By Ariel Presbitero

Can you believe it? There are hundred million children living on the streets of the world – a hundred million abandoned children. Brazil is now notorious for its street children – No wonder Ariel Presbitero, Filipino lay missionary, is concerned.

Nothing to Dream For

What has a child to dream for when life is so bleak because of social injustice and there is no hope for the future? I often asked myself this question: How can these abandoned children in the future will stay in this misery, or maybe worse, pass it on to the next generation?

Los Excluidus

That is why the Brazilian Church is now focusing on the ‘excluidos’ – those on the margin of life: first the street children, but also aids patients, alcoholics, disabled, drug addicts, migrant, prostitutes, and old people. In the city streets you can see an immense number of children begging for food, asking for money, seeking security and dreaming of a better life for themselves and their own families, survival. They have to sell cigarettes, candles, letter envelops, ribbons, flower, or just “placards” on the side streets advertising services like photocopying, and selling and buying of jewelry. When these fail many sell the bodies! What else is left?

Child Prostitutes

According to the statistics of National Bishops’ Conference of Brazil, there are about 500 thousands street kids prostituting themselves all Brazil. In every 1000 Brazilian, 83 die before the age of 5 because of hunger or endemic sickness. About 45 million children and adolescents lice in sub-human conditions, 25 million live in high risk situation, 15 million suffer from chronic malnutrition, 10 million are obliged to work, and 7 million have physical and mental deficiencies.

Street Culture

Most of these children come from the “Favelas” (Slum Areas) from the broken families, now they have developed a ‘street culture’ of their own. Some of them work during the day and study at night. The children don’t take much interest in school, especially at primary level; the government is occasionally providing merienda of bread, porridge or biscuits for the kids. In most cases kids are coming to school just because they receive a merienda, because in their own houses they have nothing. Much worse is the mixture of kids from different ages joined together in one classroom. For example, a late schooler 16 year old, who is only in grade 4, mixed with kids 9 to 10 years old, and this is really not helping him, because no matter hoe hard he tries to concentrate on his studies, the younger kids are very playful and always catch the attention of the teacher. The system has its own weakness in handling children not of the same age level, so making the learning process much slower and more difficult.

Family Falling Apart

In school or in the streets, kids are always struggling to survive. The family, which is the basic social institution, is falling apart. Divorce is legal, separation is prevalent and living together outside of marriage is just normal, because one cannot have the assurance of a long and lasting marriage. How do children bear this kind of life? Kids are growing up as id separation and divorce is absolutely normal.

Negative Soap Operas

Even the television, which is the children adore because of the images and interesting things they see beyond their own familiar environment, is promoting a false formation for life. The soap operas, which are very popular everywhere in Brazil, give a picture of family life which is almost the direct opposite of gospel values. Actors and actresses play roles of separated couples; they fight violently; women are used as sex objects, and the discrimination against black people is promoted.

Church Alarmed

The children believe that all these things shown in TV are absolutely true. The church in Brazil is alarmed by the power of the TV phenomenon, and worries how to reform the existing programs while accepting the TV also be very helpful in information and formation.
The Church now faces an enormous task: to restore lost family values to save the children from the streets, to be the voice of these voiceless ones, to undo the slave history of the past, to become the Church of the poor and so inaugurate the Kingdom of God.

By Fr. Niall O’Brien

House Arrest

It was 1983 and I was vocation director so I needed to visit the schools. However, there was a small problem: I was under house arrest. I needed the permission of General Fidel Ramos or at least of his local stand-in, Col. Agudon.

Armed Guard

That explains why I was accompanied by an armed guard when I spoke to the students in La Salle University, Bacolod. I spoke to the students about the call of Christ to leave home: ‘Go teach all people to be my disciples.’ Philip Bonifacio was one those who decided to attend our seminar on becoming a missionary.

Long Distance Runner

Philip was a long distance runner and that, of course, did not go against him when our team assessed the students who applied to be Columban missionaries after our introductory seminars. Well, 13 students were accepted into that first Columban formation program. Those from Negros had a despedida Mass – guess where? In the Bacolod Provincial Jail! Because by that time I was behind bars with fellow Columban, Brian Gore, Fr. Vicente Dangan and six lay leaders. We were accused of killing our mayor, Pablo Sola. This was all part of Marcos’ battle against Bishop Fortich and the Basic Christian Communities which were struggling to improve the conditions of the sugar workers in Negros. Luckily our photo from that time has survived, and you can see it here.

