Father Al: Champion of the Poor

COME AND JOIN US! TOGETHER, LET US SERVE THE LORD WITH JOY!

2024-10-30T19:29:00.008-07:00

COME AND SEE...

The Sisters of Mary follow Christ more fervently in praying and more closely in proclaiming the Kingdom, by doing good to people, concretely by providing free educational and vocational welfare for the underprivileged children / youth, medical care to the sick and the dying and shelter service to the homeless and helpless.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Matthew 9:37-38

A Blessed Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM 2021

2021-08-14T18:33:00.006-07:00

As we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast very dear to our hearts, we are reminded once again how blessed we are to be given the opportunity to experience the life inside the Sisters of Mary's Boystowns and Girlstowns and to witness God's miracles unfold in our own lives.

As Pope Francis reminds us in today's feast, "Taken up into heaven, Mary shows us the way to God. The way to heaven. The way to life." May our Blessed Mother be our model of generosity and faithfulness from birth to death. She learned to surrender everything to God and trust God's plan for her. May our lives be a living witness as well to God's faithfulness and generosity especially in this time of the pandemic, a sign of hope for a world marred by sin and aggravated by poverty and calamities (both natural and man-made). May the Blessed Virgin Mary continue to intercede for us.

And so, with grateful hearts, we continue to remember the many graces and blessings we received from God through the intercession of Our Lady, the Virgin of the Poor. We thank our ever-caring and ever-loving Sisters of Mary and our beloved Fr. Al, who founded this great institution 57 years ago today.

God bless us all and Happy Birthday to everyone! Cheers!

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"All praise, honor, glory and thanksgiving to the Virgin of the Poor."

- Venerable Aloysius Schwartz (1930 - 1992)

2021: 57th Foundation of the Sisters of Mary (Korea) and 36th for the Philippines

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August 15, 1964 - Fr. Al started the family-unit orphan program and accepted the first group of children in Korea. It became the official foundation day of the Sisters of Mary, the religious congregation of women, now numbering over 400 and currently working in Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras and Tanzania, Africa.

In 1985, Fr. Al arrived in Manila at the invitation of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin to begin the Boystown and Girlstown program in the Philippines. With a handful of Sisters, he began the medical program for destitute tuberculosis patients at the Quezon Institute while the Boystown/Girlstown complex in Sta. Mesa, Manila was being constructed. [Source: Killing Me Softly: The Inspiring Story of a Champion of the Poor]

August 15 has been designated as well as the universal birthday of each child under the care of the Sisters of Mary in its villages worldwide (Boystowns and Girlstowns).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF FR. AL'S CHILDREN and HAPPY FOUNDATION DAY TO THE SISTERS OF MARY!

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Here are some throwback photos of the Foundation Day 2002 in Biga Campus from the files of the late Fr. James 'Jim' Ferry, MM. Thanks to Fr. Jim Kroeger, MM.

In photos: Fr. Ferry, MM and Fr. Urrutia, SJ, Sisters, Children, Teachers/Staff and Guests at the 17th Foundation Day Celebration and Inauguration of the SMS Track Oval at the Biga Campus in Silang, Cavite, Philippines

“This is the secret of constant joy: Unselfishness, which means love. You must be unselfish to practice charity. You must go out to others and think of them.”
– Venerable Fr. Aloysius Schwartz

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, OUR DEAR SISTERS OF MARY!

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The Miracles of Father Al - International Greets the Sisters on Mother's Day 2020

"We are born of love; love is our mother." - Rumi

...

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" - Is 49:15

With Sr. Imelda, SM @ SHS-Ateneo de Cebu

With some boys from SOM-Minglanilla Campus @ SHS-Ateneo de Cebu

Mother's Day @ 2010 with +Sr. Cecille Pabalan, SM

Mother's Day @ 2010 with Sr. Maria Cho, SM

Mother's Day 2014 @ BIGA Girlstown

Mother's Day @ 2014 with Sr. Teresa, Sr. Elnora and Sr. Maureen

Mother's Day @ 2014 with Sr. Elena and Sr. Amy

2018 @ ADLAS Boystown with Sr. Tess Prudente, SM

2010 @ BIGA with + Mo. Michaela Kim, SM - 25 Years of Dedicated Service to SOM

Thank you very much, our beloved Mother-Sisters for the love! You are our mothers, too. God bless you always! We love you!

***

BREAKING NEWS! CARDINAL TAGLE CO-OPTED INTO THE ORDER OF BISHOPS

2020-05-01T06:09:00.003-07:00

Photo © Internet | Cardinal Tagle with Pope Francis

Today, May 1, 2020, Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, The Holy Father, Pope Francis through The Holy See Press Office released a Rescript that decided to co-opt into the Order of Bishops, His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, DD, S.Th.D. He is now a part of the highest order of the College of Cardinals, joining Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Leonardo Sandri, Marc Ouellet and Fernando Filoni that was Co-opted into the same order.

And since the rescript enters into force today, "the new Cardinal Bishop will be equivalent in all respects to their confreres who hold the title of suburbicarian churches."

RESCRIPTUM EX AUDIENTIA SS.MI: Rescript of the Holy Father Francis, by which he decides to co-opt into the Order of Bishops His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, equating him in all respects to the Cardinals who have been awarded the title of a suburbicarian Church. (VATICAN NEWS)

NOTE: The said order is the highest order of the College of Cardinals in the Catholic Church which only have six (6) members prior to his elevation. Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle is the first Filipino to be raised to the rank of Cardinal-Bishop. The appointment was made public today, May 01, 2020 at the Vatican.

***

29 June 2013 Inauguration of the Monsignor Al Schwartz Memorial Center, Biga, Silang Cavite
Photo © Al San Buenaventura, SJ

CONGRATULATIONS, OUR DEAR CARDINAL-BISHOP LUIS ANTONIO G. TAGLE! GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR NEW MISSION and POSITION IN ROME! LOVE & PRAYERS FROM YOUR SISTERS OF MARY FAMILY!

In Memoriam: Mr. George E. Doty (1918-2012) | Long time friend and generous benefactor of Fr. Al and The Sisters of Mary

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(15 FEBRUARY 1918 - 24 APRIL 2012)

A giant in Catholic philanthropy, George E. Doty, one of Fordham University’s biggest donors and the man who funded the restoration of the great dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

A long time friend and generous benefactor of Fr. Al and the Sisters of Mary together with her beloved wife +Marie J. Doty (25 Nov 1916 - 24 Sep 2008)

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace with his lovely wife - +Marie J. Doty and our dear Fr. Al. +Amen.

