Written by Admin   •  Thursday, 02 September 2010 02:36

In his famous book “Tuesdays with Morrie”, Mitch Albom recounts his regular visits every Tuesday to listen to his beloved professor Morrie’s lessons on "The Meaning of Life."

4th Tuesday: Lesson on Death. They talk about why facing the reality of death is so difficult for most people. Morrie reveals that it is only when a person knows how to die that he can then know how to live… Morrie says that realizing the imminence of death is realizing what is essential, thus you see your life in an entirely different light. Morrie also tells Mitch that if he accepts death, he may not be as ambitious as he is now, as he will see that he must spend time on what is meaningful to him, and not working to make money.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Saturday, 31 July 2010 00:00

Fr. Jessie Martirizar presided the 7am Funeral Mass joined by the daily Mass goers.

Around noontime, Fr. Eric Ravezza instructed the Rogationist Novices to carry the coffin of Fr. Giuseppe’s remains to the hearse. The cortege left the seminary at around 12:30pm and arrived at the Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Multinational Village, Parañaque at 1:15pm. The seminarians lined up along the isles of the Church and welcomed the coffin.

The Funeral Mass began around 1:30pm. A short presentation of the life of Fr. Giuseppe was made followed by the message of the Superior General – Fr. Giorgio Nalin, RCJ. Rev. Fr. Bruno Rampazzo, Major Superior of the Philippine Delegation, presided the Mass together with Rogationist priests and priests from the Diocese and other Religious Congregations. The Church was filled with people.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Friday, 30 July 2010 00:00

The 7am Mass was presided by Fr. Ariel Tecson, who also celebrated his birthday. The Rogationist Novices were with him. The usual Mass goers attended the Funeral Mass for Fr. Giuseppe.

At noontime, His Excellency, Msgr. Luis Antonio Tagle, the Bishop of Imus, paid respects to the remains of Fr. Giuseppe. He was accompanied by Bro. Eduardo De Palma, RCJ.  He had lunch with the community.

At 4:00 in the afternoon, Fr. Paolo Pirlo, Fr. Jennil Tonel, Fr. Eric Gonzales, Fr. Bebong Telen of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate Congregation together with their religious brothers, novices and seminarians celebrated the Mass for Fr. Giuseppe whose remains was just transferred from the Seminary chapel to the Gym to accommodate more people expected to participate in the last vigil Mass in the evening.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Thursday, 29 July 2010 00:00

Since the death of Fr. Giuseppe, it was difficult to get a chance to preside a 7:00am or an 8:00pm Funeral Mass. The schedules were easily filled by the priest-confreres who would not allow this important opportunity to pass them by. But today, I had the privilege to preside the 7:00am Mass together with Fr. Niptale Frogosa. Rev. Noel Balquin assisted us in the Mass. Although I presided the 9:00am Sunday Mass (July 25), a day after Fr. Giuseppe’s death, it was only today that I had a chance to share the most significant realizations I learned from being and living with Fr. Giuseppe.

The usual people stayed and prayed in the chapel even after the Mass. A contemplative sister even came to visit the remains of Fr. Giuseppe.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Wednesday, 28 July 2010 00:00

In the morning, the regular 7:00 Mass was presided by Fr. Niptale Frogosa. After the Mass, some people stayed and prayed in the chapel. Rev. Noel Balquin with some religious brothers and seminarians who do not have a class also stayed in the chapel for quite some time.

In the afternoon, the batch of the third year SHMI (Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate) seminarians visited the remains of Fr. Giuseppe and joined in the prayers of a group of Rogationist Seminarians. As in the past days, the newly professed Rogationist brothers came with Bro. Carlo Balaguer. The religious sisters from various congregations within the localities of Merville, Moonwalk and Multinational came as usual. They recited the rosary and rendered some songs. Also, benefactors and neighbours came to see the remains of a man they considered ‘holy.’ The confreres from Silang, Cavite arrived later in the afternoon together with some professors from the Rogationist College - Silang and the staff of St. Anthony’s Boys Village.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Tuesday, 27 July 2010 00:00

Fr. Ronald Masilang presided the 7:00am Mass together with Fr. Niptale Frogosa. At 9:30am, another Mass was celebrated in the chapel by Fr. Bong Dammay and Fr. Ferico Duque from the Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Parang, Bataan.

Around 4:00pm, Fr. Timothy Navarro, OFMConv, regular confessor of the Rogationist seminarians, came to visit the remains of Fr. Giuseppe together with some OFMConv brothers from their community in Multinational Village, Parañaque. A good number of former Rogationist religious brothers and seminarians came on this day. Some of them were Mr. Vhen Marasigan, Mr. Noel Pilapil, Mr. Jose Destura and Mr. Carlo Carlon, Atty. Ryan Estevez, and Mr. Emerson Sancho.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Monday, 26 July 2010 00:00

The 7:00am Mass was presided by Fr. Alex Clemente. Fr. Alvin Fulgencio and I concelebrated with Fr. Alex. The usual Mass goers here in the seminary attended the Mass. The seminarians opened their Midterm Examination Week this day. Yet, there are always students who stayed in the chapel to pray for Fr. Giuseppe.

At 11:15am, a Mass was celebrated by Rev Fr. Jennil Tonel, SHMI – Vice-Superior and Prefect of the Fr. Frassinetti Formation House in Multinational Village. He was joined by the SHMI (Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate) Seminarians, professors: Mr. Almario Legarte, Mr. Ronald Ofalia, and the school staff: Mrs. Thess Perez, Mrs. Marlene Tañada and Ms Mariel Polmo.

Another former Rogationist religious, Rev. Fr. Pio Aclon from the Diocese of Boronggan, celebrated a Mass together with some lay people at 1:20pm. Some seminarians accompanied the Mass with their serving and songs. Still in the afternoon, the community of the Reparatrix Sisters came and offered prayers for Fr. Giuseppe. They were joined by the Rogationist seminarians, postulants and novices. Some relatives of the Rogationist religious and priests also came.

Written by Fr. Vik Aurellana, RCJ   •  Sunday, 25 July 2010 00:00

The usual Sunday Mass here in the seminary was celebrated in the Gym since the arrangement in the chapel was not so conducive for the number of people. I presided the Mass accompanied by Rev. Tirso Alcover. During the Mass, the faithful were informed about the death of Fr. Giuseppe Aveni, and that Funeral Masses in the seminary will be celebrated every 7am and 8pm throughout the days of wake.

After the 9:00am Mass, benefactors, UPV (Union of Prayer for Vocations) members, Rogate Youth members, former seminarians, religious sisters from different congregations, parents of the Rogationist religious brothers and clergy from different places, friends and neighbours visited the remains of Fr. Giuseppe in the chapel. Around 11:00am, a group of MOVE-R (Movement for Vocation Enrichment), former Rogationist seminarians/religious, celebrated a Mass for Fr. Giuseppe which was presided by Rev. Fr. Ernie Viluan. In the afternoon, novena prayers for the dead, recitation of the rosary, recitation of the liturgy of the hours were held almost continuously in the chapel animated by the postulants and seminarians. The religious sisters from the neighbourhood with whom Fr. Giuseppe performed his ministries of celebrating Masses, hearing confessions and spiritual guidance for almost two decades came and offered their prayers as well. The chapel, which was one among the three places you are sure to find Fr. Giuseppe, was always filled with people in prayer.