Accompaniment: Philippines

Absalon Alvarado, msc. The accompaniment started in the District of Manila, composed of 25 members. The meeting with old acquaintances and friends was profound and energising. The elders’ presence and commitment give much life to the Province.

The parish communities of St. Quiteria and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are still very much alive and give much hope and meaning to the MSC mission.

Then, it was time to accompany the District of Nueva Ecija. Due to the time factor, we could only have community meetings in each district. In Nueva Ecija, there was a spirit of celebration and sharing with lay people from the Chevalier family and with the eight members of the District
I thank God for the opportunity to pay homage and pray at the grave of Leonardo Cabrera (Bogey), a friend and partner in congregational leadership. As you all know, Bogey passed away last year while serving the Province.

Then, we travelled together with Edwin Borlasa (Provincial) to Butuan and then to Surigao District, comprised of six members. We met with 20 students from the pre-novitiate stage, which is called ‘college’ in the Philippines. The enthusiasm of many young people’s initial vocational motivation revitalises our missionary commitment. As in the other districts, we had a community meeting.

We also had the groundbreaking ceremony for the new College building. It was a very significant moment for all the MSC in the Philippines. Among the members of this District is Fr. Mac, who, at 88 years of age, continues to live up to the nickname of Father ‘Laudato si’ because he is a tireless fighter for the care of Mother Earth, the planting of trees and the fight against mining that destroys so much of our common home. Thank you, Fr Mac, for being such a loving and faithful witness to JPIC.

One of my priorities in accompanying the Philippine Province was to follow the spiritual workshop (retreat) ‘Spirituality of Creation – Healing the Earth is Healing the Soul – Integral Ecology’ that our confrere Richi Gomez offers at MSC-Cepagco in Del Monte, Southern Mindanao. Cepagco is a cooperative that presents an organic, alternative, and non-destructive approach to production without destroying Mother Earth and is connected to the Centre for the Poor. The Centre is a project of the Philippine Province that is now based in Butuan City but has branches in Cebu and the Camotes Islands.

The experience was unique and commendable. To have the experience of direct contact with Mother Earth, to accompany the farmers in their work, and to learn from their wisdom is something that cannot be adequately expressed in a few lines. Also, the grace of being guided by our confrere Richi Gómez and the team of lay people, professionals, and farmers is something so valuable and unique. I recommend that all those who can have the experience or access the internet look for what MSC-Cepagco presents as alternatives to the situation of our world. Do not hesitate to look for or get in touch with this experience of the Kingdom of God that takes place there, which could be replicated in other parts of the world.

Then, there was the meeting with the members of the Mindanao District. And there began something very peculiar to this accompaniment: a series of blessings of places and life projects, all signs of the JPIC advocacy.
To mention a few:
– New facilities for bakery and other products at the Centre for the Poor in Butuan.
– The administration building of the Centre for the Poor in Lapo Lapo City and the Cebu area. The site is located in what will soon be the MSC Centre of the MSC Cebu District, which is composed of fourteen members.
– A house made of ecological bricks from bottles and plastic waste in the ‘Laudato sí Park in the MSC District of the Camotes Islands.
– Refurbishment of part of the MSC Scholasticate for use by Core Vitae programs in Manila.

After Mindanao, we travelled to Cebu City to participate in the Chevalier Family Laity International Assembly. This incredible experience and the declaration that emerged from it will be the subject of another article.

Thirty days of many blessings and accompaniment in challenging situations and deep listening to personal and communal reality. I strongly feel that the Spirit is inviting the Philippine Province to think beyond the established to seek new horizons, presences, and even new countries. This province has had this experience before, the fruit of which is the Province of Korea.

Thus, we conclude this intense, profound, wonderful and challenging accompaniment. Salamat Po to all the MSC members, lay and religious members of the Chevalier Family for this tremendous opportunity of accompaniment and sharing of life in mission.