By Sr. Vincentia Laccay, CFIC
Kalimantan, Indonesia

Into the Wilds
One day, Fr. Timoteus, two catechists and I set out for the barrio of Kampung Kadak by motor cycle. After half an hour, we reach the station with a small chapel. There we had to leave behind the motorcycle for the barrio we were going to was still without any road. We have to hike one and half hours, passing through tall cogon grasses and crossing small rivers.

Tired and Thirsty
Arriving in the place, we were tired and thirsty. We were welcomed by the barrio folks- with hot tea. But the most welcome of all to us was the fresh coconut water which gave us strength and quenched our thirst. Praised be the good Lord for His goodness.

First Time  
The people, the young and the old, flocked around and shook hands with us as a sign of their joy to have us in their midst. After having hiked that distant hilly and ragged rats paths ‘jalan tikus’ at last, they met a sister. This was the first time the people had ever seen a ‘sister’. So you can imagine how they stared at me. As for the priest and catechist, well they were used to them.

Evil Spirits
In this place, the people still practice what is called ‘Dukun’ or local medicine to heal their sick and also strong belief in ghosts. During this visit, the district head and the “guru Agama”- religion teacher- upon the request of those who already were baptized, put up a big tall cross in front of their chapel, to drive away the evil spirit. If they have an epidemic some of the sickness like ‘cholera’, they believe this is brought in by an evil spirit, so they prohibit other people to pass through their territory, or they have to leave the place and go to other barrio. With the blessing and installing of a big cross, their faith will be strengthened and their fear will be lessened. That is their great hope.

First Communion
During our two days stay at the Kapung Kadad, there were baptisms and marriages held and also some young boys and girls, 15 in all, made their first communion.

No Priest
After mass, the people gathered in one long house where they invited us to join their meal as a sign of oneness and gratefulness for our visits, and especially bringing Christ to them. This is only done once a year due to lack of priests. Let’s pray for more vocations to the priesthood and that they become good missionaries.

Back to the Motor Bikes
Leaving them, they pleaded us to come again and oftener. The children sang songs of farewell and the district head called ‘Kepala Kampung’ accompanied us till the small chapel- next barrio- where we have to get the motor cycles and continue our journey back to our station in “Pusat Damai” which means “Center of peace”.

By Sr. Fidelis Abad Santos, SCMM
Filipino Missionary in Brazil

My Father Died
My father died when I was still very young. But the image he left with me is that of very honest and just man. He was a Justice of the Court of Appeals then. I remember seeing gifts being delivered to our house from people whom I gather were asking him for favor and he would returned. He refused to be bought.

Bags of Money
I remember his calling us every now and then to gather by the window of our house and give us bags of coins to give to the slum dwellers children playing outside the house. I don’t remember him preaching in words but his attitudes and example planted in me the seed of a desire for justice and true charity, love, compassion.

Struggle to Survive
My mother had to struggle to bring us up all by herself. Many a time I asked her how she did it seeing all five of us, her children, are so well brought up and formed. In all simplicity she would always answer that she did not “bring us up” because she was so busy earning a living for us. She would not claim credit for this very important thing but rather hand over the credit to us “you did it all yourselves” she would say.

Off to Brazil
But her ever loving presence and selfless love for us give us the solid formation which no words or advice can give. And so I join the Medical Mission Sisters and become a missionary in Brazil.
Thus I entered the most important school of education in my whole life: the Escola do Povo, Escola da Vida (in Portuguese) meaning; the school of the People, the School of Life.
Living with and like the poor, I have learned facts of life, realities that no books could teach me. Because I was taught and I learned from living their life, the poor became part of me, part of my being and not just in my head, intellect.

Seventeen Years
As I sit here this evening, a real faces come to my mind- faces of the poor and oppressed of  Goias, the negros of Bahia, the marginalized women of Campina Grande, the farmers of Piaui, the basic Christian communities and the groups with which I formed cooperatives in Brazil. I live with them for seventeen years.

 

Strange Tiredness
During my last months in Brazil, I had been feeling increasingly tired. However, I was still going on with my normal activities: cleaning the house, washing my cloths, going to the field with my cooperative group since we have a community farm, cleaning our one hectare farm, going on foot to the different villages, meetings, liturgies. Many had cautioned me that working in the fields was to hard for me. But I thought and believe that I was no different from my people, therefore I wanted to go through that they had to go through. The daily one- hour relaxation exercises and contemplation gave me renewed strength to go through another day. But I noted that I was really getting more and more tired so, upon consultation with my team and community leaders, I decided to go on vocation. It was at this time that my sister sent me a free ticket to Los Angeles as her silver jubilee gift. She invited me to join them for a week’s vacation there. To make a long story short, I accepted this invitation.

