Let the game begin

Cebu City – Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno on its 25th anniversary finally concludes in a three-day closing ceremony at the University of San Jose – Recoletos, Cebu City from November 26 – 28, 2024.

The first day of the event was the Sportsfest held at USJ-R Basak Campus began with a morning prayer at the school gymnasium. The friars inclined to sports enjoyed the camaraderie and presence of one another as they played basketball, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, and mahjong. A good number of religious were divided into two teams; Green Team and Gold Team. The result of the games was fair enough to satisfy the joy and smile of the religious who played not just only to win but to enjoy the company of the brothers. During the basketball game, the Gold Team won over the Green Team with a score of 111 – 109. In the volleyball game, the Green Team regained their loss as they won.

In the evening, a Thanksgiving Mass in honor of Our Father St. Augustine was offered and presided over by Rev. Fr. Bernard C. Amparado, OAR, Prior Provincial, and concelebrated by the Augustinian Recollect religious from different communities at Talavera House of Prayer – Recoletos, Cebu City. It was followed by a dinner with Acoustics and the program, “A Night with the Provincials,” where former prior provincials who served the province were given tribute. It expressed their aspirations for the future of the province. Fr. Emeterio Buñao, OAR, the first elected Prior Provincial, shared how the bitter-sweet experience paved the way for the birth of the young province. Fr. Lauro Larlar, OAR, who served as prior provincial for three terms, reiterated the message of communion and the challenge of how the religious place the charism in the hands of the laity. Lastly, Fr. Bernard, shared his experience as a councilor of the previous councils, and now as a provincial, he asks the brothers for prayer to carry his mission as the head of the province.