Christmas Spirit in Baguio

“This time it's for real; it's Christmas,” not just because of the cold weather nor of the ‘ber’ month but because it’s Christmas Day!

Most of us, coming from the lowland, were so excited to experience Christmas here in the coolest place of the country. It was like Europe, as Baguio shares the same coldness of that icy land.

However the preparation that we had in our community was far excellent; from brainstorming up to actual décor. After several discussions and placing everything into its place, the novitiate house became a work of art.

In addition, aside from decorating the house, we also imbibed the spirit of Christmas through singing Christmas carols to our new and old friends and celebrating ‘Simbang Gabi,’ in Pines City Doctors Hospital together with the hospital staff and patients.

After the celebration of Christmas Day we were visited by different communities and organizations. The Young Camillian Religious (YCR) with their adviser Fr. Ranante T. Sentillas, MI, arrived in our community on the following day for their annual gathering, together with the Marikina Community. It was a kind of reunion for all of us- inspiring one another to follow more closely God’s invitation of service to our brothers and sisters most especially the sick.

Thus, we make everyday a Christmas Day as we hold on to that inspiration- “Brotherhood.”

God Bless us all!

Welcome 2011!

A New Dwelling Place

Fr. Ivo Anselmi once said in a  friendly conversation, “We should find joy in everything that we do, or else, we will seek anything, which we cannot find in this community”. Perhaps, this is the reason why he is still active and energetic in his life as a religious. He can still crack jokes and act like us inside or even outside the community. Because of his enthusiasm and with the collaboration of our novice master, Fr. Ruben Mandin, we were able to have a new dwelling place where we can more     intensely live our identity as Camillians.

It all started when Fr. Ivo planned to extend our hands to other institutions not owned or administered by other religious congregations. While he was helping the local church by officiating Holy Eucharist and other sacraments, he found time to visit Mrs. Teresita B. Gaspar, the administrator of the Pines City Doctors Hospital (PCDH). She is a religious woman, supportive and also active when it comes to religious activities. Fr. Ivo offered to her the chaplaincy services of the Camillians.      And without hesitation Mrs. Gaspar accepted the offer for him to be the official chaplain of the hospital.

The PCDH is one of the famous hospitals in the province of Benguet. It is located in the northern part of Baguio City and near La Trinidad. Most of the patients of this hospital come from the said places and mountain provinces. It has a 120 bed capacity and offers specialized treatment of different kinds of diseases.

After two weeks of knowing the place, celebrating the mass and getting to know the personnel and staff of the hospital, Nov. Lucky, Nov. Andrew, Nov. Carl and Nov. Errol were appointed by Fr. Ruben to have their apostolate in the place.

They began their first day by visiting the patients.  Since the hospital is also a place for other Christian denominations and sects, it has become a place for unity where peace, love and hope are very much alive. It is also because of the openness and hospitality of the patients and enthusiasm of the novices.

Indeed, it is a grace to the novices and to the patients because the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ is very real to them in their every encounter.  It is a new dwelling for us, an opportunity again to stay in the bedside of our sick brothers and sisters and bring to them the love and goodness of our merciful Lord Jesus Christ. Looking at this kind of life, we are further  encouraged to do more for the sick and respond to the gift that the Lord entrusted to us.