Off to Cebu

Philip joined the others in Cebu, attending San Carlos Seminary – a five year course including some missionary experience in Mindanao. Some parents wondered if sending the boys south to Cebu for University training wasn’t a step down. Geographically, yes! But academically, certainly not because San Carlos has superb record and of course, is one of the oldest academic establishments in the Philippines. Apart from that, Cebu is surely the heart of the Philippines.

Manila and Japan

Next came Theology in Manila and a two-year stint in Japan on our overseas training program for aspiring missionary priests. This overseas training is not so easy because you have to start learning a different language and adapt to a different culture. But then this is a way of finding out if the young man is cut out to be a missionary priest.

Deaconate at Malate

Back to Manila and more studies for Philip. Then he was ordained deacon at the historic Church of Malate where five Columbans were killed during the war and buried in an unknown grave. Philip then helped out in Malate where Fr. Michael Martin is parish priest at present.

Finally Bacolod

And so, some twelve and a half years after he made his decision to join the Columbans, Philip was ordained at St. Mary’s Redemptorist Church in Bacolod by Bishop Camilo Gregorio on December the 18th 1995. Well the photos surely express his joy after that long distance run.

Loneliness of the Runner

There must be moments of loneliness for anyone who sets their eye on a goal which is far away, like becoming a missionary priest. But Philip ran the course. He was helped by many people

– the love and support of his own family; it’s a heavy burden to give up a son

– the priests of the Columban formation staff who listened and chided and encouraged and prayed with Philip all the way

– in Philip’s case, the Neo Catecumenato, a network of prayer groups who loved him and encouraged his personal prayer life without which no seminarian can hope to reach ordination

– our Japanese Christians who encouraged him and came to the ordination to show their love

– you, our benefactors, who pray for him still and give the financial support which makes that long journey possible.

Philip’s journey is not over. He will need your prayers even more now as he begins his second period in Japan, struggling to be a gentle and patient witness. Witness to what? To the fact that Jesus is Risen and that His gentle presence will heal me and the society if I will walk with Him.

By Sr. Melina Polo, SSpS

For a long time I have wanted to write about my presence here in the Netherlands as a SSpS missionary. It’s on this feast of our Blessed Founder, Arnold Jansen, that I shoved away my reports and books on Social Work and took these quiet moments to write down my thoughts and reflections about my four day stay in this beautiful land of milk, cheese, windmills and, of course tulips!

In the Philippines our Congregation still runs institutions like schools and a big hospital, while in The Netherlands all have been taken over by the government. This institution run by the Sisters themselves make one’s getting into the mainstream of society easier, or so I had thought before, but now I discover that it was only a half truth. It could also be the other way around.

Margins of Society

Because we don’t have schools or hospitals here anymore, I have switched to a new strategy: making contacts with people. I went to search where our Dutch sisters and brothers were. Those who are aware of their social-moral-spiritual responsibilities have inserted themselves into the different sectors of society, especially where the need is so strong among refugees, drug addicts, prostitutes and among the homeless. Those are the very people who long for respect, for recognition, for acceptance, for understanding, for help. Here I felt. I was and am, indeed. Together with our good hearted people, I try to give what I have: my respect, my care, and concern for them.

New Approach

To my surprise it turned out to be also my gateway to the heart and life of our Dutch people. It’s just like killing two birds with one stone. I may not be very much involved in our parish but I feel in my contacts with the refugees, drug addicts and with fellow workers, together with them, we are experiencing “being Church” in our own little way. In a secularized and multi-cultural society, I cannot directly and so easily proclaim the Good News of God’s love as I used to. I have to feel and see where our people are, and there...be with them... and there begin something with them.

That Very Moment

When I talk with drug addicts whoe lives appear to be hopeless and when they begin to share something about their life begin to share something about their life, their hopes and their fears, at that very moment they feel they are listened to and accepted as they are.  Right there and then I feel my heart going out of them as a sparkle of God's love lights up; and, right there and then, I believe, is the Church happening.

Faith in Allah

Or when I’m a Somalian woman and her children, she who has fled her country with her children for fear of their lives, feeling lost in a strange country, strange culture and people, not knowing if her husband still lives listening to her and her story, feeling with her in her sorrow because she feels she has lost almost everything,; just being with her, helping her, encouraging her to keep on, to be strong and courageous; listening to her as she shares that what helps her endure all these trials is her faith in Allah, in God; right there and then, is the Church happening.

