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Written by Editor-in-Chief
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There is a bit of newness in the Camillian Update. With this January issue, we begin with modifications that we hope to sustain in the year 2008. We have slightly modified the layout, hoping to make the pages more eye-friendly. We have also chosen themes for each month to be presented on the front page. January’s theme is our Fourth Vow. Each issue will also feature a Camillian ministry and one particular community. For this month, chaplaincy as practiced by the St. Camillus Chaplaincy Community takes center stage. In order not to go far, we have kept the spotlight focused on the chaplaincy community more popularly known as the ‘Mabuhay’ Community. To keep us connected not only with the present but also with our Camillian heritage, we also insert a few historical notes. What important events in the past happened to or within our Order in January? These we bring to you through “A Glance Back at History.” Month after month, we shall be publishing these memory refreshers. Through the changes that we are introducing, we hope that our publication will become truer to its name – Camillian and updating. If you have reactions and comments, please, let us hear from you. |
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Feature Community: St. Camillus Chaplaincy Community |
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Written by Sch. John Paul Alvarado, MI
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The St. Camillus “Mabuhay Community"
It was the late Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin who flashed the green light for the establishment of the St. Camillus Chaplaincy Community on Feb. 17, 1993. Upon the Cardinal’s approval, the Far East Vice Provincical Council, at their meeting on March 21, 1993, deliberated further on the canonical erection of the Mabuhay Community. The General Consulta, then headed by Fr. Angelo Brusco, finally approved its establishment on April 9, 1993. |
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Feature Ministry: St. Camillus Chaplaincy in Quezon City |
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Written by Sch. John Paul Alvarado, MI
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Camillian Chaplaincy Ministry
As Camillians, we are called to witness to the ever-present love of Christ for the sick. One of the vital ways of expressing this love is through our chaplaincy work in hospitals. In the Philippine Province, the St. Camillus Chaplaincy Community in Mabuhay, Quezon City engages in this ministry. The four religious in this community serve in three government hospitals. Fr. Charly Ricafort works in the National Kidney and Transplant Institute; Fr. Junrey Ente serves at the East Avenue Medical Center; Frs. Wilfredo Penoliar, and Francis Zhang, offer their combined services to the patients at the Philippine Heart Center.
I learned from interviewing the ‘Mabuhay Quartet’ that they have similar and distinct tasks as Camillian chaplains. In general they offer the same pastoral care services such as anointing of the sick, bedside visitation, confession, pastoral counseling, prayer healing, spiritual direction and daily masses. Aside from attending to the needs of the sick, their watchers and relatives, they also offer spiritual formation to the health care personnel and providers. They facilitate recollections, strengthen and promote team building, and enrich the personnel’s sense of compassion in serving the sick.
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Youngest Five gather in Baguio Novitiate |
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Written by Camillian Update
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The five youngest perpetually professed religious in the Philippine Province (minus the sixth – Fr. Mike Gimena who is Australia-based) met for the YCR yearend gathering at the St. Camillus Novitiate. Fathers Rodel, Angel, Nato, Bien, and Wilson spent two days together – Dec. 27 and 28 – to catch up on each other’s personal journeys and to plan their future activities.
The first day of the meeting was meant to be a recollection. But unable to find a resource person, they settled for an input from one of their own. Fr. Angel, outgoing YCR chair, shared with his confreres his learnings about “Appreciative Inquiry” or AI. He explained that AI developed as a reaction to the problem-solving approach to organizational development. Positively oriented, AI regards an organization as an organism that is alive and not a machine to be fixed. It stresses what works as against what does not work, and highlights success rather than failure.
After the highly appreciated input, the group proceeded in the afternoon to evaluate past activities and plan their 2008 calendar. They also elected a new set of officers. Frs. Bien, Angel and Nato were elected president, vice-president and secretary respectively. Fr. Rodel was appointed chronicler and contributor to the Camillian Update, while Fr. Wilson was asked to serve as liturgist.
A trip to the highest point of the Philippine highway system was the exciting activity on the following day. The group drove to Mt. Atok, where they enjoyed an exhilarating mountain view from an elevation of 7400 feet.
Though just a simple and quiet event, the YCR gathering last December nonetheless enabled the participants to forge stronger bonds among one another. They dispersed from Baguio, assured of one another’ collaboration and support as they soldier on in their respective ministries. |
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Written by Fr. Tom Welu, MI
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Happy New Year from Baloney Land! May God give you His choicest blessings during the coming 365 days.
The Chinese water torture – I mean the Misa de Gallo – is over. The people love it but it’s a killer for the priest. The chapel was packed every day. For Christmas Eve we changed the time of Mass from midnight to 11:00 p.m. Everyone wanted Mass earlier so they could go home and celebrate. It was a good idea.
