Disaster Directed all to Divine faith

DISASTER DIRECTED ALL TO DIVINE FAITH

It is with heavy heart and respectable hand I write this article. Super typhoon which currently wreaking havoc throughout the Philippines. You’re probably thinking “yeah, I’ve seen those for like the hundredth time.” well that’s totally understandable. It’s just that this raging storm astonished me. The sea has ripped through sections, leaving gaping holes that plunged into water below and transformed as gigantic typhoon, which had at once caused massive destruction to the tidy villages, which were been laid waste, with not a single house still standing. Now the coastal roads are impassable by cars and heavy vehicles only motorbikes and Pedestrians can go around the edges. The fiercest typhoon ever to strike land, flattened the city of Tacloban and other areas, killing an estimated 10,000 people. Which had some of the strongest winds ever recorded on land, also left about 500,000 people homeless. Typhoon has just passed, and the devastation cannot yet even be fully understood. Typhoon wreaked unprecedented devastation.

Indeed, it’s beyond my description how much damage caused to Visayas by typhoon. However, I could hear or see only the corpses or the cries of the people when I approach daily news. When I recollect this enormous damage, I questioned, is God punishing us? It’s as if this atrocious wind was coming right form his divine lungs. The depths of his hatred seem to fall down unimaginably that I would feel my very heart and soul enclosed in constant fear and just as you thought it’s the worst, this terror might have raised to those unfortunate people who reside near the typhoon’s path. It is indeed immeasurable, that is the terror that they feel.

Well, it’s just to evoke, how terrible situation had been faced by people in Philippines. After all perceptive about this disaster my heart was stirred up and my sorrow intensified every day for the unfortunate victims. I was looking out for means how to help the victims. I as a Canossian seminarian and as community started pleading God to help the victims, and we have been offering Masses every day, and recalling in our personal prayers too. Meanwhile my superiors with whom I stay are so kind and sympathetic hasten us to help the victims by repacking the relief goods (3days) which was donated by people around. I was amazed and appreciate the volunteers who were already there before we could even reach the place to help. What I most loved of our Canossian community is that, we have intended to do some penances and sacrifices out of which attained income could be contributed to the typhoon’s victims besides volunteering, some in details like fasting on very Friday for a month, collecting garbage (bottles, plastic, goods etc.,) along the city streets, income from caroling, conducted special charismatic prayer, shoes and sandals, stationary, our clothes etc…above all else is our daily prayers are been offered for our beloved needy and departed ones.

Even if we have attended mass intended for the victims of typhoon anticipated by the arch- diocese of Cagayan de Oro city. Where I had seen many priests, religious, lay people from different parts of the Cagayan De Oro city, as one family prayed whole heartedly intensifying our faith in God. Though we are not known each other, we united as one family to pray for the victims. I have noticed another most appreciated thing is that many students from different schools and colleges came together in unity with faith for donations along the city streets for the victims of the typhoon. And many renowned organizations, institutions, companies etc… came forward to raise relief goods and funds for the victims. Not only that, around the world whoever came to know the situation of the typhoon in Philippines fervently prayed to God with faith, hoping to happen good to Philippines. Many who are kind, generous and sympathetic hearts across the world donated something or the other according to their ability to the typhoon’s victims and even they send their army forces for volunteering the victims.

Later, I have questioned myself, ‘what made us all to come together?’ it’s just one awful disaster had brought all people together to intensify the divine faith. At once all exclaimed with faith to God for the victims. God implicitly strengthened each ones faith in Him. As we all know, we are in the last month of “YEAR OF THE FAITH”. It might be a reminder from God to us to taste the deeper faith, as Msgr. Rino Fisichella said, “The goal of the year of the faith was to RECOVER THE SO CALLED “TASTE FOR THE FAITH” it was meant as a moment of deep reflection and as a way to rediscover the encounter between Christ and His church”. However, this disaster left us countless dejected and painful memories besides which were directed us to strengthen and to taste the Divine Faith and to reunite us all in God.

Before I could conclude my perspective of the typhoon, I would like to whole heartedly give my condolences to the families of our departed brethren and my heartfelt sympathy to the typhoon’s victims. I or we cannot prevent natural calamities but only thing we could do is to pray to God with faith and trust. Everything in the world is under the control of God. So, Henceforth I earnestly pray to God not to repeat such damaging and painful disasters to His own chosen people. 

Thank you all

Your brother in divine faith

John Ratnam Kalaparthi (India)

The First duty of LOVE is to LISTEN

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. And when we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

Last November 10, 2013, the Canossian Youth of Marikina, postulants together with family and friends of Mrs. Rosalie Gonzales shared time with the abandoned lolos and lolas of Luwalhati ng Maynila. In the preparation, the youth decided to present song and dance presentations. But during the program it turned out that they are the ones who did all the presentations for whole the program from modern to modern.They really did hit the dance floor with their performances

"Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness."

