The past few weeks have been sort of a down time for us here at the Oikos Mission. Just after New Year's Day we had a rest week...which I really loved having!! You know, the bible says there is a time for everything.... a time to work, a time to love, a time to rest... does it say rest?...it should if it doesn't! For me, I totally love the work here, it is fulfilling and the people I work and live with make it fun. But equally important is rest time so that we have the energy to go on to the next mission.
For my rest week, I didn't do much. We didn't go on any trips, just spent some time at Providence Home, our mission house in the mountains and some time at my home away from home at Nazareth Home. I read books, watched a few movies, slept and went for a few walks. And actually, the week after, that was last week, the Oikos Sisters went on a week-long retreat, so although I had a list of things to get done, it was sort of a continuation of my rest week, just a little more active.
And now? Now I feel ready to go!! There is a medical mission that comes here to Borongan every February. It is run out of the Diocese of Joliet near Chicago, Illinois, but missionaries come from all over the U.S. and in different parts of the world as well. The missionaries that come are doctors, nurses, dentists, construction workers and members of a community outreach team. This year, 52 missionaries are coming!! The first members of the mission arrive in a about 2 days, so we have a lot of work to do!!
The dentists work both in the provincial hospital and in the barrios where the poorest of the poor live. It is the job of the Oikos Sisters to choose a few barrios for the dentists to go to. The outreach team will go to the same barrio to play with the kids there and feed them. Although the schools do have a feeding program, it is only for the severely malnourished children. So, in a barrio called Sorok, where 149 children go to school, only 25 students are in the feeding program. However, it's not like the other children have a ton of food in their pantries, and in most cases the parents and older children do not eat lunch because they just don't have the resources and money to afford another meal. So, the outreach team will help to prepare and serve the food. Back to the dentists... After choosing the barrios, the Sisters, led by Sister Michelle, the resident dentist here in Oikos, will do screening of the patients needing dental care in the barrios. There are equal feelings of nervousness and gratefulness in the people we see. And I really can't get over the number of adults who have never seen a dentist before. There are also a few who argue with Sister Michelle because they want a tooth extracted that she knows can be restored. Dental education is a big part of what she does. This year, there was a record number of children who didn't need any dental care at all!! Next month, National Dental Month in the Philippines, she wants to go back to the barrios and reward the kids who have taken such good care of their teeth!!
This year the Joliet construction team will build two houses in the Charity Village!! Can I hear a WOOT WOOT?!!? (doesn't have the same effect in print as in person!!) If you want to know more about the Oikos Sister's Charity Village, click here. It is a long-time dream of the Oikos Sisters...and I'm so happy to be here to see it become a reality!!
Other than the preparations, we are celebrating a lot of birthdays here in Oikos...in January we have quite a few of the kids birthdays, and a few outsiders. A sibling of Sister Michelle, who lives quite a distance from us, wanted to celebrate her birthday by giving to others, so she sent money to Michelle for a big party! We had roasted chicken, pancet, spaghetti and meatballs...a real feast! Then we made about 60 packs of food and took them to the hospital for the patients and their families. What a way to celebrate your birthday! Then, just today, a girl who turned 14 years old wanted to celebrate her birthday by having a party with those less fortunate than herself. So, she and her family came to the Oikos Family and brought a Jollie Bee lunch (sort of like Mc Donald's). They came early and decorated the room, brought a speaker to play music, we had fried chicken and rice, pop...and she even brought gifts for all of the kids!!
The generosity of people is always so heartwarming! And there are so many ways to give and share with others. I have been witness to such giving, and a recipient as well, for the past few years. It truly means so much to the beneficiary of the giving, let me tell you. These people live and breathe thankfulness. You may never truly know how much your giving has meant to the recipient of your generosity in this world, but let me tell you from experience, it changes lives!! So, thanks for all of you charitable people out there!! God bless you!! xxoo
Monday, January 23, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Sulangan...St. Anthony's Parish in Guiuan
On the first Tuesday of 2017, the Oikos Sisters, most of the kids who were with us, and I went on a trip to Sulangan. It is a pilgrimage site here in Eastern Samar, located in the southern most city of the region, Guiuan. It is about a 4 hour trip from Borongan.
