By Sr. Virginia Guerrero, MIC

Japan

Mantra
Every Wednesday and Thursday, starting out from our convent in Aizu Wakamatsu, I take a thirty-minute walk to the station- to take the bus that brings me up to Shimo Yanagi Wara. From there I walk another ten minutes to Ai no Sato which means Haven of Love. Surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation I find myself repeating like a manta the words, “Thank you Lord!”

Mentally Handicapped
I work with eight handicapped people. Some mentally retarded, others are autistics, physically disabled or psychologically disturbed. All receive compulsory education up to third year junior high in either regular or specialized school.   

Recycling
What are we doing? Recycling. And what are we recycling?

Milk Boxes to Toilet paper
Well the whole process of recycling starts with the support group like the teacher at the Kindergarten of our Xavier School who cooperate by collecting used milk cartons. The clean ones are sold and recycled into toilet papers. Six rolls can be processed from about thirty milk boxes. The others we use at Ai no Sato by recycling then into postcards and calling cards. From Monday to Friday, we sell these cards and so make enough money to pay the handicapped workers a monthly salary of four thousands yen (about five hundred pesos).

Slow, Slow, Slow
Things move at a snails pace. It took about a year for one member just to learn how to cut the milk boxes into plain sheets. Another worker never seems to know whether his iron is burning the postcards under the layer of cloth and newspaper that are used to absorb excess water from the processed pulp from milk boxes. But a caring heart, a kind word of direction, and a helping hand are never wanting among them as they try to accomplish their assigned tasks.

Why do I Return
This is my third year working with the handicapped youth since my second missionary send-off to Japan in August, 1987. Why do I continue to return to get into this work? Well, I suppose it is because of the Church’s call for a preferential love for the poor- and who is poorer than this handicapped people? But however handicapped, they too teach me through their spontaneous sincerity and candid affection. That is why I say like mantra, “Thank you, Lord.”

By Meriam R. Jordan

Hesitation
The parish priest had asked her to follow up those taken both the Basic Bible Seminar (BBS) and the Bible Facilitators Seminar (BFS). Not knowing anything about the apostolate then, she was not keen on taking it. “I was hesitant because I did not know what this was all,” she recalled. But having seen the interest of the parishioners, and how alive the word of God was for them, affecting their lives, she agreed.

Immersion
During the three months before she left Hong Kong, Sr. Tomasa spent her time and energy in BBS, and BFS, weekly Bible sharing, Bible study, Scriptural Rosary, and in helping out in evaluation of the BA.
Then it was time to live. Immersions in the people and in the ministry did not allow her much thought about her new assignment. She fell though, a real experience of faith- in the presence of Christ in her life.

Anxieties
She was well aware, from her formation as a missionary, of the great demands a new people and a culture would asked of her. She knew little Chinese as a people, of Hong Kong as a metropolitan city, and, more so, of the language.

Language and Word
Again, as in Labrador, she taught in school. Her exuberant personality soon won for her friends beyond the campus. Again, and soon, the Bible Apostolate found her. Two years of full-time language study in a University did not give her the confidence she needed in the ministry. Yet, she responded. “For the whole month, I felt it was not mere desire but a call. I am to respond, reach out to the people of God not through the Chinese language but through the Word it self,” she explained.
Since then, Sr. Tomasa and her team facilitate Basic Bible and Basic Facilitator Seminars both in English and Chinese language. Aside from her involvement with Chinese communities, she also ministers to some of the 30,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong. Again, through the Word of God

She knew of the Chinese as a people, of Hong Kong as a metropolitan city and more so, of the language. Yet she responded.

By Fr. Rudy Ramos, CICM

Brazil

Death
“Oh, he died?”
What do you think? He is there lying covered with news paper. And we policemen, what do you think we are supposed to do here?”
“Well, you are right. He is dead. Can I take a look?”
“For what? You might get scared…”
“No! No! I’ll not get scared.
Can I take a look?”

Many Spectators
This sort of dialogue took place between Maria das Gracas Rodriguez, 62 years old, and the policeman Adilson Silva de Souza, 22 years old. In the front of the Church of Sao Francisco de Assis where I serve in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It does not matter that the crime happens in a public plaza or in favela (slum). It is certain that, in the case of each victim of violence in the Baixada Fluminense, outskirt city of the Cidade Maravilhosa, Rio de Janiero, immediately many spectators arrive on the scene.

