CICM IN THE PHILIPPINES beginning God had called women and men to

be in the forefront of the ad extra missionary

This Chapter traces the story of the growth and work, to reach out to the frontiers, to go where
development, as well as the setbacks, of the there is the greatest need. That is exactly what
CICM since they set foot in the Philippines in the CICM did when they accepted the invitation
1907. Significant persons, events, and to do mission in the Philippines.
accomplishments are mentioned, with the view Their missionary presence here could be
of eliciting appreciation from the students of roughly divided into three stages:
how these zealous missionaries, imbued with The Pioneers (1907 to 1930’s): the arrival of
the spirituality of dedication to the Incarnate the first missionaries; the beginnings of
Word, and under the patronage of the missionary work in Baguio and Benguet,
Immaculate Heart of Mary, struggled to do their Cervantes and Tagudin, Mountain Province,
“beautiful mission” in these Islands. Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya, and in Manila; the
Philippine Mission becoming a CICM Province;
LESSON 1: STAGES OF GROWTH the First World War; the Catholic School Press;
the beginnings of Saint Louis University and
CONTEXT: Saint Mary University; and, the new Diocese of
(By group/parish/Church) Tuguegarao entrusted to a CICM bishop.
Make a research on the history of your Growth (1930’s to 1960’s): the creation of the
parish/Church. Relate in class any striking Apostolic Prefecture of the Mountain Province;
detail/event/story, and what have you learn the ordination of the first native priest of the
from it. Montanosa; the Second World War; the change
of the Prefecture Apostolic into an Apostolic
INSPIRED WORD OF GOD: Vicariate; the foundation of the Congregation
(later Sisters) of the Immaculate Heart of
The Mission Statement of Jesus Mary/Tuding Sisters; the start of the novitiate
(Lk. 4:18-20) program; the transfer of the Provincialate to
Quezon City; the foundation of Maryhurst
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He Seminary; the beginnings of St. Louis Colleges
has chosen Me to bring Good News to the poor... in San Fernando, Tuguegarao, (later University
to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of St. Louis) and Mandaue; the ordination of the
of sight to the blind... set free the oppressed and first Filipino CICM missionary.
announce the that the time has come when the Expansion (1960’s to the present): the first
Lord will save His people...” Filipino CICMs left for ad extra mission in Brazil;
the creation of the Prelature of Bayombong; the
The mission of Jesus is liberating, transforming, opening of Maryhill School of Theology; the
salvific. It liberates man from all forms of appointment of the first Filipino Provincial; the
miseries, and evil. It penetrates all dimensions separation of the Missionaries of Jesus.
and strata of life. Christ, our Savior, is an
evangelizer, one who teaches and proclaims the MISSIONARY RESPONSE:
Good News of salvation. As an evangelizer, He Having known the great sacrifices of the CICM
proclaims the kingdom of God and the center of missionaries in coming to the Philippines I
His Good News is salvation, this great gift of God would express my gratitude to them by not
which is liberation from everything that easily complaining about the discomforts
oppresses man but which is above all liberation brought about by the weather (rainy or hot),
from sin and the Evil One. calmly accepting the fact that I do not live with a
parent because he/she is laboring abroad for
CHURCH TEACHING: me, respecting differences in culture, language,
Ad Gentes Divinitus 1-5. The universal plan of religion, etc.
God for humankind which is salvation entails the
missionary nature of the Church; from the very
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Lesson 2: Distinct Contributions of CICM different areas of missionary endeavor. They
Philippines have been recognized as builders and pioneers,
educators, catechists, seminary formators,
social scientists, philosophers and theologians,
and social justice advocates.
Activity: Let the students share about their gifts
or achievements . . . Builders and Pioneers
We are endowed with gifts unique to The Christianization of the erstwhile
everyone. These gifts or talents are given for a Mountain Province was not accomplished
purpose. They are meant to be used and shared during the 300 years of Spanish colonization.
or the service of the people. Rather is is largely attributed to the pioneering
efforts of the CICM Fathers, from 1907 onwards.
The building up of Christian communities, the
conversion of the Igorots of Apayao, Benguet,
1 Cor 12:4-11(Unity and Variety): Different Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Baguio,
forms of service but the same Lord Or Mt 25:14- was accompanied by the building of
30 (The Parable of the Talents) infrastructure in the form of churches, schools,
chapels.
The Holy Spirit is responsible for the
various talents needed in the ministry;
different skills and talents are necessary in
spreading the Gospel. It is that same Spirit
who unites the many different peoples into one
body, the Church. In this Church, we all have In 1911 the church in Bontoc was built by Frs.
received the power of God’s Spirit to do what Constant Jurgens and Jules Sepulchre.Fr.
God instructs us to do. Jesus Himself speaks Jerome Moerman opened up the first CICM
positively about developing the gifts and talents mission station of Ifugao in 1910 in the old
with which we have been blessed by the Lord. Dominican mission of Kiangan. From 1912 on,
In the Church, there is diversity. Some are Fr. Leo Quintelier became the roving apostle of