There is a beautiful church there, St. Anthony's Parish. There was a lot of destruction done to the church during Typhoon Yolanda and the church is still undergoing repairs, but it is nonetheless a beautiful church. It is said that people go there when they are facing insurmountable challenges, going to have surgeries or have loved ones in need of serious prayer. It is also a place people go to when they want to give thanks to God for blessings received. Every year after Sister Clarissa returns from her mission appeals in the United States, the community travels to Sulangan to give thanks to God for all of the people who gave so generously to the Oikos mission and for thanks for safe travels to and from the United States. This year has been so busy, we couldn't go before now...and so we went.
St. Anthony was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal. He entered the religious life at the tender age of 15 and studied for 9 years in the order of St. Augustine. He became a Franciscan when he felt God was calling him to be a martyr, which he embraced wholly. However, God had other plans for Anthony. Quite by accident, it was discovered what a good preacher he was. He became a profound speaker and preacher, and not only that, he converted many people because of his firm belief in living the life he preached about. He was a simple and humble man who preached the Word of God lovingly and with fearless courage. Tuesdays are a special day in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. It was on the Tuesday after his death that his body was transferred from Arcella to Padua and buried there in the Chapel of Our Lady. On this Tuesday, there were innumerable miracles that occurred at the site of his tomb. All of the sick who were gathered to witness the burial of the saint were immediately healed on this day. (http://www.St.Anthony.org)
My grandparents were married on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13th. Each of their sons has the middle name "Anthony." They had a great devotion to him, my grandfather still does. And it seems that the people of Eastern Samar share that same love and devotion to St. Anthony. I call on him constantly myself as I am always losing things!! "Dear St. Anthony, please come 'round, something is lost and can't be found"... or, if you're BFF's with him, you can use the more casual one..."Tony, Tony turn around, something's lost and can't be found." Seriously, it works!!!
Anyways, we went to Sulangan, to St. Anthony's Parish to give thanks to God for Sister Clarissa's successful journey, and for each of us to offer our own prayers, light candles and enjoy the beauty of the site. It was such a wonderful journey.
Afterwards, we stopped along the sea for lunch and had a restful bonding time. It was such a beautiful day!! Here are some pictures of our trip:
It is so important to be available for the needs of the poor and of the community in which we live. But, I would say, it is equally important to take time to pray, give thanks and to enjoy this beautiful world God has given to us. Today was that kind of day... it seems almost a reward for good works done. So, thank you, Lord, for the great day!! And thank you for this amazingly beautiful world in which we live!!! xoxo
There is a beautiful church there, St. Anthony's Parish. There was a lot of destruction done to the church during Typhoon Yolanda and the church is still undergoing repairs, but it is nonetheless a beautiful church. It is said that people go there when they are facing insurmountable challenges, going to have surgeries or have loved ones in need of serious prayer. It is also a place people go to when they want to give thanks to God for blessings received. Every year after Sister Clarissa returns from her mission appeals in the United States, the community travels to Sulangan to give thanks to God for all of the people who gave so generously to the Oikos mission and for thanks for safe travels to and from the United States. This year has been so busy, we couldn't go before now...and so we went.
St. Anthony was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal. He entered the religious life at the tender age of 15 and studied for 9 years in the order of St. Augustine. He became a Franciscan when he felt God was calling him to be a martyr, which he embraced wholly. However, God had other plans for Anthony. Quite by accident, it was discovered what a good preacher he was. He became a profound speaker and preacher, and not only that, he converted many people because of his firm belief in living the life he preached about. He was a simple and humble man who preached the Word of God lovingly and with fearless courage. Tuesdays are a special day in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. It was on the Tuesday after his death that his body was transferred from Arcella to Padua and buried there in the Chapel of Our Lady. On this Tuesday, there were innumerable miracles that occurred at the site of his tomb. All of the sick who were gathered to witness the burial of the saint were immediately healed on this day. (http://www.St.Anthony.org)
My grandparents were married on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13th. Each of their sons has the middle name "Anthony." They had a great devotion to him, my grandfather still does. And it seems that the people of Eastern Samar share that same love and devotion to St. Anthony. I call on him constantly myself as I am always losing things!! "Dear St. Anthony, please come 'round, something is lost and can't be found"... or, if you're BFF's with him, you can use the more casual one..."Tony, Tony turn around, something's lost and can't be found." Seriously, it works!!!
