On November 11, 2016, Fr. Patro Gier, SCJ, will leave for his new assignment in Finland. The main purpose of his joining the SCJ Finnish District will be taking pastoral care of the numerous Filipino people living in Finland. He will follow in the footsteps of Fr. Jigger Ganados, SCJ, the first SCJ Filipino missionary to Finland who went there in December 2014.
The ceremony of sending off was held in Cagayan de Oro Formation House on November 8, 2016, during the Holy Eucharist, right after the SCJ meeting. The concelebrated Mass was presided by Fr. Patro. After the Holy Communion the Regional Superior, Fr. Francis Pupkowski, SCJ, gave him a special blessing and handed over the Missionary Cross, a symbol of being sent to proclaim the Good News.