Alive and Joyful! Thanks Be to God!

October 7

Rosary Crusade, Bioethics Conference and Procession
Patients from General Santos City and Sarangani and ACIM staff were among the sixty four delegates from General Santos who went to Davao City to attend the Rosary Crusade, Bioethics Conference and Procession from October 7 until October 9. 

The trip was filled with adventure.  The team gathered in St. James Chapel at 11:30AM but the three truckloads of participants could only start rolling towards Davao at 1:45PM, upon the arrival of 3 parties that were late.  After gassing up, the trucks roared off, to the obvious pleasure of the excited delegates. Then one truck died a sudden, unexplainable death.  Six ambitious mechanics from the delegation jumped to the rescue.  But one truck, which had already covered some kilometers, had to retrace its steps to help solve the mystery.  When the mystery was solved, the trucks again roared off.  On the hot, rough and dust-powdered road to Davao, the rain decided to refresh the team.  The blessing went through the roof to generously shower every body and every bag of clothes.  And then, as the wet passengers looked forward to arriving on time, the traffic slowed.  Mud-stuck tires and detours caused by the road construction made the team stay longer on the road.  Up ahead, a prime mover truck skidded, fell side-ward and jammed the road furthermore.  So more rosaries were finished before the team finally arrived in Davao. A grand welcome warmed up the team.  Free new t-shirts were given out!  The shirts were nicely printed with the SSPX logo and Rosary Crusade letters. Who could take away the smiles from the newly-arrived delegates?

Immediately after changing into dry shirts, the delegates attended the Holy Mass.  After the Mass there was a nice dinner which energized the team for the all-night vigil.  The Gensan-Sarangani team took three consecutive hours for the vigil.  The Apostles of Mary and the youth from the mission villages took the 3:00 AM schedule, followed by the Legion of Mary who took the 4:00 AM slot.  The last hour was taken by the children from Gensan and Sarangani mission areas.  They were led in the prayers by Wallace Hibanada and Cyrah Angela Andres.  The faithful in Davao said they were impressed to see 23 children kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament praying the Holy Rosary. 

 October 8

Eucharistic Crusade

At 11:00 AM, Frs. Timothy and Joseph Pfeiffer organized a Eucharistic Crusade in the German House attended by the Legion of Mary and the Apostles of Mary.  Fr. T. Pfeiffer explained the necessity and the system for establishing the Crusade among the children.  Afterwards, he asked them to organize the children for the Eucharistic Crusade.

Children’s Eucharistic Crusade:

At 2:00 PM, the Apostles of Mary gathered the children for the Eucharistic Crusade.  There were two divisions, one for the little children, and another for the bigger children.  The first group (for little children) was handled by Maricar Navales, Chrisma Jane Bravo, and Judith Dagatan.  Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer joined them to give stories of the Eucharistic Crusade to the children, especially how children loved and defended the Blessed Sacrament. He asked the children to join the Crusade to express their love for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  The second group (for bigger children) was handled by Yolly Eileen Gamutan.  Fr. Tim Pfeiffer joined the group.  He called on participants to join in impromptu plays to demonstrate the goodness of the virtue of obedience.  He explained about the perfect obedience of Christ on the Cross by which He redeemed the world and asked the children to join the Crusade to help save souls.

Bioethics Conference

At 4:00PM, the group gathered at Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine for the Bioethics Conference which was organized by Jerome Babate.  ACIM staff printed the booklets used by Dr. Fidel Penamante in his talk on the “Deadly Deception:  International Planned Parenthood’s Assault on Children, Family and Nation”.  There were about 85 participants to the conference. The conference ended with a Sung Mass and community dinner.  Before bedtime, there were parlor games and contests for the children and teenagers.  Prizes were happily shared and enjoyed with new-found friends.  Fr. T. Pfeiffer led the evening prayers before the lights were turned off.

October 9

Procession

The Rosary and Eucharistic Crusade culminated with a Procession at 6:00 AM from Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine in Buhangin to the People’s Park in the heart of the city, a two-hour’s walk covering 8 kilometers.  