Anyways, we went to Sulangan, to St. Anthony's Parish to give thanks to God for Sister Clarissa's successful journey, and for each of us to offer our own prayers, light candles and enjoy the beauty of the site. It was such a wonderful journey.
Afterwards, we stopped along the sea for lunch and had a restful bonding time. It was such a beautiful day!! Here are some pictures of our trip:
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Palo Uno...Christmas Outreach Mission day
In San Julian, a municipality about a half hour north of Borongan, there is a barrio called Palo Uno. It is located in the hills of San Julian. On December 29, 2016, the Oikos Mission brought Christmas to the people there. It turned out to be more of an adventure than we planned on...and there is no way any of us could have foreseen the amazing effect it had on all of us.
Our adventure really began back in November when Sister Minerva had the idea of a Good Wish Christmas Tree with the names and ages of children on it from a barrio. Everyone involved with the Oikos Mission, including the children who are educationally sponsored by the Poor Household of God, had the opportunity to pick a name or two (some chose 3!) and buy a gift for that child. So we found a good branch and painted it white, then made some stars and placed on each star the name and age of a child from Palo Uno and a neighboring barrio. The sponsored kids, Oikos co-workers, people in the community of Borongan, even some foreigners picked names and bought gifts for the kids. In the days before and after Christmas, we were planning our trip and preparing for the adventure.
Actually, in the Oikos Community, most of the scholars go home to their families after Christmas for the New Year celebrations. It becomes very quiet here!!! But this year, I would say at least half of the scholars, if not more, went home to their families on December 26th, came back on the 28th to help prepare and go to Palo Uno, and then returned to their families on the 30th.
There are only a few times a year that the scholars return home...after school is out in March (although for how long they stay home, I don't know...yet!), for All Souls and All Saints Days, and after Christmas. So, this was a sacrifice for them, giving up some of their vacation time, time with their families, to give to others. They really are great kids!!
So, we had one gift for every child...149 in all!! We also prepared for food...fried chicken, spaghetti, rice and a sweet treat, we brought calendars for the mothers, shoes and sandals for the kids (the shoes were donated by a local store here, Grand Mart, one of the benefactors of the Oikos Mission). We also planned games for the kids and brought prizes. So, on December 29th, we embarked from Borongan around 5 in the morning and drove to San Julian. There, we picked up Msgr. Lope and some of the youth of his parish. We then drove to the closest barrio we could get to Palo Uno, and there we prepared to hike up the mountain.
We were told it was a 40 minute hike up to Palo Uno...in reality, it took us 2 hours to get there!!! We climbed up rock formations,
muddy "stairs" made of mud and branches, we crossed what the locals, quite humorously I think, call a bridge...but I never would call it that. I would call it a fallen tree over a great abyss. It was just like out of a scene from Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone!!
I just couldn't believe it...but I crossed it!!
Along the way, we were greeted by many people from Palo Uno going down the mountain carrying huge bags of charcoal or rice on their backs or hauling large pieces of lumber to sell at the market. They were walking up and down the mountain like they were walking on clouds!!
My jaw was practically bruised from the number of times it fell to the rocks out of shock!! (not really!) I could hardly believe the ease with which they walked, though. They do it every day, twice a day...hard to imagine when I barely made it up at all!! But I have to say, after 2 hours...the trip was worth it. And not just in terms of the view from the top, although that was quite beautiful, but the people...their smiles and anticipation for what we were bringing...that totally made it worth it!!
When everyone reached the top and we all caught our breath...and I got a new nickname, "pinkie" because my face was all pink...we began the day with mass. This was especially special to the people as, because of their location and the number of barrios in San Julian (with only one priest) mass is only said there once a year. It was the cutest thing when, after the bell was rung for mass, it was the children who hurriedly entered the church (with gusto, I might add!) to sit, and they stayed and listened and participated when they could for the entire mass. Totally sweet!!
After mass, the Oikos Angels led the kids in some praise and worship action songs. The kids loved it and caught on quick to the moves!
