Furthermore…

Crying kid to mom:

“Teacher made me take down my picture of Jesus because it’s not politically cracked!”

I recently was able to sit in on a training session for an organization which has a much needed mission, cooperating with and empowering people living in unhealthy and degrading slum conditions and ready to take measures so as to better their lot. They actually have developed a proven and well-accepted approach to bringing into reality attractive and liveable communites where formerly only blight and and struggle existed.

One thing that stood out among the many presentations that made up the session was that the organization is not striving to locate (rich) donors who might subsidize the programs and efforts. Rather, they look for people inclined to become personally invloved with the work, perhaps telling friends and associates about the good that being accomplished by the organization, perhaps traveling to and observing one of the communities that have brought into existence. In some cases, they have come to believe, donors have a way of making a donation so as to “buy off” or distance those asking for aid.

The website for this remarkable organization with the motto “Less for self. More for others. Enough for all.” is http://www.gawadkalinga.org .

Educators in suits looking into school classroom through a door cracked open:

“Yes, Bingly, that little girl in the pink dress does look like she’s praying!”

I was at a Gawad Kalinga training session and the painting work of Joey Velasco was mentioned in connection with their struggles in overcoming slums and poverty. When I got home I did a search to find out more, and I located a video he produced and narrated about his famous painting based on the Last Supper, in which he replaces the Apostles with a group of unscrubbed street urchins. He delves into the living conditions and backgrounds of these fascinating children, providing the viewer with an up close similitude of life on mean Philippine streets. The URL for the video is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYgSJCPEtY

Father to son, at shrine displaying a multitude of saints:

“No, I can’t help you son — everyone has to pick for himself the most awesome saint!”

I’ve been a guest several times, of some Philippine people in my parish, at some prayer and teaching meetings of Couples for Christ (CFC). I found out there was a CFC gathering today at a local hotel so I made a point of attending. I learned a lot.
It was a thorough introduction and training session for those ready to assist an admirable organization that is vigorously tackling the almost overwhelming problems of poverty and sub-human living conditions oppressing much of the population there.
This organization creates little communities of brightly colored homes for the poverty-stricken, at the same time leading them to a grasp of such redeeming values as responsibility, cooperation and community spirit.
Several times it was emphasized that the goal is to transform the lives of both those saved from the degradation of poverty as well as those doing what they can to assist in any way. The name of the organization is Gawad Kalinga, and it has the website http://www.gawadkalinga.org .

Awards banquet for people corrupting the language:

“And the person to say ‘is … is’ most often is … is … “

Tomorrow morning I go to a weekly prayer breakfast. It is held at a neighboring parish, but it is really not much farther from the house than my own parish. We gather for an hour, 7 to 8 AM. When I get there the leader has always already set up the room, including a table with, say, donuts and bagels, orange juice, and a basket for donations. Coffee is ready, regular and decaf. Usually there are only 5 or 6 of us, all members of a much more numerous Emmaus brotherhood. After some chit-chat we read and discuss the coming Sundays scriptures, with a little guidance from one of the brothers who has prepared some points to ponder in advance. As the time to end approaches we switch over to prayer, each man getting a chance to voice what is on his heart. Yes, men do have hearts!

Announcement before Mass:

“Please silence your cell phones, pagers, and the whisperer next to you!”

I caught a VCY America radio show today discussing social networks Facebook and MySpace from a Christian [not Catholic] perspective. The hostess, Ingrid Schlueter, and college student guest Same Guzman made a point of mentioning both the positive and negative aspects of social networking. Multiply.com,the social network on which I am an admin of the Catholic Friends group, was not mentioned, which is unfortunate, because it is a family friendly site. More details on the program as given on the radio network’s site, www.crosstalkamerica.com follow.

Christians and Social Media
Date: April 21, 2009
Host: Ingrid Schlueter
Guest: Sam Guzman
Listen: RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD

Sam Guzman is a college student in his Junior year at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin, where he’s majoring in English. He currently operates his own web business.

Internet communication has evolved far beyond the simplicity of e-mail. Whether it’s sharing opinions, ideas, keeping in touch with friends and loved ones, or even communicating with others in a given job field for career enhancement, social networking is all the rage and websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are leading the charge.

What biblical injunctions should Christians keep in mind while online? How can we glorify the Lord in all that we do and say in this age of incredible communication opportunity? Join Ingrid and Sam as they do an examination of today’s new and unique areas of the cyberworld on this edition of Crosstalk.

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