Collapse
The day I was going to travel to Rio de Janeiro, I fainted while taking a bath and regained consciousness an hour later on the floor in the bath room. Another fainting spell occurred upon my arrival in the bus terminal in Rio. When I got to my sister’s, I was taken to a Filipino doctor. I had not the slightest idea what was doing wrong with me. And this is the story starts.

The Verdict
I was lying on bed, tired and worn out, doing my relaxation exercises trying to silence my body and mind to experience the presence of God within me. Gently and lovingly, my sister, Diva, approached me. She sat by my side and said, “The doctor called and said you are in a serious condition. Your hemoglobin count is down to 5. You could have died in one of those fainting spells. It is possible that you have leukemia. We will hospitalize you for blood transfusions. Then we will plan for all the other necessary tests.” I was stunned -- not surprise nor afraid. I received the news ever so calmly and just answered, “OK”. She just quietly left me, and I laid there in silence. I though how fitting it was that diva my twin sister, would be the one to give me the news of probable death. She, with whom God had called me to life -- the two of together -- she, with whom I shared life from the moment of conception.

They are dying a Slow Death
As I was lying there, I could see the poor with whom I worked and shared life in Brazil, laboring hard in the fields under the hot sun- hard work- the whole day, and hardly anything to eat when they reach home. I recalled how much I complained to my team about the ineffectiveness of Agrarian Reform Program of the government because the one’s formulating it were not farmers and did not have experience of the plight of the poor. It is all so unfair! I felt its consequences as I myself was a victim with the people. I saw myself as the personification of this sad fate of the poor. They are dying a slow death. And, I thought, I was dying. It just happened that I reached the end of the rope sooner than they. They are still struggling. As though looking at myself from outside my body I said, Poor Fidelis. Look at her tired body. It can no longer sustain her undaunted spirit.” And, I felt myself intimately one, united with Him, “This is My Body; This is my Blood.” In my own little way, in union with Christ, I have nourished the courage and strength and lifted the hope and dignity of those people in Cubati! And I prayed, “Lord, I offer myself for their continued struggle for liberation, and for Your Kingdom.”

One Lonely Moment of Separation
My family was very sad and determined to do everything to save me, and so were our Sisters. I could feel their love enfold me. My mother prayed aloud, “Lord, don’t take my daughter. Take me instead.” With gratitude and love in my heart, I said to her, “No, if the Lord wants me, Let Him take me. I will go. “This is my offering.” I was ready to meet the Lord. I only felt the slight fear of that one lonely moment of separation, of passage from death to life. I prayed that I would be able to answer our Lord, “Yes, Lord, I have tried to live my whole life for You”

Recovery
But I recovered. I am well again! This experience brought me to the realization of the eternal NOW. Every moment is an unfolding of eternity. My eternity starts now. Yesterday is no more, tomorrow is not yet. What matter is the NOW. I must be what I am called to be, now. And when I go to my innermost core now, I experience God who is my self, my family, my people, my friends. We are all ONE in the infinite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Sr. Emma de Guzman, ICM
Okola, Cameroun, Africa

When I arrived here and began working in the 70’s only men were allowed to be catechist; I initiated the revolutionary idea that women could become catechist too, especially for children and young. As a result, there are now more than 2,000 mother catechists and they are doing the work well. We have to be patient and wait until men (including parish priest) accepted the idea that women could also preach the Word of God in a society where women are not allowed to speak in public. We still have a long way to go; but the idea is gaining ground: everything is GRACE and the Holy Spirit blows where it wills even if the parish priest and the chief catechist are opposed to it!

The diocese where I was working before is so immense they divided into two. Okola is now in the diocese of Obala.

Obala is not yet two years old and our new bishop is asking for more missionaries.

We have ten parishes that have no parish priests and our 37 parishes, only 15 parishes have sisters. The Bishop has been launching an appeal to all congregations and we are taking this chance of Misyon that some Filipino congregations of sisters or lay people might be interested to work in Cameroun as nurses, teachers, and pastoral workers. PLEASE COME! The diocese of OBALA needs you!

Our Bishop’s address:
Monseigneur JEROME OWONO MIMBOE
Diocese of OBALA
BP 24
OBALA, CAMEROUN, AFRICA
 

Because of this Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, If you release the man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who makes himself a king is defying Caesar.”

