November 2014 - Servants of Charity

NEWSBITS
OF
SERVANTS OF
CHARITY
QUEZON CITY
The Servant of
Charity
NOVEMBER 2014
CELEBRATING LIFE AND LOVE
A Constellation of Saints!
Let yourself
turn to the
saints. They
who have
experienced
the same
sufferings as
us, are great
hearted in
helping us.”
ST. LUIGI GUANELLA
As we begin this month by celebrating All
Saints Day, we are called to remember the variety
of colors of Holiness and the luminous faces of
them. We have begun the centenary of our Holy
Founder and he himself promised on his death bed
“I will pray for you in heaven… I will help you and
comfort you in heaven”.
In our life time, we suffer from various physical,
mental, emotional and psychological injuries. The process of becoming a normal person, turning to Jesus
Christ and experiencing his extravagant love, mercy and
forgiveness, is like a course of rehabilitation which consists of pushing and pulling. Saints too had their twistedness and stoniness because they were human with their weaknesses and sins but
they were very courageous to change their lives through ‘self denial’ and said ‘yes’
to the spirit and voice of God.
In the Gospel of John 18:36, Jesus openly declared “My kingdom is not of this
world”. Henceforth, his purpose is not to enjoy himself or becoming a popular, miraculous performer. But he came to lay down his life as a sacrifice for sin, as a ransom for many. St. Louis Guanella would call his excruciating suffering as “God’s
providence” and an opportunity to obtain an extraordinary grace. Therefore, problems and hardships we have to deal with are tools in God’s hands for making us holy. The saints purified and accepted their brokenness and failures and showed their
willingness to submit to God’s will. As our Pope Francis says, “The Church is a vineyard of the Lord, the fertile Mother, who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves to pour oil
and wine on people’s wounds; this is the Church- One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic- and
composed of sinners in need of God’s severe mercy”.
Holiness or becoming holy does not involve serious study- God is not
a topic to study, to make an analysis- but a person to encounter and embrace. Matthew 5:48 states, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is
perfect.”
May the constellation of saints above watch over us and fill us with beauteous light! As our Regulation number 27 recommends to us- “Every year, as
an act of communion and pledge of charity, each confrere priest should celebrate a Holy Mass for the Superior General, possibly on the anniversary of his
election; similarly, it should be done for the provincial superior within the province.” Happy anniversary to our Divine Providence Province and a blessed
Feast of the Mother of Divine Providence!
FR. SOOSAI RATHINAM, SDC
Provincial Superior
CELEBRATING LIFE AND LOVE
Page 2
SOMETHING SPECIAL, a Guanellian experience
Time went by so swiftly that I wasn’t mindful of it passing
through. Perhaps, I enjoyed myself too much. Indeed, I was!
Truth to tell, I was hesitant going here. I told myself, “Why would
my Bishop send me there? I don’t even know how to take care of
special children. For sure, it would totally be difficult. ” I was half
hearted then because it was something that I don’t look forward
to and plan for. In me was the desire to continue my studies; so I
thought that I would just be wasting time going there.
Prior to receiving my assignment, I was praying for the
Will of God. I was asking and begging Him that He prunes me so
that I may bear fruit abundantly. And He gave me Servants of
Charity. I started to meet the special children. They are so makulit! They shout at each other. They fight
one another. They ran after one another. They pinch and punch. I plainly felt disrespected. It was a struggle for me at first to stoop down. I felt empty and not bearing fruit. I didn’t know where to begin. I didn’t
know what principle to live out. I really had struggle. So I prayed. I prayed for the graces of humility, patience and compassion.
Then I began to be open to the experience. I started to change my thinking into something more optimistic and positive. I decided to accept and embrace the Good Children. My fruit-basket is no longer
empty; it gathered in humility, patience and compassion. Simultaneously I started to feel Joy and Happiness; that despite the difficulty, I find fulfillment and meaning. All the while, I thought I was giving. Obviously, it seems I was, with all the time and effort. But the truth is they were the ones giving to me. I came
here wounded, broken and shallow. I came here with superficial things to offer. But then, they healed me
and forgave me. They provided me spiritual riches like patience, compassion and humility. They taught me
how to laugh again with all my laughter; they helped me rediscover the pearls hidden behind my eyes
which we call tears of joy. But above all, they taught me how to truly love. These Good Children of the
Servants of Charity has become my masters of charity.
To them, I owe the joys and healing of my gratuitous life. If not for them, I wouldn’t be able to redeem myself again. They are God’s reply to my plea, an incarnated answer to my prayer. I am so blessed,
indeed! That at the sunset of my life there was Servants of Charity bringing an ever-new and wellgrounded faith, hope and love.
Farewell R.R., may you rest in peace!
