Nurturing the Gift We Have Received

One of the best gifts that God has given us is our vocation to religious life. It is a special gift that we have to continually treasure and nurture so that as we try to become gifts to others we bring into realization what the Lord Jesus told us – “The gift you receive, give it as a gift.”. (Mt. l0:8)

We are called by God to a very specific mission of service to the sick. And we have to do it with the love like that of a mother to her only child who is sick and serve the sick with heart in our hands. By faithfully living our compassion for the sick we become God's living presence to them as we cheer them up, give them hope, and help them keep believing that life is beautiful.

To effectively and efficiently do this, we have to continually deepen our personal relationship with the very source of our vocation – God. Thus it is a must that we have to be a man of prayer. We have to be in constant communion with Him. We must try our best to allow Christ to live in us so that we do things not for ourselves but for Him and others.

At the same time, we must value the importance of good relationships with our confreres in the community. But we have to be aware that a community that is God- and other- centered has to be created by the members of the community. If we are able to create this, then our community becomes our power house where we can get encouragement and support in times of difficulties.  It becomes our source of joy and enthusiasm in carrying out our ministry, and our fallback when life becomes burdensome.

The secret to live religious life meaningfully is our openness to the movement of the Spirit deep within us. This happens when we can honestly say that we have tried our best to do His will and not ours. Weaknesses and limitations we may have, but God always supplies us with the graces we need to persevere in our ministry and daily endeavors especially if it is for the building of the Kingdom of God here on earth. Let us do our best and surely God will take care of the rest! God bless us all.

Installation of the Philippine Province's New Provincial

On  April 12, 2010, Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI was installed as the first Filipino Provincial Superior of the Philippine Province. The installation rites was held at the St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality, Tagaytay City, during the annual retreat of the perpetually professed Camillians in the Philippines.

Camillians join one voice in ASIA to stop HIV and AIDS

“We should have one voice in Asia as a Church!” exclaimed Fr. Gerry Novotny, OMI, a missionary from Japan, as he shared his experiences with the participants of the First Workshop of Asia-Pacific Catholic HIV/AIDS Network. He made this statement in the context of  his exposure to institutions caring for people living with HIV and AIDS in Chonburi and Pattaya in Thailand.

Travelling from 16 countries, 97 representatives from several Catholic organizations involved in the ministry with persons and communities living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, convened last May 12-15, 2010 at the Camillian Pastoral Care Center (CPCC), Lat Krabang, Thailand. The workshop aimed to sharpen the response to HIV/AIDS  of  the Catholic Church in Asia and the Pacific, to dialogue about the AIDS Ministry between Catholic organizations in Asia and funding agencies, to build close relationships and cooperation among Catholic organizations  in Asia and the Pacific, to promote and sustain the spiritual strength of Catholic individuals and organizations involved in the HIV/AIDS ministry, to dialogue and promote concerted efforts to reduce the new HIV infections  in collaboration with other religions, taking into account different beliefs and government policies.

PNAC: Camillians Help Address Gap in HIV Treatment and Care

In a country affected by the HIV epidemic, the government health care system may not be prepared to address the wide range and specialized needs of the PLHIV.  In the Country Report of the Philippines (January 2008 to December 2009) of the Philippine National Aids Council, the Council (PNAC) acknowledged that in a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, the psychosocial and spiritual needs of the PLHIV need to be given attention.  The report clearly stated that “…spiritual care is an essential component of a care and support program for PLHIV and their affected families.”

Fostering vocations is said to be a task of catechesis and a crown of youth ministry. With this as the rallying call, the 6th John Paul II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conference was held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City on 5-7 May 2010.

Scholastics John Paul B. Alvarado, MI and this writer represented the Camillians at this activity organized by the Salesians of Don Bosco-Philippine North Province. It was the first time for the Camillians to be part of the conference.

Boso-Boso youth levels up!

While most of the people in the Boso-Boso valley were already soaked in deep slumber, there they were, still very much alive and kicking. Excitement was evidently running through their veins. They were the Youth Ministry members of the Nuestra Señora de la Anunciata Parish in Boso-Boso, San Jose, Antipolo City. At 12 midnight on May 14, they were off for a six hour trip to the beach town of Lobo, Batangas for their two-day Leadership and Team Building Training Workshop.

The Novices are on the verge of completing another stage of their formation. In a few days, they will make their first profession. Imagine, everyone feels excited and determined. They are inspired by their new discoveries, learnings, and strong faith in God. For almost a year, nobody surrendered. They persevered despite all the challenges and difficulties especially in moments of doubts and uncertainties. The four are still kicking and healthy. As of this moment, they are on the mode of relishing their whole year experience in the novitiate.

Five days in the mountain

In observance of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ, half of the postulant group was sent to Boso-Boso Mountain to help in the mission of our dear fathers, Fr. Domingo Barawid, MI and Fr. Ruben Mandin, MI, in giving religious services to the people in the parish of Nuestra Señora dela Anunciata and the chapels of Boso-boso, Calawis, Apia, San Josep, and San Ysiro. The postulants stayed there for five days.

LCF-Davao gear up for HIV/AIDS ministry

The Lay Camillian Family of Davao (LCF Davao) recently embraced the worldwide call to support efforts in pastoral care among people living with HIV/AIDS.  However, the present crop of LCF-Davao members who are extending pastoral care, found themselves neophytes – unprepared emotionally and lacking in knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

In response to this realization, the LCF Davao headed by Mrs. Guillerma Apigo, RND with her other officers coordinated with Fr. Marcelo Pamintuan, MI, the director of St. Camillus Hospital in Mati City, Davao Oriental and concurrently the Spiritual Director of the LCF Philippines, and organized a Pastoral Care Training on HIV and AIDS. 

The seminar took place last May 6-7, 2010 at the OPD-JICA Building, SPMC, Davao City.   The team of workshop facilitators included Bro. Dan Cansino, RMT, MPH who is on his pastoral year as a missionary; Bro. Eric Tampis and Bro. Jason Labrador, both in their Theology years, and Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, MI.

New German Provincial

The Father General of the Camillian Order, Renato Salvatore, officially announced last May 12, 2010 the new elected German Provincial: Fr. Siegmund Malinowski!