By Dom Bautista Vancouver Jesuit Alumni Group
The strum of the guitars greeted me as I walked in Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish in Vancouver last July 31 2009. At the invitation of GG Francisco, who I recently met, Jesuit-trained alumni gathered to celebrate the Feast of St Ignatius. He and a number of his friends from Ateneo de Manila University, a Filipino Jesuit university, were rehearsing the hymns for the celebration.
The fact that it was 5 PM on a Friday before a long weekend did not deter the attendees. Mass would start soon enough, with a room filled with the parishioners and a number of alumni from many Jesuit schools around the world.
St Ignatius was born in 1491 at the Castle of Loyola whose brief military career ended when a cannonball injured his legs. It was during his convalescence that he converted, punctuated by his vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. For some of us Xavier School alumni in the Philippines, who were fortunate enough to have had Fr Cornelius Pineau, SJ, one of the many French-Canadian Jesuit priests who started Xavier School, tell the story more than once, St Ignatius’ somewhat abbreviated life notwithstanding, he managed to form the Society of Jesus and to write his magnum opus “Spiritual Exercises”.
Fr Robert Wong, SJ, who used to be the assistant pastor in St Paul’s Parish in Richmond and is a good friend of Xavier School’s Fr Ismael Zuloaga, SJ and Fr Johnny Go, SJ, and recently appointed as the parish priest to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish, welcomed all of us.
As Fr Robert began his homily, he surveyed the room and warmed us with his generous smile. He welcomed and acknowledged that this was the first diverse group of alumni who have come to celebrate St Ignatius, some of who have come from the Philippines, China, Nicaragua, Mauritius and the United States.
And while the family of Jesuits is clearly confined to their order, Fr Robert asked how non-Jesuits can fit in as collaborators to help keep faith with the tenets of St Ignatius. For there are many of us who have benefited from the education and training from the Jesuits.
The answer, he recounted, came to him one day when he realized that non-Jesuits are part of the greater Ignatian family, as every member of this broad family has received the gift of Ignatian spirituality. The richness of this family makes it diverse. I could not help but think that it was so remarkable for this idea to bear fruit in Canada. For Canada espouses and embraces cultural diversity.
Fr Robert ended by planting a seed by encouraging us: “to light the chrism of the Society and to embrace and share Ignatian values with our family and friends. We can do great things for others.”
