A Godsend flock of young "Angels" - nuns of the "Women Congregation of the Servants of the Poor"
Posted on Wednesday, 1 July 2015
A
Godsend flock of young “Angels” - nuns of the
“Women Congregation of the Servants of the
Poor”
By Apolinario Villalobos
My encounter with these “angels” happened
on a jeepney, as two of them, whom I later learned to be Sisters Bona and
Pauline were on their way to the market to buy flowers for the altar of their
chapel. I broke the ice by making queries about their group which I learned to
be in the midst of a middle-class subdivision in Bacoor City. I always equate
religious groups with charity, outreach to the poor, prayer for the sick, etc.
Before they got off, I asked their permission if I could pay them a visit to
learn more about their congregation, soonest as possible to which they
consented.
When they were gone, it was only then did I
notice that the twitching of my tired left eye which started to bother me as
early as 5 AM was gone! Since 3 AM, I had been working on my laptop until 8 AM.
Usually, the twitch that occurs could last for 2 days. The nuns could have
healed it! (wild idea…only). As I was excited to visit the nuns in their
“convent”, I immediately finished my transaction, so that in a couple of hours
after our meeting, I surprised them with an unannounced visit, as they did not
expect that the “soonest” would mean that morning.
I found out that their congregation which
was founded by Blessed James Cusmano, S.D.P., an Italian, and their Mother
General is Sr. Palmira Burzellino, S.D.P. The “S.D.P.” stands for “Servei Dei
Povere” or Servants of the Poor. In the Philippines, the main Mission House is
located at Roxas City, Capiz, and the one in Bacoor City is the first Mission
House established outside Capiz. The congregation also has “Brothers” who are
simply referred to as “Servants of the Poor”, aside from priests, who are
referred to as “Missionary Servants of the Poor”. The congregation for the Brothers was founded
in 1984, while that of the Sisters was in 1980.
Aside from Srs. Bona and Pauline, a third
nun just arrived from Roxas City, Sr. Joy, and in the near future, their Mother
Superior shall follow. Their House is a conjoined structure that consists of
three units of the Siena Villas row house system. It has a small chapel with
several religious images. Hugging the fence are shrubs and medicinal herbs and
vegetables. According to them, they have been in the subdivision for six years
to date, thanks to their benefactor who donated the lot and the units.
They have been into charity works, reaching
out to children of poor families using the donations that they are
receiving. They are currently assisted
by the “Kalingap Ka”, a non-government organization, which is based in the Our
Lady of Peace parish of Salinas 2, Bacoor City. The said NGO also provides
volunteer service as necessary. To augment their financial needs, they welcome
donated recyclable materials such as corrugated boxes, bottles and old
magazines that they sell to the junk shop.
They are in need of donations such as
learning materials for children, clothing, towel, blankets, and other things
that can be shared with the less fortunate, especially, food, as they also have
a feeding program. For those who plan to donate rice, there are stores near
their House where this can be purchased. For cash donation, perhaps, it can be
sent via Cebuana Lhuiller which is very near their place, but first I have to
check again for the name to which it could be addressed. When I asked for their
contacts, they admitted that they do not have a computer so an email address is
out, and no landline, as well. All they have is one cellphone, the number of
which I cannot publish. I counseled them to have even simply printed “contact
cards”, on ordinary paper with the size of the regular of business card, for
the convenience of information dissemination about their charitable works.
Their situation is understandable as they are a new congregation. I told them not to worry, as those who are
really interested to extend help can seek them out at the address below:
Women Congregation of the Servants of the
Poor
Block 1, Lot 29
Sienna Villas, Camella Homes 2
Habay 2, Bacoor City, Cavite
The generous residents of this subdivision
are one in assisting the Sisters who told me during my visit that a neighbor
just brought them viand for lunch.
Friends who view this share, and who wonder
how they can show their gratitude to God for the life they enjoy on earth, can
now have an address to check, or send queries through my fb.
Discussion