A MISSIONARY died recently in Manila. This missionary was famous for two things -- his personal devotion to the Eucharist and his dedication to the poor. Here Fr. Al Schwartz reflects on how easy it is to believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist compared with believing that Christ is present in the poor. Yet both doctrines are central to our Catholic faith.

Let me give an example to illustrate how easy it is to believe Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, yet at the same time ignore His presence in the poor. Suppose for the sake of my illustration, someone – say a Satanist – broke open a tabernacle, stole a ciborium, went to the local dump-site, and threw the consecrated hosts on the garbage heap of the city. A believing Christian secretly witnesses this sacrilegious act. He runs to the chancery office and informs the bishops the bishops and his assistants. One can easily imagine what the creation would be. It would be one of outmost surprise, shock, and scandal. Most likely, one of the priests, or even bishop himself would the dump-site, gather up one by one the consecrated hosts from the mud, muck, and the garbage; brush them off, put then in sacred vessel, and then return them to the to the tabernacle of the Church. Probably, public prayers of reparation would be called for. The story of the incident would be written up at great length in the Catholic press. People would read the account with horror, shake their heads and wonder what this world was coming to.

A Special Seminar for Balikbayan Missionaries

By Fr. Leonardo Mercado, SVD

Missionaries have the temptation to overwork -- add to that the shock of a new culture and maybe a new diet and climate and you have the perfect formula for BURN OUT. The Divine Word Missionaries are trying to do something about this. They offer a special program for Balikbayan Missionaries several times a year at their retreat house in Tagaytay City. Here we have some of the comments or returning Filipino missionaries who have done this one-week seminar organized especially for them.

• The seminar was truly an answer to a prayer: the solution to the alienation of a returning Filipino missioner.
• One important feature is the sharing of mission experiences, especially our woundedness and frustrations.

By Fr. Ignacio de Moreta, SJ

IGNACIO DE MORETA is one of 15 brothers and sisters. He was born in Manila (mother from Goa, Camarines Sur). His first mission was a twelve-year stint in Culion Leper Colony in Palawan – “That’s where I learned to be in a missionary.” Needless to say, that was quite exhausting. He was glad of a period in Venezuela. From there came the call to Ecuador where many priests had left the ministry. So it is from Equador now he writes to us and shares how the church is struggling to alleviate the poor. Ignacio has four brother priests and two (Assumption) sisters here in the Philippines.

Like in so many countries in Latin America, the Church in Ecuador must grapple with the problem of poverty. The Lord, of course, calls us to a simple lifestyle but that is far from the destitution that we see in Ecuador. This destitution cries out in heaven. We have in our own way tried to become a voice for the people. What we did was to set up a Foundation to help the poor in the suburban areas.

By Hector Pascua

This is am extraordinary and beautiful story of how a young Filipino lay theologian is administering a parish in Austria. It opens up what a wonderful role awaits the Filipino Church on the day we wake up and hear the call.

I am Hector Pascua, journalist and theologian, working in a parish in Austria. The Diocese of Vienna assigned me to a parish where there is no priest. Presently I am working in the publication of the first bi-monthly magazine for the Filipinos in Austria called Mabuhay ang Filipino.

By Bro. Raul, FC

Pakistan is a country of extreme temperatures from fabulous snow up to a scorching 50 degree centigrade. Bro. Raul, FC tells us how he had and his companions manage to survive away from the Philippines.

On the Roof

Its summers time again in Pakistan. Since the heat and humidity make our room like and oven, we sleep on the rooftop. Nowadays we (brothers and novices) call ourselves “Sleepers on the Roof”. I enjoy being with my brothers and novices on the roof. When we are all on the rooftop we support one another and laugh together at this terrible summer. Its’ not easy though, but life must go on. We have to wake up early, so our prayers, studies and apostolate. We take a long rest after lunch. Nobody can go out at noontime when the temperature is almost fifty degrees centigrade!