MOTHER AND CHILD SHRINE: AN INSTRUMENT OF UNITY FOR THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN MELBOURNE

(Homily delivered by  Fr Rolyn Vics CM on  December 9 2006 on the ocassion of the blessing of the shrine)

We are making history today. It is good to have a glimpse of our past as we continue our journey. I remember five years ago that the Filipino community in Melbourne was deeply divided. It was not really surprising for me since even the Filipinos at home are also divided (e.g. politically, linguistically and even culturally). The only thing that is common to us is our Christian faith. And even this faith still does not really unite us. There exist many religious organizations that seem to be competing with each other.

When I assumed the job as chaplain to the Filipinos in Melbourne I dreamed of uniting the Filipinos. It was a difficult dream knowing the attitude of the Filipinos. But I was optimistic. I had my own experienced when I was chaplain to the Filipinos in Athens, Greece for two years. My principle is simply to do my job as best as I can, serve the people according to what God asked me to do without thinking of myself. I am not here seeking for honour and glory but I see to it that everything I do is for the greater honour and glory to God.

I thank the good Lord for accompanying me and the Filipino community in the journey. It is as fact that more and more people are involved in the Filipino chaplaincy. There is more cooperation among the different religious groups and even the civic and social organizations. Of course it is not yet one hundred percent but there is a great improvement. It is difficult to please everybody but at least we made an effort. I would say that the dream I dreamed is becoming into a reality.

The festivities in every region in Melbourne are really opportunities for the Filipinos to be together. The celebration of the San Lorenzo Ruiz is indeed a phenomenon. While we are successful in bringing people together but these are done in borrowed places since we do not have a church of our own. Then I dreamed of having a church for the Filipinos. I even came to a point of making a try to ask the archbishop to assign a church for the Filipinos where we can gather regularly. But I refrained because their plan is for the Filipinos to be integrated into their respective parishes which I am very proud to say that that we are doing very well. I always have good feedbacks from the parish priests about your involvement in your respective parishes especially in the field of singing and in other ministries.

However, sometimes I couldn't help but feel envious of the other ethnic communities in Melbourne since they were able to build their own church and centers. The Vietnamese, Maltese, Slovenians, Polish, Croatians to mention a few. Many times I passed in this place and I really appreciate the efforts of the Maltese community in making this place into a pilgrimage area. I said to myself that it needs a miracle for the Filipinos to have one like this. But I still continue to dream of having a place to be called our very own. Then one day Fred Lucena and Rene dela Pena of the Two Hearts Cell Group mentioned to me that the Maltese community (through Charlie Borg) is inviting us to build a small shrine in the Ta Pinu Marian Center to be dedicated to our patron saints. They presented the idea to the Filipino Pastoral Council during our monthly meeting and everybody supported it. It was further agreed that the shrine be dedicated to the Santo Nino and Our Mother of Perpetual Help (both are closely connected to our Filipino Christianity). Could this be the answer to my dream?

While I was a little bit excited about the project yet at the same time I was afraid. It is not easy to look for funds for this project. There is already a solicitation fatigue among the Filipino communities in Melbourne. With so many fundraising going on for different projects and it’s the same people who are giving. I rejected the idea of having a dinner dance or having raffles again. It's suffocation already. It was suggested that we just inform the people through letters, through the radio where I am involved with and through the Philippine Times and we’ll see what happened. The response was indeed surprising. Then I remember the many stories of miracles that the Santo Nino has done to people back in the Philippines. I thought of the many stories of miracles I’ve heard about Mary’s intercession while making a novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran and any church in the Phillipines.

I had my own stories too. And this project is another miracle story brought to us by the Santo Nino and Our Mother. I could see their hands in this project. Even before the completion of the shrine miracles are already happening: the numerous people who handed their donation are a sign that Jesus and the Blessed Mother want this sanctuary here. Some people did not even receive a letter but just the same they generously gave, the shrine committee who sacrificed their time for the family just to come here almost every weekend to supervise the construction. And surprisingly the builder who is not even a Filipino (in the person of Michael Hanger) who offered his labour for free.

We are all part of this miracle. It is the good Lord and His Blessed Mother who gathers us all today to for this unique experience of their presence and of one another. This is a celebration of the gift of faith. Many times in my homily I challenged you to stand up to our faith in Jesus in the midst of this very secular world. I believed that you heed the challenge not only in preserving our Christian faith but sharing this to others. This little shrine in honor of the Santo Nino and Our Mother of Perpetual Help is an icon of our Filipino Christian faith which we proudly proclaim to the people of this country.

Let’s continue in our journey. God is walking with us. Mary, the star of the sea is guiding us. Let’s allow the miracle to continue to happen in our midst. God continue to make miracles but He needs materials to work on. And we are the materials.

To God be honour, glory, praise and thanksgiving.

Santo Nino, help us and have mercy on us.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.