Our Associates, Prisca and Calogero, back from their visit in the Philippines
The Word of God teaches us to multiply the gifts we are entrusted with; to receive a gift and accept it, being confident that it will bear fruit in us and in those we meet. This was our experience during our journey in the Philippines, and we would like to tell you about it with the background of this parable.
Just as it happened when we went to Senegal, about four years ago, our children surprised us again. During Christmas time, to duly celebrate several family anniversaries, including Prisca’s 60th birthday, they presented us with a plane ticket to the Philippines, for a trip to visit our Sisters and Associates in Dumaguete.
The trip, which had been organized unbeknownst to us by our children with the help of the Sisters, took us by surprise. We were quite concerned at first. It’s so many hours of travel! We’re going to the other side of the world! We haven’t master their language! Will we manage to make it? Despite our anxiety, we welcomed this gift with an evangelical spirit and with the hope of making it bear fruit. Our fears disappeared, and as we received strong encouragement and support from all the Sisters and Associates in Italy, we could also sense the joy of being able to honor the 25th anniversary of our Covenant, which is celebrated this year.
We left on April 14th and returned on April 30th. We experienced intense, beautiful, and profound days of encounter and simple sharing. Upon our arrival in Dumaguete, Sr. Marina and Sr. Francesca picked us up at the airport. Sr. Rose and Sr. Pascaline welcomed us home with fresh coconut water to drink straight from it’s the very fruit, all signs of care and affection wiped out our tiredness from the almost one and a half day trip.
While staying in the Sisters’ house, we could share with them all the moments of the day: Morning prayer, daily meals, daily Holy Mass, visits to the families cared for by the Sisters through their service to the poor, and much more. However, our schedule also included times of rest, recreation, and visits to the enchanting places and natural beauties that are found in Dumaguete and the neighboring areas. These landscapes and experiences were so breath-taking that we felt as if we were living a second honeymoon. Also the many pictures taken by Sr. Rose, an excellent photographer, actually added value to the whole trip. Living together with the Sisters allowed us to get to know each other more deeply, and each of them was a gift to us.
We were greatly touched by the atmosphere of warm welcome and joyful celebration with which we were greeted by the families living in the “Caritas 1” and “Caritas 2” villages, where the Sisters serve to support the most disadvantaged families, by delivering food and aid for the children’s education. We were also very struck by the opportunity we had to visit some families living around Dumaguete in precarious accommodation structures, as well as by recognizing the people’s needs and nevertheless sensing the dignity with which they face their daily difficulties. Moreover, it was an honor for us to contribute, albeit briefly, to the canteen service, that is provided on a daily basis on the premises of the Dumaguete Cathedral.
The meeting we had with the Associates of Dumaguete is a precious memory in our hearts, especially due to their affectionate welcome and profound wisdom. This made us feel at ease in sharing with simplicity and intimacy our common choice to live the Charism of Mother Frances at the service of the poor and in unity with the Congregation. This sharing that made the meaning of the Associate’s vocation even clearer to us and thus served as a mutual encouragement, because we are certain that the Lord gives everyone the necessary gifts to be “multiplied”, but our agreement and awareness to accept this gift is crucial.
We end this article by thanking our children, Sisters, Associates, and all our friends who in various ways cared for us on this journey with their prayers, support, and closeness. The Sisters and Associates of the “Our Lady of Hope” Community in Dumaguete have been a great gift to us. We want to send a special word of thanks to Sr. Francesca and Sr. Marina, for their constant and necessary work as interpreters during our visit, something which they had to do and deeply helped us in addressing our language limitations.
Prisca and Calogero, SFP Associates
Published: November 11, 2023
