About the Jesuit Ministries
GOING WHERE THERE IS GREATER NEED
In recognition and appreciation of the value of the Jesuit education we have received from the Ateneo schools, we express our deep gratitude by pledging our support and commitment to the various ministries, apostolates and outreach programs of the Philippine Jesuit Province:
- Scholarship fund drives of the Ateneo schools to provide educational assistance to deserving children of underprivileged families and to youth from indigenous communities under the Indigenous Peoples Ministry of the Bukidnon Mission District
- Formation and education of seminarians and the continued search for men with vocations to the Jesuit priesthood or brotherhood
- Support of Jesuits in their pastoral works in Mindanao and Culion
- Care for the elderly and infirm Jesuits through their health and wellness centers
- Support of their apostolates in social justice, prison ministry, voter education and honest elections
- Help in their centers of spiritual formation and Ignatian spirituality for the greater glory of God.
CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND INFIRM JESUITS
Father General Arturo Sosa SJ visited the Philippine Jesuit Province in December of 2018. The third day of his visit ended quietly with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center (Ateneo de Manila Loyola Heights campus), which houses about 25 elderly and infirm Jesuits from various Jesuit communities in the Philippines. At the dinner that followed, the elderly Jesuits expressed to the Father General how moved and grateful they were that the General of the Society visited them. There are other elderly Jesuits, some of whom still energetic enough to handle teaching loads, who reside in various campus residences in Ateneo de Naga, Xavier University, Ateneo de Davao and Ateneo de Zamboanga.
In 2016, in gratitude to our aging Jesuit teachers and mentors, alumni members of the AAANA donated $500K to the Philippine Jesuit Province. The charitable gift was intended for the wellness fund of the infirm and elderly Jesuits. This was made possible by the philanthropy of venture capitalist, Diosdado "Dado" Banatao (Ateneo de Tuguegarao alumnus) whose $250K pledge was matched 100% by the generosity and group effort of the AAANA members and their supporters.
About the BUKIDNON MISSION DISTRICT
PARISHES, HIGH SCHOOLS AND RETREAT HOUSE
The Roadmap to Mindanao - Since 1596, Mindanao has long been the focus of the Jesuit apostolic engagements and ministry in the Philippines. The Jesuit Universities in Mindanao, Xavier (Cagayan de Oro), Ateneo de Davao and Ateneo de Zamboanga, have integrated their social outreach programs for the marginalized communities of Bukidnon – these are the Jesuit high schools and parishes located in Cabanglasan, Pangantucan, the village of Miarayon in Talakag, and the village of Zamboanguita in the rural region of Malaybalay City. These communities are populated by indigenous people (Lumad, in the Visayan dialect), whose tribal ethnicities are mostly Talaandig, Higaonon, Manobo, Umajamnen, Matigsalug, Pulangiyen and Tigwahanon. With their ROADMAP TO MINDANAO as guide, the Philippine Jesuits’ strategic priorities include: the alleviation of poverty among the Lumad peoples and Muslim communities; their protection from the pervasive effects of conflict between government and rebel forces; the prevention of the degradation of the natural environment and the protection of natural resources; the realization of lasting peace through human development, justice and inter-faith dialogue.
Where we are – Bukidnon is a landlocked province in the north central region of Mindanao island. The land consists of wide plateaus punctuated with rugged hills and mountains as well as rolling highlands cut deep by canyons and rivers. Blessed with rich soil and favorable weather conditions, it is a major producer of rice, corn, coffee, sugar, fruits, vegetables and livestock. Major agricultural plantation and food manufacturing companies operate in the area. Many forestal areas are sites of former logging operations.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe – Located in Cabanglasan, along the base of the Mt. Pantaron range where Pulangi River runs through. There are 30 chapels in mountain side villages served by two Jesuit missionaries, reachable only on foot, horseback or by motorbike. Fr. Leoni Memorial School was established in 1981; student population – 581, 20% indigenous youth; 17 teachers. Enrolment profile: Junior HS – 469; Senior HS – 112. Academic tracks offered – general academic, humanities and social sciences. Its town center dorm houses 35 Lumad students; the dorm in nearby Bendum village has 16 students. The parish also supports college scholars.
Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces – Located in Zamboanguita, the outermost barrio of Malaybalay City, also situated on the Mt. Pantaron and Pulangi River highlands. Two Jesuit missionaries cover 30 chapels in the woodlands, reachable only on foot or by motorbike. The parish needs funding for its lay formation programs. St. Isidore High School was established in 1990; student population less than 500; 30% indigenous youth; 13 teachers. Enrolment profile: Junior HS – 394; Senior HS – 96. Academic tracks: accounting and business management; humanities and social sciences. There are plans to revive its defunct agricultural school.
St. Therese School of the Child Jesus – Located in MIarayon region, the picturesque valley between Mt. Kitanlad and Mt. Kalatungan, part of Talakag town. Two Jesuit missionaries serve 20 chapels in far-flung settlements, on foot, horseback or by motorbike. The parish needs funding for its college scholars; catechism program for its lay ministers and parishioners; altar repair, vestments, liturgical supplies. St. Therese School of Miarayon, the only high school in the area, was established in 1997; student population – 456; 95% indigenous youth; 17 teachers. Enrolment profile: Junior HS – 389; Senior HS – 67. Academic track offered – general academic strand .
Pangantucan Community High School – Located on the base of Mt. Kalatungan. Established in 1968; student population – 1053; 25% indigenous youth; 33 teachers. Enrolment profile: Junior HS – 840; Senior HS – 213. Academic tracks offered – accountancy and business management; horticulture (technical vocational livelihood strand). The school runs a demo farm adjacent to its campus which it plans to expand to an income-generating, sustainable agribusiness.
Malaybalay Jesuit Retreat House – The Retreat House serves as the spiritual formation center for our students, teachers, parishioners and lay apostolate volunteers. It also attracts retreatants from the region, drawn to its meditative quiet and natural beauty. Built in the 1990’s, our retreat house facilities are now due for major repair.
SUPPORT THE JESUIT BUKIDNON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MINISTRY
Empower the Lumad youth with a gift of college scholarship – In ever increasing numbers, exceptionally talented youth from Lumad families and impoverished communities graduate from our mission high schools. Help these aspiring graduates move up to universities in the region. Currently in need of support are 21 college scholars. Thankfully many are able to compete for and avail of scholarship funding offered by provincial or city schools. For others that need assistance, their tuition, school fees, dorm and pocket money run about $2000 per student per year. Alternatively, you can contribute to our fund for the scholars’ dorm and living expenses – $100 per month pays for board, lodging and meals (about $1000 per student per year.) The best way the Lumad scholars and their families can be helped in terms of poverty alleviation is to provide support for their tertiary education.
Help us renovate our mission chapels in the mountains – Scattered around far-flung settlements are 80 mission chapels that also serve as our literacy and catechism centers. Because there are no local elementary schools in these areas, these make-shift classrooms allow young children access to simple read and write learning lessons. A typical new chapel made of sturdy, low-cost building materials will cost about $1000, while renovation will run about $500 each. The parishes also need support in funding formation programs for lay ministers, repair of altars, and for vestments, liturgical and catechism instruction supplies .
Build a dorm for our college Lumad scholars and prayer stations – The Jesuit Retreat House (JRH) needs your financial help to build a dormitory building within its compound to support the educational and spiritual formation of its growing number of Malaybalay-based Lumad college scholars (estimated cost $13000, see architectural rendering above). With your help, the JRH also plans to construct prayer stations (cost $1600 each, see image above) and to establish a sustainable organic garden for self-sufficiency ($8000 cost).