DECEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTER POPE FRANCIS RAISES THE MISSIONARIES OF THE POOR TO THE STATUS OF PONTIFICAL RIGHT “THE LORD HEARS THE CRY OF THE POOR” (Ps. 34) His Holiness, Pope Francis, by formal decree, has approved the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) as Lay Religious Institute of PONTIFICAL RIGHT on December 8, 2014, feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Institutes of pontifical right are those erected or approved by the Holy See by formal decree. MOP was founded by Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ho Lung in 1981. It is an international monastic order of Brothers, Priests and Sister dedicated to "Joyful Service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the poorest of the poor. It has now grown to over 550 brothers from 13 countries serving the Lord in nine missions around the world. With hearts full of gratitude to God, together with our Blessed Mother Mary, and our Poor, we sing the Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ho Lung, founder of in God my Savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, with favor on the humble estate of the Missionaries of the Poor. his servant” (Luke 1: 46-48). CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW MOP SUPERIOR GENERAL BROTHER AUGUSTO SILOT JR! THE MISSIONARIES of the Poor has elected a new superior general, Brother Augusto Silot Jr., to succeed Father Richard Ho Lung, who founded the institution dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor, and has served at the helm since 1981. Brother Augusto was elected on March 25, 2014. Right photo: Father Richard Ho Lung (left) poses with Superior General Brother Augusto Silot THE BROTHERHOOD IN CHRIST A Special Christmas Message from Fr. Joseph Ssali MOP Regional Superior , Philippines & Indonesia "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1-5). Christmas reminds us of a profound Mystery – the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ birth reveals His humility. He emptied Himself and became man. Thus, Christ shared His human nature by becoming a Brother to us and through Him, we became adopted sons (and daughters) of the Father. The celebration of Christ’s coming reminds us of the call to Brotherhood in Christ. Our vocation as Missionaries of the Poor is marked by the Spirituality of Brotherhood. We are brothers in Christ. Like Christ, we are brothers to all men, especially the poorest of the poor. As brothers, we live a life of prayer – making us aware God’s special plan for us; a life of love – for each other and a life of free service – working and serving among the poorest of the poor. It is a joy to live in community! Our community life is a witness to the world that in Christ there is unity. Although we come from different parts of the world, we live in a monastery that builds us as brothers and sets aside all our differences – cultures, character and even color! It draws us together as brothers toward a common goal for the building of the Kingdom of God here on earth. During this Christmas season, let us continue to share our lives with the poor. Remember that when you share Baby Emmanuel, a special child, is yourself with others especially the poor, life begins to find its meaning. When you help others, you start planting carried by Fr. Joseph Ssali, MOP Re- a lifetime of happiness. The time you touch the lives of others is the moment you truly live your purpose. The gional Superior. The MOP also care for kindness you do is never lost. Each act takes root in every bit of love you sows. Merry Christmas to you all! children with special needs. PAGE 2 “JOYFUL SERVICE WITH CHRIST ON THE CROSS" MISSIONARIES OF THE POOR OUR COMMUNITY OF BROTHERHOOD & APOSTOLATE IN NAGA THE BROTHERS It entails great self- sacrifice on our part to be a Missionary of the Poor. Our best kept secret is the Holy Mass, life of Prayer and adoration of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This is summit and the source of our life and apostolate. We pray daily, at least five times a day. SHELTER AND RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR THE HOMELESS /ABANDONED CHILDREN AND ELDERLY AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS The MOP brothers at play with the residents at the Divine Mercy Apostolate in Cararayan Naga City, Phil- ippines. This is the center of the life of the MOP apostolate. The residents are children with special needs aged three (3) to twenty (20) . The child can be in his/her 20’s yet they are still cared for because of their situation. Most of them have cerebral palsy , autism and heart problems. WE CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS At this center, children can find and form a family with other resi- dents as well as with the MOP brothers and Lay Volunteers. Ac- tivities include daily prayer, physical exercise and physiotheraphy, gardening, house chores and recreation. Big percentage of the residents receive regular medication for mental illness, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension and others. We also care for children with special needs who are homeless or abandoned by their own families or whose families are too poor to give them the care they deserve. WE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY The Nazareth Center for Children has pre- school, feeding program for the malnourished kids and evening program for grade school children to assist scavenging the trash with their parents for recycla- them in their proper development. The children come ble materials, discarded foods and other items. from the poor families who live near the dump site and Nazareth offers them the opportunity to break the squatter areas of barangays Balatas and Del Rosario, cycle of poverty in their early childhood. Naga City. Without these programs, children spend in Naga, would run towards them far, came to help and I am pretty sure I FOUND THE REAL MEANING OF whenever they came. The first mass I they came because they have felt God’s GOD’S MERCY! - Lydia Dy-Prieto attended with the Brothers in Carara- love through the Brothers too. Twenty-One years ago, a solicitation envelope led me to a yan, projected to me the image of how As a Catholic, I feel I have found the nipa hut where the Brothers first stayed. Never in my imagi- Christ must have mingled with the real meaning and purpose of my being. I nation did I expect to see a monastery so humble. While I poor people during His time. am eternally thankful that the Lord for waited for Fr. Brian and Bro. Max, I got the chance to read They grew fast and the number of giving me this opportunity to be associ- the Constitution of the Missionaries of the Poor. As I went Brothers multiplied swiftly. The ated with the Missionaries of the Poor. through the text, something in my heart as a Catholic was somehow rekindled. countless lives they have touched and The Brothers have taught me the real What ran through my mind was like of a small child who suddenly found her have helped, physically and spiritually, meaning of charity and God’s mercy. way home. It was what I imagined my church should be! the children they have fed and edu- Their lives not only inspire me but have I saw with my own eyes, how the Brothers, lived the life emulating that of cated are numerous. The homeless made my relationship with our Lord Christ. They ate simple food through begging, dwelled in a very humble place, and destitute, the mentally challenged Jesus more tangible. I am so grateful worked with their own hands, possessed only few pieces of clothing and a pair special children they have rescued, that all these experiences became so of sandals, no car of their own, no TV nor radio, not even a rice cooker or saved and given dignity, leaves us to contagious that affected my whole fam- washing machine, they prayed 5 times a day, had to beg their fare money when admire the commitment and dedica- ily. My husband, children and grand- taking public transport, went around in twos in their habit, yet, they were so tion of these consecrated religious. children have completely joined me in joyful in serving the poor. Children at the core shelter for the informal settlers More and more friends from near and my journey with the Brothers! DECEMBER 2014 PAGE 3 Cadlan Ministry MOP has outreach program for the poorest of the WE REACH poor and the needy. MOP regularly visit the patients at Cadlan Mental Hospital. They pray with the pa- OUT TO THE tients, they shave them, they feed them, they also have fellowship with them bringing them the joy of the POOREST OF Lord. MOP brothers go to Cadlan Pili once a week. THE POOR GIVING FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY HOUSE FOR THE HOMELESS The house was built through the generosity of Fr. Damian and a group of 22 Australians composed of teachers and students from Igham Australia. The recipient of the house is a family of eight children. The father was a former carpenter but met an accident while working. The mother was once a volunteer at the MOP This is the gift giving of the MOP brothers to the needy and indigent families – bringing joy to them through sharing. The gift apostolate. They couldn’t work anymore. Both parents have no gainful occupation at the contains rice, coffee, sugar, milk, noodles, sardines – a little bit moment.