OUR GRATITUDE AND PRAYER TO FATHER GENERAL ROBERTO BOLIS, CRS

The Most Rev. Fr. General Roberto Bolis, CRS during the Opening Mass of the 3rd Vice Provincial Chapter of South East Asia

Yesterday noon while we were on the table for lunch, our Vice Superior Fr. Lino Juta, CRS informed us that there is a news from our Mother House in Alabang, Metro Manila that our Father General had tended his official resignation. We were surprised, rather shock, hearing the news. Because just last October he was here in the Philippines with us and presided our 3rd Vice Provincial Chapter. We were at lost for words. It was beyond our imagination since no General Superior had done so in recent memory or even our lifetime and in my insufficient knowledge of the 5 century-old history of our Congregation it seems that none ever did so.

Fr. General [sitting] & Fr. Provincial Gabriele Scotti, CRS

Last week, during his recently concluded visit Fr. Gabriele Scotti admonished us to pray for Fr. General in a special way. We did. But, I have to be honest that I didn't put my whole heart into it because I am assured after seeing him in person that the General Superior is healthy and strong. He was vibrant as ever, decisive in his decision making, highly effective in his praesidium of the Chapter and joyful in conversations as ever. If I had known his burdens I would have prayed much more.

Just hours earlier I received an e-mail from our superior Fr. Riccardo Germanetto, CRS who is now in Manila with an attached document containing the official message of Father General announcing his resignation. I was informed that this letter is already posted in the internet so that I decided to also post it here. Here is the announcemen entitled Dimissioni:

LETTER TO THE WHOLE CONGREGATION Roma

December 1, 2007 Dear Brothers,

I address myself to you today to inform you that, according to the n. 195 of our Constitutions, on November 12 I submitted to the competent Vatican Dicastery (Office) my resignation from Prepositus General. With a letter dated November 17, the Cardinal Prefect communicated that my resignation had been accepted and ordered that what is established in the same n. 195 of the Constitutions related to the election of a new Prepositus General be followed. I took this step freely, at the end of a long period of discernment, under the guidance and the advice of competent persons. In the past year a moral certitude, that I could no longer fulfill in an appropriate and credible way this task entrusted to me by the General Chapter 2005, has matured in me.

I have taken this decision not because of external reasons, but as an act of honesty towards myself and the Congregation.

I want to make sure that during the time of my term I have always tried to work for the good of the Congregation, thanks also to efficient and appreciated collaboration of all the members of the general Council, to whom my most sincere thanks go, for their concerned help and prudent advice.

To all of you, from the latest professed to the Major Superior, may my deepest gratitude for your help, cooperation and prayers during the time of my term go. Entrusting myself again to your prayers, I cordially greet you.

Fr. Roberto Bolis crs

Father General with Filipino Somascans, with me in the first line far right

TO FR. GENERAL ROBERTO BOLIS,

First of all I express my deepest gratitude for the service that you have done for us as our Father, Confrere and Friend in the past years that you've served as our General Superior. Thank you very much for the wisdom and understanding that you've shared during those rare but memorable occasions when we had the chance to talk to each other face to face. And most of all thank you because during those years you have become for us the living manifestation of the fatherhood of God and the living sign of the continuity of the Congregation to the charism of our founder St. Jerome Emiliani.

In my mind there are still questions lingering: Why? What? How? etc... But those are not important at this moment. This is not the time for curiosity but the time to stand united in charity as we face new challenges of life in our mission to serve the poor. As a son and as a confrere I offer you my support, my understanding and now, late though it is, my wholehearted prayer. I offer you my apology if ever my own weaknesses and limitations as a religious of our Congregation added to the burden of your office.

Hope to see you again... to see you again... May the blessing of the Merciful and Almighty God be upon you and strengthen you until that day when we shall all be together with Him -- without sorrow, without pain, without problems of every kind. I entrust you to the care of our Blessed Mother to envelope you always with her maternal love and protection.

Your son in St. Jerome Emiliani,

Fr. Abe P. Arganiosa, CRS

Fr. General at the end of the Entrance Procession for Provincial Chapter

It hurts me to see this photo. It shows Fr. General in the dark along the line of Somascan priets for Entrance Procession of the Mass. However, the photo gives hope because the light from the door envelopes him with light and that light is victorious over the darkness in front of him.

The last time we talked personally, right after the Vice-Provincial Chapter he admonished me about our life here in Sorsogon and after giving me the fraternal embrace he jokingly told me that the entire Congregation is reading this Blog. I smiled because I know that my confreres may find this Blog boring and insignificant. But now looking at the Neo-Counter it appears that my visitors are 50% Filipinos and the rest of the 50% are mostly in areas where our Congregation has a strong presence or where my friends and relatives are staying. Probably, most probably... the Father General is visiting and reading this Blog too...