Inspiration is Conversion
By Fr. Charly T. Ricafort, MI
onversion is being inspired to inspire, loved to love, awakened to awaken, awestruck to compose songs of wonder and love.
St. John of the Cross was ordained in 1567. Soon after, he met St. Teresa of Avila, then fifty-two years old, and this encounter determined the rest of his life. St. Albert the Great inspired St. Thomas Aquinas as his student. St. Camillus met St. Philip of Neri, his confessor. St. Monica prayed for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine. The list of “influenced to influence” goes on.
February 2 is St. Camillus's conversion. In St. Camillus’ doubt and desolation, the crucified Jesus affirmed him, "Continue the work. This work is mine, not yours." (Camillian Constitution #8) Being healed, he became healer to the wounded. For St. Camillus, compassion for the sick is a good way for conversion of hearts. Spirituality is not confined in the chapel but must be extended in the hospital. Care is rooted in the two-fold spirituality: To see Jesus in the sick and to be Jesus for the sick. Divinity is not outside us. We are in God and God is in us. St. Paul, being converted, said: “It is no longer I who live, it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) Love begets love that wins over the persecutor and destroyer into protector and builder of Christian communities.
"For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." (Jn 13:15) This is leadership by example. Be a friend, then, friends are everywhere. Nowadays, new names are added in the litany of our friends, heroines, and martyrs of social justice. Remembering them brings tears and fervor. The fire is still burning and the dawn is absorbing the dark night of personal and societal sins because the animated is becoming the animator.
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Jesus, by his patience and good example, can turn the hearts of weeds into the hearts of wheat, bitter person into better person, useless hands into useful hands, stone into gem, mud into pearl, rags into riches, trash into treasure, trial into triumph, sinner into saint, mess into message of hope and harmony.
shepherd’s care
Provincial’s Corner
By Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI
But what is ironical is that many of us claim that we are Christians. Yet our lifestyle is very much in contrast with that of Jesus’ and His teachings. We only become Christians by name, but not in thought and action. NOW! Not tomorrow is the time for us to realign and renew our life with that of Jesus Christ’s. When we are able to do so, then it will not be difficult for us to become faces and hearts of Jesus for others. We become a concrete presence of God to others. We become promoters of health and life. Is this not what St. Camillus used to say, “See Jesus in the sick, and let the sick see Christ in you”? Let us open our eyes to see the face of God and share our hearts to be the face of God.
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But have we recognized the face of God in those who are suffering? They are always around us and yet how many of us have taken concrete actions to help them have a more dignified and humane existence?
ur God is a God whose constant desire is to be close to His most treasured creature – MAN. Thus, He humbled Himself by taking our human nature but sin. (Phil 2:7) If before He seemed to be fair, unreachable, and faceless, in due time He revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus. Indeed, the Word made Flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:14) He revealed Himself in Jesus. Jesus is the full revelation of the Father. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” We have seen the face of God in the faces of those people with us – the unborn under the threat of death, the poor, the sick, the aged, those people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, the marginalized, the downtrodden, and others. Jesus said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it unto me.” (Mt 25:40) But have we recognized the face of God in those who are suffering? They are always around us and yet how many of us have taken concrete actions to help them have a more dignified and humane existence?
pakistan invasion
CTF plants Camillian Spirituality in Pakistan The Camillians went to Pakistan with the mission to bring the merciful love of Christ to the most in need. Even though they were unfamiliar with the territory, they felt that St. Camillus guided their steps, thoughts, and visions. Since the Camillians-on mission needed more hands to realize their aspiration to be of service to the afflicted, St. Camillus inspired various lay people, groups, and institutions to collaborate with them. He warmed the hearts of the young “to be his hands.” As they implemented the Camillian Task Force (CTF) projects in the Dioceses of Hyderabad and Faisalabad, their encounter with the lay people opened new horizons for the Camillian missionary endeavour. Camillians Fr. Aristelo D. Miranda, MI, Bro. Luca Perletti, MI, and Bro. Mushtaq Anjum, MI, lit the candle of Camillian charism in the place. The collaborators they found in Pakistan, inspired by the Holy Spirit, searched for more to actualize the Camillian spirituality. In the Diocese of Faisalabad, Bro. Luca saw the zeal and courage of some people to sacrifice and love the sick. Thus, he initiated to form a group of lay people who will continue, in their own little ways, the Camillian mission. Called the Lay Camillian Family (LCF)-Pakistan, the group would become another extension of St. Camillus’s hands to touch the lives of the sick people. They would serve as an inspiration for the marginalized sick who need healing. Before joining the LCF, the members of the group were already doing individual works of mercy. However, the presence of Bro. Luca became a source of new opportunity for them to extend their selfless deeds. Now the group meets for prayer services and to read the life of St. Camillus and the LCF by-laws and reflect on them. They share their experiences with the sick and talk about how to respond to the physical and spiritual needs of their poor sick fellow women and men. They also do home visitations to bring their healing presence to the sick and their families. Since others were able to see and appreciate their works, the group is now already growing in membership. More and more lay people are getting interested in this kind of healing ministry. May the group stays under the inspiration of St. Camillus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray that the group may “put more heart into their hands” as they continue to witness the love of the Crucified Christ. By Bro. Mushtaq Anjum, MI
Kohli Village learns basic health A remarkable seminar on Basic Health Awareness was conducted on February 20, 2011 at Kohli Village near Khuda Dino Shoro in Kotri, District Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. Organized by the Friends of St. Camillus-Sindh, Pakistan, 53 men, women, and children participated in the seminar. By Attashad Asghar
Friends of St. Camillus
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The life-devastating flood last July-August 2010 in Pakistan moved the Camillians to reach out to the local people crippled by misery, hunger, sickness, and other pains. Graciously, God and St. Camillus inspired them to participate in carrying out His mysterious plan in the country.
