Revealing the presence

Our Lady's Missionaries in the Philippines find inspiration and support from many companions on the journey

By the Philippine Mission Team
May 2006

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Myra Trainor:

Recently, as I was walking along a steep, narrow path to a barrio (poor neighbourhood), a little eight-year-old girl came along and gently put her hand in mine, holding it until we reached the top where she lives. We chatted but she did not reveal anything about her troubled family. The touch of her little hand in acceptance and friendship was gift to me. I also find this same gentle manner among my co-workers in prison ministry as they reach out to others.

Monette works with the skills training class for the probationers. She is so personable that she makes them feel important and special rather than like people of little consequence. She quickly learns everyone's name and calls each person by name. They realize that they have a friend in Monette and this makes them feel at home with her.

Manet, through creativity and planning, brings the joyful spirit of Christmas and other special occasions to the jail. Her many friends and contacts imbibe her spirit of concern so that throughout the year the prisoners benefit from their gracious generosity. Getting to know the prisoners calls forth a goodness in others.

Apollo, a former teacher and now himself a prisoner, is the busiest person in the compound. When I arrive at the prison gate, Apollo is there to greet me with his concerns, which can be the concerns of any number of the 350 prisoners. He tells me about the problems of the sick, or about people who need clothing, or books and notebooks for their ongoing education classes that Apollo has organized. He also requests assistance in providing liturgies and times of prayer for the prisoners. Apollo's leadership and goodness is contagious, so that many prisoners have become less solicitous for themselves and more concerned about their fellow inmates.

There are many others who grasp the opportunity to be active in living out their faith. For example, Joy, an associate member of Our Lady's Missionaries, gives great joy to the prisoners by her presence and kindnesses.

I see the expression of a lived faith as well in the busy secretaries and lawyers at The Hall of Justice who often listen patiently to my complaints about hearings and judges' decisions that are unjustly delayed. Many of the staff and legal workers are in empathy with the prisoners, but they have very little power to turn the wheels of justice. These wheels always move slowly for the poor who are virtually the only ones in jail.

These people are some of my co-workers who strive to minimize the suffering of others. They are for me angels of mercy who inspire me as they live out a Gospel mandate.

Sr. Myra Trainor hails from Emyvale, Prince Edward Island. After 10 years of mission in Japan, Myra has spent the last 31 years in the Philippines doing various ministries.

Christine Gebel:

As I go about my day-to-day activities, I am aware of how much I owe to all those with whom I work. When helping with a vocation awareness or formation gathering, the idealism, enthusiasm and freshness of the young people in attendance spurs me to reflect on my own transparency as I speak to them of the joys and challenges to be found in religious life. They are the people who keep me honest.

Other days, I find myself spending time with people in our parish, with friends in Muslim-Christian dialogue, or with those involved in a literacy program for out-of-school youth. Times are really hard here in the Philippines, especially for the poor, and I often find myself listening to their problems and struggles. But, even as people talk with me about their hardships, I am struck by their hope and determination, and most of all, by their trust in God. These are the people who keep me going.

The other Sisters in my mission community and I don't spend a lot of time working together, but we do try to support each other's ministry, most of all by listening as we talk about our joys and struggles each day. As I listen to a Sister sharing the frustration she feels at having witnessed an injustice, or another struggling with feelings of helplessness as she visits people living in subhuman conditions, I feel a unity of heart and spirit with them. I realize then that they keep me focused. The young people keep me honest, the ordinary people keep me going, and the Sisters in my community keep me focused. Because of all these people with whom I live and work, I know I am becoming a better person.

Sr. Christine Gebel is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her journey entails walking with various groups of people: those interested in joining Our Lady's Missionaries, Associate Members, those working for Muslim-Christian Dialogue for Peace, the people of Sto. Ni¤o Parish, and the teachers and children who participate in non-formal literacy classes.

Margaret Walsh:

As I reflect on my own experience of mission, I am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the role of companionship in ministry. I would like to share about some of the people who have accompanied me lately and have helped and inspired me.

Usually the week before Christmas my activities centre on immediate preparations for celebrating. This year the focus was different but the experience was one that touched me deeply. Most days were spent visiting our provincial hospital here in the city of Cagayan de Oro and spending time with a mother and father who had just lost a baby. They were a very poor couple from Binuangan, a town where I had previously lived. Because of their poverty, the expenses of the hospital were an additional worry to them.

In the midst of their own pain and worry, this couple was constantly concerned about each other and about the children they left at home. Their caring also extended to other patients in the crowded ward. When packing their bag to go home, the husband held up a tiny diaper carefully wrapped in a cellophane package and asked: "What shall I do with this?"

The wife looked at the diaper sadly and replied: "Give it to someone who needs it." In the next bed was a woman who gratefully received this precious gift for her newborn child.

During those days leading up to Christmas, I felt that I was more in touch with the situation of life and death. I was reminded, too, of how Mary of Nazareth gave birth to her boy child, but that she also stood beneath the cross at Calvary when he died.

One of the places where I work is a very poor area on the outskirts of the city. It is called The Landfill and most of the people who live there earn their daily living by collecting items from the garbage dump and selling some of the proceeds for recycling. My work there has been mostly to be a presence among them and to help with bible study and prayer groups.

A young teacher who lives in The Landfill does volunteer work in an Alternative Learning Centre and is also very active in community work. She has a vision of what type of community activities could help the people. I am encouraged by her enthusiasm, generosity and desire to facilitate educational activities in this area.

As my reflection comes to an end I am again reminded of our connectedness with the people of Canada who help and support us so that we can be here in the Philippines. You, too, are our companions on the journey.

You are an example of generosity, inspiring me to continue my walk with the people of the Philippines.

Margaret Walsh is originally from Allan's Island, Lamaline, Newfoundland. Her journey includes various kinds of parochial work mostly in poorer areas.

Mary Gauthier:

Each time I leave our house, smiling faces of small children greet me. Imagine my joy. They call out "Madre" which means Sister, or even "Lola" meaning grandmother. This simplicity and truth spoken by a child reminds me of Our Lady visiting Elizabeth and their reflecting God's presence to each other. This is a favourite story for me and I carry this joy and image in so many of my daily events.

I recall one such occasion when I was going to attend a workshop on Muslim-Christian dialogue. Not knowing what was in store made me feel apprehensive. Part of this was the thought that I might have to face some of my own prejudices. Just wondering what we would have to talk about was a concern. I knew I would share a room overnight with three other participants and wondered how this would go.

What a gift I received as my roommates were two Muslim women and one Indigenous woman. In the course of the evening as we sat on our beds chatting, I discovered we all wanted to be able to dialogue with each other and many questions were asked. Some of their questions of me were, "Why did you become a nun?" "Can you get married?" "You mean you have no children?"

These same questions have been asked of me over the years from my Christian sisters and brothers. It was oh so ordinary and at the same time an awakening to the possibility of being touched by God's love in this ordinary way. For me this experience was an invitation to peace-making through dialogue.

Another instance of the Visitation for me is my visit with Dading every Wednesday morning. Since I need help to review the language and my friend Dading really wants me to speak her language, we spend time talking and reading the Sunday Gospel together. Who is Dading? She is an economically poor woman who looks for ways to support herself and her grandchildren. One of her creative ways to survive is by making and selling cushion covers. I find Dading to be filled with wisdom. Being near her each week, I know I receive an overflow of the grace God has bestowed upon her.

As one of Our Lady's Missionaries you will see that the Visitation is dear to my heart.

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