***

“If I did not have the Catholic faith and I wanted to invent a faith for myself, what would I do? I think I would reinvent the Catholic faith. It may sound foolish, but I think of a loving God, a forgiving God. How can you beat that?” ~ George E. Doty

His Eminence, Jaime Cardinal Sin confers the Serviam Award to George and Marie Doty for their outstanding support to the Sisters of Mary. The Serviam Award is the highest award in Service given by the Philippine Catholic Church in recognition of the great service to the Filipino people and the Catholic Church.

George Doty receives the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) from the Adamson University, Manila, Philippines (July 14, 1994)

George and Marie Doty with children of the Sisters of Mary - Girlstown in the Philippines

CNEWA at 75: Into The Future: George and Marie Doty, seated with Msgr. Stern at the inaugural service, gaze at the renovated dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, 2 January 1997. (photo: Joel Fishman)

Truly, the George E. and Marie J. Doty Award by the American Federation for Aging Research is a fitting tribute to these two great people.

The last but definitely not the least in the inaugural class of the Founding Spirit: The Fordham University Hall of Honor.

The Charles Carroll Award in Catholic Philanthropy : George and Marie Doty (1999). In a spirit of profound admiration, affection, and gratitude, and in recognition of their generous and caring lives in service to humanity and to the church.

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Daddy George Doty, you will remain alive in the hearts of thousands of us! You just have to pass away to reap your greater 'reward'. We love you and we thank God for sending you to us, inorder to be of constant support to the wonderful programs of Fr. Al and the Sisters of Mary...We will continue to pray for your family and we hope to ease their sorrows through our unending prayers of gratitude. Even the spaces inside wouldn't be enough if we are to compress our words of gratitude and love. We are now numbering to almost fifty thousand graduates here in the Philippines and many more in other countries whom you have helped, whom you've made whole, whom you have inspired to get on with our dreams and help our own families. It's far to be like you, but your inspiration would lead us closer to helping back the Sisters of Mary in return...Say our ''hello'' to Fr. Al! 'Till we meet again! We love you very much!

Our sincerest and deepest condolences to the bereaved family of our beloved, George E. Doty - a very generous man and a very loyal supporter of the wonderful programs of Fr. Aloysius Schwartz and the Sisters of Mary not just in the Philippines but in other countries as well especially in Korea.

More about this great man and his beloved wife can be found on the links below:

Giving back: the generous legacy of George E. Doty
CNEWA: Remembering George Doty
Obituary: George E. Doty Sr. (1918 - 2012)
Obituary: Marie J. Doty (1916 - 2008)

Photo Credits: The Sisters of Mary, CNEWA, Fordham University

PRAY: INTERCESSORY PRAYER, FR. AL's BEATIFICATION & CANONIZATION

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Venerable Aloysius Schwartz (1930 – 1992)

*** INTERCESSORY PRAYER ***

Almighty, ever-living God, giver of all good gifts, You have filled Venerable Al with an ardent love for You and for souls. You have inspired him to dedicate his life to relieve the suffering of the orphans, abandoned, the sick and the poor, especially the youth, which he did with all humility and courage until the end of his life. May his holy life of love and service to the poor be recognized by the Church through his beatification and canonization.

For your honor and glory, we pray that the life of Venerable Al be an inspiration for us in striving for perfection in the love of God and service to others. I ask you to bestow upon me, through the intercession of Venerable Al: (tell God, through Ven. Al, the favour that you request.)

I ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, and the maternal aid of Mary, the Virgin of the Poor.

Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory Be …

…

(With Ecclesiastical Approval)

The process of Beatification of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz is in progress. For any favour or miracle granted through his intercession, please direct your communication to:

The Sisters of Mary
Biga II, Silang 4118 Cavite, Philippines
Tel. No. (6346) 414.2575; (6346) 865.3097; (632) 529.8321
E-mail: fatheralsainthood@facfi.org.ph

TESTIMONY: "Heaven" on Earth

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"Heaven" on Earth

Dennievi Angela H. Florida
Batch 2000, Sta. Mesa Campus

When my grandmother died, I began to question God why He seems to take every person close to my heart. My mom died when I was just three months old. Because my mom was the only daughter, my grandparents requested to take good care of me. As young as 23, my father agreed and after five long years he decided to have his second family.

Being with my grandparents was like being in heaven for they did everything to provide all my needs in every way. I did not even feel that emptiness of growing up without my mom and dad beside me because of the presence of my grandparents. And when the most painful experience of losing my grandmother took place, I did not know what to do for I was used to depend on her in everything that I do.

Our relatives did not tell my father about what happened and they offered to support my schooling in high school. My cousin who was working in New York as a teacher volunteered to finance all the expenses yet I refused. Instead I took a test to be an scholar in The Sisters of Mary School and luckily I passed the test and interview which was conducted by the nuns.

For the second time, I found heaven on earth. A million thanks to Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz who established an institution for the poorest of the poor which provides free high quality of education, food, shelter, and clothing with great love and devotion.

Staying in the Sisters of Mary for three and a half years was one of the happiest moments that I have experienced in my entire life. There I had a chance to meet a lot of poor and abandoned students with different stories. We were very much lucky to have been given a chance to attain the best academic, vocational and spiritual secondary education that an institution can offer.

Life inside the four walls of this institution revolves around praying, playing, studying and working. I had a closer connection with God through the different activities that we were doing everyday. It even motivated me to become a nun. We played all types of ball games and indoor games during weekends and during our free time. We also spent our nights and weekends swimming in the pool.

We had the best teachers who were bringing only themselves plus their chalk and some visual aids. Studying in this institution was a great challenge because we were required to speak in English all the time except during the free time when we can use our mother tongue.

We were assigned in different tasks like sweeping the floor, washing the dishes, wiping the windows, arranging our blankets and pillows, arranging our shoes and slippers and cleaning the comfort rooms every after each meal. And because I was the smallest in our group, I was always assigned in arranging the books or putting the toothpaste in our toothbrushes.

Everything from waking up at 6:00 in the morning until the sleeping time was a routine. Even the menu for the whole week was a routine. My favorite days of the week were Saturdays and Sundays which were spent in general cleaning, attending the mass, praying and playing all day.

Because of this institution, I learned to design and to sew my own clothes. I can clearly remember that time when we had a class outing as an award for being the best sewers of our batch.

I enjoyed typing through a typewriter and a computer. I gained knowledge about stenography and bookkeeping. There were also classes in electronics which I enjoyed especially when we fixed electronic gadgets and television set which we also used in watching noon time show.

If most of the first year students suffered from homesickness during the first weeks. Months before graduation, the students wanted to pull back the time so as not to go home yet. And I myself was not an exemption to this.

When my relatives did not allow me to enter nunnery, I wished I was a newly graduate pupil who was just about to enter The Sisters of Mary to study again and again and again…

But as the saying goes that everything comes to an end, I went back home but with a happy and grateful heart for I was once given a chance to find the heaven on earth which is no other than the Sisters of Mary School.

I am now a teacher with a family of my own. Numerous challenges still do come along our way but there are a lot of wonderful blessings that the Lord keeps on showering us everyday and I do believe that The Sisters of Mary School had been my stepping stone in attaining almost all of my goals in life. A million thanks to the sisters who never grew tired in guiding us while we were in this institution.

I do promise that no matter how much success I gain, I will always look back to all the people who extended their help and support for me to be where I am right now. I will not be where I am today without all of them.

With all these experiences, I firmly believe in the saying that “ God will never leave us empty. He will replace everything we lost. If He asks us to put something down, it’s because He wants us to pick something better. Doors may close but surely windows will be opened because everything happens for a reason and it surely makes us a better person.

Because of all the roller coaster rides in my life, I began to understand more about God’s purpose. I would have not felt the genuine love and support of my relatives and that of The Sisters of Mary family if my mom and grandparents were alive.

God really sends us challenges in order to teach us a lot of life’s lessons. In times when we think that we are in the middle of our greatest challenge and that God had seemed to abandon us, we will come to realize that it is God who lifts and carries us to get through our hardest times. Its just that we tend to focus more on how we feel due to our loss that is just but normal.

The best part is when we are awakened from our deep slumber and we realize that life is like a mahjong in which God is the best player who mix all the tiles. And in the end everything shall be arranged. God let us experience hardships in life when everything gets mixed up but eventually God himself shall fix everything for us in a way far better than it was before. All we have to have is faith, hope and love to our creator who will not let a single event to take place without a reason to make our lives better.

We must always remember that there is sunshine after every rain and there is a brand new day after a storm. Everything happens because the Lord wants us to appreciate His presence both in good times and in bad times.

God may have gotten my mom and my grandparents too early but He replaced them with relatives and The Sisters of Mary family who proved to me that there is really heaven on earth and from that time on, I stopped questioning why things happened that way. I began to understand that it all works for my own betterment.

Since the time when The Sisters of Mary was established up to the present time, it has touched thousands of lives. It has made a difference in the lives of its students as well as their families through free education plus a decent job after graduation. And I will forever be thankful because a lot were called by God to be a part of it yet only a few were chosen and I am very much lucky to be among them. Indeed there is no place like The Sisters of Mary. It is truly a heaven on earth.

Dennievi, an educator by profession, together with her beautiful and happy family

Originally published at: https://fatheralschwartzmyhero.blogspot.com

READ: Account of Dolores Vita, Mass of Thanksgiving for Venerable Aloysius Schwartz

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Venerable Aloysius Schwartz

Mass of Thanksgiving

The Sisters of Mary Girlstown

Silang, Cavite, Philippines

March 14, 2015

I recently returned from a trip to the Sisters of Mary Girlstown in Silang, Cavite in the

Philippines to attend a Mass of Thanksgiving to honor Monsignor Aloysius Schwartz. Father Al was declared Venerable by Pope Francis on January 22, 2015 as he progresses on his path to sainthood.

Seven family members made arrangements to attend but unfortunately only my daughter, Maria and I were able to attend the Mass of Thanksgiving. My brother Lou, son Tim and daughter Chrissy arrived later in the day (missed connecting flight). My brother-in-law Hubie and daughter Julie missed altogether (because of the 6 months passport rule). The ones missing made the greatest sacrifice and surely will receive special blessings for their efforts.

This event was by far the greatest event in the lives of thousands of people touched by Father Al Schwartz during his short missionary life of love and sacrifice for the poor under the protection of the Virgin of the Poor.

We arrived the night of March 12th and were warmly welcomed by the Sisters of Mary. The Sisters prepared a lovely room for us at the Retreat House on the grounds of the Girlstown in Silang, Cavite. The next day, March 13th following breakfast we were free to roam the grounds of the 37 acre Girlstown facility. It consists of the home/school for 3,000 girls, multiple workshops and outdoor play areas, and the massive gymnasium with 3 full basketball courts under its roof and a permanent stage at one end. There is also the beautiful garden lining the path leading to the outdoor-Shrine to the Virgin of the Poor and the Virgin of the Poor Chapel where Father Al is buried. As you continue around the loop at the end of the property there is the two-story Msgr. Al Schwartz Memorial Center inaugurated in 2013. Next there is the Father Al Retreat House that accommodates 120 guests for overnight visits and the beautiful connecting chapel and gift shop. On the road leading into the Girlstown there is the newly-erected Clinic that offers medical and dental services to the students and the poor living in the neighbourhood.

The Sisters were expecting thousands of guests to attend the Mass. One must wonder how you can prepare for so many guests. The Sisters and students prepared with joy and confidence. On the day before the Thanksgiving Mass the campus was alive with activity. The students were raking leaves, watering plants, dusting every corner of their dormitories and happy to be part of the preparations. The Sisters of Mary were leading the way. Guests were arriving all hours of the day and night and the Sisters were there to welcome them and find a place for them to stay.

As Maria and I continued to roam around our first stop was the Msgr. Al Schwartz

Memorial Center (MASMC). The first thing that you see is a bronze bust of Fr. Al in the foyer. The Memorial Center has changing exhibits. The current exhibit focuses on Outstanding Graduates. The title of the exhibit is Treading in the Footsteps of Fr. Al. Seventeen graduates were featured and 5 were selected one from 5 different countries. They would be honoured on March 15th at the Alumni Reunion. The graduates are the crowning glory of Fr. Al’s work. The Memorial Center features all aspects of Father Al’s life including family pictures, walls covered with life-size pictures from floor to ceiling of the early days in Korea, the Philippines and Mexico. One can listen to a collection of his taped sermons and explore the four books that he wrote. Also on display are the six books that have been written about him and more have been published. One long wall is covered with the awards that he received during his lifetime. There is a stunning spiral staircase that leads to the second floor where you can see a huge portrait of Father Al. It can be seen while standing outside of the Memorial Center. There is also a gift shop with items made by the students. Visitors come from many countries.

Next to the Memorial Center, we visited the Virgin of the Poor Chapel, where Father Al is buried. The Chapel is an exact replica of the Chapel built in Louvain, Belgium after the Virgin of the Poor visited a young girl in 1933. Mary declared that she was the Virgin of the Poor who came for all nations to relieve the suffering of the poor and sick. This apparition was formally approved by the Church. Father Al dedicated his priesthood to the Virgin of the Poor and she has richly blessed his work.

As Maria and I continued our tour we passed the gym that was filled with activities. The stage for the Mass was being arranged with chairs, microphones and vases for the flowers. Awnings were being erected along the side of the gym so that those siting in the extended seats would have cover from the sun. We decided to pass by and not disrupt the workers. Before our tour ended we ran into Sr. Cecilia Pabalan who I fondly remember from the early days in Mexico when Father Al was just starting the program. Father Al mentioned to me several times that she had a beautiful voice and he enjoyed listening to her sing. She taught the children to sing for the masses and special occasions. She is undergoing chemotherapy now for cancer. She told me that Father Al is her inspiration as she struggles with her illness.

The day flew by and we joined some of the visitors for dinner. We quickly noticed that

our meal was extra special. We had a top-of-the-line chef preparing and serving our meal. The table was set and had a very special decoration. The base was a watermelon and we thought there was a beautiful flower on top. But it turned out to be the flower was carved from the watermelon. We quickly learned that we were in for a special treat. A young man, small in stature but filled with confidence came in with platter after platter filled with hot, delicious food served and arranged in a professional way. We soon learned Emmanuel was a graduate and he was from a broken home. He knows how hard it was for his father because now he is father to his 4 younger siblings. He had 4 years of school with the Sisters of Mary, three years working as an employee for the Sisters of Mary. He recently resigned to work part time as an Instructor of Culinary Arts at Lyceum University. He continues to help the Sisters for special occasions. He hopes to go to college to study in the Culinary Program. We all agreed he is very talented and will be a big success someday. After dinner we headed back to our rooms to prepare for the Thanksgiving Mass the next day.

Saturday, March 14th the much awaited day arrived filled with sunlight and buzzing with excitement. We had an early breakfast. We began to roam around and watched in amazement as a steady stream of visitors arrived in buses, cars and motorcycles. The graduates with their families were happy to see one another. On the path leading to the chapel I met a graduate from Korea. We couldn’t really communicate but she knew I was Father Al’s sister and gave me a big hug. I was so touched by her greeting.

The official program of the day was scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. at the Louis Prieto Auditorium with a Conference on the Process of Sainthood given by Fr. Samson Silloriquez, OAR, Postulator General of the Cause of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz. Fr. Sammy has worked tirelessly in the Philippines and the Vatican to see that Father Al’s Cause was progressing according to the schedule or maybe even a little ahead of schedule. His enthusiasm and dedication has touched our hearts. His report was thorough and filled with insights. He pointed out that we are all called to be holy. “Be holy as our heavenly Father is holy.” He pointed out that saints declared by the church are also presented as models to every one of us. Fr. Sammy’s report was pages long and he carefully explained each step of the Cause so far. We are celebrating the Decree declaring Father Al Venerable so we will propagate his fame of sanctity. He pointed out that the process has moved along quickly and the next step is Beatification, which requires one miracle, and Canonization which requires a second miracle. Fr. Sammy highlighted his remarks with scenes on a large screen behind him on stage and a short video of Father Al at the end. Everyone remarked about the excellent job he had done. Now we more fully understand the process of the Cause and how it proceeds from here.

After the Conference we slowly walked to the gymnasium for the Thanksgiving Mass,

and the Procession and Blessing of the Tomb. The Sisters estimated that there were 4,000 students from the Girlstown & Boystown (across the road), and another 2,000 guests including graduates and friends from the Philippines, Schwartz family members, fundraisers that flew in from Germany and Switzerland and 150 guests from Korea including graduates and members of the Third Order of the Sisters of Mary, for a total of over 6,000 present. To celebrate the Mass we had 2 Cardinals, 6 Bishops and 48 Priest on the Altar. Three of the priests are graduates from the program. Seats were taken and the music began – provided by the Girlstown/Boystown Orchestra (and their music was beautiful). A solemn procession from the back of the auditorium started up the middle isle. Students were selected to carry up the flags from the three countries where Father Al established programs, Korea, the Philippines and Mexico. And flags from the next three countries where the Sisters of Mary have expanded, Guatemala, Brazil and Honduras. The altar servers started up the aisle. Then the priests followed by the bishops and the two Cardinals. They continued to take their places on the altar. Four Sisters of Mary followed carrying a statue of the Virgin of the Poor on a platform surrounded by flowers. Mary was placed on a stand next to the podium for all to see and give thanks. It was hard for me to realize that this most beautiful and solemn ceremony was being held in honor of the life of my humble brother, Father Al. The words I’ve heard him say so many times came to mind – All honor, praise and glory goes to the Virgin of the Poor.

His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was the main celebrant. The ceremony started with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, D.D. archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Manila reading the Decree on the Heroic Virtues. It stated in part: It is established both in fact and for the purpose of this decree that ALOYSIUS SCHWARTZ, a diocesan priest and founder of the Congregations of the Sisters of Mary and of the Brothers of Christ practiced the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity towards God and neighbor, as well as the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude, and the concomitant virtues to a heroic degree.

The Sovereign Pontiff ordered that the Decree to this effect be made public and placed among the Acts of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Given in Rome, on the 22nd day of January in the year of our Lord two thousand and

fifteen. Signed by Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefect of the Congregation for the Cuases of Saints and presented it to Sr. Maria Cho, SM, Bro. Peter, Brothers of Christ, and Fr. Samson Silloriquez, OAR, Postulator of the Cause. Sr. Maria Cho, SM, Superior accepted the Decree.

After the reading of the Decree, a group of us were selected for the unveiling of the

portrait of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz. Maria and I represented the Schwartz family. Fundraiser from Switzerland, Selma Wersching, Dr. Baek Kwang-woo, friend & volunteer Dentist from Korea, Marixi Prieto, Filipino friend and benefactor, and Bernd Ambiel, fundraiser from Germany made up the rest of the group. The children’s group played and sang the Ode of Joy –“Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee. God of glory, Lord of love, Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above.” Hearts were touched and we stood in awe as the portrait was unveiled. It depicted Father Al surrounded by his children, Sisters, Brothers, the homeless men, and the Virgin of the Poor looking down on them with flashes of color in the sky above. It was painted by one of our graduates, Archie Cayamanda. He graduated in December 2006 and has gone on to college. He was elated to be chosen to do the portrait of Father Al. Everyone was impressed.

The prayers of the Mass continued. Others were selected to do the readings of the Mass including Damiano Park, the Korean graduate John Bosco, a current student and several more. The Gospel was read. The homily was given by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, D.D. The Cardinal started with, “And it is good for us to be here. And this celebration is not just a local celebration. It is truly the celebration of the whole Church.”

The Cardinal remembered the beautiful masses he celebrated at the Girlstown in previous years during confirmation and graduation ceremonies. He went on to say that they were, “Very moving religious experiences, especially when we listen to the stories of the children that Fr. Al loved and continues to love.” Cardinal Tagle was with Mother Maria, Sr. Michaela, Sr. Elena, and Fr. Sammy when they presented the Positio to Cardinal Amato in Rome on October 6, 2012 and he promised to have it studied in 2014. Cardinal Tagle said, “And lo and behold a year later January 2015, we received the DECREE. “Wow! How good it is to be part of that process, very simple yet profound.”

The Cardinal went on to say, “In our Christian faith, in our Catholic Tradition we proclaim that every virtue is an action and a gift of God and let us not forget that. As you sang in the opening song ‘All praise to God, All praise to God,’ who made Fr. Al virtuous. Before we praise Fr. Al we should marvel at how God can choose simple men and women like Fr. Al and transform them into a marvel called a Virtuous person.” He went on to say, “The gift of God will always be there but we need to receive it, we need to nurture it. We need to act on it until it becomes a habit, then virtue becomes a lifestyle.”

The Cardinal continued, “The second thing, we see that all the virtues in the life of Fr. Al are centered on his love and service of the poor, the abandoned, those who are often neglected by society.” We need to see Jesus in the poor and respond to them.

The Cardinal said finally, “Fr. Al dedicated his whole priesthood and his ministry to our

Blessed Mother, the Virgin of the Poor. This teaches us what true devotion to our Blessed Mother is.” He went on to encourage the students to consider the religious life. “You who are the living witnesses, the fruits of the heroic virtues of Fr. Al - You did not see him, you were not with him but you experienced the fruits of his holiness. I would like to request from you, don’t waste what Fr. Al has sown through the Sisters of the Mary and the Brothers of Christ.” The Cardinal closed his remarks with, “How could we thank God, who worked in the life of Fr. Al? I hope it is not only “Thank you!” But the seeds that Fr. Al sowed should grow and become abundant. Let us pause and thank God for this beautiful occasion. Let us open our hearts to the seeds of virtue. Let us open our hearts to sanctity, to the service of the poor. And let us open our hearts to our Blessed Mother.”

The Mass continued with the prayers of the faithful and distribution of the Eucharist. The many bishops and priest formed lines and communion was smoothly distributed to the thousands present in a quick and peaceful manner as the children’s orchestra played the music and sang. After communion Sr. Maria gave her message of thanks for all who made sacrifices to be present

A procession was formed with the image of the Virgin of the Poor being carried to the

Tomb of Venerable Al Schwartz (in the Virgin of the Poor Chapel). All the religious on the altar followed. The students began to fall in line behind them in the procession. We in turn followed the girls and boys. We solemnly walked the path (about 2-3 blocks long) lined by the students, graduates and guests. The music playing was a hymn to Mary. They sang, “O Mary, our loving Virgin of the Poor, We’ll sing of your praises forever. Your most pure heart will ever be the cause of our joy.” The sun was brightly shining, a gentle breeze was blowing and you quickly realized that this procession was something very special.

Everyone took their place around the Chapel, down the path and into the gardens. A

small group of students were waiting at the Chapel and provided beautiful music. Two graduates were selected to pay homage to Fr. Al. They were Sharon Dizon and Adonis Sulit.

Sharon graduated in 1996 and actually never met Father Al. She talked about having a vision or dream about Father Al that brought her to tears. She said, “It was my spirit crying and laughing with joy.” And she considered them her encounters with Father Al. She continued, “And from then on, it feels like having a constant guardian angel all the time.” Sharon went on to say, “But most importantly you really are our guardian angel who led us to a better way morally and spiritually. Most of us have never seen you in person when you were still alive, but somehow we feel your presence, your love. You are like our true father who provided for us the many things we were before deprived of, our hero who saved us from the dungeon of poverty, and our saint who instilled in us the desire to be holy, to be Christ-like.

Sharon continued, “Fr. Al thank you for your acceptance of suffering, your self-sacrificing service and love of the poor are truly admirable. You are an inspiration to us. You are God’s instrument in his wonderful design for humanity. Thank you for turning our hunger into flying like an eagle to reach for our dreams that we may never go hungry again. Thank you for heeding the call of the Blessed Mother in relieving the suffering of the poor. Physically and spiritually, we are cured from society’s crippling and blinding diseases of poverty and ignorance. Now we can walk and see beyond. You healed us and you have worked a great deal of miracles in our lives. Thank you for the affirmation that we are GOD’S BELOVED. Here we are today, gathered as numerous as the sunflowers in the fields, we are your miracles! Continue to touch our lives so that we can be your worthy offering to God and may one day join you in Thy Kingdom. Thank you VENERABLE ALOYSIUS SCHWARTZ.

Adonis Sulit spoke next. “Good afternoon everyone, I am Adonis Sulit, a graduate of the Sisters of Mary School in 1992. I now work as a government lawyer, specifically in the Department of Justice. I am humbled and deeply honored by this opportunity to pay homage to the person who served as an instrument of God in helping us to have, whatever we have now, in helping us to be wherever we are now. Thank you Venerable Aloysius Schwartz. I stand and speak on behalf of my brothers and sisters who have seen you in person. We thank you and honor you, for everything.” He went on to say as young children they were from different provinces and that “every occasion is a star struck moment for us. We have seen you jog around the campus in Sta. Mesa; we have seen you swim in the pool. We have touched you and shook your hands. We had solo picture with you. You prayed with us. We shared food with you.” He continued, “These memories put an indelible imprint on each and every one of us, on our soul, on our very being.” Adonis pointed out all the lessons they learned from Father Al. “By never stopping in your physical activities, you ingrained in us that there is no room for being lazy. By your teachings and homilies, you fed our souls, then and now. You encouraged us to be Saints by doing good and avoiding evil. By helping the poor children, like the rest of us then, you taught us to have faith, hope and love. By involving us in your charity works for TB patients in the Quezon Institute, you showed us to be a man for others. By celebrating Mass in a wheelchair and still hearing confessions of your children, despite the pain, you showed us great fortitude.”

Adonis concluded with, “You told us a grateful heart is a happy heart. As your children, we express our gratitude for providing us the best secondary education, and more importantly, for molding us with the values and virtues that help us to become productive members of society today. Thank you for starting the Sisters of Mary and the Brothers of Christ to propagate your mission to serve the poor in the name of Christ. As we live by your values and virtues, we can really say that the glory of God is man fully alive!”

His Excellency Most Rev. Reynaldo Evangelista, D.D. Bishop of the Diocese of Imus

with the surrounding clergy entered the Chapel and blessed the tomb of Venerable Al. We all joined in the Beatification and Canonization prayer for Father Al. After the prayers the Sisters of Mary, Brothers of Christ, Members of the Third Order and a Graduate laid large bouquets of flowers on Venerable Al’s tomb. Once again the students played the hymn to Mary while others released blue and white balloons and set free beautiful butterflies. The balloons began to pop or fireworks were exploding. My thoughts went back to the homily of Cardinal Tagle during the earlier Thanksgiving Mass. He said, “So, good to see you Dolores. Wow! How does it feel to be the sister of a Venerable? My answer would be, “My heart is bursting with pride and joy and with thanksgiving and humility. This is a moment to treasure and remember for a long time. This is a moment to share with everyone.”

Ever so slowly the crowd began to disperse. Everyone’s hearts were touched and lives inspired. The children returned to their living quarters to prepare for the show they had prepared for the guests at 5:30. We met on the 3rd floor of the workshop. The Cultural Show was performed by the Boystown and Girlstown Children. We enjoyed the Handbell Ringers who were so coordinated. The boys did a Modern Dance and the girls a Lapay Folk Dance. The Rondalla players looked beautiful in their satin gold gowns and played so well. The Boystown Chorale looked so handsome and sang with strong voices. The final act was the Sisters of Mary with blue sashes and flowers atop their veils performing a special dance for us. Along with the children they stole our hearts.

After lots of picture taking, the guests were guided to different locations to be served

refreshments. We had another delicious dinner that was well prepared and served by graduate Emmanuel, soon to be recognized as a great chef with his own restaurant in the Philippines. After dinner the youngest Sisters of Mary surprised us with singing, dancing and lots of laughter leaving us with happy memories of a faith-filled visit to take home with us.

Truly, this was a day for Thanksgiving. Father Al under the guidance of the Virgin of the Poor brought us all together to share God’s love with the poor.

***

Aunt Dolores Vita, Fr. Al's Sister

Venerable Al Schwartz Journal 2015.docx

Source: Holy Name Church, Washington D.C. Files Online

***

Thank you, Raymond for these beautiful photos! :)

Photos © Raymond Cerezo, Alumnus

WATCH: Farewell, Fr. Al (16 March 1992)

2020-04-19T19:56:00.003-07:00

On March 16, 1992, Father Al breathed his last at the Girlstown in Manila and his remains are buried at the Complex in Silang, Cavite, Philippines.

***

"EVERYONE IN LIFE HAS A HERO!
SOMEONE THEY LOOK UP TO
AND TRY TO BE LIKE, ONE DAY.

DEAR CHILDREN OF FR. AL,
MAY FR. AL BE YOUR HERO,
YOUR ROLE MODEL."
- Sr. Teresita Prudente, SM

***

Please subscribe to the Official Youtube Channel of The Sisters of Mary and Fr. Al!

WATCH: Unfinished Symphony, The Inspiring Story of Fr. Aloysius Schwartz

2020-04-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

An EWTN documentary on Father Al's zeal for the salvation of souls and transforming lives of thousands of youth from Korea, the Philippines, and Mexico, his unfinished symphony...

Please subscribe to the Official Youtube Channel of the Sisters of Mary and Fr. Al

Youtube Link: The Sisters of Mary & Father Al

PRAY: ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE VIRGIN OF THE POOR & INVOCATIONS

2020-04-15T20:53:00.001-07:00

Our Lady of Banneux, Virgin of the Poor

Banneux, Belgium (1933)

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF BANNEUX

(Composed by Monsignor +Aloysius Schwartz, now Venerable and Approved by His Eminence +Jaime Cardinal Sin, D.D.)

O Mary, Virgin of the Poor, Mother of the Saviour,

Mother of God, I am totally yours.

I wish to be your child,

Your friend, your witness,

Your worker, your instrument,

Your servant, your slave.

O Mary, I want you to be my mother,

My friend, my helper, my protector,

My guide, my queen.

O Mary, please lead me to Jesus

In whom is the fullness of grace,

Life and salvation. Amen.

***

INVOCATIONS

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Lead us to Jesus, Source of grace.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Save all nations.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Relieve the sick.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Alleviate suffering.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Pray for each one of us.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
We believe in thee.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Believe in us.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
We will pray hard.

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Bless us (+).

Blessed Virgin of the Poor,
Mother of the Saviour,
Mother of God,
We thank thee.

Let Us Pray

Our Lady of Banneux,
Mother of Our Saviour,
Mother of God,
Virgin of the Poor,
since thou hast promised to believe in us
if we believe in thee,
I put all my trust in thee.

Deign to listen to the prayers
that thou hast asked be addressed to thee;
have pity on all our spiritual and temporal miseries.
Restore to sinners the treasure of Faith,
and give to the poor their daily bread.

Deign to relieve suffering,
to heal the sick and to pray for us,
so that thus through thy intercession,
the reign of Christ the King
may extend over all nations.

Amen.

WATCH: Heart to Heart: Fr. Al Speaks to his Friends

2020-04-15T20:01:00.001-07:00

Heart to Heart Video: A Memento for His Friends

(c) The Sisters of Mary & World Villages for Children

No copyright infringement intended.

***

Fr. Aloysius Schwartz speaks to his loyal friends and generous benefactors on behalf of his beloved children and the Sisters of Mary. Heart to Heart speaks volume of GRATITUDE, FAITH, HOPE and TRUST in GOD, His Divine Providence and MAN'S GOODNESS & GENEROSITY. This is his last gift and living memento to his dear friends in the Lord.

***

"This is the secret of constant joy: Unselfishness, which means love. You must be unselfish to practice charity. You must go out to others and think of them. "

- Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz

If you wish to get in touch with the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children to know more about their programs and how you can help, feel free to visit the following websites:

http://www.thesistersofmary.com/

https://www.worldvillages.org

https://www.worldvillages.org.uk

https://www.schwesternmaria.de

If you wish to donate, especially to those in the Philippines, below are the bank account details of Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc. (FACFI), the local funding arm of the Sisters of Mary and World Villages for Children. They are authorized to receive and accept donations or contributions, and gifts of any kind from donors for the benefit of children from the poorest of the poor families in the Philippines through The Sisters of Mary Boystowns and Girlstowns in Cavite and Cebu.

Account Name: Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc.

UCPB Pasong Tamo Ext. Makati - Acct. no. 167-000716-1
PNB Silang Cavite - Acct. no. 243-87000128-7
Metrobank (MBTC) Dasma Cavite - Acct. no. 235-3-23533455-1 (online)
BDO Dasma Cavite - Acct. no. 001-90060225-1
Union Bank QC - Acct. no. 001-64000161-2
BPI Dasma Cavite - Acct. no. 000963-2851-08

Online Donation thru PAYPAL:

http://www.facfi.org.ph/online-donation

Always demand for receipt when you give donation to FACFI.
Email: info@facfi.org.ph

Thank you very much!

WATCH: Oh! My Papa - Retracing Fr. Al's Charitable Mission

2020-04-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Video Documentary on Retracing Fr. Al's Charitable Mission

No copyright infringement intended.

"Oh! My Papa" is a documentary film about American priest Monsignor Aloysius Schwartz’s charity and relief activities across Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Honduras. Recently, the Sisters of Mary and World Villages for Children ventured into another foreign land, Tanzania in Africa.

Father Aloysius Schwartz was the founder of World Villages for Children and the congregation "The Sisters of Mary". Father Al, as he is fondly called, is now one step closer to sainthood as Pope Francis declared him VENERABLE in 2015, a title given to those who lived a life of heroic virtue. This is the second step toward Father Al one day being declared a Saint by the Catholic Church.

LISTEN: Fr. Al Speaks about Prayer

2020-04-13T20:07:00.002-07:00

Audio Recording of Fr. Al's Homily on Prayer

No copyright infringement intended.

"By prayer, we leave this earth. We leave this material, visible world. We enter the world of God. We discover the beauty of God’s world. We experience a new joy, new delight, and new pleasure. We become spiritual beings. That is why Jesus wants us to pray for ourselves."

- Fr. Al Schwartz

***

May we, his children, be reminded once again of our prayer life - to pray always and never grow weary. Be blessed!

WATCH: Sr. Maria Cho, SM on COVID-19 and the World Villages for Children

2020-04-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

Sr. Maria Cho, SM Superior General of the Sisters of Mary and

Chair of the Board of World Villages for Children

***

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:

Please know of our continued efforts to provide for the boys and girls around the world who are in our programs. During this time of uncertainty, it is our priority to keep these children safe and healthy.

Thank you for your ongoing support, especially during this time of upheaval and health concerns around the world.

- World Villages for Children

Father Al: On Christ and Human Suffering

2020-04-13T06:08:00.002-07:00

“Good Friday 2020" by Polish Jesuit Vyacheslav Okun (Krakow)

"Christ knows the meaning of pain, poverty, and deprivation not theoretically or speculatively but by personal experience. He drank to the dregs the cup of human suffering of every man. No man, no matter how deep his pain or how crushing his humiliation, can look up to Christ and say, 'You do not know what it is.' He does know what it is because he has experienced it himself."

- Fr. Aloysius Schwartz, "Poverty: sign of our times", p.39

***

Light shines over darkness,
Good triumphs over evil,
Truth prevails over falsehood,
Life overpowers death!

Now, we can only hope and pray

that this Covid-19 pandemic

would end the soonest.

This is our Easter prayer!

***

Prayers and Gratitude to our brave and generous
frontliners who continue to fight the battle
to end this worldwide pandemic.

May our Risen Christ guide and protect all of you!

EASTER GREETINGS 2020 from our beloved SISTERS OF MARY!

2020-04-11T06:22:00.003-07:00

Sharing with you the joy of the Risen Christ,

Sr. Teresita A. Sumalabe, SM
Sisters of Mary Boystown & Girlstown
Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc.

PRAY: Stations of the Cross [Chant] by +Fr. Teodoro A. Urrutia, SJ (1913-2004)

2020-03-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

***Download the hand-out in PDF here! God Bless! A blessed Lenten and Easter Season!

In Memoriam: Sr. Michaela Kim, SM (1942-2019) on Her 1st Birthday in Heaven

2020-03-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

+ Sr. Michaela Kim, SM

First Superior General of the Sisters of Mary

3 February 1942 - 28 March 2019

Sr. Michaela Kim was the first successor to Father Al after his death in 1992. She presided over the congregation of the Sisters of Mary, and was board member until Sr. Maria Cho took over in 2012. She then returned to working on our programs in South Korea, and remained the leader of communication to our friends and donors until 2017.

Sr. Michaela followed Father Schwartz from Korea all the way to the Philippines.