Drug Center

Or when I am with my fellow workers in the drug center and an opportunity creeps in to talk about faith, about love, about Jesus, about God...listening to them and accepting them as they are, where they are at this point off their life in relation to God and the Church: right there and then, I believe is the Church happening.
I would like to share excerpts from these unforgettable, spontaneous conversations and experiences:

LOES (a young Dutch mother)

“Melina, I was born to Catholic parents, but I’ve never been a practicing one, I can hardly remember the times o went to Church. But deep down in my heart I believe that there is a God that He is in my heart, and that gives me security. I’ve experiences Him as real at the time I was completely down. I don’t know what to do with my life, I was in the kitchen, crying bitterly. Suddenly I felt a warm, yet such a refreshing touch, on my shoulder, an experience that led me to think and feel that it was God comforting me strengthening me. He was there at that very moment, and still now He is with me in my heart.”
I took this chance to share with her about our Founder’s motto: May the Holy Triune God live in our hearts of all people. For the ninth time this prayer has become real to me. This experience has helped me to utter this prayer with a deeper awareness.

Tine (a Dutch woman and a fellow volunteer in refugee work)

She claims that now she and her family are outside the Church. In other words, “church- less”. She feels and believes that she’s simply lucky in her life. She also cheerful. For her, giving some of her times to the refugees is one way of being grateful. When we are together and our sharing lead in such a direction, I take the chance to leas her to the truth: that all the goodness and blessings that make us happy could only come from God who is good and caring. And she does not deny it, affirming the truth through her experiences.

Many Remain Faithful

Of course, I have encountered quite a number of Dutch families who have remained faithful to the Church, they try to live out their faith amidst the challenges (secularism, egoism, individualism) of these times. Together we animate each other so that we can help make the Church more real and meaningful for ourselves, and for those who have drifted, or who are drifting away. One of them is Bert, a young pastoral worker. Here is an except from a letter he wrote to me: “You helped me see what it is actually about in Christianity not the anger about our fellow Christians, not the polarization, not the indoor Christianity, but the concrete love for one’s fellowman/fellow woman, to fill this world with love and also the love for God and friendship with Him, a God to whom you can talk as friend, the main point is to witness about the Christian faith which passed on the healing power of Jesus, which love, that is the power of the message of the Church.

And our Youth?

Where are they? I also find time to reach out to them, I go and join them in weekends planned and organized for them, such as Mission and the Youth, and Taize, Catholic Youth Day. It’s a rewarding way because in these gatherings I get the chance to get to know them by listening to their stories, their struggles, their questions, and their hopes and dreams. I invite them to our small international community of SSpS Sister, a community whose door we have opened especially for them, so that we can accompany them in their search for life’s meaning, in their search for God.

And More...

I have also here many chances to meet and encounter Filipino migrant workers and Filipinas (and their families) married to a Dutch men (and also to Germans). Together we try to search for ways to express our faith the Filipino way: Christmas Mass or prayer service, prayer meeting and Bible sharing. Once a month, or once in two months, I go to Amsterdam to give support to a growing prayer community. And in Brunssum, where I live, together with some Filipinas and their families, we have also begun a prayer group.

Hundredfold

I now have many good Dutch friends. I have fellow Sisters who have really help me find a “second home” here, and the hundredfold’ that the Lord has promised: caring friends who accept me as I am and who value what I can share with them.

All these experiences are gifts from our good God who has called me to leave my country to share my person and gifts with our Dutch people and with our countless brother-sister refugees from different parts of the world- Vietnam, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Zaire, and Angola.

True, I may not be doing exactly the things that I used to do in the Philippines as a Religious Education teacher, as a catechist, and as a socio-pastoral worker in the manner that I was used to anymore, but one thing is certain, I am continually proclaiming, here and now, the liberating truth: that God is good, that He loves all peoples of all color and creed, and that He always desires to dwell in all hearts.

Looking Back, I Can Only Pray

Thank you Lord for all that had been
Thank you Lord for all that is now
Thank you Lord for all that is to come

For I know you have always been there,
In all my ups and down
That’s why I can always manage to rise up.

Thanks, too for my dear ones – 
My family, fellow Sisters and friends,
Here and in the Philippines
Who continues to journey with me in prayer and love.