 

 

Two military trucks and 7 military men were placed at the disposal of the team through the kindness of a lieutenant who works with ACIM-Asia in delivering health services to the poor in war-ravaged communities in Southern Mindanao.  The trucks and the military men were helpful in the transport of the chairs, tables, altar and Mass supplies.  The military trucks took up the rear end of the procession and served to silence the hostile parish priest who had threatened to use all his power to stop the procession.  A police car took the lead.  So really, there was nothing that the parish priest could do.  He was probably amazed at our boldness as he stood at the door of his church and silently watched the procession pass by. 

 

 The procession ended at the park where an Altar was set for Holy Mass.  A couple of park maintenance personnel attended the Holy Mass.  After the Holy Mass, the community gathered for a thanksgiving lunch and then parted ways.  

The Gensan team, with the military, helped in transporting the materials used for the Holy Mass and then departed for Gensan. Upon arrival, the children were treated to an ice cream party, courtesy of Fr. Tim Pfeiffer. 

 October 17

His Excellency, Bishop Bernard Fellay in Conference in Davao

Patients and catechism pupils from the mission villages in Sarangani Province happily asked to be among the forty one delegates from General Santos who went to attend the conference of His Excellency, Bishop Bernard Fellay.  ACIM Staff served as choir, assisted by Ms. Alexandra Vonlanthen, a Swiss volunteer.  The patients were happy for the opportunity to be part of the delegation, and hoped fervently that they would receive special blessings.

October 18

Youth Conference at the German House

Before the departure of the Gensan team, Fr. T.Pfeiffer gave a special conference to the youth about the crisis in the Church and the need for vigilance and serious study for the defense of the Catholic Faith.

October 19

Confirmation in General Santos City

Fifty one candidates lined for Confirmation in St. James Chapel (Figure based on the number registered by Judith, who typed the confirmation cards).  Six members of patients' families were among those who received the Sacraments.  Te Deum laudamus!

 

 

 

 

 October 21

Emergency Patient Assisted

ACIM staff responded to an emergency call to assist a beggar who collapsed from a thyroid crisis.  Patient and family were assisted to prepare for death as medical assistance was being rendered.  With help from a local sponsor, the patient was brought to the hospital for admission, prayers were said at the bedside and family members were exhorted to pray.  Preparation for confession was done.  Fr. T. Pfeiffer heard the confession the next day, on his arrival from Davao.

October 22

Youth Formation in General Santos City

 

Fr. T.Pfeiffer gathered the youth who were actively assisting the apostolate to give a conference on the Holy Mass—the history and the protestant-inspired changes manifested in the Novus Ordo Mass.  Sixteen youth attended the conference.  He discussed also the charter of the Apostles of Mary league and asked the AoM members to observe the discipline of the league, particularly in the wearing of the badge and the training of the relief team.  The youth had been very helpful in the preparation of patients for Confession and Extreme Unction and Baptism.  He urged them to bring in more youth to love and serve God.

 

Confirmation candidates from Sarangani enjoyed their dish-washing service at the mission office last October 16. Hopefully, they will respond generously to grace and continue to give good help to the mission in the future.

Jane happily standing up on her own.  Her condition has helped bring her family to the sacraments.  Her parents received the sacraments of Confirmation and Matrimony on October 19. Her older siblings received the sacrament of Confirmation together with their parents.  Today, when her mother brought her along for the Assisi reparation vigil, she brought hope to the people when she sang the Gloria Patri on entering the chapel. Blessed be God! May she always find her delight in God.

October 27

Alive and joyful! Thanks be to God!

The patient who had collapsed from thyroid crisis joyfully prepared to go home.  Thanks be to God for His enduring mercy.  May the patient and her family grow in faith and love God with their whole hearts forevermore.  Fervent thanks to the local sponsor who is paying the hospital bill and to the volunteers who sat and prayed at her bedside and gave spiritual support to the patient and her family in the critical moments.  Special thanks also to Fr. Pfeiffer for his zeal.  May more joyful hearts sing the goodness of God!

Thanksgiving Ceremony in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat
The municipality of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, wished to honor Dr. Jean-Pierre Dickes and ACIM for the generous health service extended to the poor.  Alexandra Vonlanthen received the honors on behalf of Dr. Dickes and ACIM.  She was assisted by Sheryl Ocampo, Maricar Navales and Patrick Intes.