A DAY WITH THE GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVANTS …

It was a cool yet sunny Saturday morning last January 9. Our MWG composed of Dickie Buhain, Noel Duldulao , Yong and Che Garcia, Mico and Ivy Lademora , Jay and Michelle Manzo,  led by our PLs Manny  and Arlene Arcilla, gathered at 8am and proceeded to the provincial home of the Daughters of Charity in Paranaque.

We reached the venue before 9am.  The compound was wide, spacious and surrounded by greenery. We were welcomed by Sr. Marissa , a very good friend of Dickie’s father in the olden days. (However, in the past few months, it seemed that her new “barkada” had now become Dickie and Susan who did all the research and arrangements for this outreach activity of our MWG).

We were led to the dining area where several of the older/senior sisters had already gathered. (We found out that in this house there were over  50 sisters in various stages of disability a part of about a hundred aging nuns who were being cared for in other sections of the building). The ones we were about to meet could still go around in their wheelchairs while there were some who can’t get up anymore and just stayed in their “ICU” area.   

The first part of our program was introduction of our MWG followed by a brief background of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. While Sr. Marissa was giving her welcome remarks,  Sr. Imelda was insistently raising her hand and wanted to be heard. She welcomed us with a song number to our delight!  (Wow, apparently, though these nuns are almost bed ridden , they sure can still give joy to others by their willingness to share their talents).  We were also amazed to know that Sr. Imelda was a nursing board topnotcher, who  eventually became a nurse, but opted to answer God’s calling to become a nun.

A 102-year old nun sings to us

Before Sr. Marissa could continue with our program, another sister sang and then another  recited a poem.  The most surprising among all was when the most senior sister who happened to be 102 years old sang “Bahay Kubo” and we all joyfully sang with her with gusto!

The Sisters enjoyed reciting poems and singing songs to us!

We initially went there with a program in mind which included singing praise and worship songs, prayers, etc.  In between the sisters’ talks/stories, songs, poems and entertainment, we were able to sing several songs.  Yong and Che’s 7 yr. old son, Red, entertained the nuns by speaking in front of them.  He later was lovingly interrogated by them and he patiently listened to all their stories. 

"It's now our turn to thank and to serve you."

It turned out that the main portion of our program was given by the sisters themselves.  They simply wanted to have people around to interact with.  As if to confirm it, later on that afternoon Dickie sent an email to all our MWG members about a daily reflection from St. Pio  which goes . . .

“We have a listening group of co-workers (of the Missionaries of Charity) who go to the houses of old people and sit down and let them talk. The elderly tell stories to the co-workers of things that happened 30 years ago. Very old people love to have somebody listen to them. To listen when nobody else wants to listen is a very beautiful thing.”  - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Coincidence? Oh yes we would say that, . . . in human terms. But our almighty God knows better. We went there to entertain when it turned out that these retired, aging and sickly nuns needed people to listen to them and spend time with them.  

Sr. Marissa accompanied us around the compound.  We took a peek of their ICU section, saw their chapel, prayed in one of their prayer rooms, walked by their cemetery and even enjoyed the breathtaking view of Laguna de Bay overlooking nearby.  We realized that these nuns spent more than half their lifetime serving the Lord.   Some even gave up what could have been lucrative careers.  They lovingly showed the face of Jesus to the less fortunate, the sick and the dying.  Now as they reach their twilight years, it is their turn to be served by others.  

Before that Saturday, our MWG agreed to donate funds so that we could purchase some grocery items. We were able to bring 3 boxes containing milk, crackers, bread, oatmeal, jams, cheese.   But we found out that aside from these items, the sisters desperately need other things like adult diapers, wheelchairs, kumoda (portable toilet chairs), vitamin C, multi-vitamins, used laptops or PC desktops, printers (for their data files ), and solar water heater (to reduce their Meralco bills).

As Arlene said in her opening remarks… “throughout all the years of service, the Sisters of Charity must have served hundreds or even thousands of people.  Maybe a few would have said “Thank you” to you.  It is now our turn to thank and to serve you for your lifelong commitment of giving selfless service to others”.

We said our goodbyes and told the nuns we will try our best to visit them again.  We left the huge compound with a happy heart knowing that in our own small way, we made that day extra special for the sisters.  But there were nagging questions such as “How about the other days of their aging lives, what would they be like?”  “What can we do to make their remaining days be happy and comfortable?”

There couldn’t be a better way to show them than by spending time with them and attending to their needs.  It is surely God’s way of telling them: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

- Michelle Manzo, Central B

Editor’s note: The MWG of Manny and Arlene Arcilla belong to Central B, composed of Dickie and Susan Buhain, Noel and Ces Duldulao, Yong and Che Garcia, Mico and Ivy Lademora, Jay and Michelle Manzo.  They paid a second visit to the Daughters of Charity on April 9, 2010.