Last January 2013, his remarks bore fruit with the start of the Vancouver Jesuit Alumni Group (JAG). JAG blogs can be read in Chinese, Filipino, and French
at: jagvancouver.wordpress.com (see below).
Dom Bautista is a member of the Vancouver Jesuit Alumni Group; he attended Xavier School in Manila before moving to Vancouver in 1976 to continue his studies. This year he has ventured into blogging as part of his prayers.
Chinese Translation
把聖依納爵 St. Ignatius of Loyola的種子散播在溫哥華大地上
溫哥華耶穌會校友 Vancouver Jesuit Alumni Group 蔡宗善 Dom Bautista 著
承友人 G. G. Francisco 之邀請、我有機會𦲷臨溫哥華與一班耶穌會之校友一齊慶祝聖依納爵 St. Ignatius of Loyola 之 瞻禮)。二零零九年七月卅一那天、當我步進 Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish 教堂時、已聽見 G.G.Francisco 和一眾從菲律賓亞典耀耶穌會大学 Ateneo de Manila University 來的朋友排練聖詠傳出來響朗之「結他」美調。
雖然那天是長週末前的星期五、而且還是下午五時、來參與的信徒眾多。除了堂區教友、還有來自中國、菲律賓、尼加拉瓜、毛里求斯、美國世界各地的信眾和耶穌會學校之校友。
聖依納爵一四九一年於西班牙「羅耀拉」堡壘 Castle of Loyola 出生。曾從軍、可惜被炮彈打傷雙腿、所以在很短的時間內便要退役。在他康復期間、生活於神修體驗中、感受到靈聖的思寵、不時看見聖母抱着耶穌聖嬰。聖依納爵從而信奉了天主。聖依納爵人生雖短 （1491-1556）、但在 1540 年成立了耶穌會、並把靈修精華記錄成「神操」Spiritual Excercises 巨著。
那些在菲律賓光啟學校 Xavier School 來之舊生和同學、一定會記得學校創辦人耶穌會士孫國光 Father Cornelius Pineau, SJ 時常給我們講聖依納爵這編軼事。巧合地孫神父也是來自加拿大、是位法裔人士。
回說慶典那天、首先 Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish 主任司鐸耶穌會士王錦倫 Father Robert K. L. Wong, SJ 以溫馨之笑容熱切歡迎和感謝各教友𦲷臨。王神父是光啟學校耶穌會士蘇樂康 Father Zuloaga , SJ 和耶穌會士吳彰義Father Go, SJ 之好朋友。亦是列治文區 St. Paul’s Parish 之前助理司鐸。王錦倫耶穌會神父第一次看見有那麼多來自不同國家的信眾齊來慶祝聖依納爵瞻禮、感到十分欣慰。
「耶穌會士固然遵守耶穌會信念、非耶穌會士怎樣可以與耶穌會士共同合力推廣聖依納爵的信念呢?」 王神父把一個有趣的問題帶出來。
據王神父解釋、一般信眾亦有不少是由耶穌會士培育出來的、受惠於聖依納爵的神修信念、是聖依納爵大家庭成員之一份子、所以非耶穌會會士亦能與耶穌會共同合力推廣聖依納爵的信念。
因為聖依納爵家庭成員是這多元化、能把聖依納爵信念之種子散播在加拿大這多元文化的國家是多精彩絕倫。
在講道完結之前、王錦倫耶穌會神父 說了以下勵志的話把種子先放進我們的心間：
「你們要點亮耶穌會之聖油、與各親朋分享聖依納爵之教念、把它發揚光大、造福人羣」。
所說的話不久就有了成果：在二零零三年的一月第一個溫哥華耶穌會學校的「校友會」the Vancouver Jesuit Alumni Group (JAG) 便成立了！
各教友可上 jagvancouver.wordpress.com 瀏覽 JAG 英、法、中、菲律賓文「博客」。
備註：蔡宗善 Dom Bautista 是溫哥華耶穌會校友。在菲律賓馬尼拉光啓學校修讀、在1976年移居溫哥華完成學業。隨時代轉變、今年蔡宗善嘗試用「博客」形式來做一部分的祈禱從而接觸更廣大之羣眾。
Filipino Translation
Ang Pagtatanim ng Binhi ni San Ignacio sa Vancouver
Dom Bautista, Samahan ng Nakapagtapos sa Paaralang Heswita (Vancouver)
Ang tunog ng gitara ang bumati sa akin habang pumasok ako sa parokyang Katoliko ng Banal na Pangalan ni Hesus sa Vancouver noong 31 Hulyo 2009. Sa imbitasyon ni GG Francisco, na kamakailan ko lamang nakilala, nagtipon ang mga paaralang Heswita upang ipagdiwang ang Pista ni San Ignacio. Siya at ang kanyang mga kaibigan mula sa Ateneo de Manila University, isang unibersidad ng Heswita sa Pilipinas, ang nagiinsayo ng mga kanta para sa pagdiriwang.
Kahit alas singko na ng hapon sa isang Biyiernes ng isang mahabang katapusan ng linggo ay hindi humadlang sa mga dumalo. Malapit ng magsimula ang misa, at ang simbahan ay puno na ng mga taga parokya at ng mga nagtapos sa iba’t ibang paaralang Hewsita mula sa buong mundo.
