NO. 6

December 2016

Christmas is a season of joy and a time of

cheer. It is a time to celebrate the greatest gift

ever given to humanity. The humble birth of

Christ ignites in our heart the genuine gladness

and joy. The birth of Jesus

in the manger was a clear

manifestation of God’s

mercy and compassion to

each one of us. There is no

true love without giving.

There is no true love

without sacrifice. This is

what Jesus taught us on the

day he came down from

heaven. This is the true

spirit of Christmas, giving,

caring and sharing. The celebration of Christmas

demands to give up something in our life so that

we can make space for something else.

This season of giving, caring and sharing

is also opportunity to thank the Lord and cherish

all the blessings he has bestowed on us. The

Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales in the

Philippines have many reasons to thank God and

cherish the blessings He has bestowed on us.

The sacerdotal ordination of Deacon Roni

Fernandis and Deacon Noel S. Tatoy the second

Filipino Fransalian missionary was indeed a

blessing from God to be cherished. The Perpetual

Profession of Bro.

Nathaniel Masendo and

four (4) of our seminarians

who made their first

profession remind us to

express our gratitude to

God for the gift of

vocation. The opening of a

new community in George

Town, Molino and our

decision to start a minor

Seminary in the

Archdiocese of Cebu are the signs of growth and

expansion of our mission in the Philippines.

Let us keep the spirit of Christmas with

genuine generosity and may the truest meaning of

Christ’s birth fill our heart with peace and

gladness. Merry Christmas to all!

Fr. Ginu Pathiyakam, MSFS

Delegate Superior

Delegation Message

The MSFS Congregation and the South

West India Province and Philippine Delegation in

particular are blessed to have one more priest in

the person of Fr. Roni Fernandis who was

ordained on the 12th

of June 2016.

Fr. Roni Fernandis was born on March 9th

1987 at Banakal in Chickmagalur Diocese to Mr.

Felix and Mrs. Evrin. He joined SFS Minor

Seminary, Ettumanoor in June 2003. He had his

Novitiate at Sannidhi, Mysore and made his First

Profession on June 11th

, 2007. After completing

his philosophical studies at Suvidya College he

did regency in the MSFS Provincial House,

Vinayalaya, Bengaluru. He pursued and

successfully completed his Theological studies in

the Philippines. He was ordained a priest on May

12th

, 2016 at Nativity of Our Lady’s Church,

Banakal by Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Swamy,

Bishop of Chickmagalur. He is appointed as the

Asst. Parish Priest in Our Lady of the Sacred

Heart Parish, Citihomes, Molino IV, in the

Philippines from 12th of June 2016.

We as a

Delegation family

congratulate Fr. Roni

for his courageous

decision to respond

to the call of Jesus to

consecrate himself a

priest in the Congregation of the Missionaries of

St. Francis de Sales and wish him God’s abundant

blessings upon his priestly and missionary

ministry.

Priestly Ordination of Fr. Roni Fernandis

3rd

June, 2016 was a significant day

for MSFS Philippine Delegation as four of

our Novices viz., Dansen Abanes, Roberto

Batohinog, Joelvin Tahitit, and Gem Lord

Villanueva, made their first commitment to

the Lord. On the same day, six of our

Scholastics renewed their Religious Vows.

Rev. Fr. Ginu Pathiyakam, the

Delegation Superior, presided over the

Eucharistic celebration, along with the

MSFS Fathers. The Family members of

professed brothers, MSFS benefactors and

all the MSFS brothers were also present for

the celebration.

FIRST PROFESSION

On 12th

June, 2016 a Pastoral

Substation named after St. Joseph the

Worker was established at George Town

Subdivision in order to give better pastoral

care to the people living at the southern

part of the territory of Our Lady of the

Sacred Heart Parish, Citihomes, Molino 4.

The Bishop of Imus Most Rev.

Reynaldo Evangelista officiated the

concelebrated mass together with the

MSFS Fathers, particularly Fr. Ginu

Pathiyakam the Parish Priest. In his homily

the Bishop mentioned that he was so happy

that two MSFS fathers would be staying in

the Pastoral Substation, catering to all the

Sacramental and Pastoral needs of the

people. He also encouraged the Fathers to

be available to the people especially in

administering the sacraments. Before the

final blessing Rev. Fr. Ginu Pathiyakam

read the appointment of Fr. Jundie

Sumagaysay and Fr. Roni Fernandis, as

assistant parish priests of Our Lady of the

Sacred Heart Parish.

Both Confreres will reside in

Georgetown Subdivision, renting a house

near to the Pastoral Substation. The

parishioners and our seminarians attended

the celebration. A fellowship meal was

shared by all after the Eucharistic

celebration.

NEW PASTORAL SUB-STATION

The Annual

Retreat for all MSFS

Fathers in the

Delegation was held

from 12th to 15

th

September, 2016. Fr.

Sid Marinay, along with

his companion priest

enabled the Fathers to

have a fruitful retreat on

themes such as

brokenness, Laws,

Community and

Apostolate. During these days, they

experienced the healing touch of Jesus as

they poured out their brokenness before

Him. By sharing their joys and problems

they encouraged each other and enhanced

their zeal for the mission.

