Better Days Are Up Ahead
By ‘Maria’
The author; who sent us her full name and address, shares the deep loneliness she feels within her own family
Philippines
Memory Of The Heart
National Youth Day Experience
8 -12 November 2006 Davao City
By Sr Davidica ‘Bing’ G. Gunao DC
As Youth Coordinator and head of the delegation of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, I experienced God’s manifold graces and blessings through the hospitality, generosity and warm welcome of the Davaoeños in general, our hosts, Assumption Parish, in particular, and specifically my foster-family, through whom God blessed me as their ‘foster-daughter’ together with another nun, Sr Gina FMM.
Sr Bing enjoying her 'youth' with some of the delegates
Upon our arrival in Davao, all the youth directors, coordinatorsand youth leaders were welcomed to a hearty NYD thanksgiving lunch at Dencio’s Restaurant. It was sponsored by the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC) Secretariat headed by Fr Eking Lacostales, Regional Executive Secretary, and his staff.
Among The Stars
By Sr M. Elena Dioneda FMM
Death, when it comes, is always sobering, more so when it comes and takes the young. When it comes knocking, we can’t help but ask at times, ‘How could God allow such a young person to die . . . a nineteen-year-old man full of potential, talents and gifts?’ Sister Elena asks this same question and finds an answer of sorts in the belief that something greater was in store for him . . .
The Door To The Deepest Longing
By Chester Jay R. Tolentino
Chester Jay and his Family
On 23 December 2006 at 10:51am, while I rested in my room, a former student, a friend, texted me asking, ‘Sir Ches, y s dr a nid 2 b moral?’(Why is there a need to be moral?)
Fr Rufus Halley: A Tribute From His Little Brother
By John M. Halley
In July-August last year we published an article by Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, about his friend ‘Pareng Rufus’, Columban Father Rufus Halley who was murdered in Lanao del Sur on 28 August 2001. Here John M. Halley writes about his older brother, whom he called ‘Rufie’, trying to come to terms with his death, and coming under the influence of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, who so inspired Father Rufus and his friend Cardinal Rosales.
Wary of the special status and privileges sometimes given to Western people in parts of the Philippines, and inspired by the life and legacy of Charles de Foucauld, in the late 80's and early 90's Rufus worked in a Muslim grocery store as a shop assistant. This photo shows Panton (the shop owner), Rufus and members of Panton's family. I am seated on the right.
Misyon View
A Simple Witness
In the Philippines , the state views overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as the country’s new heroes because of their contributions to the economy. They leave their families behind, risk many dangers, and battle loneliness in foreign lands to provide a better life for their families back home.
Blessing Of A Large Family
by Sr Constancia V. Peña RVM
The writer is number 16, the lone survivor in a family of twenty: 12 boys and eight girls. The living descendants of her parents number more than 200 grand, great-grand, great-great-grand, great-great-great-grand, and great-great-great-great-grandchildren, five generations. Interestingly, there are ten sets of twins: one set of male and female, six sets of females and three sets of males. There was that so-called ‘baby boom’ in the fifties and sixties, but members of this large family were born in 1902 through 1930.
Sr Constancia with family members and Fr Kevin McHugh SSC
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
Retreat Retreat with God
By Athea Myrnette ‘Aia’ Orayle Caspe
The author graduated from high school this year at St Peter’s College of Ormoc.
My recent retreat was really a vacation with God. I did not expect that it would be that good and such a relief.
For the first time, I was able to talk to God wholly in an honest letter to Him. I told Him all my happiness and doubts. After that, my teacher handed each one of us a letter from God. Even though I knew it wasn’t really from God, I really felt thrilled and happy at receiving and reading the letter. What made my heart beat faster was when I started reading it!
Finding My Home
Dearest Father Seán and staff,
Prayerful greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus! I was inspired to write after reading three issues of MISYON which my aunt lent me.
I had already become interested in obtaining a copy of your magazine after reading some stories from it in the Sunday Examiner. So it was a great blessing to have it through my aunt. I considered it as God’s manifestation of His unconditional love for me. All the contents nourish my soul. All the life stories of our dear missionaries are very inspiring and challenging. When I read the January-February 2006 issue only last May due to numerous borrowers, I was really struck by the life shared by Melissa Andrea M. Kayahon when she said, ‘I have learned the deeper meaning of happiness and fulfillment – that this can be achieved not by seeking fun and pleasure alone but by giving one’s self, including your time, talent and resources to make others happy’. This is really true for us migrant workers, especially my fellow workers who commit themselves to volunteer in religious organizations during our holidays.
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
I am because of her
By Jomar B. dela Cruz
On 6 June 1987, at around one o’clock in the morning, my tender-hearted mother gave birth to a very healthy little boy. I had an angelic, candid face and a lovely, soft voice. My parents truly believed that my birth was a wonderful blessing for them. With their names they named me, Jomar. They made me the heir of both their beautiful names, ‘Jo’ from my mother’s name, Jocelyn, and ‘Mar’ from my father’s name, Mario.
I grew up in an atmosphere of love. My parents unhesitatingly gave me everything I wanted. When I cried, they would panic! They loved me very much! Perhaps, I experienced the greatest love of all.