Blessings of a seed

By Sr. Myra Trainor, O.L.M.
May/June 2011

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

The hope of the harvest is in the seed. We plant and water and God does the flowering and the growing.

As part of my ministry at the provincial jail in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines, I helped to initiate a livelihood skills education program for parolees who wanted to change their lifestyle from that of living off the street to honest work. My friend Monette Magracia accepted to join our ministry and what a blessing she has been. This was soon followed by another blessing when neighbour Milagros Noble readily agreed to be part of our project. We all saw that this ministry could be fruitful and lead to less crime.

At first we started skills training in a parish setting. As the program expanded, we moved to a college where teacher Dr. Roy Santiago was a special blessing. He was very helpful in negotiations with the Mindanao Polytechnic State College administration. Dr. Santiago remains a loyal supporter and friend.

Credit: Sr. Christine Gebel)
Students enrolled in an auto mechanics class as part of a program to teach livelihood skills to parolees and their children.

Once the parolees realized the benefits of skills training in auto mechanics, appliance repair, and other livelihood skills, some of them asked if their sons could join the class. This was quickly approved and promoted. Now the program is open to any of the parolees’ children. Most have only completed elementary schooling, so the opportunity to study and acquire a skill is a big enhancement to their lives. I recall the great joy at graduations when each of these students received appropriate tools and a diploma from a college.

We received yet another blessing. Monette’s mother, Terrasita, is a member of the Rotary club and this charitable group of women brings a delicious celebratory meal for all the graduates and their families. To be treated so graciously adds greatly to the self esteem and dignity of the parolees and their families.

The parolees have shown their gratitude in so many ways. During one skills training course, a student had surgery for a tumour and even with his head bandaged he never missed a class. I also have happy memories of parolees rushing up to me on the street and excitedly telling me that they now have work.

Through the generosity and support of our Canadian and Filipino friends, and Our Lady’s Missionaries, we have been able to sustain this project for many years. For a time, Sisters Mary Gauthier and Lorie Nuñez also acted as contacts. Now the OLM mission in the Philippines is closed but through the capabilities and generosity of Monette and Milagros, the program remains very active and indeed is expanding. This year there are 36 graduating students.

So much is possible with so little— the marvels of a growing seed.

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article