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Come, Let Us Serve our Fellowmen
Even though the poor are often rough and unrefined, we must not judge them from external appearances nor from the mental gifts they seem to have received. On the contrary, if you consider the poor in the light of faith, then you will observe that they are taking the place of the Son of God who chose to be poor. Although in his passion he almost lost the appearance of a man and was considered a fool by the Gentiles and a stumbling block by the Jews, he showed them that his mission was to preach to the poor: "He sent me to preach the good news to the poor." We also ought to have this same spirit and imitate Christ's actions, that is, we must take care of the poor, console them, help them, support their cause.
Since Christ willed to be born poor, he chose for himself disciples who were poor. He made himself the servant of the poor and shared their poverty. He went so far as to say that he would consider every deed which either helps or harms the poor as done for or against himself. Since God surely loves the poor, he also love whose who love the poor. For when on person holds another dear, he also includes in his affection anyone who loves or serves the one he loves. That is why we hope that God will love us for the sake of the poor. So when we visit the poor and needy, we try to be understanding where they are concerned. We sympathize with them so fully that we can echo Paul's words: "I have become all things to all men." Therefore, we must try to be stirred by our neighbors' worries and distress.
It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity. With renewed devotion, then, we must serve the poor, especially outcasts and beggars. They have been given to us as our masters and patrons. - from a writing of Saint Vincent de Paul
12 December 2008,
The Grand Chancellor has also provided a modest sum, also under the Noche Buena appeal, to his own sponsored child under World Vision’s Child Sponsorship programme. The modest donation would provide the sponsor child’s family with Noche Buena package, a gift and new set of clothes for the sponsored child.
The Confraternity has been annually supporting World Vision Philippines Noche Buena programme since 2005.
10 December 2008 - The Confraternity is supporting World Vision
For details, please contact World Vision
May 2006 - First Chapter General of the Confraternity approves amendments of the Statutes of the Confraternity.
April 2006 - On-going review on the amendments of the Statutes of the Confraternity.
January 2006 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” so goes John 3:16, and so we Catholics celebrate the Advent Season, the coming of our Saviour.
While God in His eternal goodness have made this possible for humanity, and so a small group from the Philippines decided to share a part of their year’s blessings to poor families through World Vision Philippines’ Christmas Lifeline Gift. This special donation will help thousand of sick, hungry, and suffering children in the Philippines who have not found any sponsors yet through World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program. This is the perfect time and way to affirm to these children that they haven’t been forgotten.
As the group’s first Christmas Charity Project, the group was able to raise Php 2000 worth of funds. This makes the total contribution of the Confraternity to World Vision to Php 6,050 for this year.
In other parts of the globe, members of the Confraternity do their own “little way” in helping their fellow men.
The year-end issue of Confraternite showcases charity, compassion, and service.
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve - ALBERT SCHWEITZER”
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