Missionaries of the Poor
PHILIPPINE MISSION
In these
critical times when spiritual detachments seems to be the mode and the human
spirit of charity is almost non-existent, the Most Rev. Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P.,
D.D., Archbishop of Caceres, in June of 1992, invited the Missionaries of the
Poor to work in his diocese—to establish the first Philippine Mission. Father
Brian Kerr and Brother Maximo Medina arrived on the 28th of September
1993 and stayed with the Good Shepherd Sisters in Man
ila who met and helped them
at the airport.
After a few days, they then went to Naga City to meet with Archbishop Legaspi and confer with him on how to start their mission. The good bishop invited them to stay at the bishop’s residence, which they accepted for 2 months until they were able to transfer to a small ‘nipa’ hut in Maria Cristina Street, Naga City. This became their mission center from November 1993 to June 1994.
Because of theirs lives of self-sacrifice and free service to the poor, they were able to attract a lot of followers to their cause. This necessitated that they move to a bigger place where they can serve more and function better and so from June 1994 to September 1996, they stayed in a house located at Mayon Avenue, Naga City. Later, they built the Apostolate House (Heart of Mercy) which was used temporarily as the Brothers’ House.
Simultaneously, while going about their mission of alleviating the suffering poor in accordance with the teachings of the Lord and recruiting more Brothers to help them serve a bigger area, a permanent Monastery House in Cararayan—where a greater number of the least of our brothers and sisters are seemingly concentrated—was also being built. On the last Saturday of June in 2000, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Father Brian and the MOP Brothers were able to move into their new home. To date, 83 Filipinos have become Brothers of the Missionaries of the Poor to serve the world.
The accomplishments of the Missionaries of the Poor in the Philippines are
countless. They have given comfort to the physical, moral and the spiritual
sufferings of our brothers and sisters. They have aroused the admiration of
many for their tireless work among the mentally ill, the physically disabled and
the poor children. They have invited many back into the fold of the Church
through Mass Weddings, Mass Baptism, and Bible Studies. Medical and dental
missions were held to cater to the health of those whose needs are way beyond
their means. Concrete comfort rooms were built for the community to render it
more hygienic and water supply were installed to provide a safer and constant
source of portable water.
To be able to compete with the rest of the world, educational assistance are provided to the deserving. This will give them the right ammunitions to stand on their own and build proper lives for themselves. Eight years ago, a pre-school for children was established to prepare children of poor families for the elementary levels.
The Missionaries of the Poor, in continuing to emulate and live like Christ, practice their religion without adulterating it or toning it down. They made love the center of their lives, for love is central to Christianity. They have become instruments of God—intelligent instruments, life-giving instruments with God. They are co-labourers with God in His vineyard. They are working constantly—not only for God, but with God, and they are happy to work their allotted time in God’s vineyard.
Addendum:
The Missionaries of the Poor’s second mission in the Philippines had just been launched and officially opened in Cebu City on February 8, 2004. This new Mission will eventually cater to numerous lepers. It will also take in many homeless and destitute living in that city. Brother Rodel Tabanao and Brother Augusto Silot, Jr., both natives of the Philippines, are the pioneers of this fledgling but promising Mission.
VOLUNTEERS:
The needs are great. There is always so much work to be done. For more information about contributing to their list of needs in the Philippines, please call our National Office in Atlanta 404-248-1197.