Journeying in Hope

By Sr. Myra Trainor, OLM
Summer 2000

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In our ministry in the Philippines, we are privileged to accompany a variety of people in whom we find an awareness of Jubilee. We glimpse some of the hopes of the people, and in turn, we are hopeful to have been graced in so many ways in this our congregational Jubilee Year.

Sr. Norma Samar

Sr. Norma asks:
“How can we not be hopeful and celebrate when, in this Golden Anniversary year, three young women take a step in committing themselves to the challenge of a life in cross-cultural mission as Our Lady’s Missionaries?

Jubilee is a special time to celebrate and dream that all people may have a more human life. You may ask and wonder how we can celebrate life when around us there are so many dehumanizing conditions, so much destruction of the Earth, and so much suffering in the lives of the poor.

The answer, perhaps, is that we also witness the gentility and hospitality of these same people inviting us into their one-room homes. We also see the easy laughter of children playing in mud holes in their narrow streets. We sense a just anger and an inner peace in farmers struggling for even a small piece of land. We see abused young women standing up and struggling for the justice that is theirs. These and other good things are happening around us.”

It is Jubilation when we witness signs of hope in our midst…when a dream leads to action, making life more human for all God’s people and enabling us to more deeply respect all of God’s creation. Norma Samar, O.L.M.

Sr. Christine Gebel

Sr. Christine finds Jubilee among the people in Macabalan from the aspect of forgiveness because as she says:

“Sins can be forgiven, so can debts. Thus, I was pleased to be given a copy of a petition asking for the cancellation, or at least the reduction, of the debts of the poorest nations. When I mentioned it to a friend in Macabalan (the urban poor parish where I work), she quickly volunteered to accompany me in circulating the petition, and she enthusiastically encouraged people to sign after explaining its purpose.

Someone excitedly asked if this would include their personal debts. You see, just about every poor family here has been forced to borrow from the local loan sharks because of some kind of emergency... usually a sickness or a death.

I felt embarrassed to have to admit that personal loans were not included. It suddenly became harder to proclaim this ‘Good News.’ Would it have much effect for the very poor? Was there any point?

Thus goes the vicious cycle. It’s so much harder to work for justice when life is a day-to-day struggle. How can one re-create when there is no time to recreate, to dream, to plan, to hope? And yet, it is possible. I see this in my friend who can be counted among the very poor here. Yet, she still dreams, hopes, and strives for justice... for Jubilee.”
At the New Year’s Eve Mass in our parish we were all asked to choose one word to express our h opes and dreams for the year 2000. I picked Jubliee because it includes everything: peace, justice, integrity of creation, liberation, joy community,,,,the flourishing of god’s realm! Christine Gebel. O.L.M.

Sr. Myra Trainor

Sr. Myra witnesses people who even though they are in prison enjoy an inner freedom:
“Teo (not his real name) just celebrated his tenth Christmas as a prisoner. I find it amazing that he is still amiable and pleasant, but as Teo says, ‘I would never want to become bitter as it would just make life harder. I’ve been able to do a lot of things for people here.’

What does Teo do? He does secretarial work for the warden. If any prisoners are sick, Teo gets medicine for them and takes them to the nearest hospital. To hasten the release of a fellow prisoner, he tells us what office, lawyer, or judge to approach in each particular case. Teo is a valuable member of our prison ministry whose advice we always follow.

Teo is emcee whether it’s a church-sponsored activity at the jail or a civil one. We all call on Teo. He enjoys a free spirit whether within the prison compound or on an errand outside. We’ll rejoice when Teo is released, but we’ll surely miss him.

Jubilee for Teo is living gratefully this free gift of life as it is given to him each day. Though Jubilee is only partially realized, as the Kindom is only partially realized, we are grateful sojourners with the people in hope.”

Jubilee for me happens when people who have suffered from a feeling of being worthless, rejected, or oppressed finally become aware of their potential and dignity, and a new brightness appears in their eyes. Myra Trainor, O.L.M.

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