With Special Interest
But what motivates these people to act like this? What impels them to spend hours looking at an unknown victim of violence? What attracts their attention so they spend one or two hours climbing the hill just to see policeman confronted with five dead bodies? Maybe it is the same impulse that forced people, in spite of the bad odor due to the decomposition of the dead bodies, to surround a Combi wherein two unidentified men were found dead.

Someone Lights a Candle
For the Policia Civil and Militar the answer could be “lack of something to do.” It is certain, however, that where there is a dead man, someone will appear within a minute to light a candle, and another with an old newspaper to cover the dead body. And just as soon, many will come to uncover the body to have a look. Regardless of the sex or age they start to a monosyllabic dialogue such as: “Que horror!” (“How terrible”), Como estao matando!” (“How they are killing!”), “Tao novo!” (“Too young!”).
Maria das Gracas, although she has already seen a lot of dead bodies, does not know to explain why she likes to look at a victim of violence. “I look at it because it is there on the ground to look at”, she said. Reminded that she had asked the policeman to uncover the dead man, she smiled and responded, “Well, I don’t know. I like it is not a sin.” Yes, there is really no human or divine or divine law which prohibits the curiosity of people. But it is  normal to bring a child of six to look a dead body riddled by bullets.
This way he learns not to be in the company of bad people. I always bring him and tell him: You see, bad people do not live long,” I confess a lady holding firm the small fragile hand of Carlos de Almeida, six years old.

World Record
The problem of violence in Rio de Janeiro to increase: indiscriminate killing, police violence, extermination of groups hold-ups. The victims are always poor and helpless people. The city of Nova Iguaçu is considered the most violent place in the world according to the statistics of the United Nations.

Fear takes over
We must change the situation. But how? When fear takes over the whole situation, the people do not have the courage to protest. The absence of government authority and the corrupt military apparatus help to perpetuate more violence.

What to Do?
It is simply possible to solve to counter violence individually. Nor it is not possible to solve it in isolated groups. The whole of the society as a whole that we must look for the solution.

St. Francis
As a missionary in this violent city, I always pray which Sao Francisco de Assis prayed, “Lord make us instrument of your peace.”

Fr. Rudy Ramos, CICM, a Filipino missionary from Maasin, Iloilo

By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

On my way to the Philippines, I stopped at our Mother House in Steyl in the Netherlands. Fr. Antonio Pates, SVD, a Filipino missionary in Brazil invited me to accompany him to visit our Filipina Pink Sisters at the vicinity. Two cute Filipina Sisters entertained us. One of them was really an interesting and fascinating storyteller to listen to. At the end of our visit, Fr. Pates told them, “So this is Fr. Joe Panabang, a visiting missionary from Ghana.” “Panabang?” blurted the other sister and started laughing. She looked at me again, looked donw and laugh again. I was quite peeved. “So you are Barnabas? Hi...hi...”she continued bubbling with laughter. Only then did I come to know, as the two Sisters told me, they had been receiving copies of Misyon magazine which published the jokes. The mention of my name to them was provocative enough for them to laugh.
***

Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. To give the impression that I too am a city man, I walked proudly and with confidence toward the door. Suddenly the door opened automatically. Frightened, I jumped backward, my other hand-carried bag dangling at my back. I looked around and saw people laughing and I nodded to them, apologizing with a smile, “Forgive the bush man from Africa.”
***

After every meal inside the plane, I would ask for water. I could feel that the stewardess wanted to know why I drank water after every meal but was ashamed to ask. To answer such unstarted, I told her, “Madam, you know I am like a frog. I drink water after I east.” That sent the stewardess sizzling with laughter. The whole flight, she never passed by me without a smile.
***

During my three-month vacation in the Philippines, many of friends and confers who read my simple jokes told me they liked them. Not really flattered, I chanced upon one Misyon magazine at Catholic Trade Bookstore. True, enough, I found myself laughing at myself at my own jokes as if I did not experience them.
***

