The Augustinian Recollects, thru the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno and its Commission on Social and Ecological Concerns – Recoletos is currently mobilizing relief operations for the victims of Typhoon “Maring” brought about by heavy rains causing massive flooding in Metro Manila areas and the provinces in Luzon. There are almost a million Filipinos affected in this calamity. Among the hardest hit areas is the Province of Cavite, where the Order has a school, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite in Cavite City. The said school has 80 college students and 17 faculty members have been severily affected.
“One Heart Campaign”
The Commission is encouraging the Recollect communities in the Philippines to share and contribute for the victims. Initially, the Commission initiated Piso ng Puso (Peso from the Heart) by distributing recycled bottles to collect coins for flood victims. The Augustinian Recollect schools in the Philippines are distributing the coins collector bottles in the classrooms for the studens and teachers. Hopefully they can gather enough amount to purchase canned goods, noodles and rice for the victims. There are collecting points for food and relief goods, namely, the communities of San Sebastian College – Recoletos de Manila, San Sebastian College – Recoletos de Cavite, St. Ezekiel Moreno Provincialate, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage – Tondo, Recoletos Formation Center (with 256 families affected in its area) and St. Rita College Manila, of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters.
Currently, the Augustinian Recollects are able to gather 50 boxes of sardines, 70 boxes of noodles, boxes of goods from Recoletos de Taiwan, bags of rice are pouring in, initial pledges of Php 100,000 (=175 €) all from the Recolllect communities; wherein are expecting to receive more. Likewise, the Augustinian Recollects are also donating to other catholic relief agencies, Caritas Manila.
Appeal of the Prior Provincial
In his previous message addressed to his religious, Fr. Lauro Larlar, OAR, the prior provincial, enjoined everyone to reflect and be part of this charitable project: “Let us make our own –he invites the ‘grief and anguish’ of the victims of the floods”.
He openly presents to the religious the fundamental questions that this disaster brought about: “Appalled by the growing material poverty among our people, shamed by shameless corruption in many sectors of government, we reflected and questioned ourselves on the impact of our vows on our suffering people. Are we, as religious and communities, living witnesses of detachment from corruption (poverty), selfless service (obedience), and of boundless charity (chastity)? Does our consecrated life make us servants with the attitude of the poor, chaste and obedient Jesus?”
And finally, Fr. Provincial encourages all the Augustinian Recollects to make a communitarian act of solidarity that can be expressed in different manners: “gathering our community to pray for and in behalf of the victims; and involving our institutions, religious, lay partners, students, youth, parish organizations and personnel to make meaningful activities that will solicit assistance for the typhoon victims”.