Rev. Fr. Ginu presided

over the Holy Eucharist on the

last day of the retreat along

with the MSFS Fathers and the

other con-celebrants. The

celebration of the Holy

Eucharist was solemnized as

the Missionaries of St. Francis

de Sales celebrated the Feast of

Our Lady of Compassion, the

Principal Patroness of the

Congregation. During the Holy

Eucharist Fathers renewed their

religious commitment as consecrated

persons. The celebration concluded with an

agape.

ANNUAL RETREAT OF MSFS FATHERS

(PHILIPPINE DELEGATION)

The Philippine Delegation

celebrated the Founder’s day on 30th

September, 2017. On the same day,

four of our scholastics received the

Ministry of Lector and one Scholastic

received the Ministry of Acolyte. The

mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ginu

Pathiyakam and in his homily he

exhorted the brothers to keep closer

the values we have received from Fr.

Peter Mary Mermier. The celebration

was hosted by MSFS Formation House

Silang, Cavite. After the dinner a

colourful cultural program was staged

by the different Formation houses in

the Delegation.

FOUNDER’S DAY

24th

October, 2016, was a day of great

jubilation for the entire MSFS Congregation and

the Philippine Delegation as the second Filipino

Priest was ordained on that day. The Sacerdotal

Ordination ceremony of Dn. Noel Suico Tatoy,

MSFS was held in his home Parish, Holy Child

Church at 3:30 pm in Bato, Leyte.

The solemn celebration was presided over

by Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, D.D.,

Bishop of Maasin, Southern Leyte. It was held in

the presence of the Provincial Superior Fr. Benny

Koottanal, Fr. Roy Plathottathil, Councillor-in-

Charge of Education, Fr. Vinod Kanattu,

Provincial Bursar and all the members of the

Fransalian family in the Philippine Delegation.

The participation of the priests from the Diocese

of Maasin and Imus added great joy to the

celebration.

The family members and relatives of Fr.

Noel, a great number of parishioners from Our

Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Molino,

visitors from Mindanao, Cebu, Cavite and Leyte

numbering around two thousand witnessed this

memorable event. The mass ended at around 6:30

in the evening. The dinner was served in the

covered court of Bato Fisheries Elementary

School, where Fr. Noel had his primary education.

He was born on 5th

of December, 1987 at Bato,

Leyte to Mr. Serio Tatoy and Mrs. Wulfilda

Tatoy. He joined the MSFS Formation House in

2005 at Silang, Cavite, Philippines. He had his

Novitiate at Tagaytay City. His first profession

was held at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish

on 27th

June, 2010. He finished his Philosophical

studies at the University of La Salette, Silang

Campus. He did his theological studies at Divine

Word School of Theology, Tagaytay.

SACERDOTAL ORDINATION OF REV. NOEL SUICO TATOY, MSFS

The Philippine Delegation organized

a Salesian Seminar on 29th October, 2016

at MSFS Formation House, Silang. It was

the 4th Salesian Seminar of the Delegation.

The main speakers of the day were Fr.

Benny Koottanal, the Provincial Superior

and Fr. Roy Plathottathil Councillor-in-

Charge of Education.

There were two talks and the first

talk was given by Fr. Roy Plathottathil

based on the topic Salesian understanding

of Prayer. The second talk was given by Fr.

Benny Koottanal. As a continuation to the

first talk, he elaborated the problems in

Prayer such as distractions and dryness in

spiritual life. A good number of Religious

brothers and sisters, lay neighbours, and

benefactors and friends of Fransalians

attended the seminar.

SALESIAN SEMINAR

On 29th

October, 2016, Bro.

Nathaniel Masendo made his perpetual

commitment to the Lord at MSFS

Formation House, Silang, Cavite. He is the

third MSFS Filipino to be perpetually

professed. Fr. Benny Koottanal, Provincial

Superior of MSFS Southwest India

Province received the vows. The

Eucharistic celebration was presided over

by Fr. Noel Tatoy the new priest. It was

also his thanksgiving mass.

In his homily, Fr. Benny reminded

Bro. Nathaniel and all the gathered, the

importance and the relevance of the three

Evangelical Counsels. Moreover, the

message of Fr. Provincial was very much

helpful for the spiritual growth of the

religious men and women as well as the lay

faithful present in the celebration

particularly to the family of Bro. Nathaniel.

After the mass, the table fellowship was

shared by everyone present.

PERPETUAL PROFESSION

The MSFS family in Philippines was

enriched by the presence of Rev. Fr. Benny

Koottanal, Provincial Superior of MSFS

Southwest India Province who made his

Canonical Visitation to our Delegation

from 20th to 31

st October 2016. He was

accompanied by Fr. Roy Plathottathil

Councillor-in-Charge of Education and Fr.

Vinod Kanattu, the Provincial Bursar.

During the visitation they also participated

in the ordination of Dn. Noel Tatoy on 24th

October in Bato, Leyte. Fr. Provincial

received the perpetual vows of Bro.

Nathaniel Masendo on 29th

October, 2016

at MSFS Formation House.

Fr. Provincial visited all the

communities in the Delegation i.e. the

Minor Seminary, Novitiate House, MSFS

Scholasticate and the Our Lady of the

Sacred Heart Parish in Molino. He

encouraged all the members of the

Delegation as well as the different

communities to continue to live the life and

mission of the Congregation with ever

great enthusiasm and commitment. He also

assured his whole hearted continued

support to the Delegation as the Provincial

Superior.

CANONICAL VISITATION OF THE PROVINCIAL IN THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION

Participants of the Delegation Colloquium 2016