Visiting my relatives during my vacation days in the Philippines, I found it too stale answering the same questions over and over again. “How do Ghanaians look? What kind of food do they eat? Do they have chickens, pigs, dogs, etc.? It so happened that a black missionary priest, Fr. Valentine Malumalu, CICM that from Zaire, Central Africa, was the Assistant Priest of the next  parish. Proud to show him to my village people, I brought him to my relatives. Believer it or not, their was turmoil. The people were just overjoyed to see what kind of people I minister to and work with. Some of my small nephews and nieces, naughty as they are would touch his black skin and, in childish curiosity, examine his fingers if they were smeared with black color. To avoid embarrassment, I told Fr. Malumalu, “Now you know that the Ghanaian kids do the same thing to me- rubbing their hands against mine to see if the brown color would transfer.” Then I realized I brought an answer in person to spare me from the boring repetition of the same answers to the same questions.
***

When, Fr. Malumalu arrived in the Philippines, he was sent to the remote stations of Lubuagan Parish, Kalinga-Apayao. The natives liked him very much. He encouraged liturgical inculturation. Dancing during the Mass, the use of native symbols, to mention a few examples, were given impetus. He shared his experiences with me as I also shared my experiences in Ghana. He concluded, “Joe, after being with the native tribes, after everything is said and done, I think the only difference is color.” The same conclusion with my stay among Ghanaian tribal minorities!

By Fr. Hermogenes Emmanuel Bacareza, SVD

“The Berlin Wall will stand for a hundred years!” said Erich Honecker, President of East Germany, on a TV program I was watching one evening in July 1989. Yet on November 9 of that same year, a few minutes before midnight, his successor as head of state in East Germany, Egon Krenz, announced: “All citizens of East can go anywhere they want!” Next morning the newspapers printed in bold letters:”Die, Mauer funkioniert nicht mehr!” (The wall doesn’t function any longer!”) I could hardly believe it. It was just too good to be true.

Scenes to Remember
After my maps that morning, I went immediately to the Berlin Wall, considered for twenty years by Western Visitors as the wall shame and brutality. As I drew near I saw thousands of East Germans crowding the place. Some of them recognize me personally. We must come from East Berlin, Father! We came to the Wall, free” I learned later that immediately after Krenz made his announcement East Berliners bored giants holes through the Wall. A few hours later twenty two big openings had been made. The Berlin Wall tumbled down in humiliation.

Jubilation
There was Jubilation all around: shouting kissing, embracing, laughing, toasting of the occasion champagne. I sat near the Wall watching East and West Germans greet one another. I saw one German lady covering her face with her hands, crying with extreme joy, “I can hardly believe it! I’m free! My children are free!”

What Really Touched Me
It was not so much the unrestrained emotions of the East Berliners that touched me, but the heartening welcome of the West Berliners and their hospitality. At check point Charlie West German were standing by, hundreds or thousands of them with flowers in their hand, ready to welcome with open arms their lost sister and brothers from East Berlin. All the while they kept saying. “We are really happy that you are now coming to us and we hope that it will remain like this always.

Bunches of Flowers
Even young boys brought along bunch of flowers. They stuck them over the numberplates of cars as a sign of welcome. As they passed me by they called out, “The Wall is gone! The Wall is gone! Thanks be to God!”

 Bumper to Bumper
Hundreds of Trabbis (East German small cars) paraded bumper to bumper along the wide Kurfurstendam and the 17th of-June street. I counted nine rows moving like turtle through the Brandenburg Gate. Somebody said to me: “This is the most beautiful chaos in the world- this night in Berlin! It was a moving sight to see this little cars from East Berlin laden with flowers, garland and confetti, as if they were carrying newly married couple.

Baptized with Champagne
As soon the East Berliners alighted from theirs cars, a shower of roses greeted them. I saw a number of West Berliner bringing bottles of champagne to the scene. I asked one of them what he was doing to do with it. He said, “We going to baptize the Trabbis as soon as they come!” True enough, when ten Trabbis came along driven by East Berlin woman the cars were literally baptized with champagne. All in the name of peace and freedom

“This is the most beautiful chaos in the world…”

Sr. Ching Madduma, ICM
Sarnath, Varanasi, U. P. India

Finally the stage arrives when Kamal begins to recognize people.  This is the turning points in his life. Now a new potential opens up. Read on:

Great Potential
There are many anecdotes and incidents about Kamal that indicate the great potential that still is to be realized in him. He is very curious and observant. He likes to tyro out object he sees around. He needs freedom to develop his own creativity and imaginations. Kamal can be trained to help himself, to be independent to a certain extent.

