VIDES Pinoy Celebrates the Season of Creation

VIDES Pinoy heeds Pope Francis' call to "pray and work for our common home in these times of grave planetary crisis". On this first day of the Annual Season of Creation, we reaffirm our commitment to be faithful stewards of God's creation. 

 #LaudatoSi #SeasonofCreation #RestoringtheOikosofGod 

📷 from previous mangrove planting activities

VIDES Philippines: Chosen to Partner with Millennials for a CSR Project

 August 28, 2021, MANILA, Philippines.

Two millennial interviewers, Ms. Mai Guia and Mr. Ron Arvin Oriel, CSR Team with the Technical Support of MVN Photostudio and STEMSEL Foundation Philippines, engaged VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in a 3-hour online interview about what VIDES is. In the letter of invitation to VIDES, the CSR Project Team Lead, spelled out that “MVN’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project involves writing an article on the Top 100 CSR NGOs in the Philippines that millennials can join and facilitating a webinar that highlights how search engine optimization (SEO) could help promote CSR in different companies.” VIDES willingly accepted to partner and network with MVN and STEMSEL in this noteworthy cause.

Using the image of a huge fruit-bearing mango tree, Sr. Maria Socorro T. Bacani, FMA VIDES Delegate, presented the flow of the shared presentation of what VIDES Philippines is, beginning from its ROOTS in the charismatic vocation and mission of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.  The FMA Congregation is the seedbed where VIDES took roots and continues to grow in 4 continents, 43 nations and over 200 local VIDES groups.

Lezeil Ebdane, VIDES President, and Mariciel Estacio, VIDES Secretary/DIGICOM Team Lead, shared about the TRUNK which are the VIDES volunteers themselves who share the vision and mission of VIDES and constantly strive to truly live out the VIDES motto “ONE for OTHERS”.

Amy Suzara, RSW, VIDES Staff/Program Officer, presented the BRANCHES of the tree. The VIDES advocacy and networks are the concrete initiatives, services, and activities through which VIDES mission is carried out for the best interests of children, youth and women most at risk.

                                  

And finally, Ericka Quilos, VIDES Youth Leader and Advocate, capped the interview by sharing about the FRUITS and NEW SEEDS of the amazing VIDES tree with her personal testimony of how VIDES Philippines has accompanied, formed, and transformed her from being a 4-year learner of the VIDES mobile library Busina-Mo-Dunong-Ko in their barangay at San Roque, to becoming an 18 year-old VIDES Youth Leader and Advocate. Today, she inspires many more children and youth to walk with VIDES towards the path of hope and joy amidst the most difficult challenges of life.

                                  

Community Prayer: VIDES Launches Brigada sa Panalangin

Last August 24, 2021, monthly commemoration of Mary Help of Christians, marked the launch of the Brigada sa Panalangin, a monthly virtual prayer gathering of FMA Sisters, VIDES volunteers, and the beneficiaries from communities being served by VIDES Pinoy. The first-ever online prayer event was held via the Zoom meeting platform. It was also livestreamed at the VIDES Pinoy Facebook Page to enable the participation of more individuals.

VIDES Delegate, Sr. Maria Socorro T. Bacani, FMA, oriented all the participants to the evening’s flow of the prayer brigade by underlining the importance and the power of praying together as a community of faith, to lift everyone’s prayer intentions, especially for the sick, the medical frontliners, those who lead and support the pandemic management efforts, the selfless volunteers, and those who continue to suffer the most during this very challenging time. She also offered the intention to thank all the benefactors and volunteers who helped and continue to help VIDES Pinoy outreach, in particular, the HATID AYUDA SA PAMILYA for August to bring much-needed food assistance to the poor communities.

 

The VIDES BRIGADA NG PANALANGIN shall be held every 24th of the month, a day dedicated to commemorate Mary Help of Christians whose annual feast is May 24. The VIDES centers will take turns in leading this much-awaited monthly date for another prayer moment animated in creatively imaginative ways which the VIDES youth are gifted with to surprise all participants.

Watch the recorded video of the community prayer here.

Hatid Ayuda sa Pamilya (Part 1): VIDES Pinoy Partners with Tanging Yaman Foundation

Sr Sue Bacani FMA and VIDES Volunteers strike a pose with Hatid Ayuda sa Pamilya beneficiaries
from San Roque, Quezon City

Sr Sue Bacani FMA and VIDES Volunteers with Hatid Ayuda sa Pamilya beneficiaries
from Delpan, Manila

On August 10, 2021, Feast of St. Lawrence, young deacon and martyr who respected, loved and served the poor as the real treasures of the Church, Sr Maria Socorro Bacani FMA and VIDES Pinoy volunteers bring timely help to two urban poor barangays in San Roque, Quezon City and Delpan, Manila. 

More than three-hundred (300) families happily received their share of the 600 kilos of free potatoes, sayote, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cassava courtesy of the Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc. (Tanging Yaman), a non-profit Philippine organization, established in 1992 by Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J. 

VIDES Pinoy has been serving these families since 2004 through the Busina-Mo-Dunong-Ko (BMDK) mobile educational program for their children and the formation of the VIDES Educating Communities in these areas. The mothers are now VIDES parent-leaders and coordinators of their respective communities who share in the vision and mission of VIDES together with their families. They actively attend regular formation online during the pandemic and are daily nourished by the Word of God through the sharing of reflection and prayer in their group chat. They also willingly give and accept advice, encouragement and tips on how to become better and creative home-managers imbued with Gospel values. 

Indeed, the day’s First Reading at Mass, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) continues to inspire and guide the journey of VIDES Philippines volunteers, hand-in-hand with the educating communities whom they joyfully serve. They experience that, as always, God cheers loving givers! Happy to help, VIDES Pinoy is ever growing as ONE for OTHERS!

 

 

VIDES Pinoy: Happy Birthday, Sr Sue!

 A happy and blessed birthday to our VIDES Delegate, Sr Sue Bacani, FMA!

Thank you for your loving guidance.

40th Jubilee Celebration of Religious Profession of FMA Sisters

We are all invited to attend the 40th Jubilee Celebration of our dear FMA Sisters: Sr. Sue, Sr. Puring, Sr. Edith, Sr. Eva and Sr. Maria Fe this afternoon, August 5, 2021, 4:00 pm. Let us join them on their special thanksgiving day. Thank you dear volunteers!

Kitakits!

VIDES Pinoy Delegate Celebrates 40th Jubilee Celebration of Religious Profession

Sending our heartfelt greetings on the 40th jubilee celebration of your religious vocation, Sr Sue! Your devotion to God serves as an example and inspiration to so many. May you be blessed with more years of loving service to God and His people. We love you, Sr.!

Happy 149th Institute Day to Our Dear FMA Sisters

Our heartfelt greetings to all the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians all around the world on the occasion of their 149th Institute Day.   We thank you for being beacons of God's love and compassion.