Let us pray for the eternal repose of the soul of one of our special
children, Fernando “R.R.” Minao. He died at a young age of 22, because
of cancer and respiratory problems. A friendly and very helpful young
boy, R.R. has been an example of true and dedicated service. He comes
regularly to Guanella Center to help and attend classes. He would always ask for a piece of bread not for himself but for his mother or
younger brother. Up to the last moment before he died, he was mentioning to his mother that he wants to help her and the family.
We will miss your song and laughter R.R.! May you rest in God’s
peaceful embrace!
CELEBRATING LIFE AND LOVE
GUANELLIAN OUTING
On the pleasant day of October 7th the Guanellian
priests together with the seminarians went for a
refreshing outing. We experienced and appreciated
the natural beauty of La Mesa Eco Park located
within Quezon City. Everyone
enjoyed the day by playing, swimming, eating, roaming around the
area and taking pictures. It was a
privilege also to meet and have pictures with some of the shining young actors and actresses
like Zaijan Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat from Kapamilya Channel. After the outing, on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of
the Most Holy Rosary, before returning to seminary, we visited
Santo Domingo Church to venerate the Holy Mother and to thank
God for wonderful moment He has given to us. We came back to
seminary with smile and joy in our heart.
GUANELLIANS: ONE IN CHRIST
It was a joyful experience to be part of
the annual Sports Fest of Servants of Charity.
In connection with the Feast of St. Louis
Guanella, last October 11 – 12, 2014, the
Guanellian community, including their different ministries (Elderly, LECUM, Children,
K.O.A, Youth, Staffs ,Volunteer, Priest and
Seminarian gathered together showcasing
their talents in sports and fun games united as
one family.
The participants were divided into
four groups; the red team (St. Matthew), blue
team (St. Mark), green team (St. John), and yellow team (St. Luke). These groups
race each other in the different games and categories; basketball, volleyball, table
tennis, badminton, and some of the
“larong pinoy”. The activity began with the torch lightning ceremony. Rev. Fr.
Charlton Viray, local superior of Servants of Charity, mentioned in his inspirational
message that the activity is a good opportunity for the whole Guanellian family to be more united in Christ. That gave the participants
the motivation to play not only to compete but to enjoy and to have
fun.
The Yellow Team has been proclaimed champion and the
members received each a gold medal followed by the Green Team,
third placer, Blue Team and Red Team, fourth. Participants had
great fun that was shown in their laughter and smiles. We thank the
Lord for the many blessings that he bestowed on us through the
intercession of our beloved Saint Louis Guanella.
Page 3
FEAST OF ST. LOUIS GUANELLA
As part of the preparation for the feast of St. Louis Guanella, Guanella Center
celebrated United Nations Day last October 17. Our good children presented
different costumes of various countries that signifies unity, peace and love, amidst
diversities in cultures and traditions. Sunday, October 19, the Guanellian
community anticipated the celebration of the feast of St. Louis Guanella: a
man of charity. The Holy Mass and Confirmation was presided by Rev. Fr.
Noel B. Azupardo, parish priest of San Isidro Labrador Parish. The event was attended by the Guanellian families, benefactors and lay cooperators, members of
different Guanellian ministries and friends.
Eight people received the Sacrament of
Confirmation. After the Mass, a simple lunch
was given for all. It was followed by a short
program and games for children. An estimate
of five hundred people attended the event.
Dinner for a Cause – Year 4
This year’s annual fundraising drive of Servants of Charity and Guanella Center, The Dinner for a Cause-Year 4 has been very successful. Held on the
feast of St. Luigi Guanella last October 24, 2014, the fund drive was supported by various Guanellian Lay
Cooperators, benefactors, friends,
staff, seminarians and the religious
community. Fernwood Gardens
sponsored the beautiful natureinspired venue. Around four hundred persons came for the event.
Performances from the special children, seminarians and priests added
enjoyment to the event. To all our
supporters, maraming salamat po!
Mailing Address:
Servants of Charity
Centerville Subdivision,
Pingkian Road, Bgy.
Pasong Tamo, Tandang
Sora, 1107,
Quezon City
Telefax: 931-5549
456-8550
E-mail:
guanella@yahoo.com
The growing number of indigent
and disabled children entrusted by
the Lord to our care make us seek
and welcome any help and
Last October 13-15,
2014, aof
seminar
focusexpression
solidarity.
ing on Behavior Modification of our persons
If you are
interested
sharing our
with intellectual
disabilities
was in
organized
mission
as
a
cooperator
to facilitate the professional growthorof our benefactor, you
may write,
call or visit
staff and volunteers
in handling
different
cases of our special children.
Some mothers
our address.
were also present in the said activity. Bro.
Fermin Paniza, OH, the delegate superior
of the Hospitaller Brothers in the Philippines led the three-day seminar. Many practical steps on how to understand better and approach difficult behavior cases of
our special children were discussed during the said seminar.
Behavior Modification Seminar