Shepherds to a flourishing flock
(From L to R) Fr. Mariel Sumallo, Fr. Jun Tena and Fr. Julieto Casapao, SMA priests.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
It was originally just an idea that crossed my mind. A gesture with some friends from the pastoral council of St. Michael Chapel, to accord a last-minute send-off for 3 visiting priests who will be reassigned back to their respective stations in Africa. The priests are part of the congregation of the SMA (Society of African Missions) which has worldwide participation coming from France, Ireland, the US, the Netherlands, Poland, India and the Philippines, among others. The Society is in existence for more than a century now, founded by French missionary and soon-to-be saint Venerable Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac.
The SMA priests are tasked to spread the gospel in the far away continent of Africa and alleviate the conditions of the poor people there. One might ask, why Africa? When there are thousands of poor people right here in our country! One need not search for poverty as it
stares at you in the face even in many urban places. But then the concern for Filipino priests in Africa is more pronounced. Not only are they in a strange land with scarce amenities, they are also prone to serious illnesses and barely able to make ends meet. If you are an African missionary, you really live the suffering servant life of Christ.
Three of the SMA missionary priests, thus, came back to the Philippines to temporarily enjoy the familiarity of their homeland, reconnect with some friends and loved ones in the Good Shepherd Parish in Las Piñas and get them equipped and prepared to do more missionary work back in Africa. It’s like a “recharging of batteries” of sorts.
Anyway, the social gesture materialized. And now unexpectedly confronted with the unavailability of my other companions who can help “share” both chitchat and the bill, I went along for a snack with them at a nearby restaurant. Good thing, Sis Melin of BEC was available that time so I asked her to tag along lest I ran out of things to say to the priests.
Let’s meet them.
Fr. MARIEL LEGRIA SUMALLO, SMA, with a newly-baptized African infant.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
1. FR. MARIEL SUMALLO, SMA: He is the youngest, with only three years into his vocation. Known for his inclination to sing at Masses or liturgical services, Fr. Mariel often amazes the community with his “Misa Cantadas” every time he celebrates the Eucharist in the chapels. Gifted with a voice that can skillfully carry a tune, he often joins in the singing, to the delight of the congregation, no matter how prolonged the Mass comes out to be. Fr. Mariel hails from Eastern Samar, speaking Waray dialect and comes 8th among the dozen offspring from his parents. He is currently in Tanzania, East Africa, serving as parish priest of Mary, Mother of God Parish under the Diocese of Shinyanga, Tanzania. Formerly colonized by the German and the British, the place is relatively a young republic with untapped natural resources. While the area is mainly agricultural, water is scarce with rainfall coming in, few and far between. The parish has 34 outstations (villages with chapels) with around 10,000 widely scattered people. He is the only Filipino there. Fr. Mariel loves to read books, sing and also write. He would wish to keep a journal but since he has no laptop, he dreams to publish a Mission Diary someday. “We have been called to preach the Gospel to the most abandoned people”, he says and perhaps make them feel that “they are loved by God”. Fr. Mariel knows the limitations and challenges of a Filipino in a foreign land noting the Asian peculiarities in food, language and culture, etc. “But we must remain faithful to God and to the Church since everyone deserves to receive the love of God.”
Fr. JULIETO CASAPAO, SMA, in Olala, with the St. Paul BEC community.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
2. FR. JULIETO L. CASAPAO, SMA: After he served five years in Ghana, Fr. Julieto gets a new assignment in Tanzania. Tanzania is a vast national territory with more than a hundred tribal groups. SMA Tanzania District is present in 4 Dioceses (Arusha, Bunda, Mwanda and Shinyanga, where Fr. Mariel is based. Though also now in Tanzania, Fr. Julieto, who was in Arusha, says it will still take a whole day’s bus travel to reach Shinyanga. Thus, the chance for a get-together among Pinoy SMA clergy is rather slim unless organized by a Filipino community there. While the Archdiocese of Arusha is known as a primary Evangelization Area, building communities is quite a challenge, particularly the Malambo Mission, where he belonged and which covers 3 outstations and 8 Christian communities. However, the place still needs resources, more leaders and catechists, access to public health, transport, education and other basic needs. Inching his way to his 20th year as SMA missionary priest, he will soon take over as parish priest, after Fr. Arkaiusz Nowak returns to his home unit in SMA Polish Province in June of this year. While Catholicism is growing well in his area, “it is my hope that the missionary spirit of founder bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac will continue to inspire young people, families and nations to participate in the work which the Lord Jesus entrusted to His disciples and proclaim His Kingdom to all nations.”
Fr. ROMEO “Jun” TENA, SMA, after the Mass, with the community in Nyamanga, Ukara.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
3. Fr. ROMEO “JUN” TENA, Jr., SMA: Do you remember getting awakened at homilies with animated guitar playing of a familiar tune or hear guffaws of laughter from his loud, funny but insightful jokes? Fr. Jun makes your Mass entertaining and one can feel as if you’re being transported to a folk house getting regaled by its vocalists. Considered a “veteran” SMA priest, Fr. Jun has 23 years up his sleeve. In fact, he has been with the SMA doing work in Africa for combined years that Fr. Mariel and Fr. Julieto accumulated. Ministering in the Parish of Nyamanga, Ukara – an island of Ukerewe in the Diocese of Bunda, Fr. Jun persists in his work of evangelization. The Diocese of Bunda covers an area of 5,500 sq.meters, has 1,536,000 inhabitants, mostly poor and engaged in fishing or farming. Bunda has 34 Diocesan priests, 41 religious women and 11 religious priests. Fr. Jun is the only Filipino there. Once a convert from the Protestant religion, Fr. Jun is now committed to Catholic work. He still has four years more in Africa before he returns to the Philippines. “What attracted me to the SMA is actually living the Gospel among the poor and marginalized brothers and sisters wherever you are.”
The three visiting priests may not be the martyred Gom-Bur-Za in our history, but we need the support of parishioners in making them carry the yoke of missionary work lighter. Even as they come from the remote regions in the country, they are trying their best to work their way towards God by uplifting the lives of people. Good Shepherd Parish celebrates its 37th year this Sunday. We take into heart the challenges of our countrymen to propagate the Gospel. Let us pray for them and their missions to succeed despite the odds. Donations and inquiries are very much welcome and extremely appreciated (thru the GSParish Las Piñas website). God bless your generosity to our SMA Pinoy priests.
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