Holy Spirit Formation Community                                                         

No. 144 B. Gonzales Street                                                               

Loyola Heights, Quezon City

The Philippines

landline:  (02) 436-0742

mobile:    90917-748-6142

blog:        http://csspmanila.blogspot.com

 We "Moved into Pentecost"

by Bros. Aying, Emboy, Rey, and Fr. Dan, C.S.Sp.

Beginnings

More than five years ago, January 3-10, 2007, a momentous decision was unanimously approved at the joint meeting of the Philippines-Taiwan-Vietnam Group. Joining the group were the Superior of Australia, Fr. Tom Kessy, and Fr. Mike Onwuemelie of the General Council. After much prayer, discussion, and reflection, it was decided we would become the Union of Circumscriptions of South East Asia Spiritans (UCEAS), and open a theology house in Manila for the union, as well as any other interested Spiritan. After the joining decision was made, it was time for planning and preparation. Numerous schools of theology in Metro Manila were visited by the superiors, and in the end it was decided that the Jesuit-run Loyola School of Theology (LST) on the Ateneo de Manila University campus is best for our needs. It has a population of about 400 students, most coming from fifty different male and female religious congregations. Its library boasts over 100,000 theological works, and owing to the increasing number of foreign students (75 from 23 different countries), especially from Asia or destined for Asia, LST offers elective courses that are relevant for mission, and in particular, the Asian Mission (e.g., Interreligious Dialog, Islam, Buddhism, Inculturation, Missiology, etc). It is interesting to note that the LST student body somehow mirrors our house: the three largest goups are from the Philippines, Vietnam, and China.

1992 -  The Spiritan General Chapter of Itaici asks to prepare a New Initiative in Asia.

1995 -  September to June 1996: Fr. Binh Quach (USA) learns Chinese language in Fu-Jen University, Taipei.

1997 - December 4-10: first encounter of the 8 founding Spiritans of the Group Philippines-Taiwan, in Assisi, Italy with Fr. Bernard Kelly of the General Council. (Jean-Paul Hoch, Sean O’Leary, James Sandy, Jean-Pascal Lombart for Taiwan; Brian McLaughlin, Martin Okafor, Daniel Sormani, Haroldo Alves for Philippines).

1997 - December 12: Fr. Sean O’Leary (Ireland): the first Spiritan arrives in Taiwan, with residence in Hsinchu Bishop’s Curia at Mgr Luke LIU.

1999 - January: First meeting of the Group Philippines-Taiwan in Iligan, Philippines; Visit of Fr. John Fogarty of the General Council in Hsinchu.

2000 - September: Pastoral ministries and new residences - Fr. Jean-Paul Hoch and Fr. Sean O’Leary at Holy Spirit Parish, Hsinchu. Fr. Jean-Pascal Lombart at St Michael Church for Youth and Campus Ministry, and Chaplain in St Peter School. All except Jean-Paul continue English Masses with Filippino migrants.

2002 - March 3: Fr. Brian Fulton (UK) arrives in Vietnam (he died suddenly on Feb. 2, 2006).

2004 - April 16-23: First Chapter Meeting in Taidung with Fr. John Fogarty of the General Council. July: Jean-Pascal Lombart to China, Yunan.

2005 - April 18-20: Meeting in Saigon to plan the future with Jean-Paul Hoch, Brian McLaughlin, Brian Fulton, Binh Quach, Duc Luong and Jean-Pascal Lombart.

2007 - Sept: Fr. Duc Luong appointed vicar in Holy Spirit Parish. Sept 24: meeting in Taiwan with confreres of Vietnam. Beginning of the community of Saigon.  December: official establishment of the Foundation of the circumscriptions of Taiwan-Vietnam, Philippines, and UCEAS.

2008 - July: Binh Quach appointed Holy Spirit Parish Priest.