Modern-Day Missionaries to the World

Santosh Digal

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) take and About 10 percent of the population of the practice their faith fervently wherever they country are OFWs located in more than 193 go or are. That is why the Catholic Bishops countries. Half of them are in the U. S. Conference of the Philippines appreciates where more than 85,000 Filipinos continue the role of OFWs as modern-day apostles of to migrate every year. That is why the evangelization in the foreign countries where Catholic Bishops Conference of the they work. Philippines deem OFWs as today’s apostles of evangelization in the foreign countries Mary Jane Soriano, a 25-year-old college where they go to work or migrate. graduate Filipino domestic worker, has been For Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis working in Hong Kong for some years. Antonio Tagle, OFWs play a big role in During her stay there, she always made it a sharing and proclaiming the “joy of the point to attend the Sunday Mass in a local Gospel” given their sheer number. “Our church, even if her employer and his family overseas Filipino migrant workers have belonged to another religion. Besides Mary’s become the big missionary presence,” says humility, simplicity, hard work, honesty and Tagle. other human qualities that inevitably impressed her employer is her indomitable Catholic faith and the way she practices it - simple ways to keep her life and faith going: always trusting in God, praying daily, being good and doing good to others. In due time, the employer and family voluntarily embraced the Catholic faith with their own volition and interest. One reason for this was Mary who practiced her faith in a simple and sublime manner; being a domestic worker inspired them in a non- subtle and non-assuming manner. Mary is Government data shows that over 10 million one of the millions of OFWs who are spread Filipinos are living and working overseas in all over the world. varied professions like medical doctors, An OFW is a person of Filipino origin who nurses, engineers, teachers, caregivers, lives and works outside of the Philippines. domestic helpers and others. The term denotes Filipinos who are abroad In Brunei, there are about 20,000 Catholics indefinitely either as citizens, permanent or and 70 percent are Filipinos. Bishop Paul temporary residents of a different country Hinder and those Filipino citizens who are abroad of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern for a limited, definite period, such as on a Arabia has appealed to Filipino bishops to work contract or as students. send more Filipinos based in the Middle East About 80 percent of the Philippines’ 107 to join the vicariate. About 90 percent of million people are Catholic and, unlike many Hinder’s apostolic vicariate is Filipino. other countries where the faith has waned, Without the Filipino workers in the Middle the majority still practice their religion with East, Bishop Hinder would not have a enthusiasm. And OFWs take and practice diocese. their faith fervently wherever they go.

Time to share Faith the answer to the prayer of parish priests OFWs bring their faith to wherever they go. who have only a few old people left in a It is this faith that many OFWs and their parish. They are active in the parish. Many families turn to prayers for guidance and fallen-away Catholics return to the faith of strength to lessen the impact of separation their fathers, led by a child catechized by a caused by migration. Spain brought Filipina caretaker. A Filipina, taking care of Christianity to the Philippines centuries ago children left alone by parents and keeping up and eventually, it has paved the way to make with young kids, shares the essentials of the it Asia’s largest Catholic country. Faith. The OFWs, who stayed away from Now, with the West facing emptier pews, it’s churches at home, become fervent Catholics time for the “heirs” to become missionaries and even become apostles. In Christianizing themselves and bring the faith back to others, they Christianize themselves. Europe and other parts of the world; it is Their efforts are efficacious, even without time for Asia to come back to Europe and training in catechesis. God more than makes America in order to “give back the faith.” up for their shortcomings. God cannot be OFWs are seen as heirs who have received kept from being with those He loves. He the gift of faith as an inheritance which always finds or makes the way. The hand of cannot be used only for oneself but to be God is not shortened. shared with others. OFWs share it even with Filipino overseas maids or domestic helpers those who have given them the legacy. They in Beirut, Lebanon, while walking the dogs have received faith and now it is time to of their masters, discovered a shrine of Our share. Lady of Lourdes. They With millions of made it a frequent place Filipino migrants to visit. all over the world, The late Jaime Cardinal Archbishop Gilbert Sin, Archbishop of Armea Garcera of Manila, was able to Lipa, former send many priests to chairman of the Rome for their annual Catholic Bishops’ retreat without spending Conference of the a penny since the Philippines (CBCP) money came from Episcopal someone who had Commission on returned to the church Family and Life, because their children said they have were practicing the become faith. They had been missionaries, living catechized by a Filipina their faith and maid. setting examples to their host Continued Devotions communities and In Philadelphia countries. Besides (U.S.A.), the OFWs set being the most trustworthy employees, up novenas on Wednesday. Not to Our Lady Filipinos abroad actively participate in of Perpetual Help but to some other saint. church activities as they practice their faith This shows that they were able to adapt. deeply, religiously and vigorously. They carried their practices in the same way Filipinos actively take part in church-related that the early Jesuits brought their image of activities. They fill empty churches, fill the the House of Nazareth to South America air with joyous songs praising God. They are through the Atlantic Ocean. In the diocese of

