Concern for seminarians
By
I’M yielding my space to a letter from an avid reader, ATTY. NELSON B. BORJA, of East Kamias, Quezon City. * * *
“Dear Fr. Bel. This pertains to your column ‘Word Alive’ where you are repeatedly appealing for financial assistance under the Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship program. * * *
“First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude to you Fr. Bel, to Fr. JhojoLetada, SVD, and a hundred seminarians at Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Avenue, QC for the passionate prayers invoking St. Jude’s intercession where I got healed from an illness two years ago. * * *
“From then on, I came to know about the seminarians’ financial problem, i.e., the amount of R5,000.00 per month for their board and lodging, while others are in need of benefactors to help shoulder their tuition fees. * * *
“Much as I wish to extend assistance to these aspiring young men who want to sacrifice in the service of God, I feel that my efforts are not enough. In fact, my humble way is through donations of college mugs bearing religious markings which I learned had been sold to St. Jude devotees --- and its proceeds directly went to the Adopt a Seminarian scholarship program which you founded. * * *
“My personal association with a number of priests and seminarians made me realize how difficult for one to live the life of priesthood, especially those engaged in missionary work like Filipino priest Fr. Nelson Cabanera from Abra and Fr. Joshy Vazhappilly from India. Though sometimes misunderstood, it is however, a great personal sacrifice that one has to lead a spiritual life for a noble and rewarding chosen vocation. ***
“Helping the seminarians in cash or in kind is a worthy investment and thus encourage more young men to enter the life of the priesthood. ***
PROBLEM OF HEALTH CARE. “Aside from my personal concern for seminarians, I also would like to appeal through the Department of Health (DOH) and honorable members of Congress how to address the problem on health care, instead DOH’s rigorous campaign for distribution of condoms among our high school students.
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“There is urgency to allocate enough funds for the improvement of medical equipment and hospital facilities throughout the country --- so as not to just simply keep watching the poor and marginalized trooping the lines in the early morning.
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“The recent pronouncement of His Excellency, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the construction of additional hospitals and improvement of medical facilities in selected areas of the country is beneficial and a sigh of relief among the poor patients and the indigents.
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SERVING THE POOR.“As a trial lawyer specializing in criminal cases, it is also my wish to make a humble contribution for the improvement of our county’s judicial system and to give more emphasis serving the poor, the sick, and the elderly, and thus obtain a fair trial of their cases with the assistance of private lawyers whose competent services would attract a high-paying compensation if the government would subsidize a pro-poor legal service program.
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“Thank you and God Bless!” Atty. Borja can be reached at CP no. 0906-4096560
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ST. JUDE. Today join us in our novena to St. Jude Thaddeus, Saint of the Impossible, at the Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Seminary, on E. Rodriguez Boulevard, QC after the 6 p.m. Mass.
A healing prayer and anointing with holy oil will follow.