Update: March 1, 2009
The Pastor's Corner - Father Jude VeraIt is Nice to be Home
I pray to God that everyone is doing very well as you read these lines.
January 23rd I took my summer vacation and went home to the Philippines. On my list of things to do was to facilitate a retreat and recollection for the 29 orphans of St. Jude. To my surprise everyone within the Dioceses attended including two seminarians. Two orphans have decided to work in the big city of Manila to sustain their family of eleven. I felt bad that they had to discontinue their education. For a family of eleven FOOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN AN EDUCATION. However three siblings are still pursuing their primary education. The orphans are relaying requests for necessities from their Aunts and Uncles who are basically also trying to meet their daily needs.
Some of you might ask, how did these children become part of the OSJ (Orphans of St. Jude) or why and how was it started? It was November of 2006 when a super typhoon, Reming, hit my home diocese. 2,000 people perished and some villages were erased from the map. Fr. Bob Kuzmann, Pastor of St. James where I was the associate, immediately responded to the needs of the victims and asked me how to utilize the second collection that was taken up? Would you like to go home and buy them some basic supplies, like rice, sardines, noodles, etc.? I told him to let me sleep on it and I would give him an answer the following day.
I prayed very hard that night and by morning came up with an idea which I relayed to Fr. Bob. It was my plan to provide for a number of children to attend school and that I would like to go home and select the orphans myself. And it happened in May, 2007, that I went home and chose 32 orphans, two of which are now in the seminary. One is at Holy Rosary Major Seminary and the other is at Mother Salutis Seminary. After our recollection we had the election of officers and the two seminarians act as advisors. By the grace of God in six years the Orphan of St. Jude will have an ordination to the priesthood.
I would like to thank the parishioners of St. Mary and St. James, especially Fr. Mike, for allowing parishioners to send gifts to the orphans especially during Christmas. I make special mention of Mr. and Mrs. Ruth Anne Duda who sent several boxes of used clothing and Marion Gawlowicz for the blankets and football; they love them. Thank you. Pictures taken during the retreat and recollection of the orphans will be available soon.
My sincerest gratitude to Bishop Lucilo Quiambao, Bishop Emeritus Jose Sorra, and Bishop Emeritus Nestor Cariño for welcoming the orphans at Bethlehem Center.
Fr. Jude C. Vera
March 1, 2009
Update: November 30, 2007
Typhoon killer Durian, a.k.a. Reming by local name hit my home Diocese - Albay, Philippines. Death toll reached to several thousands. Survivors were left homeless. If there were houses that remained standing they were either roofless or empty. It was a totally horrible, unforgettable, miserable, and unthinkable catastrophe.The Bicol Region, where Albay is situated is a typhoon belt. Typhoons are an ordinary occurrence. When I was young, in my primary years, I experienced the ravages of Typhoon Senning. It was horrible. I can still picture the total devastation wrought. My home was left roofless. For several months we had to eat the one, same and only available food on the table. That was hard to stomach specially for a kid. But in spite of that unkind situation, we were able to pick up the pieces and continue to move on. In the midst of those adversities, my parents advised us not to lose hope and assured us that things would be back to normal. Then the kid in me was looking forward with eagerness to the day when our home would be a normal one with roof! The thought of that typhoon makes me realize how my parents had always instilled in us the importance and value of higher education and that knowledge gained through proper education guarantees a promising future. Thanks to my parents. And thanks to that adversity! I learned to be tough, resolute, strong and firm.
My parents' exhortation 30 years ago to pursue higher education always re-echoes loud and clear in my mind and in my heart. Perhaps it was the most outstanding reason why I suggested to my Pastor Fr. Bob Kuzmann about raising the Educational Trust Fund for the Orphans. No ray of doubt ever crossed my mind that he would refuse it, for I certainly know how he loves and cares for the poor. He nodded and acknowledged it with his humble idea of suggesting to pass a second collection for the Orphans. Fr. Kuzmann's wholehearted support paved the way for generosity from all the parishioners. Indeed his exemplary leadership as a Pastor has brought everyone onto the next level of authentic generosity and unselfish care for the poor, particularly the Orphans. I totally admire his sincerity and dedication considering that the Orphans are in the other side of the world.
As you read this letter some of the orphans must have been able to overcome their grief, recover gradually, and be resigned to the tragedy that had befallen them: suddenly bereft of their parents, brothers, and sisters and be taken in by a foster family. But nobody can rid the Orphans of this one haunting question that lurks in each of them: What happened to my family? This query can drag a child's mind to endless speculation without really finding a comforting answer. The curious mind of a child cannot fully comprehend the total picture of a tragedy. For some children, the question will remain unanswerable for a lifetime even forever. The truth hurts them and hurts doubly those who love and care for them.
Indeed the extent of the catastrophe and devastation is self-explanatory. Misplaced and dejected lives which even the force of gravity would deny. Empty minds were in a maze and did not even know where to start. This is the moment for us. This is our great opportunity to be an active insider. Let us be one with the Orphans. They need us most in these moments of utter difficulties. I pray that as soon as you read this letter, may God touch your heart and join us as "AN ACTIVE INSIDER" not as a PASSIVE OBSERVER. I assure you, the life of the Orphans will be better with your help, support, contribution and prayers.
This 2nd of May starts my annual summer vacation. And I personally intend to spend my vacation in the Philippines and to look for children who were left orphans by the typhoon killer. Next week I will be mailing letters addressed to the five Pastors in our Diocese for them to help me find the neediest of the Orphans in their respective Parishes. I am lucky that I know personally each of the pastors, for they were all my contemporaries in the Seminary. Each of them must still remember the words of His Excellency during our ordination: MAY GOD WHO HAS BEGUN THE GOOD WORK IN YOU BRING IT TO FULFILLMENT. I pray for this very noble project of St. James Parish in Port Richey to bring hope, joy, consolation, love and most of all fulfillment in the name of Jesus that binds us all. May the Spirit of continual sharing be upon us and reward each and everyone a hundredfold.
Glory and Praise to God,
Fr. Jude C. Vera
Feb.26, 2007