Sacramento, California, they got permission Sacrifices from the bishop to celebrate the simbang The CBCP Episcopal Commission on gabi (predawn Christmas novena Masses Migrants says the Church recognizes the celebrated from Dec 16 to 24). sacrifices and services of those working in At the peril of losing their lives, Filipino foreign countries for their loved ones and men, women, and others in Muslim countries country. Foreign employers recognize their gather for the celebration of Mass and in honesty and deep faith in God. Italian sharing communion with those unable to go parents, for example, admit their children are to the improvised chapels. Without a safe under the care and hands of Filipinos. missioning ceremony, the OFWs are The Church is thankful to the OFWs for Christianizing a dechristianized Europe and showing the true face of Filipinos who are Muslim countries. Just as the early church God-fearing, hardworking and very patient. was spread not only by missionaries but also They are new missionaries of faith to the by slaves, the same task is being achieved by world. The Church is praying for them to be lowly domestics. safe in their workplaces, to keep away from These Filipinos who leave their families troubles and harm and to find caring and behind do so not because of incompatibility humane employers. Bishops have urged the or misunderstanding but “out of love.” government to ease the hardships of OFWs Filipino husbands and wives live separate from dehumanizing conditions, unjust labor lives because they love their families which practices, and other abuses they face in parts literally means leaving their families behind of the world. for overseas employment. Filipino workers abroad are a big help to the Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa in economy remitting about US$2.55 billion Batangas says, however, while the economy annually. The remittances are hard-earned benefits from foreign remittances sent back money from their blood, sweat and tears and to Manila, the Philippine government should products of their sacrifices and sufferings. do its best to introduce and create humane and decent jobs to keep Filipino families Contribution to the Church’s Mission intact. Filipino bishops regard overseas workers as Garcera recalls Popes Paul VI and John Paul “missionaries of the Catholic faith” and II during their visits to Manila over ten years appreciate their help in the Church’s mission apart when they called on Filipinos to be to spread the Gospel. Former CBCP “missionaries to the world.” “That is what’s president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of exactly happening now,” he says. However, Jaro says, “the notion of Filipino diaspora bishops say that OFWs as missionaries is has been redefined” after they were given a “something that we did not plan.” clearer picture of the “new situation” of There have been a lot of efforts to awaken OFWs. this missionary calling in the Filipino Coming from a predominantly Catholic church. In the past 50 years, the church has country, these migrant Filipino workers in formed groups like the Filipino Mission search of livelihood are equipped with the Society which is now present in different disposition and skills of lay missionaries, parts of Asia. It also has the Lay Mission who will not necessarily preach but live the Association. It has lay missionaries also Gospel of Jesus in the context of cultural and being sent to different parts of the world. religious pluralism. There are also many Filipino priests, as well They are Filipinos in dialogue with other as other religious men and women, working cultures and religions, which for them is a in different parts of the world. new way of being active in Church and participating in the mission, beyond adding to the number of churchgoers in the

receiving Churches which have fallen victim Italy, only one half of the more than one to materialism and secularism. million Filipinos are listed; the same is said The CBCP has called on the government to of the one million in Japan,” he added. focus on programs that would raise job “These few examples are only a portion of opportunities in the country to prevent the the migrant Filipinos we find present from flight of Filipino workers, who “have America to Asia, from Africa to Oceania, become part of our social concern.” from Russia to Australia and also from “How many of them are made to suffer Jordan to Saipan,” Lagdameo said. because they are deprived of employment rights, their salaries or travel documents Social Costs unjustly withheld? How many of them, Amaryllis Torres, a professor at the College mostly women, are abused, assaulted or of Social Work and Community sexually harassed by employers? How many Development of the University of the of them suffer the pain of isolation, Philippine and social scientist, says there are alienation, and discrimination? And need we many flipsides to Filipino migrant workers. talk about the innumerable cases of broken Due to the OFWs phenomenon, there are families and many “social conjugal costs”– children infidelities?” grow up without asked outgoing their parents’ Archbishop physical Emeritus Angel presence and Lagdameo of guidance; Jaro as he instead they are enumerated the taken care of by concerns of the grandparents or Church with the other relatives, migration of posing many Filipinos. challenges for children. Positive Aspect Another aspect Lagdameo said is when one of it is about time the parents is to look at the away, there are “positive aspect” of the global migration of reports of illicit relations. Filipinos. “Along with our smiling faces, we “How to balance the economic factor with are offering our Christian faith to the social cost is the big challenge for the receiving countries or Churches, lived in the country and church,” Torres said. According context of different cultures and religions. to observers, about 5,000 Filipinos leave the This positive aspect is likewise the new country daily in search of employment challenge of the Filipino diaspora. It is both overseas. “It is a dream that there would be a a challenge and a concern,” Lagdameo said. day when no Filipino would ever leave the “Two million Filipinos have already made country in search of a job abroad for the sake the Middle East their home. Would you of the family,” she said. believe that 30 percent of the entire population of Malaysia, which is 900,000, Ref: (World Mission, April -May 2019 No. are Filipinos?” Lagdameo asked. 333 Vol. xxxi, pp. 14 – 19) “Of the 140,000 in Hong Kong, he said, a majority are Filipino domestic helpers. In