On August 29, 2024, the International President of the Militia of the Immaculata (M.I.), Miquel BORDAS PRÓSZYNSKI, and the M.I. International Assistant, Friar Gilson Miguel NUNES, arrived in the Philippines to preside over the first National Elective Assembly of the M.I. there.
Delegates of the M.I. of the Philippines participated in the Assembly, which took place from August 31 to September 1, 2024, at the St. Joseph Spouse of the B.V.M. Friary in Tagaytay City, a presence of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception and Blessed Bonaventure of Potenza in the Philippines.
The Assembly elected the following officers: M.I. National President – Jennifer ALJIBE (Dolores Circle); National Vice President – Celia CUREG (Novaliches Circle); National Secretary – Rhodora CHAN (Binangonan Circle); Councilors – Celeny TANO (San Agustin Circle), Diana POMEJEROS (Dolores Circle), Marlon RAYALA (San Agustin Circle); Auditors – Liza Minerva BORJE (Hilabaan Circle), Nelly DE ASIS (Nenita Circle), and Melinda GUEVARRA (Novaliches Circle). The National Assistant is: Friar Jose Christopher G. (Dominic Maria) LIM, OFM Conv.
May the M.I. National President, National Council and Auditors, carry out thoughtful and joyful service for the Immaculata. At the conclusion of the Assembly, National Center of the M.I. for the Philippines may be officially recognized by the M.I. International Presidency Council according to art. 37.1 of the General Statutes.
The M.I. has been present in the Philippines since 1982, thanks to the apostolate of the Conventuals who recently celebrated the 45th anniversary of their presence in the Philippines. They helped realize the dream of St. Maximilian, who had stopped at Manila on his last voyage to Poland. He celebrated Mass there on May 30, 1936, in the chapel of the Apostolic Delegate.
The beauty of the Immaculata shines on the shores of Samar, an island of the Philippines in the Pacific.
On September 3, after attending the first Elective Assembly of the M.I., the M.I. International President and Assistant flew to Tacloban, a city 800 km [498 mi] from Manila. They were accompanied by the M.I. National President-elect for the Philippines, Jennifer ALJIBE, as well as the National Assistant, Friar Jose Christopher G. (Dominic Maria) LIM and the Vice National M.I. Assistant, Friar Bernard ANUTA.
Tacloban is located on the island of Leyte, which was hit hard by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November of 2013. Yolanda was one of the most devastating typhoons in history, causing enormous destruction and thousands of deaths. In January of 2015, Pope Francis visited Tacloban as part of his trip to the Philippines, bringing comfort to the typhoon victims and celebrating a Mass in suffrage for those who lost their lives and for the survivors as well. Afterwards, the M.I. officials traveled along the eastern coast of the island of Samar, which is bathed by the Pacific and lined with coconut palms and small fishing villages. They headed to the town of Dolores, where the local M.I. Center is located next to the St. Anthony of Padua Friary.
In Dolores, the M.I. officials were joined by a local delegation of militia members led by the local M.I. Assistant, Friar Joachim PAZ. Together, they visited the district prison, where they were able to dialogue fraternally with the inmates and prison officials. As a sign of Mary’s maternal love, each inmate received a miraculous medal and a small statue of St. Maximilian from the St. Maximilian M. Kolbe Friary in Rome. Carrying out this prison apostolate, and offering the inmates spiritual and material support, is a recurring ministry of the local M.I. circle in Dolores. This local group, in addition to periodic formation meetings, prayer and liturgical service, performs other services, such as handling the necessary documentation for registering canonical marriages for low-income couples who cannot afford the expense of such paperwork.
That same evening, the M.I. officials attended Mass in the chapel of the St. Anthony Friary, but it had to be celebrated in the dark, due to a power outage in the city.
The next morning, Wednesday, September 4, the M.I. officials took an exciting, thirty-minute boat ride to the nearby island of Hilabaan. A community of fishermen lives on the island, assisted by the Conventual Franciscans, who offer Mass every Sunday at the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Although the island is no more than 10 km [6 mi] long and 1 km [0.6 mi] wide, there is nevertheless a small M.I. group, made up of very humble people living austere and isolated lives. They have a profound love for Mary, from whom they draw great joy. These militia members meet weekly to recite the Rosary and assist at liturgical services in the Chapel. During their meeting with the militia members on Hilabaan, the President and the International Assistant encouraged them to continue to be the presence of Mary and the Church in this place “where the world begins,” urging them to always be aware that they are members of the worldwide family of the Immaculata. In fact, Hilabaan Island can be called “the island of the Immaculata.”
Returning from the island, the President and the International Assistant had a brief meeting with the militia members in Dolores as they awaited the arrival of the Most Reverend Crispín BARRETE VARQUEZ, Bishop Borongan, Philippines. Upon arrival, Bishop VARQUEZ celebrated Mass in the friary chapel. At the end of the Mass, the Bishop shared a message with the international officials, acknowledging that he, too, was a militia member and had been ever since he was a student. Prior to entering the seminary, he had consecrated himself to the Immaculate according to the ideal of St. Maximilian. The evening ended with a fraternal agape meal, which included typical regional dishes, including a “lechón” [suckling pig].
On Thursday, September 5, the officials traveled four hours by car, to the town of Nenita, on the north side of Samar Island. In Nenita they were assisted by the Conventual Franciscans. Since last year, there has been a group of militia members eager to continue their formation. This area was recently affected by guerrilla attacks from the New People’s Army (NPA). The activities of the local M.I. group in Nenita include joint recitation of the Rosary, visits to home chapels carrying an image of the Madonna and, above all, assisting families as they mourn the death of a loved one.
Finally, on Friday, September 6, the President and the International and National Assistants of the M.I. were given an emotional send off by the friars and militia members in Dolores. The event took place during Mass on the first Friday of the month, which was celebrated in the chapel of the St. Anthony Friary. Before returning to Manila, the officials visited the Mater Divinae Gratiae school, run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts, where they met with the students, introduced them to St. Maximilian, and encouraged them to consecrate themselves to the Immaculata.
Heartfelt thanks to the friars and militia members of the Philippines for their generous hospitality. Finally, we thank the Immaculata for the many blessings the M.I. international leaders shared with the friars and militia members in the Philippines. Eighty-eight years have passed since St. Maximilian M. Kolbe stopped at Manila on his final voyage from Japan to Poland and celebrated Mass at the Abbey of Our Lady of Monserrato (May 30, 1936). Today, the M.I. of the Philippines shows us that St. Maximilian’s dream has become a living and working reality.
Miquel BORDAS PRÓSZYNSKI, M.I. International President