By Sr. Mayang, MM

Isolation

What would it be like visiting a country and people whose contacts with the outside world and church had been cut off almost completely since the early 1960’s?
I traveled with a young lay woman from Myanmar whoa had stayed with us in the Philippines for some months. My focus was the Kachin people. Tibetan in origin, they were animist until recently. Their homeland is in Northern Myanmar Kachin State.

Mysterious Pagodas

Pagodas are numerous in the cities, in hamlets and on mountain tops and widespread plains, they are centers of contemplation, prayer and activity (sometimes business too). One of my first impressions was that for the people of Myanmar, meditating and praying is as much a part of daily life as eating and sleeping. Buddhist and Christians adults and youth in several different places all agreed.

First Bishop

Myitkyina Diocese (pronounced Mitch’ in a) includes all of Kachin State plus additional territory on its west. Its area is 30,115 sq. miles of mostly mountainous area, much still jungle. Established in 1965, the diocese borders China on its east, India on its west, the first Kachin priest, Paul Zinghtun Grawng was consecrated Bishop in 1967, just in time to accept responsibility for the diocese from the Columbans who has to withdraw due to political restrictions. Although it is the most recently evangelized, Myitkyina Diocese has the largest Catholic population (85,000) of the country’s 12 dioceses

Great Suffering

I met many of Myitkyina Diocese priest (now 30+), sisters (72 at latest count), and parishioners. I got a sense of their struggle and commitment during the past 30 years. Their strength was their faith, and their security was each other, all had experienced war, hunger, deprivation, sickness and premature deaths in their families due to the political problems.

“Our priests will fight hard and accept any sacrifice...but we so not fight with bullets. We educate and awaken the people”, my host told me..Big buildings and many books are mot the most important things in formation. What’s really important is vision, awareness, commitment, prayer, and practically – and in involvement of the laity.

Involved Laity

Involved the laity are! There are more than 500 trained catechists who have 2 to 3 years live-in training provided by the diocese. For most, this is a full-time commitment. They and their families are supported by their own villages and parishes. Sometimes partial costs for their live-in training is subsidized.

On Fire to Share

For the Kachin people, the Catholic faith is appreciated as a very special gift. They are most eager to share it among their own tribes and beyond, among the many different ethnic groups who have never heard of Jesus Christ, nor of a God who has personal love and concern for them. Priests, sisters and concern for them. Priests, sisters and laity are afire with a sense of mission, eager to beyond their own country to China, Bangladesh, India to share this treasure we call faith.

Mission Teams

Almost all parishes have their own mission team (12 to 15 people, youth and adults, men and woman) who spend about 6 weeks each year going into villages not yet evangelized, living with the people and sharing their Christian faith, life and prayer.

Youth Mission

While at the Diocesan Center in Myitkyina, I happened to meet three different “Youth Mission Teams” ready to leave for their assigned areas. These are youth who have finished Grade10 and have completed a mission training course. They are from different parishes and volunteer to serve for 10 months in one of the remote parishes as teachers and catechists. They go to the very remote mountains, requiring them to walk 4 to 6 days from the road just to reach the parish center! Some stay for more than a year. The experience is very difficult for them since those who finish this level of education are usually from the lowland areas, near to centers of populations. They learn to survive in mountain or jungle areas with no stores. No communication channels except no communication channels except face to face, and with constant stress from militarization, their parents support their commitment.

Elephant Help

Churches and parish buildings were constructed by self-help. In some parishes, elephants were used as for transporting logs and clearing forested ares. People learned to make bricks and use limestone to build wells.

On Foot

For priests, sisters, catechists and the bishops, the most common mode of transportation is foot because of lack of roads and mountainous terrain interspersed generously with rivers without bridges. Many now have bicycle which “sometimes carry us, but often we have to carry then (over mountains, through rivers)!” explained one Sister. Journeys are not just hours, but up to 10 or more days!

It is unlikely that the Kachin people ever heard of Pope John II’s Encyclical on Mission (Ad Gentes), but they know, and are living its main message that Church by her nature is missionary.”

By Fr. Shay Cullen, MSSC

Fr. Shay Cullen is known throughout the world for his work in rescuing child prostitution and in charging the international law to make children safer. Less known is the other work of his PREDA Foundation in Olongapo which runs a Fair Trade Program, here is a simple story to keep you understands what fair can do for those on the margins of life. After all isn’t that what mission is about: bringing good news to those who hungry.