Then we organized some games and had prizes. The kids had such a fun time, and all of the parents and grandparents were there looking on and seemed to be enjoying the time as much as the kids. Lunch was served next...spaghetti, fried chicken, rice and a sweet treat. For many of the kids, this was their first time eating spaghetti and fried chicken! They loved it, and the rest of their families did too!! What a joy it is to see people enjoying a meal. A harsh reality hits when you realize that, most days, these
people only eat once a day...and that meal is not a feast. Even for one day, to give them something delicious and nourishing, it felt good. I wish I could go there and feed those people every day, but I am really learning to accept what I can do, and be grateful to God for putting me here in this place for this day. Tomorrow He will most likely put me somewhere else, but that's ok...more than ok...the important thing, I think, is to really see where He puts me today, at this moment, and to help the person in front of me as much as I can with what I have.
After giving out sandals and sneakers to the kids and playing a sneaky game with them...Sister Clarissa made a fun game out of cleaning up!!...it was time to say goodbye and head back down the mountain.
Our adventure really began back in November when Sister Minerva had the idea of a Good Wish Christmas Tree with the names and ages of children on it from a barrio. Everyone involved with the Oikos Mission, including the children who are educationally sponsored by the Poor Household of God, had the opportunity to pick a name or two (some chose 3!) and buy a gift for that child. So we found a good branch and painted it white, then made some stars and placed on each star the name and age of a child from Palo Uno and a neighboring barrio. The sponsored kids, Oikos co-workers, people in the community of Borongan, even some foreigners picked names and bought gifts for the kids. In the days before and after Christmas, we were planning our trip and preparing for the adventure.
Actually, in the Oikos Community, most of the scholars go home to their families after Christmas for the New Year celebrations. It becomes very quiet here!!! But this year, I would say at least half of the scholars, if not more, went home to their families on December 26th, came back on the 28th to help prepare and go to Palo Uno, and then returned to their families on the 30th.
So, we had one gift for every child...149 in all!! We also prepared for food...fried chicken, spaghetti, rice and a sweet treat, we brought calendars for the mothers, shoes and sandals for the kids (the shoes were donated by a local store here, Grand Mart, one of the benefactors of the Oikos Mission). We also planned games for the kids and brought prizes. So, on December 29th, we embarked from Borongan around 5 in the morning and drove to San Julian. There, we picked up Msgr. Lope and some of the youth of his parish. We then drove to the closest barrio we could get to Palo Uno, and there we prepared to hike up the mountain.
We were told it was a 40 minute hike up to Palo Uno...in reality, it took us 2 hours to get there!!! We climbed up rock formations,
muddy "stairs" made of mud and branches, we crossed what the locals, quite humorously I think, call a bridge...but I never would call it that. I would call it a fallen tree over a great abyss. It was just like out of a scene from Indiana Jones or Romancing the Stone!! I just couldn't believe it...but I crossed it!!
Along the way, we were greeted by many people from Palo Uno going down the mountain carrying huge bags of charcoal or rice on their backs or hauling large pieces of lumber to sell at the market. They were walking up and down the mountain like they were walking on clouds!!
When everyone reached the top and we all caught our breath...and I got a new nickname, "pinkie" because my face was all pink...we began the day with mass. This was especially special to the people as, because of their location and the number of barrios in San Julian (with only one priest) mass is only said there once a year. It was the cutest thing when, after the bell was rung for mass, it was the children who hurriedly entered the church (with gusto, I might add!) to sit, and they stayed and listened and participated when they could for the entire mass. Totally sweet!!
After mass, the Oikos Angels led the kids in some praise and worship action songs. The kids loved it and caught on quick to the moves!
After lunch was the gift giving. We called out each child's name, and when the child came forward, he or she was given their gift. For many of them, most of them, this is their only Christmas present. What a joy to have been able to be there and experience the wonderful gift giving!! To see the excitement on the faces of the kids, and to know that I had a small hand in making that smile appear...thanks be to God!!
After giving out sandals and sneakers to the kids and playing a sneaky game with them...Sister Clarissa made a fun game out of cleaning up!!...it was time to say goodbye and head back down the mountain.
One thing is for sure...I will never forget our amazing Christmas with the people of Palo Uno, and I don't think I will ever see Christmas in the same way again. All of the work, all of the struggle, all of the sweat, all of the climbing, all of the cooking, all of the planning...it was all worth it, to bring the love and the joy of the Lord to those people, who because of their location are rarely helped by charity organizations. And you know what... I would definitely do it again!!!!!