Rain poured like crazy an hour before Christmas Eve Mass. I asked God to stop the rain and lo-and-behold the rain stopped. Hey, who says prayer doesn’t work?
After the 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Mass I was invited to the barangay captain’s house for a feast which of course, included my favorite beverage – milk?
The Bishop had his yearly Christmas party for the priests Dec. 26 and 27. Food was good and we were served plenty of the good ‘stuff’ to drink. Gifts were exchanged after a Mass celebrated by Bishop Du. He gave all the priests a barong and other gifts.
After much eating, my pants seemed to have shrunk. But, what the heck! The food and drinks sure were good.
Of course, the poor were also helped this Christmas Season so social justice was served.
Health Notes: I was so happy when I heard each Congressman was given P200,000 to celebrate the Christmas Season. Did you know that that they decided to give their pesos to the health care budget? The only stipulation was that their contribution would be used to purchase birth control pills and condoms for their constituents. How’s that for Baloney?
Lots of burn victims this holiday season. Fireworks were the main culprit. Also motorcycle accidents and deaths have been declared an epidemic by the Dept. of Health.
Sure hope 2008 is better for the health of the poor.
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Written by CF Romeo Obillo and CF Jigz Banzon
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Last Nov. 27, 2007 CF Jigz Banzon celebrated her birthday and received a brand new house from her husband as his gift to his beloved wife. She invited Fr. Tex and some of the members of the Camillian Family of Davao to the blessing of their new home at Bangkal, Davao City. Right after Fr. Tex gave the final blessing, he received a call from CF Guilly. He told Fr. Tex that Dr. Gerry Cunanan, the Chief of Hospital of Davao Medical Center, had just died. Though we were all shocked, we hurried to Mindanao Heart Center where Dr. Gerry was admitted. Fr. Tex blessed the remains of Dr. Gerry and some of the CF members offered prayers for our beloved Chief of Hospital.
Dr. Gerry passed away at age 59. He was known in DMC as the big man with a big heart for the poor sick not only from Davao but the entire Mindanao. He was very supportive to the Camilian Family because he believed that through this organization we can help alleviate the pains of our sick brothers and sisters admitted in DMC. In fact, a week before he died he talked to this writer and discussed the status of the CF Davao. Its membership, plans and even its future were discussed for almost two hours.
During the wake, the CF Davao and the Chaplaincy Office took charge of the liturgy. Some of us and even Fr. Tex were on call 24 hours to help facilitate liturgical services. Fr. Bong, though himself still recuperating after several days of hospital confinement, rushed to DMC from Mati to preside at the requiem mass.
The CF Davao deeply condoles with the family of our beloved “Ama” of DMC . Dr. Cunanan is truly a big loss to all of us who dearly love this man who dedicated his life to the poor sick of Davao City. |
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Newsbits from Deutschland |
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Written by Fr. Manny Tamayo, MI and Sch. Jun Cabonegro, MI
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Wintertime in Germany adds beauty to the joyful seasons of Advent and Christmas. In the big city of Essen, one can admire the various Christmas decorations everywhere. Malls and shopping centers are packed with costumers. Everyone seems busy. Christmas parties and celebrations are held here and there, one after another. The Camillians in Essen are also carefully arranging their scheduled activities. Below are some of their extra activities: St. Camillus Parish- For three consecutive Tuesdays, a 30-minute evening meditation is organized in the Church. Parishioners are invited to take part in order to know deeper the meaning of Advent and to prepare themselves spiritually for this wonderful season.
- The Advent bazaar was held last November 25 in the Parish Hall and in Kamillushaus Hall. The parishioners themselves actively sold and bought handmade Advent and Christmas decorations.
- The Christmas bazaar was held last December 8-9 in the spacious square in front of Kamillushaus. Several small wooden stores (looking like sari-sari stores) were set up. The Filipinos sold Filipino delicacies like pansit and lumpia.
Filipino Community- The members of the Couples for Christ celebrated their Christmas Party in the Parish Hall last Dec. 7. The Camillians in Essen were invited to join the party.
- The members of the Loved Flock celebrated their Christmas Party in Mülheim on Dec. 8. In honor of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, the group requested Fr. Manny to celebrate the Holy Mass before the party.
- The existing Filipino organizations in North Rhein, Wesfalia scheduled Christmas celebrations. Fr. Manny and Fr. Weber attended the Ala Eh Organization’s Christmas party held in Dortmund last December 15.
Ruhrlandklinik Hospital- Fr. Manny is the Catholic chaplain in Ruhrlandklinik, a hospital specializing in lung treatment. Together with the hospital employees, he invited the Filipino Choir to sing Advent songs for the patients in the hospital wards on Dec. 5.
- Ruhrlandklinik celebrated its Christmas party last Dec. 16. The Filipino Choir was again invited to perform during the happy celebration.
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2008 January 
