On 4th February 2024, the Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic celebrated 20 years of the Spiritan presence and mission in the Diocese of San Juan, Dominican Republic. Although the Spiritan community and mission is part of the circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, it is a collaborative mission of the Union of the Circumscriptions of North America and the Caribbeans (UCNAC). It was founded in 2004 following the initiative of the then superiors, who agreed to fund and support the mission jointly. Since then, the mission has been sustained and blessed by the contribution of both the personal and financial resources of UCNAC members.
During these 20 years, about six confreres have worked in this mission. These include Fr. Jonas Rivera (the pioneer member of the mission), Fr. Micial Werby, and Fr. Donald Mc Eachin. Others currently working on the mission include Fr. Jose Alamo, Fr. Fresnel Alcina and Fr. Joseph Nguyen. Initially, the mission began with the Parish of Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia as a platform for serving over 32 rural agricultural communities in the municipality of Juan Herrera in the diocese of San Juan. Presently, it comprises three parishes, which include Ntra. Señora de la Altagracia, Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, and Parroquia San Juan Evangelista – Copatrón San Juna Bautista (recently established on 25 November 2023). Our confreres attend to these parishes and communities while living together in the Spiritan House in San Juan Herrera, de la Saun Juan de la Maguana.
The 20th anniversary celebration kicked off with week-long and well-attended activities (retreats, Eucharistic adorations, music festivals, etc.) organized within the three parishes and communities to mark the beginning of the Spiritan presence in this part of the globe. The high point of the 20th anniversary celebration was on Sunday, 4th February, with Holy Mass at the “Mother Parish, Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia, Juan Herrera. His Excellency, Mons. Tomas Alejo Concepción, the current bishop of the diocese, was the chief celebrant, while The Bishop Emeritus, His Excellency Mons. José Dolores Grullón (who welcomed the Spiritans to the diocese in 2004) was the homilist at the Mass. Fr. Canice Chukwuemeka Njoku. C.S.Sp., the Major Superior of the circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, all confreres in the mission and visiting priests concelebrated in the Holy Mass.
In his homily, Mons. José Grullón praised the Spiritans and expressed his satisfaction, that of the entire faithful and members of the host communities, for the great work and progress they have achieved during their 20-year mission and presence in the diocese. He reminded all that: “To be a missionary means to be available; to be a prophet means to be available. Availability is the best way to bear witness to Jesus Christ. The presence and availability of the Spiritans is a blessing to our diocese and the entire Church.” In his brief remark, the current Bishop of the Diocese, Mons. Tomas Alejo, described the Congregation of the Holy Spirit as “a Solid Religious Order that prepares its members well for missions where the church finds it difficult to get workers and missionaries.” Before the close of the Mass, Fr. Jonas Rivera, C.S.Sp., the pioneer member of the Spiritan mission in the Diocese of San Juan, Dominican Republic, gave a brief history of the Spiritan presence and mission in the diocese since his first arrival at the mission on 17th February 2004. He described the mission as a success so far.
On behalf of the Superior General and his Council, UCNAC members, Fr. Canice C. Njoku, C.S.Sp., the Major Superior of the Circumscription Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, thanked the bishops, the entire faithful, and people of the diocese of San Juan for hosting and working together with the Spiritans during the past 20 years. Also, he equally thanked all the confreres who worked and are still working in the mission, praising them as faithful and acute missionaries. He remarked, “The small seed sworn some twenty years ago has grown, thanks to the effort and collaboration of all of us. Please, let us not get tired of helping it grow more.” The joyful and memorable celebration continued after the Holy Mass with a great feast for the people.
Fr. Canice Chukwuemeka Njoku, C.S.Sp.,
Superior, Group of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic
