We were privileged to host a healing Mass with Father Fernando Suarez, the Filipino priest blessed with the gift of healing. Organized by the Philippine Air Force through the efforts of Mrs. Ona, Fr. Suarez graciously accepted the invitation before his scheduled departure for Europe the next day.
People started coming in at 11 in the morning of October 16. By 3:30pm, the 1,800 seats of the shrine was almost full. All this time, the rosary was being prayed and Bishop Tumulak and Monsignor Cesar Salomon, rector of the Shrine, heard confession.
At around 4:10pm, the mass started. Fr. Suarez in his homily shared with us a conversation he had with HE Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales whom he calls "Lolo" over breakfast one morning. HE Cardinal Rosales reminded him, "Nando, your gift is for the people". True enough, Fr. Suarez has been sharing his gift of healing to countless persons all over the world.
He reminds us that he is no magician. This healing is not of his doing. He is just being used by God to cure what is not right in this world, what is not right in a person. All his "power" comes from God. He is but His humble servant.
After the mass, Fr. Jeff, Fr. Suarez's constant traveling companion took the floor and shared more testimonies from people who have been healed. In a few minutes, the healing ministry began.
People on wheelchairs lined up in front of the altar, followed by people seated on the pews. Row by row, they stood in front of the altar and waited for their turn to be touched by the Holy Spirit through Fr. Suarez. Stroke victims who couldn't walk started to walk after Fr. Suarez touched and prayed over them. Cancer victims shared their healing experiences right then and there. People fell on the floor after being prayed over.
There were so many sick people, so many people praying for improvement in their health, people hoping and praying for a miracle. There were some people on wheelchairs who seemed as if their sickness, their ailment had taken over their body. But they had faith, and if not them, then a family member or a relative still believed that the sick can be healed. Thus their reason for being there that afternoon at the Shrine.
Some were healed on the spot. Perhaps for others, it may take time. But for as long as there is faith, and there is hope, the healing power of God will never cease to work its way through our bodies, our hearts, our souls. We just have to let Him in.
As Father Suarez said, he is not the only healer in this world. You don't have to be 'special' or 'different' to be able to heal. All of us are called to be healers. When we pray for a person we love, we are healers. When we offer sacrifices for the healing of the sick, we are healers. When we LOVE, we HEAL.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Bilibid Or Not?!?
Fresh from the success of Talulot 2008, Bishop Leo Tumulak, Military Ordinary, several officers and staff of Magnificat Ventures Corporation, together with generous entrepreneur, Stephanie "Mei" Hao, and our "Carmelite Theologian" Brother Froilan Torres, trooped to the Maximum Security Area of Bilibid Jail in Muntinlupa through the office of Monsignor Bobby Olaguer, Prison Chaplain.
It was a case of one good deed deserving another, all miraculously interwoven by perhaps St. Therese herself. When we helped organize the 2nd visit of the Pilgrim Relics of St. Therese last January to March 2008, we ordered several commemorative shirts as part of our merchandising. Due to the rush, there were some shirts (416pieces to be specific) that quite did not pass our TQM. We returned these shirts to Penpen Shirts owned by Mei. This was in February 2008.
Fast forward to September. Elma, our staff in charge of the merchandising for the Relics, received a phone call from Mei expressing her intention to donate the returned shirts but she didn't know who to donate them to.
"Elma relayed the good news to me and suggested that we donate them to the prisoners in Bilibid", shares Olivia Dizon, wife of MVC President, Boydee. "I remember Brother Froilan telling me that when he was with the relics of St. Therese, it was particularly at the Bilibid prison that he shed tears. He was so touched by the sight of these prisoners kneeling befor and kissing the reliquary of St. Therese. I thought it was indeed St. Therese's calling for the prisoners to be the receivers of this generosity."
"When I told the generous intention of Mei to Bishop Tumulak during one of our meetings, he was so excited, he volunteered if he could say mass to the detainees. I quickly asked Brother Froilan to coordinate with Msgr. Olaguer if he could have us there."
The date was set, October 6; the time 9:00am. Mei brought her shirts, and we, the MVC family, brought tapsilog for 400 people, and 1,500 packages of bath soap, Happee toothpaste and the Novena booklet of the 9-Day Way of the Little Flower from the Relics Visit.
Bishop Tumulak celebrated mass with Fr. Chito Cardoza and Msgr. Bobby Olaguer with an excited and enthusiastic choir and over 300 inmates. After the mass, the inmates prepared a few song and dance numbers for us.
What made the visit truly memorable for us was the induction of the group named A.M.I.D.S.T. - Association of Maximum Inmates Devotees of St. Therese. Most of the officers of this new association were actually already on Death Row in the year 2000. It was at this time that a string of executions were already on-going. There were 7 more who were scheduled to be executed. In February 2000, the relics visited the Maximum Detention Prison and these 7 prisoners prayed so hard to St. Therese to ask God to spare their lives. A few days after, then President Joseph Estrada issued a moratorium on executions for the Jubilee Year. Eventually, the death penalty was abolished. For these 7 prisoners, they were at the cusp of death but they were given a new lease on life... and they gratefully credit that to St. Therese's divine intercession.
As a song goes: There can be miracles if you believe. Their story was one such miracle. We know that there are countless more. We also know that St. Therese will keep true her promise of spending heaven doing good on earth. She may not come down to earth herself, but she sends other people in her stead. We are only too honored to have been chosen to be her instruments of spreading the love of God to the prisoners on that day.
It was a case of one good deed deserving another, all miraculously interwoven by perhaps St. Therese herself. When we helped organize the 2nd visit of the Pilgrim Relics of St. Therese last January to March 2008, we ordered several commemorative shirts as part of our merchandising. Due to the rush, there were some shirts (416pieces to be specific) that quite did not pass our TQM. We returned these shirts to Penpen Shirts owned by Mei. This was in February 2008.
Fast forward to September. Elma, our staff in charge of the merchandising for the Relics, received a phone call from Mei expressing her intention to donate the returned shirts but she didn't know who to donate them to.
"Elma relayed the good news to me and suggested that we donate them to the prisoners in Bilibid", shares Olivia Dizon, wife of MVC President, Boydee. "I remember Brother Froilan telling me that when he was with the relics of St. Therese, it was particularly at the Bilibid prison that he shed tears. He was so touched by the sight of these prisoners kneeling befor and kissing the reliquary of St. Therese. I thought it was indeed St. Therese's calling for the prisoners to be the receivers of this generosity."
"When I told the generous intention of Mei to Bishop Tumulak during one of our meetings, he was so excited, he volunteered if he could say mass to the detainees. I quickly asked Brother Froilan to coordinate with Msgr. Olaguer if he could have us there."
The date was set, October 6; the time 9:00am. Mei brought her shirts, and we, the MVC family, brought tapsilog for 400 people, and 1,500 packages of bath soap, Happee toothpaste and the Novena booklet of the 9-Day Way of the Little Flower from the Relics Visit.
Bishop Tumulak celebrated mass with Fr. Chito Cardoza and Msgr. Bobby Olaguer with an excited and enthusiastic choir and over 300 inmates. After the mass, the inmates prepared a few song and dance numbers for us.
What made the visit truly memorable for us was the induction of the group named A.M.I.D.S.T. - Association of Maximum Inmates Devotees of St. Therese. Most of the officers of this new association were actually already on Death Row in the year 2000. It was at this time that a string of executions were already on-going. There were 7 more who were scheduled to be executed. In February 2000, the relics visited the Maximum Detention Prison and these 7 prisoners prayed so hard to St. Therese to ask God to spare their lives. A few days after, then President Joseph Estrada issued a moratorium on executions for the Jubilee Year. Eventually, the death penalty was abolished. For these 7 prisoners, they were at the cusp of death but they were given a new lease on life... and they gratefully credit that to St. Therese's divine intercession.
As a song goes: There can be miracles if you believe. Their story was one such miracle. We know that there are countless more. We also know that St. Therese will keep true her promise of spending heaven doing good on earth. She may not come down to earth herself, but she sends other people in her stead. We are only too honored to have been chosen to be her instruments of spreading the love of God to the prisoners on that day.
Talulot 2008
It had been raining the past few days before October 5, the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus' celebration of our beloved Saint's Feast Day which was on October 1. The Military Bishop, HE Leopoldo S. Tumulak, DD, had issued a decree declaring the 1st Sunday of October as the Shrine's Fiesta in honor of St. Therese.
So on October 5, by God's grace, all we could see were clear skies and bright sunshine! Thousands upon thousands of devotees flocked to the Shrine for the Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Leo Tumulak. His message for the day emanated from Little Therese's message of simplicity - it was to always SMILE. And smile we all did as we participated in the holy celebration of the mass.
Right after the Eucharistic Rite, the place to be was at the vacant lot where the landmark Water Tower stood. Thanks to Megaworld Properties, they generously allowed us to use the area as the venue of Talulot 2008. The stage was set, the contingents were well on their way for the grand opening of Talulot. At around 11:00am, Congressman Lito Roxas, Bishop Leo Tumulak, Ms. Boots Anson-Roa and Mr. Boydee Dizon officially declared the Talulot Festival open!
There were a total of 4 contingents for the Street Dancing Competition and 9 for the Drum and Lyre Category. Their performances captured the audience's full attention, drawing yells and cheers from the bystanders. It was indeed a joyous celebration to commemorate St. Therese's Feast Day. As the performers swayed to the beat of the drums, each step was dedicated in our little saint's honor. As they danced to the music, each rhythmic movement was a prayer to her. The performers, organizers gave their best for the success of the Talulot, because following her little way, any simple thing done with great love is an offering to God. So, on that particular day, heaven was filled with our offering of love for the saint who sends us her shower of petals in our lives.
Congratulations to the winners! Till next year!!! Viva Sta. Teresita!!!
So on October 5, by God's grace, all we could see were clear skies and bright sunshine! Thousands upon thousands of devotees flocked to the Shrine for the Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Leo Tumulak. His message for the day emanated from Little Therese's message of simplicity - it was to always SMILE. And smile we all did as we participated in the holy celebration of the mass.
Right after the Eucharistic Rite, the place to be was at the vacant lot where the landmark Water Tower stood. Thanks to Megaworld Properties, they generously allowed us to use the area as the venue of Talulot 2008. The stage was set, the contingents were well on their way for the grand opening of Talulot. At around 11:00am, Congressman Lito Roxas, Bishop Leo Tumulak, Ms. Boots Anson-Roa and Mr. Boydee Dizon officially declared the Talulot Festival open!
There were a total of 4 contingents for the Street Dancing Competition and 9 for the Drum and Lyre Category. Their performances captured the audience's full attention, drawing yells and cheers from the bystanders. It was indeed a joyous celebration to commemorate St. Therese's Feast Day. As the performers swayed to the beat of the drums, each step was dedicated in our little saint's honor. As they danced to the music, each rhythmic movement was a prayer to her. The performers, organizers gave their best for the success of the Talulot, because following her little way, any simple thing done with great love is an offering to God. So, on that particular day, heaven was filled with our offering of love for the saint who sends us her shower of petals in our lives.
Congratulations to the winners! Till next year!!! Viva Sta. Teresita!!!
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