The Last Woman standing amidst the rubbles Fr. Joel Royeras - Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Light Parish, Loon Bohol

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Mission Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit Special Issue - October 2013 Volume 9, Issue 7 The Last Woman

Joel Royeras - Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Light Parish, Bohol Images of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of Light, rubbles of

the Parish of. Noting the church in rubbles, he further stated that the only treasure left is the Faith of the People.

October, The image of Mary (with no hands) in our HSST Chapel being the Rosary month, was observed with the daily praying of

When the sisters went around after the earthquake to inspect the damage in school buildings, they noticed that the images of

In the chapel, Our Lady s hands were separated from her main body but she stood firm. Arid land.

over a wasteland pure, white Presence soothing breathing comfort promising Life encouraging formidable Faith even as the earth

many faces of solidarity among the people of Bohol and beyond survivors ministering to survivors and the reaching out of

Our sisters from the Generalate, from other parts of the world and from the Philippines North Province were very quick in their

1 Mission Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit Special Issue - October 2013 Volume 9, Issue 7 The Last Woman standing amidst the rubbles Fr. Joel Royeras - Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Light Parish, Bohol Images of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of Light, rubbles of the church at the back thus, the parish priest of one of the most devastated towns of Bohol paid tribute to the Patroness of the Parish of. Noting the church in rubbles, he further stated that the only treasure left is the Faith of the People. It was the same case with the images of the Blessed Mother in our Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran. October, The image of Mary (with no hands) in our HSST Chapel being the Rosary month, was observed with the daily praying of the rosary in each classroom before the image of Our Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran facade Lady placed on a small altar. When the sisters went around after the earthquake to inspect the damage in school buildings, they noticed that the images of the Blessed Mother in the classrooms remained standing while all other things were toppled down. In the chapel, Our Lady s hands were separated from her main body but she stood firm. Arid land...scorched to crackling dryness by the midday ball of fire suffused in the luminous bright light of the sun Rising hovering over a wasteland pure, white Presence soothing breathing comfort promising Life encouraging formidable Faith even as the earth herself gave way nurturing resilience as only the Giver of Life can gift COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY The next days revealed the many faces of solidarity among the people of Bohol and beyond survivors ministering to survivors and the reaching out of communities, organizations and private individuals from outside Bohol to the earthquake-ravaged places of Bohol. Our sisters from the Generalate, from other parts of the world and from the Philippines North Province were very quick in their response to help to PHS Province. Our sisters from the different mission stations in Mindanao, Cebu and Leyte offered their help. This help reached survivors in places less accessible and isolated in the mountains, in makeshift shelters. an old lady praying before the image of Our Lady of Light in a makeshift chapel The Parish Church Now Page 1 for Internal Use only

The following is a brief chronicle of the lay and the sisters concerted efforts to

October Dates and places where HSST dispatched relief goods 16, Calape Tubigon 17

Danao Jesus arms broken I have no hands but yours Sisters and lay faculty of HSS

with the AWRET (Association of Women Religious of Tagbilaran).

Antequera Repacking of goods- HSST Administration, Faculty, Staff and Students

well. Sisters negotiated for a free transport of relief goods via sea from Cebu to

SVD Parish continuous packing, repacking, dispatching crack in the ground AWRET

collapsing wall -a nurse pointing out a an adolescent girl in one of the makeshift

one of the priorities of the local LGU here.

Loay Survivors less affected helped fellow survivors in more devastated areas Each

2 The following is a brief chronicle of the lay and the sisters concerted efforts to respond to the urgent needs of the people in most devastated towns of Bohol. October Dates and places where HSST dispatched relief goods 16, Calape Tubigon 17 Antequera 18 Awret Sagbayan, Clarin, Calape, Tubigon 19 Busao & Abatan of Maribojoc Danao Jesus arms broken I have no hands but yours Sisters and lay faculty of HSS repacking rice, canned sardines and bottled water from the mission offerings of the students. Brought 100 packs of relief goods Visited hospitals to check out conditions Networked with the AWRET (Association of Women Religious of Tagbilaran). Went on ocular visit to most earthquake-devastated towns Other SSpS sisters went to Antequera Repacking of goods- HSST Administration, Faculty, Staff and Students volunteered HSST became a center for receiving and repacking of other organizations as well. Sisters negotiated for a free transport of relief goods via sea from Cebu to Bohol Volunteers from the University of San Carlos (USC), Cebu delivered goods to an SVD Parish continuous packing, repacking, dispatching crack in the ground AWRET meeting Sign reads: Help Bohol Quoted her mother died, while shielding her from the collapsing wall -a nurse pointing out a an adolescent girl in one of the makeshift hospital tents the sisters were able to bring goods to Antequera today, which is not one of the priorities of the local LGU here. - HSST alumna repacking 20 Carmen Batuan Bilar Loboc 21 Clarin, Sagbayan, Buenavista Loay Survivors less affected helped fellow survivors in more devastated areas Each trip always was accompanied by a Sister A guidance counsellor from USC conducted diffusing sessions to the HSST administration, faculty and staff renewed enthusiasm to help in celebration of Life packed and ready for dispatch the veil can be a powerful symbol of HOPE Page 2 for Internal Use only

23-24 Danao Carmen Sagbayan Sierra Bullones Jagna Calape Dagohoy Balilihan

sister with young survivor 24-26 Nine sisters arrived in Bohol from other

temporary shelter in school grounds or along village roadsides after their

orientation by the parish priest to the evacuation camps and villages via

camp which was flooded after a heavy downpour the night before.

