The Chaplaincy For Filipino Migrants held their Pastoral and Catechist Day 2022 on October 1 at the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town. The theme for the day was Persevere in the Mission. The event was attended by around 250 guests from different Filipino communities and members.
The day kicked off with a Mass celebrated by Filipino chaplain, Father Jay Flandez svd. In the opening message of the afternoon programme, Father Flandez exhorted members to join a mission because it can strengthen our faith as well as the Church.
The chaplain said that during the pandemic volunteers became creative going online serving those in need. He thanked the groups for their commitment and perseverance in the mission. He reminded people that our missions should form part of our lives and there is no vacation in doing our mission.
Groups under the chaplaincy went up the stage to share their testimonies on the challenges brought about by the pandemic and expressed their hopes for the betterment and improvement of the group and members. Most of them shared the difficulties caused by the pandemic is the inability to visit the sick and perform their mission.
Renalyn Lariego, a volunteer of Hospital Visitation Wednesday Group Pastoral Team, told Sunday Examiner, that during this challenging times of pandemic she encountered lots of difficult situations as a volunteer. “Visitations were not allowed. In the pandemic we cannot reach out physically. Still we find means to support those in need through prayers, or talking to them through online meetings every Tuesday at 9:00 pm. Our mission continues and our spiritual life become nourished.” The team used to visit patients inside the hospital, and assist people who have just been discharged from hospital to the airport. It also informs the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Consulate the status of the patient referred to them by the hospital if it is called for.
Last December the group also gave out prayer booklets, rosaries, daily necessities and snacks to people in quarantine through the support of donors, Ambrose Leung and Agnes Wong.
“The verse that really touches me is from Galatians 6:9, ‘Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up,’” Lariego concluded.
Teresa Acosta from the Tuesday Group shared that she herself was hospitalised on 11 May 2021 with stage three cervical cancer. She had no visitors and though it was lonely, it strengthened her faith more in God and she never lost hope. She had surgeries and underwent six cycles of chemotheraphy treatments and 25 days of radio therapy. Today she shared that she is totally healed.
With her in the same group is Maria Gina Malabo, who is now healed after her surgery, and she shared that the experience helped her understand the needs of those in hospital.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
She shared that in the pandemic, there were also times that she was not allowed to go out by her employer. So their group would join together and pray online for the sick. “It is important to be patient because the patients need prayer,” she said.
Terry Jocson of the Altar Server Group said that they are thankful because they are the ones who prepare the altar before Mass. “This is our mission to assist the priest when he says a Mass. We are present whenever we are needed,” she said. SE
