Society of St. Paul • Philippine-Macau Province

SSP Makati, Philippines— On the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, one of the Marian titles dear to the Filipinos since the Spanish period, Cl. Ian Paul Stephen E. Empig, SSP is ordained deacon by His Excellency Rev. Msgr. Ruperto C. Santos, DD STL (Diocese of Balanga) at three o clock in the afternoon. In his homily, the Msgr. Stud Santos, 366 Days with the Lord writer, stresses the importance of service a deacon’s life imbues just as daily he swears, Mi Protendo in Avanti! The Superior General Silvio Sassi, SSP also highlights the event saying, “I spiritually participate in your joy today as the bishop imposed his hands on you and constituted you into the sacred order of deacons. I extend the most lively felicitations in the name of the members of the general government and the brothers of the whole congregation.”

FSP, Pasay City—A day after the 26th of November, the Pauline Family in the Philippines celebrates the Founder's Feast to commemorate his 40th Death Anniversary even as other Pauline communities in the country had earlier, already marked significantly the Memorial of Blessed James Alberione, Priest and Founder of The Pauline Family.

The four-part feast commenced with the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Jesus Gozun, SSP, the youngest, ordination wise, and had Fr. Joseph Q. Javillo, SSP, as the homilist who intimated that there were four hundred hosts prepared for communion. In his homily, Fr. Javillo emphasized a new twist of WLO (or Watch List Order, the Department of Immigration's acronym popular for the recent political joist in the country): Waiting for Love with O! He reminds that in this season of Advent, the true sons and daughters of Blessed Alberione wait patiently and perseveringly with Love for Jesus, and with a Longing that sigh the nine Advent "O” antiphons or titles of the Messiah.

SPSF Chapel, Silang, Cavite—Cl. Ian Paul Empig professes here perpetually the evangelicals counsels and fidelity to the Roman Pontiff in a Sunday afternoon Eucharistic Celebration, November 6, 2011

Cl. Empig hails from Igbaras, Iloilo and finished his Philosophy and Mass Communication Courses  (2003) at the St Paul Seminary Foundation, Inc., Silang, Cavite and obtained his degree in Theology at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila, Quezon City (2010). Presently he assists Fr. Ramil Tapang, SSP in  Vocation Promotions even as writes for The Youngster Magazine, the leading youth oriented magazine in the Philippines.