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| Views from Palo Uno: A house... |
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| see how close we are to the clouds? |
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| Imagine waking up each day to this view!!! Getting ready to feed 149children and their families!!   
xoxxo
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Thursday, January 5, 2017
Our Merry Christmas
We had such a wonderful Christmas here in the Oikos Community!!! It is always so fun for me to experience the Christmas traditions of other cultures. Here in the Philippines, daily life is rooted in traditions and customs. For instance, we just celebrated the birthday of Nina, the daughter of a co-worker here in Oikos, Joey. It was her second birthday. Joey and his wife GingGing wanted to invite all they knew to the party to celebrate the joyous occasion, but being that their home is small, they knew they were limited to who they could invite. In such cases, it is a Filipino custom to invite as many as you can, and then send large plates of food to those who you couldn't. So, after we all ate, GingGing made big plates of food and sent them with us to deliver to other friends and family. It is very thoughtful and sweet!!
Such is life here. It seems that these people are so devoted to the life their ancestors have lived, and although the physical appearance of the land may change, and there may be changes in technology and medicine, there are certain customs and traditions that remain steadfast here. People ask me all the time when we are in the midst of one of the customs, do you do this in your place? And, almost always my answer is we used to do it, but not anymore. Has America become so much of a melting pot that our traditions have melted away? Things like Christmas caroling, novenas said together as a church community, fiestas where the entire neighborhood is involved and celebrates, processions in the community and many more.
Well, I have completely gotten off topic!! The 23rd and 24th of December were busy with caroling, baking, cooking and preparing. Actually, we were not only preparing for Christmas, but also for a typhoon that was supposed to land near us!! But I was busy in the kitchen with Sister Aileen and some of the mothers preparing food for Christmas. I even made a bread that is a tradition in my family, a recipe from my father's grandmother, Irene Briem...cinnamon pull apart buns. It was really nice to have a little taste of home!!
On Christmas Eve, we went to mass at 5pm. After mass the kids played and we rested...24 hours of baking and cooking is tiring!! We had dinner around 10pm... fried chicken, fish, cassava cake (made of a root crop), ubi jam, another root crop, the cinnamon bread, and lechon...a roasted pig!! It was a feast, and all of the Oikos Angels and the Sisters were all together. Around midnight, the bells began ringing all around us and we sang "Joy to the World", cheering and hugging, celebrating the first moments of Christmas. After the singing, we went into the chapel and Sister Minerva led us in a Christmas prayer service followed by the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. After a few more songs, we each got the chance to kneel in front of the manger scene, the belen, and say a prayer to the new born babe.
It was around 1am when we left the chapel and gifts were given. There is a missionary who comes every year on the Medical Mission from the Diocese of Joliet in Chicago, Il. Her name is Diane, and her medical office sends each child, mother and Sister in Oikos a gift for Christmas. What a fun and joyful time that was...to see the smiles and the wonder on the kids faces as they received their gifts...it was a treasure to be there!!
After the gift giving, we cleaned up and went to bed...around 2:30am...and my alarm went off at 5am!! Rising from bed, I helped to prepare food for the people in the barrio where we live for after the 8am mass...fried chicken, spaghetti and hotdogs!! With the help of Sister Aileen, I had made sugar cookies with m&ms to give the kids on Christmas morning...a first time for most of them to have a homemade cookie!!! And I made pancakes with mango syrup for our breakfast.
The mass was joyful and merry!! And giving the food afterwards was fun and fulfilling!! And eating our breakfast after that was yummy!!! Also on Christmas, we went to the Bishop's residence and to the rectory of the spiritual director of the Oikos Sisters, Msgr. Lope, to sing carols (and to eat again!!)
And I took a few moments to open a Christmas gift I had received from my mother...some shirts and tictacs, some holiday jelly beans and lip balm. It was just nice even to open the card and see her handwriting. Isn't that sort of funny...but just like the cinnamon rolls, it is a remembrance of home and of comfort and love. A nice gift on Christmas!
