The Jubilee Year of Mercy in action at Don Bosco Vocational Center, Toul Kork
February-March 2016
The Holy Father Pope Francis with the
opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy has lit a fire in many hearts. His desire
that “During this year we all go out to every man and woman, bringing the
goodness and tenderness of God”, has set people in motion to go out and
perform works of mercy.
So it is with the Students, Staff and
Sisters in Don Bosco Vocational Center, Tuol Kork. The fire is lit! They
launched a calendar of activities spread through this year. Several activities
were carried out in the month of February and March. Everyone at the Center was
committed to collect funds and other items to be brought as gifts to people in
need. The girls were divided in groups so as to give everyone the opportunity
to experience performing works of Mercy.
The first group experienced “…bringing the tenderness of God”
to the children of “Holy Baby” Orphanage. The over 40 children and staff
enjoyed the presence, the activities and formative moment carried out by the students
and all was concluded with the distribution of gifts to each and a wholesome
evening meal.
The next group of students visited the over
60 sick and abandoned elderly and handicapped children at the MC Home. The input
of the Year of Mercy, the songs, dances and games brought life and laughter to
the children and to the elderly, who besides games, enjoyed videos that
elicited the joy, peace and hope of Jesus in their heart. All concluded with
suitable gifts for everyone.
The accidental destruction by fire of a
whole village outskirt of Phnom Penh that left 97 families without their
poor abode, engaged everyone at the Center in the collection of food and other
items of prime necessity. The visit to the village by another group of students
brought relief and support to those families who felt, the touch of Jesus Mercy
but also it stirred up in the participants the awareness of the suffering of
many people.
Besides the above works of Mercy some Sisters
and the Foreign Volunteers, having obtained the permit from the Minister of
Interior Affairs, visited a prison to meet inmate mothers and their children.
The event was most touching as these unfortunate mothers shared their inner
drama and the Sisters and Volunteers shared God’s love together with all the
material that they had carried to satisfy their urgent necessities. It is hoped
that the visit can be repeated other times during the year.
It is hoped that Jesus’ words: “Whatever
you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me” Mt25:40 may continue to
resound in the heart of each participant so that the cry of our brothers and
sisters may turn solidarity into a style of life for them.