Sold like Slaves

Juanito de la Paz was a poor hard-working man who lived in a small bamboo and grass house on the hillside of Olongapo City. His children played outside the perimeter fence of what was then the largest military base in Asia – Subic Bay. He earned just enough for the bare necessities of life, like millions of our people in the world today who live in squalor surrounded by plenty. I said the ‘was’ poor and ‘did’ lice in poverty because that has changed, and I want to tell you why and how. That military base and hundreds like it swallowed up vast amounts of the Philippines natural resources and created wealth for a few families who has contacts with the military or owned clubs and bars where women and children were sold like slaves in a cattle auction.

Rattan Baskets

So Juanito used a minimal amount of the raw material growing in the forest around him to make baskets. The rattan grew back again and his basket making was sustainable. Juanito took his baskets down the mountain, and stood after day on the side of the road selling his baskets to the tourists from the base and Manila. The people who could afford his beautiful baskets would not pay a decent prize for them. They haggled and bargained and brow beat Juanito with their superior ways saying they could buy cheaper elsewhere. Rich as they were, they wanted everything as cheaply as possible. They took advantage of his lack of education, his inbred docility and the submissiveness that came from hunger.

Blind to Real Value

"My children couldn’t eat the baskets,” he said. “I had to sell them for whatever they gave me eventhough I knew they cheated me and they only bought one ore two. It’s good we planted vegetables and raised some chickens and had a mango tree. Otherwise we would starve,” he told me. These better-off shoppers sis not value the skill and the time consuming labor that went into the gathering and preparation of the raw material for the baskets and skill of weaving and shaping then into a symmetrical and pleasing form. Nor did they see the artistic value of a unique hand-made product, the same people, without thinking would pay five times as much for a machine stamped plastic basin, that came from oil and was not biodegradable.

Better Deal

One day Juanito came to Preda (our foundation) and asked me to go to his house and see his products. I went gladly and saw for myself the poverty. Soon Juanito was making baskets by the hundred for Preda’s customer like Global Village, for which he earned a lot more than he received previously. His brother and a cousin were quickly employed and the n he begun to teach his equality poor neighbors. Immediately his eldest went to school everyday, and they cast off the threadbare t –shirts for a new brightly colored t-shirts and blouses.

Life Improved

Pride and dignity came back, and Juanito, who had become a drinker of cheap liquor to stave off hunger and his misery, was sober alert and a busy improving his house. From his and his brothers’ savings and a grant from Preda he has a solid concrete house today, impervious to typhoons and floods. It is a common storage area for raw material and the finished baskets of the neighbor, too. They are doing much better as a direct result of the fair prices.

That’s Fair Trade

That is what FAIR TRADE does. It immediately injects cash into a family and a community, the positive effects are seen at once. No decade long waiting for the promised ‘trickle down’ of improved living standards from the overflow of the bubbling pots just earnings directly into the baskets of the producers.

By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

Classroom Setting 
Guavas in Africa

The guavas were ripe. I had plenty in my garden. While checking the attendance, I told my catechumens, “If your name is called, come first for your catechumen card then go for your guava.” Somewhere at the middle when called went straight to the guava forgetting his card. We all laughed.

Football

Wondering why the class was laughing while the youngest of them was praying, my catechist told me, Father, this is what the child prayed: I pray that those who cut heads in the middle of the night may not come and cut off our heads and play football with them and return them in the morning.” Very revealing indeed isn’t it?

Sara Afia Mansah

Her name is Sara, Afia, Mansah. The examination was rather tough. Of the 96 catechumens I examined before baptism, only 21 passed. As soon as she heard her name among the successful ones. She jumped from the seat, raised her hands and started running back and forth shouting “Yeah! Yeh! Yeh!” The whole class laughed. Seeing, that I relaxed a bit, others joined her. In a moment the class was divided into tow groups; one rejoicing, the other mourning.

Altar Boys: Communication Gap?

I was rushing to say Mass for our Filipino community in Accra, I asked one altar boy at the SVD Guest House, “Do we have an extra Sunday Missal?” “Yes Father, we have.” He went in and showed me some big and small hosts. Do our altar boys need a seminar, or do I need a seminar in the local language?

Examination: Theory Part

My Altar boys were nervous because it was their examination day. The Theory part-consisted in naming all the items used in the Mass. I spread all of the items on the table. Each altar Boy would name all the items without me correcting him. The fingers of one of them was trembling as he pointed to the items. [He was always absent from class.] “This is a communion plate; this is the crucifix; this is a pall...” then he pointed to the vestment with hesitation and suddenly said, “This is a vitamin.” “B or C?” John Baffoe, the Catechist, asked with a straight/poker face.

