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IN
THIS ISSUE:
Cover
Story
From
the Head Servant
By Bro.
Pete Lapid
The
Father Speaks
By Fr.
S. Binzler, SJ
Our
Faith
By Fr.
KJ Veeger, MSC
Place
of Refuge
By
Philip Yuson
Here's
the Latest
By
Tintin Magbitang
Reflection
By Fr.
Florianus Wudjon, PR
Sharing
By
Nenette Dizon
By
Armand Sol
Saint
for the Month
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 - PROFILE
OF THE
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CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
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THIS WEBSITE
IS A PROUD RECIPIENT OF THE
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SHARING
 
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Northward?
Westward? Daily, since my early years, I’d go downstairs as soon as
I woke up and looked at the direction of my Mom’s slippers to know
from where to expect her, whether from our parish church in the north
or the Dominican convent in the west. As far as I can remember, Mom
had been going to Holy Mass daily. As the Lord had generously given
Himself to her in Holy Communion each day, He made her grow in
SELF-GIVING all the way.
Mom
was a teacher. She loved doing cutwork and artwork. She did the art
corner for her classroom and those of her co-teachers. Pleasing others
had become her way of life. And even after her retirement she kept
herself busy preparing greeting cards for our relatives and friends
all year round – Christmas, Valentine’s, Easter, Birthdays, etc.
She adorned the cards with cut-out flowers and poems often suited to
the needs of the intended person. She did not expect any return. Her
only joy was to know that the cards lifted up the spirit of the
receiver.
In
the Community we are taught, “Give until it hurts”. Mom even
exceeded this. For she gave not only until it hurt; she gave ALL that
she could. Mom taught not only in her elementary school but took extra
load in high school and college, and even accepted tutorial work just
to be able to finance the schooling of my poorer relatives. When my
brother and I were in the University, Mom would come from the province
to get our clothes, wash them herself and deliver them the following
week-end. After her retirement, the little money we gave her she spent
for others. On the day before her last stroke, she went shopping for stampita
or pictures of Our Lady of Lourdes to be inserted in the Christmas
cards. The concerns of the Genesis members became her own concerns.
She used to kneel even at midday to pray for the sick, for those with
problems or have no
maids, no jobs, etc.
Friends
who saw us daily especially in Church commended me for taking very
good care of my Mom. I think it was Mom taking more care of me. When I
shampoo my hair in the evening, she asked me to go near her so she
could dry up my hair. She stayed awake in the evenings while I worked
on the computer. She lulled me to sleep by caressing my head. And when
I’d go to the washroom in the middle of the night, she’d offer to
accompany me.
Mom’s generosity is akin to her
hospitality. All friends who came to Jl. Bacang (our
residence) knew that they could not leave our house without
partaking of the simple food prepared for them. Even during worship on
Wednesdays, Mom would call my attention to serve the last comers who
had not yet taken their meal. Every evening before my driver went
home, Mom reminded me to give him some food for his family. Serving
food was foremost in Mom’s mind. When she had her second stroke last
November 10 she became unconscious. Richel (one
of the choir members), tried to tap her consciousness by saying.
“Lola (Grandma), there are
already many guests, shall I ask the helper to serve food?” Mom
slightly raised her eyebrows to say ‘Yes’.
“Love
is something that is given away, and it comes right back to you,”
goes our song. The love Mom gave to others came back to her in various
ways. The love, attention, care and thoughtfulness of relatives,
friends, brothers and sisters in the Community are the therapy that
enabled her to live happily up to her age of 93 years. And during her
last 2 weeks when she was unconscious, heaven was bombarded daily with
prayers for her not only from Indonesia, but also from the
Philippines, USA, Canada and other parts of the world where ex-Genesis
members are. Hundreds of friends had her enrolled to benefit in perpetuity
from the Holy Masses, good works, prayers and sacrifices of various
religious orders: Salesians,
Jesuits. Dominicans, Franciscans, Passionists, Capuchins, Blessed
Sacrament Fathers, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, etc.
“One
thing I ask of the Lord is to dwell in the house of the Lord” (Psalm
27:4). Mom demonstrated this desire as she faithfully went to Church
daily. She continued doing so even this last year while on a
wheelchair, though she just slept in Church most of the time. And as
the saying goes, “the way you live is the way you die”. The
Lord honored Mom’s desire and rewarded her faithfulness by allowing
her remains to reside in St. Jerome’s Church as He took her
into His eternal embrace. There she will live forever
giving thanks and praise to Him.
- For comments, suggestions or
ideas,
- Write us: Jl. Bacang
No. 20 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan,
Indonesia
- Call us: (6221)
720-3824
- Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
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- Genesis
Catholic Community
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Rights Reserved 2001
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part of this website may be copied, reproduced or modified without
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