Executive Director, Deacon Rick Medina’s Trip To the Philippines

In February 2016 Deacon Rick Medina, the Executive Director of Catholic World Mission, accepted the invitation of Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Representative and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, to see the destruction in Maribojoc for himself. Deacon Rick shares his personal encounter:

“On my recent trip to the Philippines I met with Fr. Saco, the priest in charge of both Santa Cruz Parish and St. Vincent de Ferrer High School. When shown the destruction of the earthquake, I was not prepared for the devastation up close – but what surprised me even more was the continued optimism of the people of Maribojoc. Even after an earthquake, a typhoon, and no help from others to rebuild they persisted with their heads held high to rebuild their community and their parish together. They have struggled for years to rebuild their home parish, but have done so with optimism and hope in their hearts – when many of us would have said, ‘Why me, God?’ The people are now attending mass in a ‘temporary’ church. They salvaged church pews from the rubble, and the roof is tarps that are showing wear. Worse yet, when it really rains, the floors flood and the church is practically unusable, yet 500 people still come and stand in the flooded church to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. After seeing the church with my own eyes I realized just how urgent the situation is: Maribojoc needs a church constructed before monsoon season hits again.”

Santa Cruz Parish

Santa Cruz Parish, whose name means “Holy Cross,” was leveled by the 2013 earthquake. This 200-year-old church was the center of community life, and a tragic loss. Years later, Bohol has seen little change in the landscape. The Santa Cruz Parish has reached out specifically to Catholic World Mission to ask for your help in rebuilding their lost spiritual home.

Although they received no relief services, the people of Maribojoc never lost hope that they could recover from this tragedy. Working on their own they have made great progress in rebuilding their small community – but it is still not enough. A new rectory was recently finished through the hard work of the community. All together they raised what little money they had to complete the $75,000 USD project. A temporary church has also been erected – a small structure with salvaged pews, no walls, and only torn tarps for a roof – purely by the unceasing efforts of the people to have a home parish to worship in. The priests in Maribojoc serve over 16,000 people in their community, but their temporary church structure only fits 500 people at a time – only a third of its original capacity!

St. Vincent Institute

On Deacon Rick’s trip to the Philippines, Fr. Saco introduced him to the needs of the local high school, St. Vincent Institute. Originally founded in 1946 as part of the parish’s convent, it held class for 254 students per year before it was leveled by the earthquake in October 2013. Deacon Rick, moved by the Holy Spirit, distributed 13 scholarships that were awarded by Catholic World Mission to alleviate some of the strain on the neediest families. Since the school was completely leveled by the earthquake in 2013, a temporary school was built at the corner of the church complex, but there are not enough rooms to hold the student population! Fr. Saco looks forward to the future when a 20-classroom structure will be built to accommodate the current high school population in Maribojoc.

Though they have come so far from the devastation left by the earthquake, the people still have a long way to go. They have finished the rectory on their own, but still their spiritual home is far from finished. Right now they have set up the temporary structure but its tarped roof has holes, and when it rains the church gets flooded. The people need a church with a sturdy roof, walls, and elevated flooring to have a safe place to worship our Lord! We beg you for your urgent response. Monsoon season is coming and lasts until October! Helping them is a true act of mercy straight from the heart of Jesus. It has been years since anyone helped Maribojoc.

Can you imagine the heartbreak in seeing their 200-year-old corral-and-limestone walled church in ruins? Their sanctuary, the heart of their community, and refuge from the rain, destroyed in 28 seconds. All that stood was the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus when it was over; as if to protect the village from the rubble that could have easily rolled down the hill, destroying all the homes there. Jesus surely has great plans for the Philippines. You can be a part of God’s mission for the Philippines by helping to rebuild Santa Cruz today. Your gifts – large and small – will quickly add up to the $85,000 needed to rebuild their church. The permanent church will have a kitchen, bathrooms, and walls to protect the people of Maribojoc from the dangerous floods that risk their safety and can cause diseases such as typhoid fever!

With a gift today you’ll be an instrument of God’s love in action; ministering to individuals in dire need in Maribojoc, Philippines.

Jerome

Not all abandoned children at the Queen of Peace orphanage easily get adopted. One such child is Jerome. He is one of 13 children the sisters are trying to place in a good home. Jerome is still waiting for a family to adopt him. He is now nine years old. He was only two when he was abandoned by both of his parents. Since his parents left him he has had no permanent home. Jerome has lived off the kindness of one neighbor who was good enough to take him in, and find families that he could live with for a little while. No one could take him in permanently because everyone is too poor to have another mouth to feed for a long period of time. This has left Jerome with a deep emotional scar. Abandonment is one of the worst cases the sisters see at the orphanage, but they are fighting to find Jerome a forever family

Trixie & Francis

“I am 13 years old. My father left us when I was 12,” said Trixie, one of Mother Joy’s children at the orphanage. “My mother tried to provide for us, but we had a hard time. Me and my brothers and sisters were always hungry. And then my mother started to lose weight and get weak. We found out she had tuberculosis. Because we don’t have any money we just did the best we could and I took care of my brothers and sisters. One day a social worker brought me and my brothers and sisters to Queen of Peace. We have a good life here. We have meals and a soft mattress for our bed. Before we had a harder life and had to endure it. Now we are taken care of and loved. I hope more people will help the sisters so that they can help more children like us.”