Official/Alternate

Finding a way not to hurt hose who failed the examination for Altar Boy, I classified them into two groups; Official and alternate. The official are those who passed and the alternate are those who failed. Those who failed are mostly Grade 1. As soon as they saw their names, they exclaimed, “Yeh... we made! We are Altar boys not knowing that they are only substitute and will serve only if those in the Duty Roster are absent.

Batman

One evening my catechist was interpreting my homily when a small bat fell squarely in front of the pulpit. The catechist backed away immediately. I rushed to the scene and picked up the bat. I raised the bat and started: Once upon a time, there was a battle between the animals that fly in the air and animals that walk on the ground. When the animals in the air were winning, that bat sided with them, too w hen peace was restored, the animals in the air accused the bat of siding with the other group. But the bat defended himself saying, “Have you ever seen an animal with wings? I am definitely with you.” Later the other groups accused the bat of siding with the animals. However the bat answered, “Friends, I am with you . have you ever seen a bird with teeth.” I concluded my homily with this. Which side are you really on? God’s only when you seem to be winning, or in the good times and the bad – both?

By Sr. Priscilla Jaurigue, FdCC

Off to Italy

Sometime ago the Canossian Province in the Philippines sent ten sisters to the missions. I was one of them. My place of mission was Como, northern Italy, and my mandate: to work [especially] with our Filipino migrant workers. When I reached the generalate in Rome, the only information I got was “there’s an organized group of migrant workers gathering in our convent in Como every Sunday”, no more less! I was puzzled, what shall I do then? I asked myself.

Como On The Lake

Como is a small town famous for its fabulous panoramic view and surrounded by the magnificent lake. It is the provincial capital, an industrial and commercial center with a highly developed textile industry, mainly silk. My new community was composed of thirty-five sisters, the majority of whom are older than me. As days went by, I found myself challenged by strong structures, the cold and rigid Comascan mentality, as t hey call it.

Where are the People?

I had the chance to attend two Sunday Masses in the evening celebrated by the migrant workers in our convent. The Mass was in Italian. What a surprise to see just a handful of people in the Church – a few Filipinos and some people from El Salvador. I was expecting to see the “organized group” mentioned to me while still in Rome. Nevertheless, I was happy and enthusiastic to know them.

From then onward, the news that there was a Canossian Filipino sister who would take charge of the migrant workers spread like wildfire among our people as well as the Italian families. It turned out that there where were about three hundred plus Filipinos here in Como. A big number of them popped up unexpectedly in our convent. They were products of illegal agencies and false recruiters. The majority were high school graduates, some not even that. The main reason they come to our convent is to look for jobs.

I thought of the best way to help them get employed. Knowing how to speak Italian, I was practically doing everything for them, I acted as their interpreter, accompanied them to the house of the employer, bought bus ticket, and made the phone calls when necessary. I also listened to their breathtaking experiences and hazardous journeys as they crossed the border to enter Italy. It was also surprising to hear about their accumulated debts in the Philippines.

Bemused

However, eventually I realized that some were merely using me as a “jumping board” for finding a job. Once they were settled (accepted well by the family and with a high salary) they did not come back anymore to the convent. At times, they lacked maturity and education, and they were sent away by their employer due to irresponsibility and immoral living. Helping them to find jobs has got me into trouble too. It was the “negotio” for some old timers here to deduct a certain amount for the monthly salary of those domestics as a compensation for having found a job for them. These people now saw me a threat to their “negotio” and fabricated lots of stories and false accusations against me, so that straight away I might be removed from Como.

The Inside Story

I welcomed everyone to the convent and I later started visiting them in their apartments. Through the people I came in contact with, I got the following information: A big group used to gather in our convent in the beginning. The first Filipinos who arrived in Como had asked to stay during Sunday afternoon in our convent for they had nowhere to go especially during the winter season. The group was sailing along smoothly during their first three years in our convent. They used to celebrate some occasional programs (Christmas, Valentine’s). Then they decided to put up leaders, but these failed to lead the group to unity. Notwithstanding the existing division among them, they still gather themselves when occasions arise. However, it’s gathering which does not foster harmonious relationships. The events in themselves evoke competition and ‘palabas’ instead of making them mindful of one another. Mass is simply a matter of formality, after all they don’t understand the language. They attend the program not because they are interested but because they are forced to pay the contribution, otherwise they are threatened that they will be reported to the police as illegal workers! Naturally, what follows after is heated quarrels and gossiping, and almost the cause is money!

