Mill Hill Missionaries: Evangelizing Filipinos for 100 years
St. Joseph Missionary Society, often referred to as the Mill Hill Missionaries, is a group of pious priests, brothers, and lay missionaries from all over the world who have committed themselves to spread the Gospel of God to distant lands.
The fellowship was founded by Fr. Herbert Vaughan of England in 1866. Out of his 13 siblings, five of Herbert's brothers went to priesthood and five of his sisters became nuns. His dreams of converting his fellow Englishman to Catholicism was fulfilled as he became the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.
Soon after his ordination as a priest, he was permitted by the Bishop to begin a Missionary College to train priests for foreign missions at Mill Hill in London. The Society was born on March 19, 1866. Believing that St. Joseph was the first missionary, he made him as their patron. "For it was St. Joseph who took Jesus and Mary to foreign land."
Their first mission was in America in 1871 wherein they took care of the spiritual needs of the black slaves. They too went to India in 1875, Borneo in 1881, New Zealand in 1886, Pakistan in 1887, and Africa in 1895. Young men from all over Europe including Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Italy, and USA were inspired by Vaughan's motto: "Amare et Servire" (to Love and to Serve).
The first missionaries lead by a former Borneo missionary named Fr. Julius Verbrugge reached the Philippines in 1906. They were the first to respond to urgent appeal made by Bishop Frederick Rooker of the Diocese of Jaro through Papal Delegate Msgr. Ambrosius Agius of Manila brought about by the shortage of priests and the spiritual neglect of people after the 1898 Revolution. The newly-established Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayans) and the American Protestant Missionaries, who at that time were campaigning aggressively, caused division.
"The first missionaries who came to Iloilo stayed at the Arevalo Church monastery. It was only in 1940s that they transferred here at the Mill Hill Central House," explains Rev. Fr. Rex Fedelicio, Vocation's Director of MHM. He and Fr. Fred Marmolejo were the first two Filipinos to be ordained as missionaries under the Society. "I am the first Filipino who came back here."
In 1945, Doña Jovita and Doña Ramona Avanceña donated the former Colegio de Santa Ana in Molo (1872) to the Mill Hill fathers. From then on, the archaic structure was named as the Mill Hill Central House.
"Before the locals would bring their sick member to the Church for blessing. Then when MHM came in, it was changed. Instead, the priest visits the sick at home," shares Fr. Fedelicio who admits that part of his heart was left in Pakistan where he was assigned prior to going back to Iloilo.
Among all those areas to which the Society has spread the Good News, Antique was given emphasis. After the establishment of a Prelature in San Jose in the year 1962, Antique has become the center of pastoral practice. Twenty one years later, the Prelature was converted into a diocese in 1982 under its first Bishop Cornelio de Wit, MHM. During his time, Bishop de Wit reestablished in Antique the group of catechists from Maasin called as the Missionary Sisters of the Lord's Table or the Mensa Domini.
"Antique was the sacada (migrant workers) Capital of the Philippines during that time. Bishop de Wit teamed up with the late Governor Evelio Javier whom I believe died in defense for the poor," says Fr. Fedelicio, a native of San Jose, Antique.
Aside from spiritually nourishing the people, the missionaries also helped them in the material aspect of life. Bishop de Wit created a team in response to the challenge of poverty in 1960s. The purpose of which was to conduct a socio-economic survey to pin point the root cause and the extent of poverty throughout the province. After the causes were identified, a cooperative movement was founded in 1962. Then came the Antique Cooperative Rural Extension Services (ANCORES) in 1965. Though the Cooperative ceased functioning since the Martial Law era, it has left a valuable legacy to the Antiqueños.
The St. Cathrine School in Leon and the St. James School in Maasin as well as an Elementary School in Igbaras were originally founded by Mill Hill Missionaries. The St. Anthony's College of San Jose in Antique is a living proof of the Society's commitment to provide quality Christian education.
"We have done our part. We are ready to move on," quips Fr. Fedelicio.
Today, there are only ten Mill Hill priests in the country. Eight are in Antique and two in the Luzon area. "We will be starting a lay association soon. For now, we focus on missionary for priesthood. Those who have finished at least two years in college and not more than 28 years old are welcome. They can visit the Mill Hill Central House or call 5080859."