November 2014 - Servants of Charity
Transcription
NEWSBITS OF SERVANTS OF CHARITY QUEZON CITY The Servant of Charity NOVEMBER 2014 CELEBRATING LIFE AND LOVE A Constellation of Saints! Let yourself turn to the saints. They who have experienced the same sufferings as us, are great hearted in helping us.” ST. LUIGI GUANELLA As we begin this month by celebrating All Saints Day, we are called to remember the variety of colors of Holiness and the luminous faces of them. We have begun the centenary of our Holy Founder and he himself promised on his death bed “I will pray for you in heaven… I will help you and comfort you in heaven”. In our life time, we suffer from various physical, mental, emotional and psychological injuries. The process of becoming a normal person, turning to Jesus Christ and experiencing his extravagant love, mercy and forgiveness, is like a course of rehabilitation which consists of pushing and pulling. Saints too had their twistedness and stoniness because they were human with their weaknesses and sins but they were very courageous to change their lives through ‘self denial’ and said ‘yes’ to the spirit and voice of God. In the Gospel of John 18:36, Jesus openly declared “My kingdom is not of this world”. Henceforth, his purpose is not to enjoy himself or becoming a popular, miraculous performer. But he came to lay down his life as a sacrifice for sin, as a ransom for many. St. Louis Guanella would call his excruciating suffering as “God’s providence” and an opportunity to obtain an extraordinary grace. Therefore, problems and hardships we have to deal with are tools in God’s hands for making us holy. The saints purified and accepted their brokenness and failures and showed their willingness to submit to God’s will. As our Pope Francis says, “The Church is a vineyard of the Lord, the fertile Mother, who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves to pour oil and wine on people’s wounds; this is the Church- One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic- and composed of sinners in need of God’s severe mercy”. Holiness or becoming holy does not involve serious study- God is not a topic to study, to make an analysis- but a person to encounter and embrace. Matthew 5:48 states, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” May the constellation of saints above watch over us and fill us with beauteous light! As our Regulation number 27 recommends to us- “Every year, as an act of communion and pledge of charity, each confrere priest should celebrate a Holy Mass for the Superior General, possibly on the anniversary of his election; similarly, it should be done for the provincial superior within the province.” Happy anniversary to our Divine Providence Province and a blessed Feast of the Mother of Divine Providence! FR. SOOSAI RATHINAM, SDC Provincial Superior CELEBRATING LIFE AND LOVE Page 2 SOMETHING SPECIAL, a Guanellian experience Time went by so swiftly that I wasn’t mindful of it passing through. Perhaps, I enjoyed myself too much. Indeed, I was! Truth to tell, I was hesitant going here. I told myself, “Why would my Bishop send me there? I don’t even know how to take care of special children. For sure, it would totally be difficult. ” I was half hearted then because it was something that I don’t look forward to and plan for. In me was the desire to continue my studies; so I thought that I would just be wasting time going there. Prior to receiving my assignment, I was praying for the Will of God. I was asking and begging Him that He prunes me so that I may bear fruit abundantly. And He gave me Servants of Charity. I started to meet the special children. They are so makulit! They shout at each other. They fight one another. They ran after one another. They pinch and punch. I plainly felt disrespected. It was a struggle for me at first to stoop down. I felt empty and not bearing fruit. I didn’t know where to begin. I didn’t know what principle to live out. I really had struggle. So I prayed. I prayed for the graces of humility, patience and compassion. Then I began to be open to the experience. I started to change my thinking into something more optimistic and positive. I decided to accept and embrace the Good Children. My fruit-basket is no longer empty; it gathered in humility, patience and compassion. Simultaneously I started to feel Joy and Happiness; that despite the difficulty, I find fulfillment and meaning. All the while, I thought I was giving. Obviously, it seems I was, with all the time and effort. But the truth is they were the ones giving to me. I came here wounded, broken and shallow. I came here with superficial things to offer. But then, they healed me and forgave me. They provided me spiritual riches like patience, compassion and humility. They taught me how to laugh again with all my laughter; they helped me rediscover the pearls hidden behind my eyes which we call tears of joy. But above all, they taught me how to truly love. These Good Children of the Servants of Charity has become my masters of charity. To them, I owe the joys and healing of my gratuitous life. If not for them, I wouldn’t be able to redeem myself again. They are God’s reply to my plea, an incarnated answer to my prayer. I am so blessed, indeed! That at the sunset of my life there was Servants of Charity bringing an ever-new and wellgrounded faith, hope and love. Farewell R.R., may you rest in peace! Let us pray for the eternal repose of the soul of one of our special children, Fernando “R.R.” Minao. He died at a young age of 22, because of cancer and respiratory problems. A friendly and very helpful young boy, R.R. has been an example of true and dedicated service. He comes regularly to Guanella Center to help and attend classes. He would always ask for a piece of bread not for himself but for his mother or younger brother. Up to the last moment before he died, he was mentioning to his mother that he wants to help her and the family. We will miss your song and laughter R.R.! May you rest in God’s peaceful embrace! CELEBRATING LIFE AND LOVE GUANELLIAN OUTING On the pleasant day of October 7th the Guanellian priests together with the seminarians went for a refreshing outing. We experienced and appreciated the natural beauty of La Mesa Eco Park located within Quezon City. Everyone enjoyed the day by playing, swimming, eating, roaming around the area and taking pictures. It was a privilege also to meet and have pictures with some of the shining young actors and actresses like Zaijan Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat from Kapamilya Channel. After the outing, on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, before returning to seminary, we visited Santo Domingo Church to venerate the Holy Mother and to thank God for wonderful moment He has given to us. We came back to seminary with smile and joy in our heart. GUANELLIANS: ONE IN CHRIST It was a joyful experience to be part of the annual Sports Fest of Servants of Charity. In connection with the Feast of St. Louis Guanella, last October 11 – 12, 2014, the Guanellian community, including their different ministries (Elderly, LECUM, Children, K.O.A, Youth, Staffs ,Volunteer, Priest and Seminarian gathered together showcasing their talents in sports and fun games united as one family. The participants were divided into four groups; the red team (St. Matthew), blue team (St. Mark), green team (St. John), and yellow team (St. Luke). These groups race each other in the different games and categories; basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and some of the “larong pinoy”. The activity began with the torch lightning ceremony. Rev. Fr. Charlton Viray, local superior of Servants of Charity, mentioned in his inspirational message that the activity is a good opportunity for the whole Guanellian family to be more united in Christ. That gave the participants the motivation to play not only to compete but to enjoy and to have fun. The Yellow Team has been proclaimed champion and the members received each a gold medal followed by the Green Team, third placer, Blue Team and Red Team, fourth. Participants had great fun that was shown in their laughter and smiles. We thank the Lord for the many blessings that he bestowed on us through the intercession of our beloved Saint Louis Guanella. Page 3 FEAST OF ST. LOUIS GUANELLA As part of the preparation for the feast of St. Louis Guanella, Guanella Center celebrated United Nations Day last October 17. Our good children presented different costumes of various countries that signifies unity, peace and love, amidst diversities in cultures and traditions. Sunday, October 19, the Guanellian community anticipated the celebration of the feast of St. Louis Guanella: a man of charity. The Holy Mass and Confirmation was presided by Rev. Fr. Noel B. Azupardo, parish priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish. The event was attended by the Guanellian families, benefactors and lay cooperators, members of different Guanellian ministries and friends. Eight people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. After the Mass, a simple lunch was given for all. It was followed by a short program and games for children. An estimate of five hundred people attended the event. Dinner for a Cause – Year 4 This year’s annual fundraising drive of Servants of Charity and Guanella Center, The Dinner for a Cause-Year 4 has been very successful. Held on the feast of St. Luigi Guanella last October 24, 2014, the fund drive was supported by various Guanellian Lay Cooperators, benefactors, friends, staff, seminarians and the religious community. Fernwood Gardens sponsored the beautiful natureinspired venue. Around four hundred persons came for the event. Performances from the special children, seminarians and priests added enjoyment to the event. To all our supporters, maraming salamat po! Mailing Address: Servants of Charity Centerville Subdivision, Pingkian Road, Bgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, 1107, Quezon City Telefax: 931-5549 456-8550 E-mail: [email protected] The growing number of indigent and disabled children entrusted by the Lord to our care make us seek and welcome any help and Last October 13-15, 2014, aof seminar focusexpression solidarity. ing on Behavior Modification of our persons If you are interested sharing our with intellectual disabilities was in organized mission as a cooperator to facilitate the professional growthorof our benefactor, you may write, call or visit staff and volunteers in handling different cases of our special children. Some mothers our address. were also present in the said activity. Bro. Fermin Paniza, OH, the delegate superior of the Hospitaller Brothers in the Philippines led the three-day seminar. Many practical steps on how to understand better and approach difficult behavior cases of our special children were discussed during the said seminar. Behavior Modification Seminar
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