They met an elderly woman camped just in the fringes of the evacuation center

When they gave her food, she hesitated saying she received relief goods already.

3 23-24 Danao Carmen Sagbayan Sierra Bullones Jagna Calape Dagohoy Balilihan Networked with other private organizations Student volunteer School Doctor a sister with young survivor Nine sisters arrived in Bohol from other mission stations of the PHS and one from PHN. They came to be with the people of. There was a total of fourteen sisters (14) who visited evacuation camps, makeshift community-based shelters in. They stayed for two days and two nights in the make shift home of one of our sisters whose house was also destroyed. They listened to the stories of people from interior villages who sought temporary shelter in school grounds or along village roadsides after their mountain village was destroyed by a landslide or their coastal homes were flooded. planning for the two days and nights with the people to via pump boat brief orientation by the parish priest to the evacuation camps and villages via motorbike NOVEMBER 05 Clarin Catigbian The volunteers went to an evacuation camp which was flooded after a heavy downpour the night before. They brought tents, mats, blankets and flashlights. They met an elderly woman camped just in the fringes of the evacuation center because she was with her mentally-ill son. When they gave her food, she hesitated saying she received relief goods already. They gave her instead a tent, a mat, blankets and showed her how to use the flashlight. She was beside herself with joy. Her tears of joy were mirrored in the teary eyes of the volunteers never was I touched deeply by an encounter with a survivor than this time now - one of the teacher volunteers Sister, the amakan you gave is sufficient for us to build the walls of our new house - one who received the amakan Page 3 for Internal Use only

07 Male teachers from USC accompanied the sisters as they brought

relocated from their homes due to landslide.

. this is good for the people since they are starting to rebuild

. - a port personnel who supervises the shipment and entry of

Heart School survivors trying their best to prepare for the super

sessions with 19 teachers of the Sacred Heart School.

thanks along the road Post on the coconut tree reads: Thank you

left says: Thank you very much Holy Spirit School a formal thank

Corporation (on the right) a simple note from a donor We are

May God bless you and the SSpS community even more!

4 07 Male teachers from USC accompanied the sisters as they brought pieces of light building materials (amakan) to those who have been relocated from their homes due to landslide. amakan This is the first shipment of relief goods of this kind.. this is good for the people since they are starting to rebuild their homes and their lives.. - a port personnel who supervises the shipment and entry of cargoes USC Volunteer teachers Landslide from a distance 11 Sacred Heart School survivors trying their best to prepare for the super typhoon Yolanda Four sisters went back to to have diffusing sessions with 19 teachers of the Sacred Heart School. diffusing session with teachers BOHOL SAYS THANK YOU Messages of thanks along the road Post on the coconut tree reads: Thank you very much in Visayan Handwritten notes on scrap paper Note on the left says: Thank you very much Holy Spirit School a formal thank you ONE BOHOL for Leyte From Tagbilaran Community Hospital Corporation (on the right) a simple note from a donor We are deeply grateful for the help extended to us when our patients were evacuated to the hospital tents. Thank you very much for lending us your two tents! May God bless you and the SSpS community even more! Private organizations network to combine all resources and personnel to offer relief assistance to people survivors of the supertyphoon in Leyte. Indeed, gratitude flows into reaching out to others who are in dire need! Page 4 for Internal Use only

5 TACLOBAN UPDATE: Sr. Marie Claire Manding and Sr. Rani Thomas arrived safely in Cebu on November 16, 2013 from Tacloban, Leyte. They are members of our SSpS Community missioned in Liceo del Verbo Divino, Tacloban, Leyte. They were in Tacloban during the Super typhoon. From all of us in the Trinity Province Thank you very much! Your generosity is a concrete manifestation of God s Providence. May God shower upon you, blessing upon blessing! Arrivals: Sept Sr. Milagros Sandoval from PNG Oct Sr. Mathildis Dasut from Indonesia Departures: Oct. Nov. Announcements 10 - Sr. Estela Parmisano to Rome, Italy after her medication 13 - Sr. Bernadette Chen to the Far East 06 - Sr. Celestina Tangan to Steyl, Netherlands BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS October 01 - Sr. Perlita Probadora - Angola 13 - Sr. Maria Cristina Avalos Gen. Councillor 10 - Sr. Judith Vallimont - Gen. Councillor 26 - Sr. Elaine Faith Taneo November 16 - Sr. Nimfa Seranias 29 - Sr. Maria Jerly Renacia - Ethiopia 20 - Sr. Felicie Arcaya Joy-filled Birthday Greetings to all! Our beloved dead: Mamerto Aracap Father of Sr. Emma Aracap Pres. Magsaysay Ext., Kasambagan 6000 Cebu City Tel. No.: (032) / trinityprov@ymail.com Page 5 for Internal Use only

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