Si San Ignacio ay ipinanganak ng 1491 sa kastilyo ng Loyola at ang kaniyang panandaliang kaugnayan sa hukbong militar ay naudlot dahil sa isang bala ng kanyon na sumugat sa kanyang mga binti. Sa panahon ng kaniyang pagpapagaling, siya ay nagbalik loob sa kaniyang pananampalataya, at sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang pagkakita sa Mapalad na Birheng Maria at ang hawak niyang sanggol na si Hesus. Para sa ilan sa aming mapalad na nakapag-aral sa Paaralang Xavier sa Pilipinas, na nakapagaral sa ilalim ni Padre Cornelius Pineau SJ, isa sa maraming Pranses-Kanadianong Heswitang pari na nagsimula ng Paaralang Xavier, malimit niyan ikinukuwento, na si San Ignacio na kahit pinaikli nang tadhana ang buhay niya, siya ang nakapagbuo ng Kapisanan ni Hesus at sumulat ng kaniyang dakilang akda “Spiritual Excercises”.
Si Padre Robert Wong SJ na pangalawang pastor sa parokyang San Paolo sa Richmond at isang mabuting kaibigan ni Padre Ismael Zuloaga SJ at si Padre Johnny Go SJ ng Paaralang Xavier, na kamakailan lamang itinalaga bilang pari na Parokya sa Banal na Pangalan ni Jesus na tumanggap sa aming lahat.
Sa pagsimula ni Padre Robert ng kanyang sermon tungkol sa Ebanghelyo, siniyasat niya ang silid at binahagi niya sa amin ang kaniyang taus-pusong ngiti. Binati niya at kinilala niya na ito ay ang unang pagkakataon na dumalo ang mga magkakaibang pangkat sa pagdiwang kay San Ignacio, na ang ilan nagmula pa sa Pilipinas, China, Nicaragua, Mauritius at Estados Unidos.
At habang ang mga pamilya ng mga Heswita ay malinaw na kasapi sa kanilang samahan, itinanong ni Padre Robert kung paano ang mga hindi-Heswita ay maaring makipagtulungan na pananatili ng pananampalataya sa mga turo ni San Ignacio. Dahil marami na sa amin ang nakinabang sa edukasyon at pagsasanay mula sa mga Heswita.
Ang sagot, napagmuni-muni niya, ay ang mga hindi-Heswita ay bahagi rin ng masmalawag na pamilya ni San Ignacio sa paniniwala at pananampalataya na tumanggap ng biyaya ng Espirituwalidad ni San Ignacio. Ang kayamanan ng kapisanan ang siyang nagpapalawak dito. Hindi ko maaring ipagkaila sa abot ng aking kaisipan na ito ay magbunga sa Canada sapagkat tinatanggap nito ang iba’t ibang cultura.
Tinapos ni Fr Robert ang kanyang pagsasalaysay sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim sa paniwala at panghikayat sa amin: “Ilawan ang buhay paniniwala ng samahang Heswita at ipamahagi ang mga halaga ni San Ignacio sa ating pamilya at mga kaibigan. Gumawa tayo ng kabutihan para sa iba.”
Noong Enero 2013, ang kanyang pagsasalaysay ay nagbunga sa pagsisimula ng Kasamahang ng Mga-nakapagtapos ng Paaralang Heswita (Vancouver). Ang mga “blog” ay mababasa sa wikang Ingles, Intsik at Prances sa: jagvancouver.wordpress.com
Si Dom Bautista ay miyembro ng Jesuit Alumni Group ng Vancouver; siya ay nag-aral sa Paaralang Xavier sa Maynila bago siya lumipat sa Vancouver noong 1976 para ipagpatuloy ang kanyang pagaaral. Itong taon, nagsimula siyang sumulat ng blog bilang bahagi ng kanyang pananalangin.
FRENCH TRANSLATION
La Semence de Saint Ignace à Vancouver
Dom Bautista du Group de Vancouver des Anciens Elèves des Jésuites
Le raclement des guitares m’a accueilli comme j’entrais dans l’église catholique du Saint Nom de Jésus de Vancouver le 31 Juillet 2009. J’y étais à l’invitation du GG Francisco que j’avais rencontré récemment. Les anciens élèves formés par les jésuites s’étaient réunis pour célébrer la fête de saint Ignace. GG Francisco et un certain nombre de ses amis de l’Université Ateneo de Manille, une université jésuite dans les Philippines, répétait les hymnes pour la célébration.