I hope your Christmas was special and joyful!! And I pray that the love and the joy of the Christ Child enters your hearts and guides you all in the coming year. May the peace of Christmas spread to our leaders, our world and unite us as one, under God's mercy and protection. xxoo
Such is life here. It seems that these people are so devoted to the life their ancestors have lived, and although the physical appearance of the land may change, and there may be changes in technology and medicine, there are certain customs and traditions that remain steadfast here. People ask me all the time when we are in the midst of one of the customs, do you do this in your place? And, almost always my answer is we used to do it, but not anymore. Has America become so much of a melting pot that our traditions have melted away? Things like Christmas caroling, novenas said together as a church community, fiestas where the entire neighborhood is involved and celebrates, processions in the community and many more.
Well, I have completely gotten off topic!! The 23rd and 24th of December were busy with caroling, baking, cooking and preparing. Actually, we were not only preparing for Christmas, but also for a typhoon that was supposed to land near us!! But I was busy in the kitchen with Sister Aileen and some of the mothers preparing food for Christmas. I even made a bread that is a tradition in my family, a recipe from my father's grandmother, Irene Briem...cinnamon pull apart buns. It was really nice to have a little taste of home!!
On Christmas Eve, we went to mass at 5pm. After mass the kids played and we rested...24 hours of baking and cooking is tiring!! We had dinner around 10pm... fried chicken, fish, cassava cake (made of a root crop), ubi jam, another root crop, the cinnamon bread, and lechon...a roasted pig!! It was a feast, and all of the Oikos Angels and the Sisters were all together. Around midnight, the bells began ringing all around us and we sang "Joy to the World", cheering and hugging, celebrating the first moments of Christmas. After the singing, we went into the chapel and Sister Minerva led us in a Christmas prayer service followed by the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. After a few more songs, we each got the chance to kneel in front of the manger scene, the belen, and say a prayer to the new born babe.
It was around 1am when we left the chapel and gifts were given. There is a missionary who comes every year on the Medical Mission from the Diocese of Joliet in Chicago, Il. Her name is Diane, and her medical office sends each child, mother and Sister in Oikos a gift for Christmas. What a fun and joyful time that was...to see the smiles and the wonder on the kids faces as they received their gifts...it was a treasure to be there!!
After the gift giving, we cleaned up and went to bed...around 2:30am...and my alarm went off at 5am!! Rising from bed, I helped to prepare food for the people in the barrio where we live for after the 8am mass...fried chicken, spaghetti and hotdogs!! With the help of Sister Aileen, I had made sugar cookies with m&ms to give the kids on Christmas morning...a first time for most of them to have a homemade cookie!!! And I made pancakes with mango syrup for our breakfast.
The mass was joyful and merry!! And giving the food afterwards was fun and fulfilling!! And eating our breakfast after that was yummy!!! Also on Christmas, we went to the Bishop's residence and to the rectory of the spiritual director of the Oikos Sisters, Msgr. Lope, to sing carols (and to eat again!!)
And I took a few moments to open a Christmas gift I had received from my mother...some shirts and tictacs, some holiday jelly beans and lip balm. It was just nice even to open the card and see her handwriting. Isn't that sort of funny...but just like the cinnamon rolls, it is a remembrance of home and of comfort and love. A nice gift on Christmas!
I hope your Christmas was special and joyful!! And I pray that the love and the joy of the Christ Child enters your hearts and guides you all in the coming year. May the peace of Christmas spread to our leaders, our world and unite us as one, under God's mercy and protection. xxoo
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Christmas Preparations
On December 16th, everywhere in the Philippines, and in many places throughout the world where there is a Filipino Community, the Church celebrates Simbang Gabi. It is a 9 day novena that usually begins around 4 - 4:30am.
Around 3am, fireworks and Advent songs can be heard from the church to wake everyone up for the novena and mass. The novena is a prayer to Jesus through His mother, Mary. Included in the novena are prayers to St. Joseph and St. Joachim and St. Ann, Mary's parents. Although in Waray Waray, the prayers are beautiful...and the best part? The best part is that not only is there so many people there that there is standing room only, in the cathedral in Borongan, which is quite large, there are so many people standing, that they don't all fit in the church and some stand outside!!! If only every Sunday's masses were like that!!!
After the mass, one group in the church sings Christmas carols. One day it is the Youth for Christ group, one day it is the Handmaids of the Lord, one day it is teachers and another it is the seminarians. I know I am totally biased, but Oikos did the best performance of the carols!!! With Sister Clarissa as the musical director and Sister Ethel as the voice coach, they provide a winning team that makes great performances every time!!