The purpose of the sponsors and the Canossian community is to share time, talent and love but unexpectedly as one of the youth said "Hindi po namin akalain na pati kami ay mapapasaya nila. Ang saya-saya pong tumulong. Sana po marami pa kaming mapasaya." This proves that really life is like an echo. It bounces back what you give, what you do to others, what you say about others.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West 

Doing meaningful and fruitful acts for others made the youth and sponsors believe that they are doing it right in Making Jesus Known and Loved.

 

Christmas: A Call for Hope for the Filipinos

In the Philippines, we celebrate Christmas unlike any other place in the world.  Beginning on the month of September, Christmas songs are already in the air. The sweet carol tunes awakens in our heart the spirit of Christmas. Christmas decors and light are starting to glow in bright colors inside and outside the malls and residences. Gift are wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree. All of these are signs of the great Joy that all of us celebrate during this special season.  

As the typhoon Yolanda brought its wrath to our country, I cannot help but to think how the victims would celebrate this joyous season. No house to decorate.  No food to partake for the Noche Buena, and certainly no gift to exchange with one another. The lingering pain of the tragedy enveloped the whole season.  It will take months before everything will be restored but the scar will certainly be imprinted in the heart of the community.

We may wish to think about celebrating our Christmas in solidarity with our brothers and sister affected by the typhoon. The nativity of the fragile baby in a lowly manger reminds us about humility and the loving generosity of God towards every human being. The Birth of Christ brought a new hope for humanity.  In this moment of desolation of all the victims of “Yolanda”, we are invited to bring hope to our brother and sister. Let us take this opportunity as a moment for us to relive the true meaning of Christmas. The advent of Christ to this world is the sign of Gods Great love to the world that concludes on the Cross.

Let us ignite a sign of hope for our brothers and sisters this Christmas.  Let us joyfully renounce our lavish parties, expensive and new clothing, and excessive decoration as a sign of solidarity to all the victims.  Let us celebrate Christmas with sense sobriety and more mindful about the needs of our brothers and sister.  Christmas will always be there even without decoration or parties. Let help rebuilding the life of our brothers and sisters. There are still numerous towns that until today did not receive any help. Let us put our “Christmas light” in Leyte and Samar so that these glittering lights become a new sign hope for the Filipino nation.

A Call for Justice, A Call for Conversion

Two months ago, a simple kidnapping case of Benhur Uy, turned out to be a massive issue of corruption that involves BILLIONS of pesos in the PDAF of our legislators.  Thanks to Mrs. Janet Napoles who engineered and systematically executed the stealing of our national fund.  

The long history of our nation is tainted with corruption. The long existence of poverty in our country is a sign of decayed system within our government. Janet Napoles may well be the face of this pork barrel scam, but behind that face is a massive corruption in the various agencies of our government.  All of the Presidents, after Marcos, promised to end poverty but to no avail. I guess the problem is not the program itself, but the system that allows corruption in our government. The current President adapts the slogan of “Matuwid na Daan” but barely gives an effort to dismantle the culture of corruption that plagues almost all of government agencies.

Last August 24, 2013 I joined the peaceful “MillionPeopleMarch” in Luneta. Inspite of being peaceful, one could feel the anger and the clamor for change among the people. When I went home from the rally, some of my conferrer asked me “What then after this march?” I answered, “Nothing.” The purpose of  MillionPeopleMarch is to let our government leaders know that we are united and we are calling for some reform in the system of our government. I hope that they will do their parts and help eliminate corruption. On the other side, we should take our part in this fight and ask ourselves, what can I do to help?

 If we look at the different sectors in our society, we can also find various form of corruption.  In a family setting, if you stole money from your parents, you are corrupt. On the street, if you break a traffic rule and you bribe the enforcer, both of you are corrupt. If you have a business and you cheated on your costumer or you don’t pay your taxes, you are corrupt. If you pay leverage money when you transact in public office, you are corrupt.  If you cheat other people for your own advantage, then you are corrupt.

If we ask “What is the bottom line of this massive corruption in our society?”  The answer is GREED, one of the seven capital sins.  And by definition, greed is the excessive or inordinate desire for wealth or gain of material goods. Greed becomes the driving force that makes a person corrupt.  It is sad to say that culture of greed is creeping in our society today, melting down our moral foundation.

 During the celebration of the WYD 2013, Pope Francis visited one of the notorious shantytowns in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. As he stood in front of the youth, the pope denounced the “culture of selfishness” and the “culture of individualism”. The pope invited us to make our personal commitment according to our own particular opportunity, to end social injustice in our society today.

As we call for social justice for our society today, maybe we could also start our own personal journey of conversion. Let us contribute in building the “Matuwid na Daan” by making some moral decision for social equality. As we clamor for healing of our wounded nation, let us also heal our very self from the wound of individualism, selfishness and greed. Let us ask the intercession of Mary our mother to help us to heal our land.