The Camillian Task Force (CTF) Leaders’ Conference was held last February 12-17, 2009 at the Generalate, Piazza della Maddalena, Rome, Italy. Together with 16 participants coming from various countries, Fr. Aristelo Miranda, MI and Fr. Charly Ricafort, MI attended the said liturgical, formative, and social gathering.

It’s all about hope and good news… only here at SCPHC. 

A MOA has been signed.

On Feb. 21, 2009 the board meeting of the Pastoral Care Foundation of the Philippines (PCF) began at 9:20am at the St. Camillus Pastoral Healthcare Center. In attendance were Fr. Philip Lazatin, SDB, Sr. Rita Van Damme, ICM, Sr. Tina Agiular, OP, Sr. Tentai Saniel, RC, Sr. Marie Therese Yusay, SPC, and Mrs. Flora Calleja. Sr. Fe Santos, SMI, the corporate secretary, was also present.

“VERY GOOD!” says Ced Apilado, a UNAIDS personnel in the Philippines after finishing the four-days pastoral training seminar on HIV/AIDS.  This comment was echoed by almost all participants in the first pastoral training on HIV/AIDS held in St. Camillus Health Care Center (SCPHC) from February 26 to March 1, 2009.

There were 28 participants: 2 Holy Spirit Sisters, 1 Camillian priest (Fr. Ruben Mandin, MI), 2 Camillian Adult Formation aspirants, 5 Camillian postulants, 2 Camillian novices, 9 Camillian Scholastics, 3 Camillian Sisters, 2 personnel from St. Camillus Polyclinic Pasig, Sr. Liz, FMM & Sr. Tentai Saniel, RC of the CPE Group. (See more photos at the end of the article.)

Our Lady of La Paz Parish in Makati enjoyed the special blessing of Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales’ presence at the celebration of the parish’s 33rd foundation anniversary held last March 1.  The celebration began with the 6:30PM Eucharist at which Cardinal Rosales presided.  Six Camillian fathers and two Chinese diocesan priests (who are Camillian aspirants) concelebrated with him: Fr. Ivo Anselmi, Provincial Superior, Fr. Robert Chua, La Paz parish priest, Fr. Reji Chaka, Fr. Evan Villanueva, Fr. Boy Guinit, Fr. Gabby Garcia, Fr. John Bai and Fr. Paul Hou.

Camillians in UERMMH

As part of the effort to reach out and be more effective and committed in our service to the sick, St. Camillus Scholasticate Community ‘sent’ John Paul and me to the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital(UERMMH).  We began our apostolate there in July 2008.

Camillians at JRRMMC

Camillian involvement in Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) at San Lazaro Compound Rizal Avenue Sta. Cruz Manila began in November 2007. Scholastics Brian, Dan, Agustinus and John Paul were the first scholastics assigned there every Thursday afternoon to help in the chaplaincy and in patient visitation.

Families of Camillian seminarians gathered for a two-day “Family Day” at the St. Camillus College Seminary last February. 21 and 22.  The theme “Pagkalinga at Pagmamahal ng Kapamilya: Fundasyon ng Kamilyanong Seminarista” animated the celebration.  The guest speakers who shared valuable insights about the theme were Mr. and Mrs. Jojo and Ditsy Sumpaico.

WOW! GO FOR OTHERS’ WELFARE…

“Wow!Wow!Wow!” exclaimed a parishioner of Nuestra Señora de la Anunciata as he finished donating blood for the patients of the parish. There was a mix of pain and fulfillment in his face as he started munching the snack given to him. All in all, the experience was a WOW! (WE for OTHERS’ WELFARE).

In the past month, there were echoes after echoes in the mountain that describe the endeavors involving the community - WE for OTHERS WELFARE.

Get out the ashes and put on the sackcloth – cut down on the food and milk?  Lent is here to purify the body and the soul.

Ashes were given here at the start of Lent.  Emphasis was placed on not only giving up something but also on positive actions such as going to church, helping the neighbor and being kind to those who drive you crazy (that’s a tough one).

SCH–Calbayog sails through two eventful months

We had many activities in February and March.  We celebrated the heart month with so much joy, laughter and lots of input.  We began the celebration of the World Day of the Sick on February 11 with a Mass for the sick at St. Camillus Hospital.  This was followed by the visitation of patients and the distribution of love offerings to them.  This activity was sponsored by the hospital personnel.

CBHCP in full swing in Mati

The St. Camillus Hospital of Mati Foundation - Community Based Health Care Program (CBHCP) continues its alternative traditional treatment services such as acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, ventosa, orthopedic massage (hilot) and herbal products preparations.  The bananas planted by the Community Health Volunteers (CHV) and the herbal plants are growing with new varieties added.  These plants provide food for people and for the animals raised within the compound.

DMC celebrates 17th World Day of the Sick

The Chaplaincy Office together with the Camillian Family of Davao Inc. celebrated the World Day of the Sick last February 11 with two Healing Masses.  The first Mass was celebrated at 9:00 am at the gymnasium in the hospital compound, which currently serves as a temporary ward while the Medical Communicable Pavilion is under renovation.  The presence of three Camillian priests, Fr. Tex Buntol, our chaplain, and Fr. Rodel Enriquez and Fr. Gabby Garcia, whose visit to Davao was very timely, added significance to the celebration.  After the Mass, the Camillian Family distributed “arroz-caldo” to the patients and watchers.

Graduation! 

March 20 – the Recognition Day at the Maryhill School of Theology.  The day marked the successful toil of 31 graduates after four years of theological studies.  Scholastics Brian Vincent Rances, MI, Mushtaq Anjum, MI and Ignasius Sibar, MI (see photo)  were part of the graduating class also known as the Saklay Batch.  The event held in CICM provincialate grounds started with the celebration of the Mass presided by Bishop Honesto Ontioco, Bishop of Cubao.

Birthday of Fr. Joseph Yang &  Arrival of New Adult Formand

On March 16, we celebrated the movable birthday of novice Fr. Joseph (February 21 in the Lunar Calendar).  He turned 45 but still “Yang.”  That same day, we also welcomed a new adult formand who arrived in the afternoon. He is Rancel C. Cezar, 30, from Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, a former seminarian of the Diocese of Mati and a member of the Divine Healer Choir of DMC where Fr. Tex serves as chaplain.