December 16th also begins the major time of decorating for Christmas, in homes and in the church. Everywhere you look you see decorations. But not only just decorations...although the stores are filled with Christmas decorations, most people make their Christmas decorations...and Oikos is no exception!! Below are pictures of manger scenes and Christmas trees made by Oikos, all homemade!!
Another thing that begins on December 16th is Christmas caroling. It really is pretty cool to be driving down the street on any given night after the 16th, and the night is alive with Christmas music! Kids make instruments to accompany them as they sing. The tradition is that when some people sing carols for you, you thank them by giving them a few pesos. It is called "panarit". Well, here in Oikos, we go to the homes and businesses of our benefactors and sing songs for them. There are two FULL cars of us in our caroling caravan, with guitars, a drum, chimes and a tambourine. We sing traditional Christmas songs in English and in Waray Waray. This year the money we made from caroling helped with our Christmas Outreach in Palo Uno, San Julian. (more on that later) Caroling is a lot of fun. I wish it would come back in style in the US!!
Although there is no snow here in the Philippines for Christmas, the preparations and the decorations make it just as special! And all of these things point to and lead up to the reason for all of it...the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!
Some pictures:
Around 3am, fireworks and Advent songs can be heard from the church to wake everyone up for the novena and mass. The novena is a prayer to Jesus through His mother, Mary. Included in the novena are prayers to St. Joseph and St. Joachim and St. Ann, Mary's parents. Although in Waray Waray, the prayers are beautiful...and the best part? The best part is that not only is there so many people there that there is standing room only, in the cathedral in Borongan, which is quite large, there are so many people standing, that they don't all fit in the church and some stand outside!!! If only every Sunday's masses were like that!!!
After the mass, one group in the church sings Christmas carols. One day it is the Youth for Christ group, one day it is the Handmaids of the Lord, one day it is teachers and another it is the seminarians. I know I am totally biased, but Oikos did the best performance of the carols!!! With Sister Clarissa as the musical director and Sister Ethel as the voice coach, they provide a winning team that makes great performances every time!!
December 16th also begins the major time of decorating for Christmas, in homes and in the church. Everywhere you look you see decorations. But not only just decorations...although the stores are filled with Christmas decorations, most people make their Christmas decorations...and Oikos is no exception!! Below are pictures of manger scenes and Christmas trees made by Oikos, all homemade!!
Another thing that begins on December 16th is Christmas caroling. It really is pretty cool to be driving down the street on any given night after the 16th, and the night is alive with Christmas music! Kids make instruments to accompany them as they sing. The tradition is that when some people sing carols for you, you thank them by giving them a few pesos. It is called "panarit". Well, here in Oikos, we go to the homes and businesses of our benefactors and sing songs for them. There are two FULL cars of us in our caroling caravan, with guitars, a drum, chimes and a tambourine. We sing traditional Christmas songs in English and in Waray Waray. This year the money we made from caroling helped with our Christmas Outreach in Palo Uno, San Julian. (more on that later) Caroling is a lot of fun. I wish it would come back in style in the US!!
Although there is no snow here in the Philippines for Christmas, the preparations and the decorations make it just as special! And all of these things point to and lead up to the reason for all of it...the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!
Some pictures:
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| Christmas caroling above in San Julian, below at the Cathedral in Borongan. |
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| Homemade Christmas tree made out of paper!! |
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| The above manger scene, or belen, is made of paper, below it is made out of coconut trunks, leaves, and the people are made out of coconuts!! |
A Whirlwind of a December!!!
I have to apologize for not posting much in December. I do have good excuses...although they are excuses. Is there such a thing as a good excuse??? Is it an oxymoron? I'm not sure. But anyways, you judge for yourself:
#1... Beginning on December 16th, we had Simbang Gabi, a 9 day novena beginning at 4am...wakeup time is at 2:30 or so because you have to get to the church by 3:15 to get a seat. Then, the rest of the day is as usual. Excuse #1...I was tired, man!!!
#2...We had flooding and typhoon warnings. Shortly after Simbang Gabi began, we had a day and night of heavy rains that caused major flooding here. We spent lots of time moving everything up to the second floor of our houses and lost power. Then, we had typhoon warnings for December 24th!! A b ig typhoon did come into the Philippines, but not by us. Once again, we had lots of extra preparations to make to be ready for a possible storm. No time for writing and no power for a few days, excuse #2.
