Searching for home, longing for peace

Our Lady's Missionaries find glimmers of hope as they journey with the people of the Philippines

By Sr. Christine Gebel, O.L.M., in collaboration with the Philippine mission team
Summer 2003

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

Have you noticed the passing of the seasons? New life slowly pokes its way out of the cold, hard earth and the greening slowly continues until the full summer's bloom. The birds migrate North. All sorts of little creatures seem to appear from nowhere. These changes and movements are natural and beautiful. Others are not, even if they are cloaked in upbeat words such as "development," "progress," "national security," or "the war against terrorism."

This past year in the Philippines three of Our Lady's Missionaries, Srs. Lorie Nuñez, Yol Cadavos, and I, also experienced change and transition as we searched for a place to live and a parish in which to serve. After we were welcomed to Sto. Niño parish by Fr. Pedro Sombilon, the people took over the task of accompanying us in our search for a house. Word spread quickly that the new Sisters needed a place and we were warmly greeted as we walked the narrow pathways of this urban poor area.

We settled in and began home visiting to become acquainted with the community. Soon we discovered that many of the people had already received notice that their homes would be demolished to make way for a road leading to a new shopping mall.

The people in this area are caught up in the endless daily struggle to put food on the table and to transport their children to classes with the necessary school supplies. But a few leaders have emerged who have called the people to band together to demand their right to a relocation area with water and electricity. With tireless determination, the leaders have sparked the people's imagination and hope for the future.

Another kind of displacement takes place among the prisoners at the provincial jail where Sr. Myra Trainor visits regularly. She finds that they are people whose bodies are in one place but whose hearts are far away. with their families, all the while hoping that they are forgiven and still loved. Some of the prisoners' wives find faithfulness difficult, while others move to the city to be near their husbands. Usually these women eke out a living for their family by street vending or doing laundry for others. It is a very disruptive and painful time for the whole family. It is also difficult for the prisoners, especially the younger ones and those who are truly innocent. Even if the offence is minor, they may languish in prison, as the judicial proceedings sometimes take years to complete.

However, the prisoners band together in their overcrowded, non-ventilated, insect-infested, dark cells. Those who are Catholics join in the evening rosary and attend the Sunday liturgy, both of which help to feed their hunger for something better. Even the hardened criminals mellow in time and come to terms with their life. As their wounds are exposed, light enters into the darkened areas and healing and change begin.

For Sr. Myra, the tangibility of their pain and loneliness is heartbreaking. Yet, in sharing with them, she feels energized by their acceptance, as many say, "I deserve this for my sins;" by their patience, because often it is many months, if not years, between their hearings; and by their conversion taking place during the time of incarceration.

In today's world, we hear so much about wars and the rumours of war. In talking with young people in the Philippines, Sr. Margaret Walsh often hears them speak of their longings and hopes, one of the greatest of which is their desire for peace in our world. In prayer groups and classes she is deeply moved to hear their expressions of heartfelt cries to God for help.

Sometimes their cry is for peace and harmonious relationships in the home, for parents who have financial difficulties, or those who are separated, living abroad, or who have other problems that disturb the family.

Touched by the depth of their cry, Sr. Margaret hopes that their hearts will find peace-God's special gift to us-and that they will in turn be encouraged and enabled to be peacemakers in their families, communities, country, and in the world.

Sto. Niño parish, the prison, and the young people-all can be added to the list of people and places where lifegiving changes, no matter how small, are beginning to take place. The growing clamour for peace in our war-weary world is another great source of hope. These are beautiful changes indeed. Have you noticed?

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article