A Good News on Friday, May 04, 2007 for Denny
Today is the first Friday of May in the year of 2007. After working on tiles at the basement of Saint Therese Church, helping Ben and having lunch, noodle, cooked by Father Michael, I opened my hotmail email. Finally, what I have been waiting for over the last days arrived to me. Father Ivan Marchesin, the provincial of the Xaverians in the USA sent me email and forwarded me the official letter from the General Direction of the Xaverians in Rome. It is about the confirmation of my admission to the order of priesthood and the first assignment to go to Japan. It says that I should learn some Italian in the Novitiate House of the Xaverians in Ancona, Italy starting from the end of September till the end of February 2008. By early March 2008 I should be in Japan for my destination; probably, I will stay at the provincial house of the Xaverians, In Izumisano, Osaka, where I devote my time to learn Japanese for at least two years. It means I have some five months in Italy for this special Italian learning. It's the requirement for a Xaverian destined to work in Japan since among the Xaverians themselves speaking and understanding Italian is a must. It is the dream I have projected for these last months looking forward my future. My future is in the hands of God who always nurtures and grants me the best I could ever imagine. Through my beloved "mother", the Xaverians, my religious family, I have been living my vocation and call toward this missionary priesthood. So, it's my joy to give thanks to God and all who have been influencing my life. Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as we celebrate today, the first Friday, and Mary, my mother, through whom I was called for the first time to this precious summon when I was young (and this is May, the month of Mary), I would remember this gracious time. It's exactly a month left before I am going back to my country, Indonesia, to prepare my priesthood ordination that will be held in our parish, Saint Matthew in Bintaro, Jakarta, on Wednesday, August 15, 2007. There will be some 8 new priests, respectively, 5 Xaverians and 3 diocesans of Jakarta. So far I know we are Ignatius, Maryono, Utomo, Denny (me), Dharmawan, and the three diocesan deacons (Kokoh, Treka, and Hari). I return to God whatever happens in the near future of my life together with others who will be ordained, I pray for all of them. Let the Holy Spirit guide us to this preparation time so that we will be good shepherds in our ministry wherever we are through entire of our lives as a life offering to God and the people whom we serve. “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Here is the letter of my provincial and the General Direction:
From : Ivan Marchesin ivanmarchesin@hotmail.com
Sent : Friday, May 4, 2007 2:04 PM
To : acdw74@hotmail.com
Dear Denny,
Greetings. I am sending you this letter of confirmation by the General Direction for your Ordination to the Priesthood and your assignment to Japan.
Congratulations.
I am proud of you and am very happy for this great grace God is giving you. God is calling you not only to act in the name of Jesus. There is more. God is asking you be Jesus, visible, loving, acting, compassionate, beautiful in everything you do and wherever you go. As Jesus was always the visible presence of the Father, so are you to be always the visible presence of Jesus: Jesus who is ever giving his life for the life of the world.
Search all the heavens and the earth, and you will never find anything more beautiful and demanding than you call and vocation. Be happy. Be grateful.
I assure you my prayer and my unity. We share the same call and the same vocation. Together we thank God and Mary for the gift of our Priesthood and of our missionary call.
Gratefully and most respectfully, Yours,
Fr. Ivan Marchesin, s,x,
Rome, 3 May 2007
Feast of the Apostles Philip and James
Deacon Denny Wahyudi Alexander
Xaverian International Theology Community
Chicago
USA
Re: Confirmation of Admission to the Priesthood and Assignment
Dear Denny,
during the General Council of 2 May, the Superior General confirmed your Admission to the Priesthood and, at the same time, assigned you to the Region of Japan.
Together with our congratulations, we assure you of our prayers for your priestly ministry which, from now on, will mark your life at the service of the Church and the Mission.
After your Ordination you shall have one month to spend with your family and relatives in Indonesia.
You should be in Italy by the end of September to study some Italian, in accordance with the requirements of the Japanese Region. We think that you could do this study in the Novitiate House of Ancona. We shall inform the Regional Superior of Italy. The study period shall last until the end of February 2008 so that you may be in Japan by the first days of March 2008.
During this period you should establish and maintain contact with the Regional Superior of Japan to begin the necessary application process for an entry visa; it should be possible to do this through the Indonesian Embassy in Italy.
We think that you should go directly from Italy to Japan, without returning to Indonesia.
Should any problems arise, you shall discuss them with the new General Direction.
We entrust your new commitments to Our Lady that She may protect and guide you.
Fr.Luigi Menegazzo
Copies to:
Fr. I. Marchesin, Regional Superior, USA
Fr. PG. Manni, Regional Superior, JP
Fr. V. Baravalle, Regional Superior, ID
Fr. C. Pozzobon, Regional Superior, IT
