(Parañaque, Philippines) The ordination of the three Redemptorists from the Vice Province of Manila took place at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Baclaran of the City of Parañaque on 5th May 2018 at 9.00 am. The confreres ordained were Rev. Fr. Mark Anthony Benedicto, C.Ss.R. from Bacoor, Cavite, Rev. Fr. Allan Edward Pandaan, C.Ss.R. from Tabaco City, Albay, and Rev. Fr. Christopher Sta. Ana, C.Ss.R. from Sorsogon City. The Ordaining Prelate was Most Rev. Emmanuel Cabajar, C.Ss.R., D.D. bishop of the Diocese of Pagadian in the Philippines. The Eucharistic celebration began with a procession to the Baclaran Church. Since the ordination took place in the National Shrine, the family members of the ordained priests and the faithful participated in great number.
The Philippines Mission
The first Redemptorists, belonging to the Irish province, arrived in Opon, Cebu on 30 June 1906, setting up missions in Compostela, San Francisco and on the Camotes Islands.
From 1914 to 1928 further communities were established, the most prominent being: Luzon (where the Redemptorists preached the first mission completely in Tagalog), Lipa, Iloilo, Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro on Mindanao.
In 1928, the Philippines was divided into two vice-provinces, each under a different province—the Cebu vice-province responsible for the Visayas and Mindanao under the Irish province; and the Manila vice-province responsible for Luzon under the Australian province, now headquartered at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran.
Redemptorists Today
The Redemptorists have two units in the Philippines: The Province of Cebu and the Vice-Province of Manila. The Province of Cebu looks after the missions in Visayas and Mindanao while the Vice-Province of Manila in Luzon.
The Vice-Province of Manila has five communities in Luzon which has a special region assigned to it for the mission. The communities of Legaspi and Albay are assigned to continue their missions in the whole Bicol region. The community of Lipa in Batangas is assigned to carry out missions in Southern Tagalog region. The community of Laoag is assigned to provide missions to the Ilocos region. Baclaran community is assigned to look after the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and urban missions in Manila. While the formation community takes care of the formation of future Redemptorists.
Today, the Redemptorists in the Philippines add up to 106 (82 priests, 9 brothers, 15 temporary professed students). There are also eleven foundations (4 in Luzon, 5 in the Visayas and 2 in Mindanao).
The Redemptorists are in partnerships with Religious women groups in terms of their various ministries. The Redemptorist of the Philippines are embarking into new pastoral initiatives such as care for the street children, Indigenous people, Youth Ministry, Prison apostolate, Leprosarium, Urban poor, Interfaith dialogue and mission abroad.
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