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Warm Thoughts on a Cold Night with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales A cold night did not dampen the warmth of sharing on Wednesday, July 16th, when approximately two hundred people congregated to meet His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, Monsignor Francisco de Leon, Bishop of Antipolo and The Honorable Maria Teresa Lazaro, Consul General of the Philippines in Sydney. Cardinal Rosales came for the World Youth Day celebrations and took time out to be with us. Filipinos and friends came from Dee Why, Gosford, Hornsby, Mascot, Melbourne, North Ryde, Parramatta, and Waitara. The evening was hosted by the Filipino Chaplaincy – Chatswood Parish and was held at the function room of St Aloysius College Oval in Willoughby. The Parish of Dee Why shared their choir who sang beautifully for our distinguished guests. Jeremy Tagle shared the Filipino youth’s successful involvement in the Jesuit’s MAGiS08 experiment with 19 pilgrims from Germany, Ireland and Singapore in preparation for the World Youth Day. Cardinal Rosales spoke about a number of things but there were three key messages that he shared that must have touched the hearts of those present. The first is about Filipino migration – from the North Pole to the South Pole there are Filipinos. Why? His Eminence does not believe that it is only for socio-economic reasons. He believes that Filipinos are passionate about their faith and because of this they contribute and share in making parishes alive. God has a purpose and has His own needs – Filipinos are fulfilling them here on earth. The second message is about how people treat one another. People who are critical and only see negative things in others are demonstrating un-Christian attitude. Man is made to God’s own image and likeness so it is an insult to God if emphasis on the negative is perpetuated. Let us build the kingdom of God not destroy it. And the most important message is about the true meaning of the gospel of St Luke 16: 19-31. It is about the “theology of crumbs” that paves the way to God’s kingdom. It is about “love done in small amounts but in a consistent manner”. This laid the foundation for the “Pondo ng Pinoy” (Funds of the Filipinos) movement that His Eminence initiated in the archdiocese of Manila to fulfill God’s plan. It is changing people’s mindset about contributing to the common good and bringing back the dignity of the poor. Each and everyone, rich and poor, can share in building the “Pondo ng Pinoy”. In Manila, young and old in families are encouraged to set aside twenty five centavos (the lowest denomination in Philippine currency) each day. They are mere crumbs in the scheme of things but it is love shared in God’s eyes. These messages are challenges presented to us Filipinos in Australia. Are we contributing to make our own parish alive? Do we always see the good in people and in what they do? Can we collect crumbs (a mere $0.05 a day – the lowest denomination in Australia) and contribute to a good cause like “Pondo ng Pinoy”? - Ditas Naguit |
