Provincial and Delegation Councils meet in Taiwan

The Provincial Council and the Taiwan Delegation Council convened at St. Mary’s Hospital, Luodong, Taiwan on February 2 and 7 to deliberate on the pressing local concerns of the Taiwan Delegation, particularly the situation of St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Nursing and Medicine Management College and the 2008 financial reports on the Philippine communities and Taiwan institutions.

Fr. Ivo Anselmi, the Provincial Superior convoked the meeting with his Provincial Council members. Present during the meeting were the Delegation Councillors:  Fr. Mateo Kao, Br. Paolo Han and Fr. Jacob Wong with the Delegate Superior, Fr. Giuseppe Didone.

Look up in the sky!  It’s a bird; no it’s a plane, no it’s super Obama coming to save the USA and the world.

Cheers upon his coming abound around the world but there is a deafening silence coming from the mother’s wombs where the unborn babies shudder in fear for their lives.

Finally, after searching the newspaper, watching TV news for almost three months here in the Philippines I was finally able to find an article stating the abortion promoting stance of Obama.  Bishop Bacani, writing in the Manila Standard had an article entitled ‘The American Savior?’ Bacani said: “Obama has been an ardent supporter of abortion. He has reportedly pledged to nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court only judges who supported Roe v. Wade (law which legalized abortion).  He voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion (killing a baby by jamming a knife into the baby’s brain after being pulled halfway out of the mother).  He goes on to say that Barack Obama can’t save his country unless he changes his anti-life stance.  How true that is.

My hat is off to you Bishop Bacani, for having the guts and courage to label Obama as he really is – a ‘baby killer.'

The Parish of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila

“WELCOME TO THE CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE.” Seconds after you finish reading this road sign on board a moving vehicle, you’d have crossed over to the province of Bulacan.  At the first junction from the border you will see the Shell Station – a landmark that leads to our destination:  the Parish of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila in Brgy. San Manuel, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

The Parish of San Isidro Labrador

THE CAMILLIAN EFFORT TO “PREACH THE GOSPEL AND HEAL THE SICK” is also felt in San Isidro Labrador Parish in Marikina Valley.  Scholastics Bernard Busa and yours truly have been doing their apostolate in this sixteen-year old parish for six months now.

“SUPERB! ENRICHING!” said one of the members of the Parish Pastoral Council of Nuestra Senora de la Anunciata Parish.  She was describing their first FELLOWSHIP gathering in the parish last January 31, which aimed at fostering communion and unity among the members of the different Basic Ecclesial Communities of the parish.

For the parish of the Annunciation, February is a month of enriching and nurturing.  The parishioners started the month full of vigor and unity as they launched their first fellowship in the parish.  The fellowship became a venue for them to share their experiences and pray together as one Church.  At the same time they also shared food in an agape.  The gathering was a success, as each participating member went home with anticipation for the next fellowship scheduled on the last Saturday of February.

What’s stirring at St. Camillus Pastoral Healthcare Center?

CPE goes on.

Benny and yours truly are now half way through the second quarter of our CPE journey together with Liz and Daphne.  We call ourselves the four elements that keep the flame of CPE burning at SCPHC, with Sr. Tentai Saniel, RC as the fifth element who binds us together and guides us to be more caring and loving.  Sad to say, we will be ending soon – probably March 14.  But that’s not the end of the road.  Another quarterly course will run from March 30 to June 6.

HIV/AIDS PastoralTraining takes off.

February 26 to March 1 are four days in the SCPHC calendar earmarked for the HIV/AIDS Pastoral Training Seminar. Around 28 participants are expected to attend it.  Most of them are Camillian scholastics, novices, postulants, and sisters. The St. Camillus Polyclinic-Pasig will be represented by a doctor and a medical technician. Two Holy Spirit (S.SpS.) sisters, two doctors from Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and a doctor from Amang Rodriguez Medical Center will also be participating.

The year started with the celebration of a TV Mass at ABS CBN Davao Studio last January 3.  Fr. Tex, MI presided over the anticipated Mass with the Divine Healer Choir and some chapel volunteers.

Last January 9-10, the Divine Healer Choir had their fellowship and election of officers at High Ponds Resort in Binugao, Toril, Davao City. The gathering started with Taize prayer facilitated by Fr. Tex.  Fellowship activities followed.  On the following day, we celebrated the Holy Mass and held the election of new officers.

Workshop on basic journalism

Last January 22, 2009, eight scholastics writing for the Camillian Update attended a workshop on basic journalism.  Miss Angela Constantino, Assistant Features Editor of Candy, a magazine published by Summit Media, conducted the seminar.  She entitled the seminar “Write Tight” and discussed the basics of journalistic writing.  Among other things, she stressed that “news writing is concise,” which means refraining from using many words when one will do. The workshop was meant to enhance the scholastics’ writing skills.  Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, MI and Ms. Veronica Villegas, who are part of the Camillian Update staff, participated in the workshop also.

CHINESE NEW YEAR - Just by looking at the red and gold decorations in our house in the evening of January 25, one could tell that it was Chinese New Year. But this event was not the only reason why the Provincial and some religious came here. Fr. Ivo came to formally welcome the two new Adult formandees and the five postulants as they formally began their formation here.

The event started with a Mass presided by Fr. Ivo. A special Chinese dinner was served prepared by our very own Fr. Paul, who makes his own noodle. Chinese songs were played, chopsticks were used, and our Chinese confreres sang.  We played BINGO as we awaited the turn of the year. There were lots of exciting prizes but the two most coveted prizes (W. Brown shoes) went to our surprised guests- Schs. Andi and Chris. At 12:00 midnight, fireworks (courtesy of Marikina community) were lit as we all shouted Kong Shi Fat Chai (not Kong Hei Fat Choi according to our Chinese members).  Aside from Fr. Ivo, the other Camillian Fathers who graced the event were Frs. Rolly, Rey, Rodel, Nato, and Wilson. Frs. Evan and Boy also dropped by.

Amsterdam

Last January 30 until February 1 I joined a trip to Amsterdam. The trip was organized by the Studentenwerk as part of a study tour. Every semester they organize different activities for students like visiting major cities in Europe, cultural activities, theatre, sports, etc. We arrived in Amsterdam around 8:30 am and we started the city tour promptly after checking in. First we took a boat for a city round trip through the canal. We visited Anne Frank’s house and Madame Tussaud’s House of Wax, where one can see wax figures of major Hollywood stars and other famous personalities.  A most recent addition is Barack Obama’s statue.  Amsterdam is also known as the city of bicycles, which have always the right of way. There are also a lot of coffee shops where you can take drugs legally. Well, Amsterdam has a lot of things to offer. It is a very beautiful city and quite big. There are a lot of parks, canals, restaurants and bars. I just love Amsterdam.