When Pilate heard this, he had Jesus brought outside to the place called Stone Floor – in Hebrew Gabbatha- and there he seated him in the judge’s seat. It was the preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. So Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.” But they cried out, “Away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate replied, “Shall I crucify your King?” And the chief priest answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified, and they took charge of him.

No Guts
I have the impression Pilate was a decent man, but of that brand of decency often encountered down the centuries, which is one of the cruelest scourges to afflict humanity: a decency which is allowed with weakness and with out the guts to proclaim and stand up for justice.

He Says He’s a King 
I know all about justice. This man is innocent. I find nothing against him- You may not find anything against him. But don’t forget, you’re the governor and you’re going to lose your job. For here comes the conclusive argument: ‘He says he’s a king, and those who claim to be kings are Caesar’s enemies.’

Subversion
Often we assume that Christ died solely for claiming to be the Son of God. But I think there were two factors. He did claim to be the Son of God and this shocked the high priests of Jewry. But he also proclaimed himself to be a king, and this was subversion against the governor, hence against Caesar.

Pilatism
I’m not passing judgment on Pilate but thinking rather of very large family of the Pilates, of Pilatism, of the decency that keeps quiet because it has no guts

Easy to be Brave If…
I don’t pass judgment on Pilate. I know it’s easier to be brave or to put up a show of being brave, when one is comparatively free when one has no family responsibilities.

 

Why don’t they Speak?
But things are bad here. On our continent, it’s easy for us to get accused of being subversives and communist, when we try to stand up for the human rights of those who are being crushed. Many, many people know we are neither subversives nor communists. Why don’t they say anything? Why don’t they say anything? Why don’t they speak up and defend us?

Patience
But the point also has to be grasped: many people aren’t in the kind of position that allows them to be brave or to make a stand. We have to grasp this and put up with being misjudged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Sr. Amelia Bublo, SSpS
Filipino Missionary

Encarnacion, Paraguay

I left for Paraguay in the year of the Philippines Liberation from Martial Law. What has been published in newspapers and magazines about the Filipinos finding identity is really true. Maybe the Asian features were very prominent here on the other side of the world because upon knowing that   I am a Filipino, some people would ask: “Sister please pray for me… for my husband…and for my son… I believe that EDSA REVOLUTION, Filipinos have become known as a people of deep faith.
This is the way I see it.

Laying on of Hands
Through contact with the people, the Lord has led me to discover a new ministry- that of PRAYING AND LAYING ON OF HANDS. One day the sister I leave with asked me to accompany her to visit a family friend. The first greeting of the woman when we entered the house was: “How lucky we are to have visitors like you. My father is sick!” My fellow sisters introduced me as a Filipino sister who will be working here in Paraguay. Spontaneously I went near his bed and laid my hands on him then I prayed for the Holy Spirit’s presence. In the room with only a candle light, I heard just a faint sob and the word “Gracias hermana”.

Now Sitting Up
The following morning, my fellow sister related to me with joy in her voice that she received good news from the daughter of the old man whom we had visited – that her father could already take food and could sit up in his bed. “Gracias A Dios” I said.

Tears in her Eyes
Some weeks later, my sister informed me that a woman with her sick child was waiting for me in the chapel. She asked that I pray for her. With tears in her eyes, she started to relate that her husband went away with another woman and left her three children. Now the youngest got sick and longs for her father. I told her that we would pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten her husband and also for the frail child in her arms. I promised to visit them.

Running with Joy
Almost a month had passed before I remembered my promise. One afternoon I went to their house. To my surprise, at the door, “la Señora” meet me with a big smile and then Marlene her daughter, came running, full of joy and healthy, showing me her father who had come back!

 

My Secret Treasure
There are many instances wherein the Holy Spirit has gifted with his healing presence those who believe in Him. But the thing that I treasure most from those who have asked for prayers is their faith in God and their trust in a Filipino Missionary.

By Sr. Ines A Tan, FMM
Filipino Missionary in Macau

Last Issue: Sr. Ines told us how she began her missionary work in Macau. Read on:

Walking the Streets
St. Francis used to walk the streets- that’s how he did his mission work. I decided to imitate him and I walked the streets of Macau- I met other streets walkers: prostitutes, many of whom were Filipinos.

 They were Tricked
Some of them were tricked into being prostitutes while the others chose to be. They welcomed me so I continued visiting them as their sister who cares. I pitied them but I was at lost as to what to do. They gave me money to pray for them and my superior said, “we will pray for them without payment”, then I brought the money to the Carmelites and they said the same thing. Finally, the Carmelite gave the money to the priest for a novena of masses.