The Novitiate Bulletin
The second mystery of joyful visitation My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2: 2-3) Let me use the above bible passage in connection to the community visit of our beloved provincial, Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI, which became a sign of encouragement and inspiration for us novices in the life that we are aiming to live out. Few months after his most recent visit in our community here in Baguio City, he was back for a particular purpose – to talk to the novices. We were very thankful, of course, because despite his busy schedules, Fr. Rolly, as he is commonly called, fulfilled his promise to visit us once again. He arrived here in our trees and flowers-adorned home at around 7 o’clock in the morning last February 11, 2011. He joined us in our community prayers, meals, and snacks. We valued his presence and the things he shared with us, most especially during meals (that were usually unstoppable, that we sometimes had to make our own individual night prayers later in the evening because of the enthusiasm and energy of the two keynote speakers who were with us [the other one was you already know who]!). The most amazing part of it was when they reached up to 3 o’clock in the morning reminiscing and partaking together their favorite passion: “Sharing thoughts straight from the heart!” On the sidelines, Fr. Rolly also celebrated with us the World Day of the Sick and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at Pines City Doctors Hospital Chapel. He concelebrated with Fr. Ivo Z. Anselmi, MI, during the Healing Mass and in the anointing of the sick. Heartwarmingly, plenty of people participated in the occasion and received the anointing. He likewise joined Fr. Ruben J. Mandin, MI, in presiding over Masses in some parishes. In our individual colloquium with him, he portrayed to us the value of openness and friendship. I remember his words before we talked to each other, “I will talk to you because primarily it is part of my work as a pastor, as your servant leader. So, just tell me how you are now and I will listen.” With that, we ended up like we were only talking to a friend with no barriers at all. It was our first colloquium with him, and it was wonderful because we deepened more our friendship with one another. In his homily during his last day in the community, he said that, “I am happy because you are open and transparent to me and I am looking forward that you will deepen more your relationship with the Lord and your identity as Camillians amidst the strong attraction of worldly attachments.” What a beautiful memory it was for us novices spending days with our beloved provincial. More power to you, Fr. Rolly, and we are hoping for more friendly conversations with you! By Nov. Errol S. Salcedo
milestones
February BIRTHDAYS 02, 1972 - Fr. Ruben Mandin 13, 1966 - Fr. Jose Eloja 16, 1968 - Fr. Samuel Cuarto 29, 1968 - Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva PERPETUAL PROFESSIONS 02, 1990 - Fr. Renato Sales 02, 1991 - Fr. Manuel Tamayo 05, 1994 - Fr. Jose Eloja 05, 1994 - Fr. Aristelo Miranda 10, 1996 - Fr. David Lee PRESBYTERATE ORDINATIONS 03, 1980 - Fr. Matteo Kao 11, 2005 - Fr. Rodel Enriquez 24, 1996 - Fr. Menardo Nono 24, 1996 - Fr. Marcelo Pamintuan Jr. 24, 1996 - Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva
March BIRTHDAYS 03, 1922 - Bro. Renato Marinello 07, 1977 - Fr. Renato Maliwat 24, 1971 - Fr. Tex Rico Buntol 24, 1974 - Fr. Gabriel Garcia 28, 1957 - Fr. Rolando Fernandez PERPETUAL PROFESSIONS 19, 1966 - Fr. Luigi Galvani 19, 1966 - Fr. Felice Chech 19, 1962 - Fr. Giuseppe Didone 25, 1995 - Fr. Menardo Nono 25, 1995 - Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva 25, 2006 - Fr. Jacob Wong PRESBYTERATE ORDINATIONS 02, 1975 - Fr. Ivo Anselmi 11, 2000 - Fr. Ruben Mandin 11, 2000 - Fr. Charly Ricafort 25, 1986 - Fr. Remegio Jamorabon
PUBLISHER St. Camillus Provincialate 18 Nicanor Reyes St., Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City, Philippines
EDITORIAL STAFF Sch. John Jay C. Magpusao, MI Sch. John Paul B. Alvarado, MI Ms. Veronica Villegas Mr. Hubert Castro Telephone: +63 (2) 929-6213/926-3506/ 920-7621 Fax: +63 (2) 929-6215 E-mail: provhousephi@gmail.com Website: camilliansphil.org
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pine trees & cool breeze