine the Brothers took it upon themselves to stay out in a makeshift shelter some 20 metres from the well. This particular night the robbers woke up the Brother and informed him they were going to take the engine and proceeded to do so while watched over Brother with a shotgun. The guards noticed the activity down at the well and fired a warning shot. The robbers reacted immediately by firing at Br. Hyacinth from point blank range, and Br. instinctively raised his arm to protect himself. The blast broke the bone of his arm and thumb and left gaping wounds in his arm. Meanwhile the thieves fled and the rest of us inside not aware even that Brother was outside, were trying to find out what the gunshots were for. Br. in the meantime made his way the 100 metres back to the house and came into the upstairs rooms where he promptly fainted. Fr. Saa thinking that he was severely wounded anointed him while one of the Brothers tied a tourniquet on his arm to prevent loss of blood. The police were phoned and who arrived some 20 or 30 minutes later. Who then took Br. through to the city hospital some 40 minutes away. The next morning Br. was taken to the surgery to have 12 pellets removed each one some 4 or 5 mm in diameter from his arm and 2 from his chest, which thankfully did not penetrate his lungs. He had his Rosary in hand at the time and are thankful that Our Lady spared his life as the robbers here are notorious for killing anyone who has seen their faces. So in fact they really intended to kill Brother not just wound him and would have done so once they removed the engine, had not our guards been able to do something. Nevertheless our guards are very inadequately armed to face these robbers directly, and are also much afraid for their lives, in this area which is known as the "killing fields" of Santa Barbara. Just near is also an area called "no man's land" where not even the police venture into. So there is not much likelihood of the would be thieves and murderers from being apprehended. In the meantime may Our Lady and St. Joseph protect us.
Br. Ignatius (50 years old) is the first of the Filipino Brothers professed and comes from the same island of Panay where the Noviciate is, however from the northern part. So he speaks more or less the same dialect as Ilongo. Brother began his training in Manila and then in Holy Cross Seminary before there was a Noviciate here in the Philippines. He was stationed in Manila, Our Lady of Victories Priory until last November when he was exchanged for Br. Thomas. He much prefers the country to the big city and is busy with the accounting records in this picture but is also at home in the kitchen preparing meals or helping outside with the more manual work. Our computer recently crashed so all the information of last year's accounting had to be recaptured. This time thjere is no chance with Br. Ignatius on the job for the same thing to happen.
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