CELEBRATING WORKERS’ DAY (Year of our Founder, F. Butinyà) in the Spirit of Christmas in Papua New guinea

FR. JUSTIN RATSI, SM, PRESIDING DURING THE HOLY MASS

FIRST MOMENT

Our celebration started on the 18th of December 2015, when we gathered with our collaborators and service providers, such as drivers and carpenters, in our different apostolic centers (Loreto Hostel, Archdiocese Social Apostolate Center (ASAC) Skills Training Center and Taller de Nazaret Training Center [TNTC]).

The Eucharist presided by Fr. Justin Ratsi, SM at 10:00 a.m. set the sisters and their co-workers on fire after he shared a 50-minute reflection on F. Butinyà in his homily. He really dedicated time to know our Founder as he thoroughly presented F. Butinyà in his obedience to God’s will and how he was inspired by St. Joseph highlighting on his fidelity as a Jesuit, his deep concern for the poor working world and above all, his being rooted in this profound love of the Person of Jesus in Nazareth.

 

FR. JUSTIN RATSI, SM, PRESIDING DURING THE HOLY MASS

Shared lunch followed and we had Fr. Rodrigo who also joined us. There was a joyful camaraderie. 

FR. RODRIGO CAMPILLAN LEADING THE PRAYER BEFORE MEAL

Both priests left and we proceeded to the program having Lavinia (ASAC STC) and Elaine (Loreto Hostel) as our emcees. It flowed from the welcome speech of Sr. Concepcion as we had the gathering at ASAC to the sharing on the life of Butinyà by the hostel collaborators (Mary Kelo and Elaine) and Sr. Yoly’s powerpoint presentation which ended with the joyful singing of Butinyà, the Prophet. This was appreciated by our collaborators.

LORETO HOSTEL STAFF PRESENTING A DANCE NUMBER

ASAC-STC STAFF DOING A DANCE-SONG NUMBER

TNTC-KOROBOSEA STAFF RENDERING A SONG NUMBER

Another peak moment of making F. Butinyà known was during the exchange of gifts. The prepared gifts brought by each had on them a virtue of F. Butinyà and whoever picked the same virtue received that gift. It turned so meaningful because each one not only received the material gift but also something that we can bring along in our daily life as inspired by our Founder.

Sr. Elma gave a short message encouraging everyone to continue to allow ourselves to be rooted in God’s love so that our lives be likened to what F. Butinyà had said, “Love is the best teacher of all that is good.”  Then, Wari, TNTC collaborator, was also asked to give her message and through a short story, she said that “if we celebrate, God must always be at the center of all our celebrations” affirming what she had experienced in our gathering. 

WARI SHARING HER MESSAGE (with 2 EMCEES-LAVINIA & ELAINE)

To conclude, Sr. Rossel led a short prayer of thanksgiving.

SR. ROSSEL LEADING THE CLOSING PRAYER

The program ended but for us, it meant a new beginning of making our Founder known in a deeper way as we encouraged each other that we carry on with the virtue we have received and share it until we gather once more on the 16^th of April 2016 on the Birth Anniversary of F. Butinyà

SECOND MOMENT

On a Sunday, 20 December 2015, our two communities-taller were invited to join the party of the Lucido family with their workers at Goldie Tech from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. It was an experience of fun and joy despite their absence from their families during this Christmas season.

SSJ SISTERS: YOLY, CONCEP, MINER, CARMEN, ELMA AND MONIC JOINING THE WORKERS' CHRISTMAS PARTY AT GOLDIE TECH

The food that was cooked by the workers, mostly male, was served for our lunch with smile on their faces. We are blest to be with them and enjoy the beauty of being together with this group of OFWs who find joy in gathering as one and celebrating the gift of life and of Christmas.

THIRD MOMENT

At 7:00 p.m. at Loreto Hostel, it was the turn of CT-Butinyà to be with their residents to celebrate the workers’ day. They came in worker’s attire for the Rosary and prayed for different type of workers. After the prayer has been completed, Sr. Yoly explained the significance of the event that is commemorating the death anniversary of a tireless prophet for the poor working world, especially young women and women workers. 

Then, each one called out the worker she represented and many of them mentioned their own work/job. 

LORETO HOSTEL LADIES(WORKERS) INTRODUCING THEMSELVES

Through the powerpoint presentation, Sr. Yoly introduced more deeply F. Butinyà to this group of young women workers. It had been pointed out how the spirituality of work grew as his awareness of the miseries and struggles of the poor, needy and the unemployed also expanded. The residents were very attentive as they followed through the different phases of F. Butinyà’s life, including the periods of the Jesuitic exile.

SR. YOLY SHARING THE LIFE OF BUTINYA THROUGH POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

During the time they were given the space to share, those who spoke expressed how they were inspired by F. Butinyà in their own context and situation. One said, “He never gave up”! Another was struck by F. Butinyà’s obedience to the will of God. Still another one said that she prays the prayers to F. Butinyà and Mo. Bonifacia everyday before she starts her work that her colleagues are amazed where she gets her joyful disposition at work. Finally, the invocation to the Holy Family that F. Butinyà prayed unceasingly even in his agony, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.” resounds in the experience of one and she encouraged all to say this prayer from the heart.

SHARING OF INSIGHTS

SHARING OF INSIGHTS

This moment was loaded with meaning as everyone present was touched by F. Butinyà and once more, he made the Light of the Manual Worker shine in the heart of these young women workers entrusted to our care. As they go out to their work places, through their hands working with love, Nazareth continues to be proclaimed in various work places.

Footnote:

What really happened is that we, SSJ in PNG, are the ones so enriched with the manner by which our sister- and brother-workers received the good news of work as exemplified by F. Butinyà. We are deeply challenged to let our knowledge and love for our Father Founder flow in our words and deeds. We, too, have been evangelized. This our tribute to our Father Founder!

  SSJ-PNG             Feast of the Holy Family 27 Dec 2015