News

From our missionary sister, Mary.

Many thanks. 

It is a new world in the East.

We look forward to more pictures.

God bless.

Donald.

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          NEWS, Quezon City, (Manilla))Philippines  

from Sr. Mary, FMM            

Sr. Mary on right

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: sr.mary -------------
Sent: Wed, 9 February, 2011 7:54:39
Subject: Philippines Thanks

Dear - - (everybody),  Thanks N... for the latest from Chris and Palm Island(Aus). D.G. no lives were lost though the damage to property sounds mighty.   Chris, I actually got the evening news broadcast from Australia on our T.V. the day after Cyclone Yasi thundered her violent way down and across the northern Territory. Certain coastal resorts and their devastion were shown but Palm Island was not mentioned so I guessed that possibly you were not the worst hit. However I gather that the whole experience must have been quite terrifying in Palm Island, also. (Having experienced a few mighty typhoons in Taiwan in the past - the awesomeness of the power of nature and the helplessness one feels when Nature is seemingly out of control and then the turning in one's heart to God in trust, and not being let down as His peace reassures one on another level. Not long ago, do you remember our pilgrimage to the Skellig Islands, off Kerry coast, and our dangerous crossing, literally in the depths of the waves if not exactly the ocean? Chris, I can remember very vividly, hanging on to you for dear life as I kept slipping off the bench and wondering how long we could hold on against the fierce elements of wind and wave. Noreen and Jo, you were taking the full blast on the back seat facing the ocean and I could not even look there to see how you were coping. Amidst all the rough ride and turmoil of the ocean, I decided that this was as good away as any to meet the Lord and this great peace flooded my soul. Donald,  "Of Gods and Men"  seems to have touched many hearts and will continue to do much good. D.G. I look forward to seeing the DVD one day. The interview with Brother Jean Pierre was very good in fact, but, as you noted, the tranlation into English was really poor. Patience.        Now, a little about our goings-on. Our P.P. invited all the Religious Priests and anyone else living the consecrated life to a special Mass on Feb. 1st evening and 12 Congregatioins of men along with Nine of Women from the Parish were present with the Jesuit Provincial invited to preside and preach.It was a joyful, prayerful occasion and the Church was full as many lay folk came along too. We had a lovely meal together at the Cenacle Retreat house up the road less than 5 minutes from the Church. The arrival of another Congregation, from Italy, the Salesians of the Sacred Heart, was announced at Mass on Monday morning and the two Foundresses one African and one Brazilian stood up with the Assistant General who had accompanied them from Rome to receive a welcoming clap. Here, if a visiting Priest is filling in for the P.P. he receives thanks from the Catechist on duty (who leads in prayers before Mass and makes any announcements) and the Congregation gives him a big clap. Every day at the end of Mass Father says "Thanks be to God" and we all clap.  I think we are giving God this applause but sometimes I think we are giving Father a clap and then ourselves, for turning up to celebrate the mass and God's goodness.   Anyway, it is a very nice custom. We have a homily at every mass and they are as a rule excellent. On sunday an elderly Filipinlo Jesuit celebrated the 9:30 Mass and preached on the Salt and Light and really challenged the congregation on their witness as Christians.     He said that there is a Korean and a Japanese Jesuit in their Community at present and they are very interested  living in a Christian country.  The japanese Priest that in Japan there are over 90 suicides a day and these people are from fairly well off families buit they found no meaning in their lives. In Korea there are over 70 suicides a day and again these people found no meaning in their lives. There are not many suicides in the Philippines so Father concluded that the Faith it would seem makes a difference. And it is true to say that the Filipinos are a happy people and do get strength to bear hardships. A few weeks ago this same Jesuit told us that 70% of the population here is below the poverty line  i.e. they have less than 100 pesos a day (about US$2.00)  t o live on so life is hard. (The other 30% are very rich and some are very generous to the ;poor) Talk about giving witness -  last week the news broke with a big scandal about corruption in the military. apparently 160 million pesos or dollars  US( even Father wasn't sure which but anyway it was a huge sum of money), had been  given as a gift to one or more retiring generals.  - money that should have been spent on military equuipment.Some soldiers had been killed recently because of  faulty and outdated equipment. Sorry to say , but corruption is rife in many areas of society and there were high hopes that the new President would be able to do something about it. However it is very deep rooted and proving to be very difficult to deal with. So much for our Catholic country. On another level the two visiting Jesuits were impressed by the devotion of the people and the many Priests, Brothers and Sisters as well as very well trained and committed lay folk. Our Community here love the Tagalog hymns, songs and dance and every city, town and village has its favourite Saint to be feasted annually. I give the Novices a few hours of English a week and we now have an English day when we speak or try to speak only English and since an Assumptionist father says mass on Wednesdays we chose that day. Morning and evening prayer are also in English and during the day, especially at mealtimes,  we have quite a lot of fun and hilarious moments. Last week we celebrated The Lunar New Year - a big family feast in China and other countries of the East - and started off on the Eve with a reconciliation service in our Chapel which was nicely decorated for the occasion. We had told the workers to take a week off  and so could receive in peace our visiting Filipina Sisters who came along on differnt days to greet us and wish us well .We invited along one day ,the Provincial and her Community. for a Chinese dinner (home-cooking) and had a lovely time together. They have been particularly helpful to us since we came to Manila and kept and eye on the renovation of the property among other things.  Jo, many sisters who were in Liberia or Ghana or Papua were asking for you.  Sr. Susan, Sr. Linda (who are in the convent  at GMA for the Sick and elderly where I stayed for 6 weeks to recover from Dengue, and Sr.Bing to mention  but a few. I hope dear family, that you are all well and that your trainers are the right size and comfortable, Nivard. - - - - - Yours . . .  Sr. Mary T. Church of the Holy Sacrifice Quiezon City Philippine