7/12/2021
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/prayerAndWork/pages/philippines.htm
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/prayerAndWork/pages/philippines.htm
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Philippines
It was on June 6, 1948, that the first four American Marists left the United States to start their mission work in
the Philippine Islands. We were welcomed by the Oblate Fathers who were already there and they assured us of
a warm welcome. They had also sought out many good vocations in the country ready to do the apostolic work
for the Church; the Filipinos were especially devoted to Mary, the Mother of the Lord. There were, of course,
some troubles with those of a different faith, especially the Muslims, but there was already a good breakthrough
and in many areas the Christians and Muslims were working together very well. The evidence of the devotion to
Mary is shown in the fact that Our Lady's Name was the main feature of every school the Oblates had and we
would gladly follow that tradition. The Marist schools in the Philippines are Notre Dame of Cotobato, ND of
Kidapawan, ND of Dadiangas, ND of General Santos, ND of Marbel University, ND of Marikina, and ND of
Solo.
The people were poor and had very strong faith. Another quality, which is precious in the mission, was their
great love of work. Most of our schools had a kindergarten, an elementary school, and a high school, four of our
schools also had a full college course, and one of them is on a university level. It is really incredible how fast
they grew and how anxious some native Filipinos were to join and become Marist Brothers. In fact, a good
number of the early Filipino Brothers were sent to Marist College to complete their education, at least until they
began to have their own colleges.
I remember that it was on one of my visits there that I was offered an honorary doctorate. I believe they offered
it to me out of gratitude for taking their young candidates at Marist College at the time when they had no
colleges of their own. One of the outstanding Filipino Marists who came to Marist College later became the
Provincial of the Marist Philippine Province, and in fact was also named Assistant General at one of our General
Chapters where Brothers unite in selecting the new Superior General and his Assistants to supervise the work of
our congregation. This was our Bro. Renato Crux, who has already left for his reward in Heaven.
Our Filipinos did so very well that they have been in charge of their own Province for years now, and in fact
there are only two Yanks still working there: one as principal of our first founding high school at Cotobato, and
the other working for the development of the existing colleges and in the founding of new areas for our
apostolate among the poor. Jim Adam and Bob McGovern are the last Americans still working in the Philippines
full-time. Our Filipino Brothers are not only running the great Notre Dame of Marikina near the capital city of
Manila but also started and have been leading the work of training for all the various countries of Asia who wish
to send their candidates to be trained at the Marist Asian Center, which serves all Marist activities in all the
countries of Asia. This activity is under the direction of the Major Superiors in Rome.
The country is rich in religious communities, colleges, and retreat centers for special training. And in the spirit
of our Founder, our Filipino brethren have been keen especially in their service for the poor. So many of our
Filipinos have trained in the U.S.A. that there is a close relationship between the two countries. There is only
one of the original Marist Brothers, Bro. Joseph Teston, who is still alive, and in 1998 the Philippines celebrated
the 50th anniversary of its Marist work there.