called to become teachers, dispensers of the Benguet from his central station of Itogon.
mysteries and pastors for others. And it Starting from 1913, Fr. Florimund Carlo was a
highlights the sharing and mutual interaction in true shepherd to a fast-growing flock in Baguio
the Church. Between the different parts of the during the next 32 years.
Church there is a bond of close communion A well-known and distinct landmark
whereby spiritual riches , apostolic workers and built by the CICM in Baguio is the Our Lady of
temporal resources are shared. For the Atonement Cathedral, the “Twin Towers of
members of the Church, are called upon to Baguio City” From 1948 onwards, Bishop
share their goods, according to the gift that each William Brasseur, truly a builder, reconstructed
has received, administer it to one another as the physical plants of the Mountain Provinces
good stewards of the manifold grace of God. missions. He established farmers’ cooperatives,
rural hospitals and dispensaries, and a Catholic
school system of high schools, primary schools,
colleges and the prestigious St. Louis University.
Perfectae Caritatis 8: “In the Church there are
He also founded the native Sisters of the
many institutes . . . . engaged in different kinds
Immaculate Heart of Mary.
of apostolic work and endowed with gifts which
vary according to the grace that is given to them
Educators/Catechists/Seminary Formators
. . .”
The initiative on the education
The CICM missionaries in the Philippines
apostolate grew rapidly under the dynamic
contributed in no small measure to the
leadership of Fr. Raphael Desmedt, the
evangelizing task/mission of the Church. A
Provincial Superior from 1948 to 1957. Schools
number of them have left their distinct mark in
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were built wherever CICM was present. Today Fr. Francis H. Lambrecht (1895 – 1978)
the five CICM universities and colleges are a evangelized the Ifugaos for 17 years, mastering
veritable presence in the North and in Cebu, their language and traditions, taught
making a difference in the lives of hundreds and anthropology at Maryhurst, SLU, and Baguio
thousands of alumni Colleges Foundation. His anthropological
Bishop Constant Jurgens made a mark in researches were published in scientific
the field of catechesis through his Katecismo ti periodicals of several universities worldwide.
Doctrina Cristiana, the Summer Institute for Among this lasting anthropological
Catechists, and the InterDiocesan Catechism. contributions are his research on the Ifugao
Fr. Camilo Marivoet’s contribution is in the field epic sagas which he called “remarkable pieces
of liturgical teaching. He was in-charge of of primitive literature. He was awarded a
publishing texts for liturgical celebrations, most Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters, honoris
notably the “”Pastoral Service”. He was also causa, by the Ateneo de Manila University in
named the Secretary of the Episcopal 1976. (Emiel Steels et al. “Theophile Verbist,
Commission on Liturgy. He wrote the CICM: One Heart, One Soul”, Paris: Editions du
Guidelines for the Eucharist approved by the Rameau, 1987.
CBCP in 1990. In 2007 he was awarded the
rerstigious “Paul VI Award for Liturgy” by San Philosophers and Theologians
Beda College The CICM having staffed catechetical
Early on bishops asked CICM priests to institutes and several seminaries most notably
staff their seminaries, namely, the Major the San Carlos Seminary till 1972, and the
Seminary of Lipa, San Carlos Major Seminary Maryhill School of Theology from the same year,
and Guadalupe Minor Seminary in Manila, St. has produced a number of philosophers and
Joseph’s Seminary in Dumaguete,and St. Peter’s theologians considered outstanding in their
Seminary in Butuan. The Prefecture also set up fields. Countless seminarians, women religious,
its own (St. Francis Seminary?) under Fr. Francis and catechists and lay theology students have
Lambrecht, and by 1978 (update!) 25 (update!) been trained by, among others, Frs. Herman de
native priests of the Montanosa were working Rijs, Francis Gevers, Herman Hendrickx,
among their own people. It also produced some Gerard Linssen, John Liskens, John Pardou,
bishops one of whom was the late Bishop Herman Sanderink, and Lode Wostyn
Francisco Claver, SJ. The CICM started its own
novitiate in 1953, Maryhurst Seminary in 1954- Social Justice Advocates
1955, Maryhill Seminary in Taytay in 1968, and Various endeavors mirror the social
Maryhill School of Theology in 1972 . justice advocacy of the CICM. The Asian Social
Institute of Fr. Francis Senden is a graduate
Social Scientists school committed to total human development.
(in Carrying On the Mission, pp. 83-87) The
Fr. Morice Vanoverbergh (1885 – 1982) was an Senden Home in Guinto St., Manila & the
illustrious missionary, anthropologist, and Sunflower Children’s Center in Baguio City care
linguist. Although he was not formally trained as are halfway homes for street children. (in
an anthropologist, in between his missionary
duties he found time to learn firsthand and
meticulously jotted down the religious ideas,
riddles, songs, and tales of the Ilocanos, Isnegs,
Kankanays, and Negritoes to whom he was
assigned, and compiled them into publications
about their cultures. He also published
dictionaries of the languages these people
speak. (Andre De Bleeker, CICM, “Father
Morice Vanoverbergh (1885 – 1982): Illustrious
Anthrpologist, Linguist and Missionary
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Carrying On the Mission, pp. 106-113) Frs John
Couvreur and Ben Erkins were in the forefront
against illegal logging and for reforestation. Fr.
Luke Moortgat was known for his apostolate for
children with special needs

