Just a year ago, Camillian seminarians would always associate Novitiate with Baguio because it was there where this stage of formation took place. For the SCCS collegians, Baguio served as an added motivation to pursue their vocation, because this city atop a mountain offered an ambience that could bring one closer to God and to oneself; and it could even make one a fattened lamb ready for slaughter. I cannot deny that I have been wishing to stay there to see if all these things were true.  After more than five months of hoping, that wish was granted.

We novices had the 30-day retreat in the former novitiate house- turned-retreat house from Nov. 17 to Dec. 18, 2008. The retreat was facilitated by our very own Fr. Renante Sentillas, together with our novice master, Fr. Ruben Mandin.

Let’s hear from Father Mike…

December 8 is one of the most significant days in the Order of the Ministers of the Infirm. On this day, the Camillians make their Devotional Renewal of Vows.  In a conversation with this writer, Fr. Mike (who is in town for his vacation) shared that for our confreres in Sacred Heart Parish Westmead the renewal took place on December 7 which fell on a Sunday.  All six religious – Fr. Giulio, Fr. Dado, Fr. Regie, Fr. Jojo, Fr. Nilo, and Fr. Mike – renewed their vows all together during the Sunday Eucharistic celebration in the parish.  The renewal rites, though simple, must have been an attention-grabbing event since it was the first of its kind in the parish.

Breathing Camillian air in the Lung Center

In the late 90’s the Camillians started to extend their presence to one of the premier and specialty hospitals in the Philippines – the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP). Upon special requests by the hospital’s Pastoral Committee, the Camillians began visiting the institution, which lies nestled in a 12-hectare lot at the end of Quezon Avenue near the Elliptical Circle in Quezon City.

Established in January 1982, LCP is a semi-government tertiary specialty hospital that makes waves in treating, managing, and in the research and education on respiratory diseases.  Unfortunately, LCP ran into an enormous crisis in May 1998 when almost half of the hospital building was razed by fire. Undaunted by the adversity, the Lung Center strived even harder to live out its commitment to help improve the quality of life of the Filipino people. Thus, as it celebrates its 27th anniversary this month, LCP remains steadfast in realizing its vision to be “the premier institution for lung and other chest diseases, providing quality health care through excellent service, training and research.”

With this issue, the Camillian Update begins featuring the different apostolate areas where Camillian scholastics and seminarians experience their “on-the-job-training” and, perhaps, baptism of fire.  This January, a center for sick and abandoned children called Tayuman Joy is in focus.

THE JOY OF TAYUMAN

It’s Sunday. Day of apostolate for the courageous young men of the Red Cross from the seed bed of Camillus in Marikina. From St. Camillus College Seminary, they take the bus to their apostolate area.  I join them in that bus - the bus that has carried generations of priests and seminarians to their respective destinations where they witness to the ever present love of Christ for the sick.  This Sunday the bus head for Tayuman Joy.

NKTI at 25

The National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) celebrated its 25th founding anniversary last year. It was commemorated for one whole year with construction and renovation projects carried out and special medical services offered free of charge to out-patients. The yearlong celebration culminated last December during the hospital Christmas party.

As the hospital developed, the chapel likewise underwent improvement.  It has been spruced up with new stained glass windows and a new carpet around the altar and on the aisles. The chaplaincy is very grateful to former patients who willingly shared their blessings for the chapel’s development. “Their donations are signs of their gratitude for the quality service that NKTI has given and shared with them when they were confined” shared Fr. Charly, MI, the hospital chaplain.

The echoes of the cold breeze resounded over the mountains of Boso-Boso right after the holiday season.  During the cold spell, it felt like autumn in Boso-Boso as the leaves, hit by strong cold winds, detached themselves from the trees and fell to the ground.  Indeed, the holidays were not yet over…the spirit was still alive and so were the spirits of the parishioners of Nuestra Señora dela Anunciata Parish. Renewed and recreated, the local church of Boso-Boso started the year full of hope and great anticipation.

The coming of the New Year ushered in the arrival of new faces in the Blessed Luigi Tezza Community based in Barangay Inarawan, Antipolo City.  Three new adult aspirants joined the community on January 6. They are Fr. Paulo Hou, 24, Fr. John Bai, 27, and Bro. Anthony Cui 24.   Shortly after their arrival they enrolled in a language school to polish their English.

A Happy and Blessed New Year to all the faithful readers of the Baloney.  May God and His guidance be with you all during 2009.

What a great Christmas party we had at the Provincial House at Quezon City.  Food was excellent and so were the drinks to wash it down.  Thanks Fr. Ivo for a fine and enjoyable time.

Boy, was I lucky at our exchange of gifts.  I received from Fr. Freddie a beautiful gift from Rome – a gold plated holder.  For taking communion to the sick.  Thanks Freddie!

Reaching Out… Building Strength Within

The last quarter of 2008 was a busy time for the Calbayog community. We connected with people through outreach activities and bolstered our inner strength through healthcare awareness talks and seminars. Just to note some, last Oct. 31, 2008, St. Camillus Hospital (SCH) in collaboration with Samar Medical Society (SMS) hosted a Scientific Meeting and Fellowship Night which provided an extensive update on Stable Angina. The occasion was well-participated in by the SCH community and was graced by the presence of consultants from different hospitals. On Nov. 6, a health care forum in which Jose Galvez-Tan, former DOH Secretary, talked about the current health situation.

DMC perks up with Christmas happenings

It’s December once again, the month of the most awaited season when we celebrate the coming of our Savior who calls us to experience and share the joy of serving Him. The Chaplain of the Divine Healer Chapel, Fr. Tex V. Buntol, MI, together with the Chapel of the Divine Healer Choir (DHC), lay ministers and some chapel volunteers, celebrated the happy season at Davao Medical Center with a series of wonderful events.

The medical mission conducted in St. Camillus Polyclinic (SCP) in Barangay Inarawan, Antipolo in the morning of December 14, 2008 did not only address the medical needs of its beneficiaries.  It also spread the spirit of Christmas among them.

University Choir

During this winter semester, I joined the University Choir and became an official member. The choir members were happy to know that I would be joining the tenor group. It felt, of course, fulfilling to be able to share our talents. It was also something special for me to sing with the members, staff and students from the different faculties.