Jessie (not his real name) was placed in the Tahanang Pagmamahal Children’s Home when he was four years old.
Unlike the Baby Jesus, the father of Jessie abandoned him, his mother and other siblings. His mother failed to feed her children, so she gave Jessie to her relatives. The latter tried to raise him, but poverty forced them to give him up afterwards. So, one day, the uncle brought Jessie to Cubao, QC, and left him near the church at 6 p.m.
Rey Ortega, who manages the Tahanan, wrote: “Terrified, hungry, and not knowing what to do nor where to go, four-year-old Jessie spent the night wandering the streets looking for his relatives. After several days, DSWD rescued him and brought him to Tahanan ng Pagmamahal Children’s Home, our little orphanage.” There are 36 children there.
Grace to be Born
Another home takes care of unwed mothers until they give birth is The Grace to be Born Shelter in Pasig. Babies of the unwed mothers are left there for adoption. As of this writing, there are 17 babies living there, together with several pregnant mothers in crisis.
Rey Ortega has written about them in his book “Crazy Love: Loving the Poor the Way God Loves Them.”
By buying copies of the book for Christmas gifts to friends, relatives and business associates, you can help in the upkeep of the orphanages and other welfare homes. It is only P225 per copy. There are five ministries to be supported by payments and donations.
Payments/donations may be deposited in Banco De Oro account 5540130260, account name: Reylindo Ortega. To order, text Rey Ortega at 0917-8164700 or 0922-8597035; call the office at tel. 6356056 or 9101895; e-mail reylindo.ortega@gmail.com.
Rosary for Life Philippines
Grace to be Born Shelter was opened by Basty and Betty Go Roxas Chua two years ago. They worked with Bro. Bo Sanchez on the project.
The shelter staff headed by Ortega encourage unwed mothers, mostly young girls, not to have an abortion; but instead keep the child and decide to raise the baby or give him/her up for adoption. There have been 100 pregnant women who have been saved from abortion.
The couple launched the Rosary for Life Philippines (RFL) on Nov. 11, 2003, at Club Filipino. Winifred Powers, who founded Rosary for Life International 19 years ago in Brooklyn, was there. Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto celebrated the Mass.
Eight years later in the Philippines, there are 160,000 members of RFL who recite the 12 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary for one hour once a week appealing to God through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, to defend the life of the unborn and for the preservation of the sanctity of life threatened by euthanasia and mercy killing.
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Auxiliary Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Brooklyn and Rosary for Life founder Wyn Powers gave a special award to Basty and Betty in recognition of their work in RFL. They were invested with the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at the St. Patrick Cathedral in New York last Oct. 1, together with 50 other ladies, 50 knights, 50 priests and 50 promoted members in all categories of the Eastern Lieutenancy of United States.
St. Nicholas of Bari fiesta
Fr. Rene Ruelos, CM, who propagates the devotion to St. Nicholas of Bari by celebrating Mass every Monday at 8 a.m. at San Marcelino Church (Ermita, Manila) was very happy on Dec. 6, feast of the saint, when 35 devotees showed up. On Dec. 6, 2007, only six devotees came for the Mass. The increase of devotion is a result of answered prayers being received from God by devotees through the intercession of the saint.
I myself have received answered prayers, since I have been going to Monday Mass since last Oct. 28 and attending the Novena Masses (Nov. 28-Dec. 6).
For novenas, write Rev. Fr. Rene Ruelos, CM, c/o St. Vincent de Paul Parish, San Marcelino St., Ermita, Manila. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for easier mailing.
Prayer for Antigua and Barbuda
Let us pray the Joyful Mysteries tomorrow for the intentions of Antigua and Barbuda (Americas) for the nation to effectively police money laundering and drug dealing; for a quick recovery from the impact of the global recession; for sound economic policies to fix the problem of rising debt; for families to be guarded from violence of drugs; and for skillful water management to compensate for the nation’s limited freshwater sources.
Today, let us pray the Glorious Mysteries for our country that God may have mercy on us and prevent that the tragedy caused by Typhoon “Sendong” will not happen again. Let us put ourselves under the mantle of protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Philippines. Let us learn to forgive and let go of hatred that is causing all these tragedies. Protect us Lord in Jesus’ name. Amen.
24th Christmas with you
This is our 24th year together, dear readers, since my column came out on Dec. 18, 1987. Thank you for your support by reading me every Sunday and for buying my book, “Purely Personal Book of Miracles,” at the National Bookstore. May God bless you all with good health. Merry Christmas! And the best to you all in 20l2.