#3...Just like you, I'm sure, as we got closer to Christmas, all of my time was spent in the kitchen preparing for the big day. I made sugar cookies for the poor people of Sohutan, empanada gift packages for our benefactors here in Borongan and lots of food for Christmas itself: cinnamon bread, pizza, fried chicken, ribs...Excuse #3...I was up to my elbows in flour and chicken and cookies!!!
#4...Aside from the "normal" Christmas goings on, which included Christmas caroling almost every night before Christmas, getting us to bed late (and then up early for the novena, don't forget), we were also preparing for our December 29th Christmas Mission Outing to a barrio up in the mountains. This took a lot of preparation, as you will see when you read my upcoming blog about it. I was more concerned about giving and preparing for 150 children who wouldn't have a Christmas without us than writing...wouldn't you be?...that's excuse #4.
#5...We spent most of the past two weeks in Sohutan where one of our mission houses is, Providence Home. Sister Minerva wanted one of the mission houses to be sort of a retreat place, a calmer, quieter dwelling, so there is no internet there. Excuse #5...for most of the past two weeks, I have been in a home with no internet...no internet=no blogging. Can't argue with that one!!
#6...Aside from Simbang Gabi, baking and cooking, flooding and storms, outreach missions and internet availability, Christmas and New Year's celebrations...New Year's Eve is also my birthday, so that just made things that much busier and more to do, prepare for, get tired from!!...Excuse #6.
So, you see, it really isn't my fault that I have been so lax in my writing. But I am about to make it up to you by blogging all about our holidays, holy days, birthdays and goings on. so...happy reading!
And Happy New Year, by the way!! I hope and pray that 2017 will be a wonderful, peacefilled, joyful year for all of us!!! xxoo
#1... Beginning on December 16th, we had Simbang Gabi, a 9 day novena beginning at 4am...wakeup time is at 2:30 or so because you have to get to the church by 3:15 to get a seat. Then, the rest of the day is as usual. Excuse #1...I was tired, man!!!
#2...We had flooding and typhoon warnings. Shortly after Simbang Gabi began, we had a day and night of heavy rains that caused major flooding here. We spent lots of time moving everything up to the second floor of our houses and lost power. Then, we had typhoon warnings for December 24th!! A b ig typhoon did come into the Philippines, but not by us. Once again, we had lots of extra preparations to make to be ready for a possible storm. No time for writing and no power for a few days, excuse #2.
#3...Just like you, I'm sure, as we got closer to Christmas, all of my time was spent in the kitchen preparing for the big day. I made sugar cookies for the poor people of Sohutan, empanada gift packages for our benefactors here in Borongan and lots of food for Christmas itself: cinnamon bread, pizza, fried chicken, ribs...Excuse #3...I was up to my elbows in flour and chicken and cookies!!!
#4...Aside from the "normal" Christmas goings on, which included Christmas caroling almost every night before Christmas, getting us to bed late (and then up early for the novena, don't forget), we were also preparing for our December 29th Christmas Mission Outing to a barrio up in the mountains. This took a lot of preparation, as you will see when you read my upcoming blog about it. I was more concerned about giving and preparing for 150 children who wouldn't have a Christmas without us than writing...wouldn't you be?...that's excuse #4.
#5...We spent most of the past two weeks in Sohutan where one of our mission houses is, Providence Home. Sister Minerva wanted one of the mission houses to be sort of a retreat place, a calmer, quieter dwelling, so there is no internet there. Excuse #5...for most of the past two weeks, I have been in a home with no internet...no internet=no blogging. Can't argue with that one!!
#6...Aside from Simbang Gabi, baking and cooking, flooding and storms, outreach missions and internet availability, Christmas and New Year's celebrations...New Year's Eve is also my birthday, so that just made things that much busier and more to do, prepare for, get tired from!!...Excuse #6.
So, you see, it really isn't my fault that I have been so lax in my writing. But I am about to make it up to you by blogging all about our holidays, holy days, birthdays and goings on. so...happy reading!
And Happy New Year, by the way!! I hope and pray that 2017 will be a wonderful, peacefilled, joyful year for all of us!!! xxoo
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