80 Prostitutes
Before a year was up, not one of the eighty Filipino prostitutes was left. My friendship and visits created dissatisfaction between the recruiters and the girls until the management got angry and got rid of them, their passports were given back and they were freed. This is how prayer works!

Why do you care for us!
With the prisoners, prostitutes and new migrants from China, I preach the good news by bringing a heart that loves and cares. It always happens even with the Moslems when I was in Sulu and here, that a time will come when people will asked, “why do you care for us!” Then that is the time that I use words to proclaim Christ, the Lord, who called us to be brothers and sisters. I have been an instrument of peace and reconciliation to many: to the prisoners who received forgiveness and acceptance by their loved ones, to the prostitute who made her first confessions and first communion, to the new immigrants who found themselves not alone. As for me, this is the way of proclaiming the Kingdom of God, “the already” but not its fullness.

I am Sure of One thing
My missionary life demands a continuous renouncement of self. I am always facing difficulties that strike me at all angles of myself. But what I am sure of is, in this corner of the earth, God is glorified! I thank God for all the graces He has given me, for being able to integrate into the culture of the people,   for giving me new friends here, that inspite of my sinfulness, He shows me the way… how to preach love to his people. I am writing this on the feast of St. James, the apostle. I am grateful of my parents and friends, my religious congregation, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the priest and teachers who taught me to love.

(To be continued)

 

‘The stadium looked so big that I could not imagine it being filled with the people not to mention legionaries’, said Columban Fr. Aedan McGrath, the Legion’s representative from headquarters in Ireland. The sight of 100,000 Korean Legionaries gathered together has to be seen to be understood. So many processions of Legionaries carrying banners and flags streamed into the stadium that by the time the convention began, many had to be turned away and had to listen to the events relayed by loud speakers outside.

Amazing Growth
Korea is a non Christian country, and it was only 35 years ago that Columban Archbishops Harold Henry gave the go- ahead for the small Legion group in Mokpo. He sensed then that there would be great flow of people into the Church, and he knew that priests and sisters would unable to cope. It was a task for the laity. The legion spread phenomenally and legionaries helped to bring about the mass conversions that have characterized the church in Korea. Today Korea’s catholics number nearly 3 million. Many priests are convinced that if it had not been for the Legion of Mary such a growth rate would not have occurred.

Proud Moment
The sports Stadium of Cheong Ju in Central Korea was the venue for 1988 National Legion Congress. Colourful Korean dresses sparkled in the sunlight as the Nuncio said that he was proud to witnessed such a moment in Korea. Fr. McGrath added his greetings from the Legion’s Headquarters

Prisoners in China
During his two week visit 85 year old Fr. McGrath, two spent time in the prison in China and who many claim to be most traveled missionary in the world, was anxious to visit as many Legion groups as possible. Fr. Tony O’Brien Columban Director in Korea went along to interpret. One parish priest he met, told him that he had only 56 Legion groups in his parish. He is only half apologetic because many other parishes have over 60 such groups. When asked if he had difficulty managing many, he replied: ‘I only wish I had more’. His parish is devised into 56 sections, and each legion group is responsible for its own area. ‘That means visiting, caring, coaxing, instructing, and eventually bringing people to the church.’ This was the favourite method of legion founder Frank Duff, and was also the practice of early Christians. ‘Getting the newly baptized to go immediately and tell others what they have understood themselves is the perfect method to make a Christians live what they have learned,’ commented Fr. McGrath.

 

Historic Group
He also visited one of the Columban parishes where two of his colleages were working, Fr. Sean Savage, who started the historic first Legion group in Mokpo village in 1953, and Fr. Charles Carolan. Both priests each have 25 legion groups in their charge. They visit all 50 regularly.

Even the Blind
‘My two weeks in Korea was truly an inspiration,’ said Fr. McGrath. To find 13,000 Legion groups in non Christian country after only 35 years, and constantly increasing, was something that I had not expected but the most notable achievement of the Legion in Korea has been the production of the Legion ‘s handbook in Braille for the blind. Some Legion groups are made up entirely of blind members. Even though the blind legionaries could not see the huge crowd they could hear them. The 1,000 voice choir was soon swelled by 100,000 other enthusiastic voices, as they joined the mass with the bishop of Cheong Ju.

Korean Missionaries to China?
Perhaps such big numbers and such wholehearted participation is a sign that Koreans who once got the faith from China will soon send missionaries back to China…

 

 

Koreans are already beginning to send out their own missionaries.