Le fait qu’il était 17 heures un vendredi avant un long week-end n’avait pas découragé les participants. La messe allait commencer bientôt, avec une salle remplie des paroissiens et un certain nombre d’anciens élèves de plusieurs écoles Jésuites du monde entier.
Saint Ignace était né en 1491 au château de Loyola et sa brève carrière militaire fut interrompue quand un boulet de canon lui cassa les jambes. C’est durant sa convalescence qu’il s’était converti, touchée par sa vision de la Vierge Marie tenant l’enfant Jésus. Certains d’entre nous, les anciens élèves de l’Ecole François Xavier dans les Philippines, qui ont eu la chance d’entendre le père Cornelius Pineau SJ, l’un des nombreux prêtres Jésuites canadiens francophones qui avaient créé cette l’école, raconter cette histoire plus d’une fois, se souviennent que Saint Ignace malgré sa courte vie, avait réussi à former la Compagnie de Jésus et à écrire son opus magnum ” Les Exercices Spirituels “.
Il échu au Père Robert Wong SJ, qui dans le passé était le vicaire de la paroisse de Saint- Paul à Richmond et qui était un bon ami des Pères Ismael Zuloaga SJ et Johnny Go SJ de l’école Xavier, et qui fut nommé récemment Curé de la paroisse catholique du Saint-Nom de Jésus, de nous accueillir.
Aussitôt que le Père Robert a commencé son homélie, il a parcouru la salle du regard et nous a réchauffés le cœur avec son sourire gracieux. Il a prononcé un mot d’accueil et a reconnu que c’était la première fois qu’un groupe venant des quatre coins du monde célébrait la fête de Saint Ignace: certains venaient des Philippines, de la Chine, du Nicaragua, de l’île Maurice et des Etats-Unis.
Le Père Robert a partagé comment pendant longtemps il réfléchissait sur la façon d’inclure les non- Jésuites comme collaborateurs à la mission des Jésuites pour propager la foi selon la spiritualité de Saint Ignace. Car il y avait beaucoup d’entre nous qui avaient bénéficié de l’éducation et de la formation chez les Jésuites.
La réponse, il a avoué, lui était venue un jour où il s’est rendu compte que les non- Jésuites, ayant reçu le don de la spiritualité ignacienne, faisaient partie de la grande famille ignacienne. La richesse de cette famille était multiple. Je ne pouvais pas m’empêcher de penser qu’il était si remarquable que cette idée ait porté ses fruits au Canada. Surtout que le Canada adhère et embrasse la diversité culturelle.
Le Père Robert a conclu en plantant une graine en nous encourageant : « d’allumer le charisme de la Compagnie de Jésus et d’embrasser et de partager les valeurs ignaciennes avec nos famille et nos amis. Nous pourrons ainsi faire de grandes choses pour les autres ».
En Janvier 2013, ses remarques ont porté leurs fruits avec le lancement du Jesuit Alumni Group de Vancouver (JAG). Les Blogs de JAG peuvent être lus en anglais, en chinois, et filipino et en français à l’adresse suivante: jagvancouver.wordpress.com.
Dom Bautista est membre du Jesuit Alumni Group de Vancouver, il a fréquenté l’école Xavier à Manille avant de s’installer à Vancouver en 1976 pour poursuivre ses études. Cette année, il s’est lancé dans les blogs dans le cadre de ses prières.
Yet as they face the uncertainties of life, we think about the need to let them decide for themselves, even when we know what they are doing are not necessarily right. We cringe when they fall, and we teach them to stand up again. To try again.
Raffy Francisco was born with a mild case of cerebral palsy and learning disability. The members of Jesuit Alumni Group Vancouver have gotten to know of him in our meetings. Now 28 years old, Raffy is doing well through the care that his loving parents GG and Maria give him. He does not speak much but he sure gives big hugs. He also likes pretty girls.
jagvancouver 