Vice Enters In

After a couple of years, some got permanent resident papers because they were directly hired by their employers. This gave them the chance to rent an apartment and so they no longer join the group in our convent. During days off, their apartment is full of friends and relatives. The spirit of regionalism is very strong, I see the reality of migrant life from the inside when I do some house to house visitation. An apartment for two or three persons now holds about 20 people. The small apartment is changed into an eatery or becomes a gambling den and a drinking place -- women and men playing cards the whole night, money lending and whatever.

Alone

My greatest difficulty here is my being alone in this area of work. The number of Filipino migrant workers is growing speedily. The vast majority quickly adopt the lifestyle of the Europeans, influenced by a materialistic and sophisticated world. They subscribe to the idea of “being free”, able to do what whatever they like. Even if it’s immoral, because they are far from home. Our young women drink in the media of having a child without getting married.

Legion of Mary

Meanwhile I don’t get tangible and concrete support from the local church here. I organized the Legion of Mary and through them work to reach the others. By God’s providence, I met Father Ernesto Rusconi, CRS who is giving me a helping hand, I thought of producing a newsletter in collaboration with him. At present there are about forty people who joined Legion of Mary. Fr. Ernesto and I are working hard so that our people will be integrated into the local church. The old leaders (the former ones who left the group because nobody obeys them) are still furious with me. Somehow their unjust practices were exposed and they are now controlled in there so-called “business.” So much so that before my Silver Jubilee I got several phone calls containing litanies of “bad words” in Tagalog!

School of the Cross

I have just completed my second year and in this span of time I have learned in the school of the cross. Which I believe has added more maintaining to my life as a missionary. During these two years that I have been away from home I feel I have grown and became more deeply aware of the reality: God loves me and never a moment in my life have I felt abandoned by Him. For all His gratitudes, love and kindness showered continuously in my life, may I remain faithful to Him in my service to the Church.

By Sr. Virgie Mozo

Sr. Virgie Mozo arrived in Chile in 1989. After a few years, she was assigned to Lancoche which is peopled by the Mapuchi race. There is a great lack of pastors so she joined a summer team to set up some Basic Christian Communities.

I was invited to be a part of a summer mission team in Loncuimay through Mirta Urra, a lay missionary from Lancoche and two other youth who are in the group of Jovenes Sin Fronteres (the Missionary Youth Group) of the parish of which I am the coordinator.

Mirta went two days ahead of us. I traveled with the other two, Magdalena, and Angelica. The journey to Loncuimay was 8 hours via Temuco by bus.

Loncuimay is in the cordillera a famous mountain range. The virgin forest is still visible in the area. The snow-capped cordillera looks like a Black Forest Cake with a white icing on top of it! The place is famous for its very cold weather. In the winter they have snow which is about two meters deep the housed are all made of wood and the heating system is the wooden fire oven.

When I arrived, the people were inside the unfinished capilla. Each one of us introduced ourselves to the assembly. We met the other two missionaries who where from Loncuimay. We divided the community into two sectors North and South. The distance from each house is very far. The nearest neighbor is one kilometer away!

First Foreigner

The chapel is in the middle of a meadow near a running stream. There is spring water all over the place coming from the mountain and open canals. We walked from the capilla to the house of a family where I stayed for a night. The sound of the spring water, like music, was so soothing after a long journey. There is no electricity. During the house visitation, the people were all delighted to see us. And said that I was the first foreigner who had arrived there.

Trunk of Trees

For three days we were visiting houses inviting the people for the afternoon meetings. We had a guide with us, Olga the daughter of the family where I stayed. She was patient, as I was having a hard time of walking on the trunks of trees every time we were crossing the river or streams. There was even a point when I nearly lost my balance, so I decided to wade through the water. The water was very cold, but crystal clear, coming from the mountain.

Mate and Tortilla

We arrived at the house of a young woman and her child. They were pasturing their animals. She was delighted with our visit ad her place was the farthest, about 8 kilometers from the boundary of Argentina and Chile and 25 kilometers from the capilla! She gave us some cold spring water. After that she offered us “mate” and tortilla (bread cooked in a open fire). “Mate is a hot drink which consists of herbs and a little sugar added. It is taken with a stainless pipe to sip (like a straw).

