CEBU (SE): For Sister Necitas Derama who had worked in Hong Kong for over a decade, meeting the poor on the streets in Cebu, the central Philippines, is the real encounter with Jesus. Serving in pastoral ministry in Cebu, she felt she was needed by the less fortunate ones.
“You know we are praying before the Eucharistic Jesus every day. But we feel we could not just be contented with doing that. We needed to do something concrete,” Sister Derama told the Sunday Examiner.
Two months ago, she and other sisters from the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, became involved with a ministry called Feeding God’s Little Ones.
The sisters began by inviting poor passers-by to their gate and giving them bread. They did this for four weeks, but were not happy with the result because they thought the passers-by were not the most needing of their help. So the sisters thought of going around the streets in search of the poor.
The programme was supported by Father Rennel Cabag, from the Order of Discalced Augustinians, who shared the bread in his outreach for the needy. Bread spread with marmalade or jam with coffee sachets was also provided.
Sister Derama, together with three others began to visit different places each time so that they would not be feeding the same people every time. They would go around even to the nearby barrios early in the morning and then the next town in the city down south.
The homeless would sleep in secluded areas on the streets in the city but, according to the sisters, they wouldn’t be able to sleep well as they would be disturbed by passing cars in the night. Many of them cannot afford to have surgical masks and hence, wrap their faces with clothes or towels.
‘So touching to find them at dawn. Our prayer life becomes all the more meaningful meeting the real Body of Christ from among the poor,’ Sister Derama said, adding, ‘I feel like a bridge between Jesus and our less fortunate brothers and sisters’
Some homeless people came from neighbouring islands and preferred to remain in the city as they could manage to obtain food in many ways. The sisters visit them once a week at dawn before they wake up and disappear from the streets. Many of them were surprised at the beginning as the sisters approached them so early in the morning.
“So touching to find them at dawn. Our prayer life becomes all the more meaningful meeting the real Body of Christ from among the poor,” Sister Derama said, adding, “I feel like a bridge between Jesus and our less fortunate brothers and sisters.”
One time they went to Mantalongon, Dalagiete, to buy vegetables from farmers who were affected by the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, to help them with their income. Sister Derama said that to some extent, the pandemic has had a positive impact as it gives people a chance to show support and love for their neighbours.
Sister Derama worked in Hong King from 2002 to 2009. She was then assigned to work at Vatican Central Telephone for a year-and-a-half, subsequently spending another a year-and-a-half in Frankfurt, Germany, where she had previously been assigned. She, together with two other sisters were pioneers of the congregation’s ministries there. In 2011 she returned to Hong Kong.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
During her time in Hong Kong, Sister Derama provided pastoral services for the overseas Filipino workers at the Church of Annunciation, Tsuen Wan. She was also invited to give talks and liturgical formation on Sundays in other parishes around Hong Kong, mostly for overseas Filipino workers. She returned to the Philippines on 10 October 2016.
