Yesterday I observed that there are some elderly foreigners roaming around the city. Later I realized that the MSC fathers were having their Centennial in this very city today and tomorrow. What a coincidence that my birthday December 11 is the same day the MSCs will celebrate their centennial.
If you are yet unaware, MSC stands for Missioneros de Sagrado Corazon or the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Compared to other missionary groups, MSC is relatively young as compared to the Agustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans and Recollects. It is founded by Jules Chevalier sometime in the early 1800's, much more like by the other new missionary group, the SVD. In fact in Surigao, the SVD and the MSC shared mission territories. Yesterday as I was taking pictures of the MSC exhibit at the Luneta park someone asked "Unsay meaning anang MSC bay?" I thought of answering it but since the question was posed to his friend, I refrain from answering out of courtesy.
This is a big event. I am not really conversant about the history of the MSC fathers but what I can recall is that they began their mission here in Surigao in early 1900's and was called the "Dutch Missionaries" since the origin of the congregation is in The Netherlands. Later I noticed that from Surigao to Agusan most of the parishes were established by the MSC Fathers. In fact of the five Bishops of Surigao, two are MSC prelates. They are Bishop Jan C. Vrakking (2nd) and Bishop Charles van den Ouwelant (3rd). Ouwelant was later succeeded by SVD Bishop Miguel C. Cinches.
To the MSC Fathers, Congratulations.
Postcript: A Pontifical Mass for this great event will be held at 4 o clock this afternoon to be presided by His Excellency Edward Joseph Adams, the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines.
If you are yet unaware, MSC stands for Missioneros de Sagrado Corazon or the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Compared to other missionary groups, MSC is relatively young as compared to the Agustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans and Recollects. It is founded by Jules Chevalier sometime in the early 1800's, much more like by the other new missionary group, the SVD. In fact in Surigao, the SVD and the MSC shared mission territories. Yesterday as I was taking pictures of the MSC exhibit at the Luneta park someone asked "Unsay meaning anang MSC bay?" I thought of answering it but since the question was posed to his friend, I refrain from answering out of courtesy.
This is a big event. I am not really conversant about the history of the MSC fathers but what I can recall is that they began their mission here in Surigao in early 1900's and was called the "Dutch Missionaries" since the origin of the congregation is in The Netherlands. Later I noticed that from Surigao to Agusan most of the parishes were established by the MSC Fathers. In fact of the five Bishops of Surigao, two are MSC prelates. They are Bishop Jan C. Vrakking (2nd) and Bishop Charles van den Ouwelant (3rd). Ouwelant was later succeeded by SVD Bishop Miguel C. Cinches.
To the MSC Fathers, Congratulations.
Postcript: A Pontifical Mass for this great event will be held at 4 o clock this afternoon to be presided by His Excellency Edward Joseph Adams, the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines.
