SVD Formation House to mark feast of its patron saint, hold jamboree

Although the University of San Carlos North Campus (formerly USC Boys High) is administered by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), only few of its students know that the future religious missionary brothers are being formed close to their school, along D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City.

Even locals are not aware of the presence of the Saint Joseph Freinademetz Formation House, which will celebrate the feast of their patron saint on Sunday, Jan. 29.

The guests of the Saint Joseph Freinademetz Mission Jamboree on Jan. 29 will found out more about this famous missionary.

Born in the Alps to Latino parents, he was raised in a small indigenous ethnic group located in the one-time Austro-Hungarian monarchy. His birthplace now belongs to Italy. The once remote, mountainous area became a tourists’ paradise. But the young Joseph dreamed bigger than a life in the beautiful Alps. He decided to enter the congregation founded by Father Arnold Janssen — the Society of Divine Word.

Fr. Joseph became the first missionary sent abroad by Father Arnold. He was sent to China. Through his missionary activity, many Chinese got acquainted with God and Jesus.

St. Joseph was working among pagans who (at least in the beginning) could not appreciate his ordination, but his commitment and his professionalism in education.

Today’s followers of Saint Arnold and Saint Joseph are some 6,000 SVD priests and brothers in at least 70 countries worldwide.

The jamboree will start with a registration, followed by a playing of religious songs and a slideshow of the life of the Latino-Chinese saint by Bro. Bela Lanyi, SVD. Lanyi, prefect of the Formation House, settled down in Cebu from Hungary. He will present Saint Joseph as an ideal for both priests and religious brothers.

Filipino followers of Saint Joseph will be presented. Sister Nimfa, SSpS, will explain how she went on mission to Africa with the SVD and the congregation that was also founded by Saint Arnold Janssen, that is, the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Isaganio Ehido, SVD, incumbent provincial treasurer of the Philippine SVD Southern Province, and a former Congo missionary, explained that it is possible even today to help the people in Africa like Saint Joseph did in China.

Bro. Edgardo Faz, SVD, national director of SVD brothers will give an account of his missionary assignment in Botswana. As a religious brother, Br. Faz is a full member of the SVD Congregation, but his committed work focuses on evangelization, the secular part of the church’s mission.

The Mission Jamboree will conclude with a Holy Mass by Fr. Heinz Kulueke, SVD, provincial superior of the Philippine SVD Southern Province. Fr. Melchor Cagape, SVD, campus minister at the North Campus, will lead the participants in a mission-sending ceremony.