Rochelle

“I was very young when my mother left me along with my three siblings. I don’t remember anything about my parents since it happened when I was about three years old. Out of pity our neighbors took care of us. Me along with my brothers: Jerome, Romel and Jemel had to be sheltered in different families. I had to fetch water and do household chores for the family despite being so young. My eldest brother, Jemel, ran away and I don’t know where he went and Romel was adopted. However, me and Jerome where left in Pili where we were transferred between different families. I grew up in a poor family. There were days that we didn’t have any food except salt. Then, one day a social worker brought us to Queen of Peace Orphanage. I was seven years old by that time. In Queen of Peace we were given the opportunity to go to school. The rooms are beautiful and tidy and we eat delicious and clean foods here. This is our temporary home since we’re told by the sisters that they are looking for a forever home. In truth, I’m excited to have a mommy and a daddy. For now, I’m waiting with hope that someday I’ll have a family. Last March I finished 4th grade and I’ll be in 5th grade this coming June.”

In February 2016, Deacon Rick Medina traveled to the Philippines to purchase a van for the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. After months of searching for a van locally, one was finally found and secured! With the assistance of the De Guzman Ramos Group (pictured right), the van was purchased in Manila. However, it had to be delivered to Naga City which is 10 hours away! CWM hired a driver to drive the van all the way to the sisters. The journey from Manila to Naga City was long, but it was joyful because they knew how happy the sisters would be to receive their new van.

The sisters’ orphanage is the only religious Pro-life Adoption Center for the City of Naga and the Southern Bicol Region. They have worked hard to place over 20 children in adoptive families in Sweden, Spain, Italy and the USA. The adoption process is intense. They have to travel two hours away to Legaspi and another eight hours away to Manila just to get the right documents for the children’s travel and adoption. You helped purchased a van for the sisters so they can readily take the children to school, doctors appointments, and to get documentation to speed up their adoptions! The children are happy because they know the adoption process will be faster, and they will meet their forever families sooner!

The sisters have tremendous faith, daily giving their “yes” to God knowing they may not be able to provide for the children in the ways they need to each day. With over 40 children living in the Queen of Peace Orphanage, and over 50 children from the surrounding villages coming for day care each day, they have their work cut out for them. But the sisters have hope.

We ask you now from the bottom of our hearts to give hope to the children for the year to come. Your generosity will go to providing meals for the children, cover the cost of doctor’s appointments, purchase gasoline for their van, and school expenses.

Lonoy Elementary

Students: 708

Lonoy Elementary has turned to Catholic World Mission to gain funds to rebuild their school so the children can work in a safe environment before monsoon season begins.

Many teachers have made make-shift roofs with tarps to keep water from running on the children while they learn. Lonoy Elementary is in a state of desolation, seven of their nine school facilities were destroyed. Their priority is rebuilding the Home Economics building first so they can continue to implement their daily feeding program for malnourished students.

Agtatacay Norte Elementary School

Students: 167

Agtatacay Norte Elementary School lost their library, head office, cafeteria, electricity, water supply connections, and their learning center lost its roof, allowing in rain and heat, making it an unbearable place for the students.

We all know how hard it can be to learn in an environment we are uncomfortable in, but the wake of the typhoons have left the most uncomfortable environments. The children’s parents struggle to rebuild their homes without help and are also struggling to get enough food every day. Agtatacay Norte Elementary School also offers a food program to malnourished students.

Lonoy Elementary School

Deacon Rick’s trip to Lonoy Elementary has held a special place in his heart. The new Home Economics building standing in bright blue paint was clearly the center of campus life. In a small extremely rural village like Capiz there are not many opportunities for the students to go on and study engineering, science, or mathematics. The Home Economics center enables the children to learn valuable skills like sewing, cooking, basic first-aid, and nutrition to one day serve the community.

While at Lonoy Elementary, Deacon Rick learned that the principal there learned how to use a computer specifically to ask Catholic World Mission for help! She shared the story of how she learned to set up an e-mail account, and prayed on the long shot that we would come to Lonoy Elementary School’s assistance. All shared laughs when she said she was surprised her request was approved! The Lord is good! Lonoy Elementary is still waiting on assistance to help with the remaining ruins of their school.

Agtatacay Norte Elementary School

It is tradition in the Philippines to celebrate guests with distinction when they visit. Upon arrival to Agtatacay Norte Elementary School, Deacon Rick was quickly adorned with a decorative ribbon and lead to the new teacher’s office built by the generosity of the Catholic World Mission family. On the short walk over to the office are still many buildings in ruins, yet the children attend class there every day from 7 in the morning to 5 in the evening. A small ceremony took place in honor of Deacon Rick’s visit where he turned over the keys to the building, and a blessing was said to celebrate the event.

With proper planning and assistance from generous donors like you, there is hope for the Capiz schools. The typhoons have done their damage, and it has prevented the children from attending classes. The Capiz schools need your continued help to complete the reconstruction of the other damaged buildings on their property.