Help the Family
Recently certain instances helped us to appreciate very much Kamal’s presence. One time he was absent from the class for two days. We came to know that during those two days of absence, he help the family to carry construction bricks, which we can see are piled in front of their house. So, Kamal is not a person to be called “good for nothing?”

Could Work for a Living
Regarding his future career, Kamal might be able to do properly – accepted scavenging, if given a push cart. He is able to do certain types of construction work by carrying bricks, or perhaps he could do domestic work like sweeping and cleaning toilets and bathrooms.
At this point, the teacher and myself are attempting to clarify his field of interest so that specialized training can begin. We have talked over with his parents and adult family members Kamal’s work possibilities.

Remove Steel Chain
And we have asked that the steel anklet on Kamal’s feet (which is used to chain him from time to time) be removed and that be allowed to go free. In the beginning there was great hesitation, no response or cooperation from the family. Kamal’s great obsession with scavenging and the kind of work he can do make the family ashamed of him. They feel Kamal’s interest and potential are below the dignity of the family caste.

Needs Love
The rehabilitation of Kamal is not just a one-teacher or a one-day affair. Kamal needs love and affection, acceptance, encouragement and cooperation from his own family and the community at large. If Kamal is continuously deprived of them, these lacks of social motivation will continue to inhibit his mental development.

Very special Person
The hope is that Kamal will receive the necessary love and affection that is so necessary for his continual growth into a well-integrated person. Kamal is a special person and he needs that special care.

No More Chain
These days, it is a joy to see Kamal moving around the community, no longer with the steel anklet, although doing scavenging work.

A Secret disclosed
From time to time, he comes to us with a broad smile to show all his collection. Lately I came to know that his family have been secretly selling his collections so as to buy him warmer clothes for this coming winter season.

Kamal could grow up to be confident person

…Kamals family have been secretly selling his collection so as to buy him warmer clothes for the winter season.

By Sr. Mary Anne Terrenal, RGS

Sr. Mary Anne Terrenal is a Good Shepherd sister working with needy girls and women in Seoul, South Korea.

First Joseph
In the most Catholic Churches in Europe and America and even in my own country, the Philippines, there is prominent statue of St. Joseph, the fosterfather of Jesus Christ. The inscription underneath is usually “Go to Joseph.”

We Catholics go to St. Joseph for our material and spiritual needs of the Holy Family here on earth will aid us who call on him for help. We also pray to St. Joseph to obtain for us the Grace of a happy death, like his own, in the warm presence of Jesus and His Virgin –Mother.

Second Joseph
Here in Seoul, for the past two years now, many Catholic Missionary-social workers like myself often use this expression “Go to Joseph,” with another Joseph in mind Dr. Joseph Sunwoo, bachelor, doctor of internal medicine, director of Joseph Clinic.

Hundredth Sheep
I first met Dr. Joseph Sunwoo ten years ago, soon after he arrived from USA, where he had spent ten years as a resident physician in New York, after graduating from Seoul Catholic Medical College. Even then he was looking for a hospital where he could treat people who could not go surgery due to poverty. In my vocabulary, He was a “good shepherd” in search of the “hundredth sheep” in this fast-getting –rich city of Seoul. From then on, to everyone who needed medical help I said, “Go to Joseph.”

Call 865-9289
Ever so often I receive a message from some old counsellee or fellow -missionary saying, “Sister, I am sick, here is a poor man that must see a doctor right away.” At once I answer, “Go to Joseph Clinic. Call 865-9289.”

Thought for the Times
One day it occurred to me that I send patients only to Joseph’s Clinic. That’s when the “Thought for the Times” struck me. Would that one of these days it wouldn’t be a phone call asking where to get free medical help; would that it were a millionaire on the other end of the line saying, “Sister, I have couple of extra million won. Do you anybody who can make good use of it?” I would immediately say, “Go to Joseph”. Meantime, I let the first Joseph look after the second Joseph.

“Sister, I am sick, here is a poor man that must see a doctor right away.” At Once I answer, “Go to Joseph”.
“Sister, I have a couple of extra million won. Do you know anybody who can make good use of it?” I would immediately say “Go to Joseph”