CEBU CITY—As tropical depression ‘Basyang’ was passing through the Visayan islands, Fray Miguel Miró Miró, OAR, Prior General, opened the second day with a mass after the praying of the Lauds and the morning meditation.
In his homily, he reminded the delegates that the Chapter is a time of grace, discernment, and communion. He situated his sharing on the preparation for the 500th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines with gratitude for the past, passion for living the present and renewed hope in looking to the future. He posed the following questions to the delegates for reflection: “Jesus gives us the light to discern what the Lord asks of us. What is He asking from us the Augustinian Recollects? What is He asking from us the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno? What do our brothers and our people need?” Opening of the Chapter After the Mass, the delegates convened at the session hall for the Address of the Prior General. He focused on the following themes: Creators of Communion, Process of Restructuring and Revitalization, Sense of Order, Temptation of Survival, Discerning the Will of God and the Life and Mission Project of the Province. He ended his exhortation with a prayer coming from the works of Saint Augustine: “All my hope is in your great mercy. Give us Lord what you command and command what you will.” With the invocation for the intercession of St. Ezekiel Moreno and the Mother of Consolation, Fray Miró requested the delegates to discern the will of the Lord with humility and wisdom. This was followed by the Prior General’s declaration of the 7th Provincial Chapter of the Province of Saint Ezekiel Moreno open and the delegates’ singing of the Veni, Creator Spiritus. The Ordo Capituli was read and the officials of the Chapter were designated. The tellers for the Chapter were Frays Enrico Silab, Jaazeal Jakosalem, and Kenneth Joseph Onda. Fray Lauro Larlar was elected as the first moderator and Fray René Paglinawan, the second moderator. Fray Jose Ernil Almayo was elected Secretary of the Chapter and Fray Dionisio Selma, Chapter Councilor. Those who were tasked to take charge in the preparation of the Chapter message were: Frays René Paglinawan, Leander Barrot, Cristopher Maspara and Arnel Diaz. The Committee assigned to organize the Liturgy were: Frays Rommel Rubia, Amado Emmanuel Bolilia, Raymund Alcedo and Don Besana. The Communication Team was composed of Frays Jose Ernil Almayo, Lauro Larlar, Ian Anthony Espartero and the members of the Chapter Secretariat, namely, Frays Reynaldo Jaranilla, Joel Villaruel, Jerik Troy Siozon, Robin Ross Plata and Jessriel Marcha.
Those who were assigned to send and reply to messages for the Chapter were Frays Julius Marcos and Don Besana.
Fray Edgar Tubio was named the bellringer.
Reporting of the Secretariats and Commissions
Fray Lauro Larlar proposed that the mode of reporting of the Prior Provincial and the different Secretariats and Commissions be done section by section with interpolations in each item. However, the delegates unanimously accepted the proposal of the Provincial Council which was to abide by the usual sequence of the reporting, namely, the Prior Provincial to be followed by the Secretariat Presidents and the Commission Heads. In every end of the report, discussions, suggestions and reactions were done.
The reports of the Prior Provincial, the President of the Secretariat of Spirituality and the President of the Secretariat of Formation and Vocation Ministry were completed on the second day.
After the afternoon session, the delegates followed the regular schedule of free time, praying of the vespers and complines, dinner and recreation.