Horsewomanship

Returning we met a girl who was riding on a horse who offered us a ride, so I got up behind her. When we were crossing a canal, the horse got fright. I thought he saw a snake, and I got fright too. The horse turned back and galloped. In a reflex action I leapt off the horse – tumbling on the ground. I just got bruises on my left knee, but was covered with dust. My companions were all laughing when they saw me all covered with dust, especially on my face so that the only white thing they could see my teeth. They said I was like an Indian and I thought, maybe like the “ati –atihan" of Iloilo.

Faithful People

Every six o’clock in the afternoon we had our meetings with the with people, finishing past nine o’ clock at night, but the sun would still be up because we were so far south. I really admired the people, that in spite of the distance, they were all very faithful to the afternoon gatherings. It could be twilight when we will when we all reached home. But it was an enjoyable walk as we reflected on the beauty of the mountains and the sound of the water.

We Celebrated

On our last day there were Mass, wedding and baptism rites. It was all held outside the chapel as there was a big crowd, thank God that during the mission and on the last day it never rained.
The parish priest was delighted to see the people. After the Mass he asked to have a monthly liturgical celebration, and part of their commitment also was to have a weekly meetings and fund raising for the finishing of their chapel. Also they asked if we could return sometime in the middle of the year for the leadership formation of the youth in the area. I really saw hope and a future there. I commented to then that with the recent visit of Pope John in Manila for the World Day, the youth has something to offer if we only know how to listen to them, looking at the two youths with me Magdalena and Angelica) I thought of Pope John Paul’s word, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

By Fr. Efren de Guzman, SVD

For twenty years now a civil war has been in progress in Angola, the government forces being led by President Dos Santos and the UNITA rebels led by Jonas Savimbi. Elections were held under the auspices of the United Nations, but UNITA were not prepared to accept the result. Since they have access to $500,000,000 a year from diamond mines, unscrupulous arms dealers continue to supply then with arms. So, also, they supply the government forces who have oil reserves. Fr. Efren de Guzman, the intrepid SVD priest, and his brave companions continue to do what they can for the poor and the afflicted. Here is one of his recent reports!

Killing Children

On April 8, at 6:00 in the morning the government soldiers of the military camp in Funda, 40 kms from our convent, attacked the people near the camp. They cut off arms and legs of men and women; children were thrown violently to the ground. Some of the soldiers had lost their mind and accused people of having killed one of their soldiers so they could have some reasons for putting our people in prison.

Discontented Government Soldier

The soldiers threatened to do the same thing to other villages if the government did not pay them their salary. Violence was on the rise. After a week, four people in Sao Jose were killed by soldiers. Many soldiers want to leave their camps because they don’t receive their salaries and are hungry. Maybe this situation could account for the banditry that’s happening even in the city of Luanda. Add to this the influx of returning jobless Angolan refugees, some 120, 000 from Zambia and more than 300,000 from Zaire.

Priest Tortured

Within this week, nine foreigners were murdered. Last Friday while entering the compound to park his car, Padre Abilio Guerra, a Holy Spirit Missionary, was abducted. This happened at about seven o’clock in the evening. His provincial superior and a brother immediately looked for him. They informed the city exit police station, inquired from hospitals and other places, but to no avail. The following day (at four in the afternoon), he was found dead in the morgue of a hospital. Earlier someone had found his body covered with grass in a place near the airport.

There were marks of brutal torture. He had wounds in the head and face and a bullet in the side. He must been tied up to a seat as there were marks on his thighs and lower torso. It seems that was the third attempt on him, and at last the bandits succeeded.

We Must Keep Going

Carnappers are not content with stealing that car; they kill the owners cruelly. Last Sunday, after a day’s excursion on the beach, a Portuguese couple and their three children were murdered. Within three months according to police sources, there have been more than a hundred and fifty killings in Luanda and its periphery. It is very risky now to go out (especially by car) but our work demands that we go out. So please pray for us.

By Sr. Wilfredis Jacob

Sr. Wilfredis Jacob spent a quarter of a century as a Holy Spirit Sister in the Philippines. Then she was asked to leave home and to go Ghana, she is a youth minister. These photos show us the joy she feels in bringing the tenderness of God to this beautiful people and how she herself keeps young.