Filipino Capuchins celebrate Silver Jubilee Saturday

The Capuchin Franciscans, a religious order that has produced an army of saints among whom is the famous Padre Pio, is celebrating 25 years in the Philippines as a Province. But their roots in the country stretch much farther into the past, with a color and drama that kept in step with the history of the people it faithfully and bravely ministered.

The first Capuchins arrived in our shores in 1886 amid the intensity of the Philippine Revolution. Actually, they were missionaries meant for the Caroline and Palaos Islands and simply intended to make the Philippines a supply base. But because they came when other missionaries were already leaving because of the intensifying socio-political unrest, these hooded and bearded Capuchins, carrying only the Cross of Christ, by their attitude, tireless work, and patient charity, answered the needs of the Church and became instruments in preserving the Faith that was being threatened by anti-clericalism and insurgent nationalist fervor. True to their charism to serve where others refuse to serve, these Capuchin Franciscans eventually took up some abandoned parishes in Bicol, Batangas, Pangasinan and Quezon and helped nurture the one, true Faith back to life.

By 1957, the Capuchins in the Philippines became a Custody under the Navarra Province of Spain and embarked on a new mission: to open their doors for home-grown vocations. It was at this time that a seminary was built to cater to Filipino Capuchin aspirants. From humble beginnings at the ground floor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Tagaytay City, the Our Lady of Lourdes Seminary was eventually inaugurated in Lipa City in 1967 by Bishop Alejandro Olalia in order to welcome and mould the increasing number of young men from all over the Philippines who wished to follow St. Francis along the Capuchin way. And by June 17, 1970, the Philippines had already become a Vice-Province in the Capuchin Franciscan Order.

The Order continued to grow roots and bear fruit in the Philippines, establishing more friaries in Manila, Baguio, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. It shepherded parishes and ran schools, particularly the St. Anthony Parochial School in Singalong and the Lourdes Schools of Quezon City and Mandaluyong. Finally, on April 23, 1985, the “Kapatirang Capuchino ng Pilipinas” or the Philippine Province of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor was established in the presence of then-Minister General Father Flavio Carraro, OFMCap and the Provincial Minister of Navarra, Fr. Eleuterio Ruiz, OFMCap. Fr. Troadio delos Santos, OFMCap became the first Filipino Capuchin Provincial Minister.

In the words of Fr. Ruiz, OFMCap, the establishment of the Philippine Province was without a doubt a historical date: a dream target for those who, already specifically assigned to the Philippines by obedience, have dedicated an important part of their lives to serve and cooperate in the evangelization of the young Filipino Church at the time. And even until today, two of those dedicated Spanish Capuchin missionaries continue to faithfully serve in the Philippines which they have come to consider home: Fr. Manuel Remirez, OFMCap and Fr. Mateo Goldaraz, OFMCap. A year later, 1986 not only marked the first anniversary of the erection of the Philippine Province but more notably it marked the Centenary of Capuchin Presence in the Philippines.

Twenty-five years from that centenary, the Capuchin Franciscans have further spread into Mindanao with five friaries, two of which are mission posts among B’laan and Manobo communities. This relatively young Province holds under its maternal wings the Custody of Malaysia and consistently sends out friar missionaries to the Middle East, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States. It’s social action arm, the Tulay Lingap ni Padre Pio , regularly conducts medical missions, provides free medical services, and affordable medicines for indigents and the poor.

Indeed, this Silver Jubilee Year of the Kapatirang Capuchino ng Pilipinas is a celebration of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord who continuously guides the Province in its commitment to evangelize the country and the rest of the world. Their growth in apostolate and mission areas and in number is veritably a sign of God’s love and protection.

In his message during the opening of the year-long Silver Anniversary Celebration of the Philippine Capuchin Province last April 23, 2010, the current Provincial Minister, Fr. Cesar Acuin, OFMCap reiterated that the twenty-five year journey of the Province is a realization of the brothers’ being evangelizers and agents of renewal, of their being missionaries, and of their Gospel brotherhood being molded into the matrix of the Filipino culture. The Philippine Capuchin Province is a concrete sign that the Gospel and the Capuchin charism is inculturated within the Filipino soul. As it culminates the Jubilee year this May 21, 2011, the Philippine Province eagerly looks forward to the next twenty five years as they continue their commitment to the works of evangelization, in a humble service to the people especially to the underprivileged members of the society.