Lay Collaborators

Paul Splingaerd was the handyman and lay

helper of the pioneering group of Fr. Verbist Baguio Bayombong
which left to do mission in China.
Cebu Butuan

In the Philippines, some CICM Quezon City Manila

missionaries are members of the Hierarchy such
as Most Rev. Carlito J. Cenzon ,CICM, DD (+),
Archbishop of Baguio and Most Rev . Prudencio P.
Andaya, Jr., CICM, DD, Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk.
Othersmembers of the Congregation work in
communities/parishes in different dioceses:
Diocese of Antipolo, Diocese of Bacolod Diocese
of Baguio, Diocese of Bayombong, Archdiocese
of Cebu, Diocese of Butuan, Diocese of Cubao,
Diocese of Ilagan, Diocese of Manila, Diocese of
San Fernando, La Union Novalic
San Fernando de La Union, Diocese of
Novaliches, Archdiocese of Tuguegarao,
Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk, and some are in
foreign missions. I can contribute to the work of making Christ and
His Gospel made known to others through the
use of the gift/s I have been endowed with. If I
can sing, I can join the music ministry in our
Parish. I am an Education student, I can
volunteer to catechize the children in the public
schools in our Parish. If I can read well and
loudly I can be a lector.
Kalinga Tuguegarao
Lesson 3: Prospects and Challenges

4
Activity: Recall times in your life when you had a. Integral Faith Formation
a plan, when you seriously charted a course of b. Empowerment of the Laity toward
action for yourself. Share to your seatmate what Social transformation
that plan was, and also why you needed to make c. Active Presence and Participation of
such a plan. Were you able to accomplish what the Poor in the Church
you planned to do/achieve? Why or why not? d. The Family as Focal Point of
Evangelization
e. Building and Strengthening of
The commissioning of the Disciples (Mt Participatory Communities that Make up
28:11-20): “. . . . Go therefore and make the Parish as a Community of
disciples of all nations . . . and I am with you Communities f. Integral Renewal of the
always, until the end of the age.” Clergy
Having accomplished His mission on g. Journeying with the Youth
earth, and before ascending to the Father in h. Ecumenism and Inter-religious
heaven, Jesus commanded his disciples to go Dialogue
forth and spread the Good News to the whole i. Animation and Formation for Mission
world. Although they might still have had some “Inter Gentes”
hesitation because of the recent event of Jesus’ 3. The Local Missionary Challenges
death, His promise of the Paraclete, and His a. Formation of Lay Leaders
assurance that He will be with them till the end b. Education c
of time motivated them to even give up their . Presence in Peripheral Rural and Urban
lives so that the story of how God journeys with Communities (Parishes)
His people might be made known up to the ends d. Inter-Religious Dialogue (between
of the earth. Christians and Muslims)
e. Justice and Peace and Integrity of
Creation
Beginning with the Provincial Assembly f. Indigenous Peoples’ Apostolate
of 2014, and discussions here and there on the g. Sectoral or Special ministrties h
existing document of 1998 and the Mission . Administration
Declaration of 2003, CICM Philippines came up i. Initial Formation j. On-going Formation
with its “Provincial Missionary Project” in 2016,
which seeks to reflect a transformative
missionary presence of the CICM in the Being in a CICM school, now towards the
Philippines. The document looks at the current end of my Second Year, I should endeavor to
profile and description of the CICM Philippine find out what are the
Province vis-à-vis a general description of the concerns/priorities/Advocacies of the CICM as
Church in the Philippines. Then it takes a critical reflected in the programs and activities of my
analysis of and defines the local missionary school, and involve myself actively in these
challenges, then prioritizes ad extra and ad intra programs.
commitments, finally spelling out the planning
of the implementation of the Missionary Project.
Several Action Plans are drawn up including the
animation, follow-up, and monitoring of said
Project.
From the 2016 Provincial Missionary
Project CICM Philippines
1. The Triple Thrusts of the CICM Mission
a. To envision a community of disciples
b. To become a Church of the Poor
c. To engage in integral evangelization
2. The Nine Pastoral Priorities
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