When two Koreans meet, three of them are called "Park" or "Kim" – as Koreans themselves joke about the nation's most common last name. Sr. Michaela is a Kim, her birth name is Kim Ok Soon.

She was born on February 3rd, 1942 in Weesong Kun, in the province of Buk. She has four elder sisters. Her parents are no longer alive. Her schooling coincided with the war in Korea. In 1956, she left the "Choyang Middle School" with a certificate of undergraduate studies. Sister Michaela speaks Korean and English. She has been a member of the Congregation since 1963.

For five years, from 1965 to 1970, she worked in the "Sisters of Mary" hospital in Pusan, and for the next five years she worked as a Superior in the administration of the hospital. In her country, she was honored several times for her commitment to social causes. In 1972, the Minister of Public Health rewarded her for her work in the hospital for the poor. In 1984, the government decorated her again.

She belongs to the small group of Korean Sisters who followed Father Schwartz in the Philippines in 1984. A year later, he entrusted her with the handling of all the institutions of the Sisters of Mary in that country. Just before his death, he entrusted Sr. Michaela with his legacy: "I personally name, Sr. Michaela Kim, as the one to succeed me. She will have all authority concerning finances, personnel, expansion, construction and anything else major or minor. In a word, she will be looked upon as my alter ego when I am no longer here. She will decide on every matter in the same way that I have always decided, namely in dialogue and discussion with all the other sisters, especially those in positions of authority (Schwartz, Killing Me Softly, 134)."

Sr. Michaela continued her mandate until 2012, before handing the leadership over to Sr. Maria Cho, SM.

Source: www.worldvillages.org * www.thesistersofmary.com

Sisters of Mary @ 54: God's Miracles Abound

2018-08-15T01:55:00.001-07:00

Today, 54 years ago (Aug. 15, 1964), Fr. Aloysius Schwartz founded the Religious Congregation of the Sisters of Mary in Korea to serve the Lord through the poorest of the poor, with the mind and heart of Christ. These young women profess the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poor after successfully completing their formation.

After his demise in 1992, his charitable works and legacy continues, thanks to the ever-faithful, vibrant, and joyful Sisters of Mary whose numbers continue to grow. They are now serving in Korea, Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras, and very recently in Tanzania, Africa.

Thousands of children had already benefited from the free, high quality education they received from the Sisters of Mary's Boystown and Girlstown campuses. Many are gainfully employed and are now professionals and able to help their families break free from a life of poverty. Thanks to our beloved Fr. Al (now Venerable Aloysius Schwartz) for weaving our lives together in a beautiful tapestry showing how God's grace and love works in willing instruments. We will be forever grateful to God and to our Blessed Mother, the Virgin of the Poor for the gift of your life and the Sisters of Mary in our lives!

A Sister of Mary prays before the tomb of Fr. Al beneath the altar at the Virgin of the Poor Chapel in Silang, Cavite

More than providing the children with a better education, Fr. Al's vision is to give them a holistic formation and that includes developing their full potentials physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In his own words, "rather than building buildings, and establishing Boystowns and Girlstowns, doing medical works...if I could give God, give the Church just one saint, this would be a greater accomplishment, a greater feat." This is his ambition and he wants each child to have this ambition too. Truly, the glory of God is man fully alive! A motto he adapted from St. Irenaeus which becomes the motto of the children.

Children at the Sisters of Mary Girlstown Campus in Biga, Silang, Cavite, Philippines enjoying their special day with their Ate/Kuya (Alumni) last Sunday, August 12, 2018

Since its foundation, every year, it has been a tradition for the Sisters to celebrate the children's birthday every August 15. It is a day filled with joy and celebration made more special through special food, games, individual gifts, and birthday cakes making every child the happiest in the world.

Click this photo for the Official Video (54th Foundation Day with the Graduates in Silang, Cavite) courtesy of the Host Batch (2008)

Happy Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and

Happy 54th Foundation Day to the Sisters of Mary in Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras, and Tanzania and Happy Birthday to all Fr. Al's children!

And a million thanks to all our benefactors and friends! To God be the glory!

LOOK! World Villages in Tanzania, Africa

2018-07-02T07:33:00.004-07:00

NEW MISSION IN TANZANIA: Expanding to reach more children in need...

World Villages for Children is expanding! The Sisters have been invited to Tanzania to bring their programs to one of the world’s poorest economies. Child malnutrition accounts for over a third of under-five deaths in Tanzania and substantial numbers of children are living in desperate conditions. Many children drop out of school and, without sufficient skills, have few options for work. So many young children are living at risk, malnourished, vulnerable and in need of our help.

During these first few months in Tanzania the Sisters of Mary are meeting with the representatives of the local diocese who have invited them to set up their Boystown and Girlstown and have offered them 62 acres of land to do so. The Sisters setting up the programs are Sister Acela, Sister Theresa, Sister Maureen and Sister Elena; they are busy each day organizing the project, meeting potential contractors and of course studying Swahili! The Sisters have also received a blessing from Pope Francis to begin their new mission in Tanzania.

Sr. Maureen with some Tanzanian children, meeting potential students

While they are there, they are witnessing the dire situation faced by children. They see many children begging on the streets or selling whatever they have scavenged. Some of these children have spent time with the Sisters playing games and learning songs, and the Sisters feel humbled to meet these children and learn about the terrible challenges faced by each of them.

Once the construction work is complete and the new program is set up, the Sisters of Mary will be able to provide a place of safety and the chance of an education for these children so that they are not forced into a life of poverty . The Sisters of Mary programs have seen success across the world, and we hope to bring this success to Tanzania.

In Swahili 'Ahsante kwa msaada wako!' (Thank you for your support).

Please pray for our success in this work and we look forward to keeping you up to date on progress!

Source (c) World Villages for Children

TESTIMONY: 'So what else could I ask for?'

2018-05-18T22:58:00.002-07:00

NOTE: I beg your indulgence but allow me to share with you my own story of how Fr. Aloysius Schwartz (Now a Venerable) and the Sisters of Mary changed my life.

I will be featuring similar alumni stories soon as testimonies to the many 'miracles' made possible because of our beloved Fr. Al: Champion of the Poor, my hero, our hero, and soon to be a SAINT of the Catholic Church!

Deo gratias! To God be the glory!

***

THE FUTURE was uncertain before I learned about the Sisters of Mary. The biggest question in my mind back then was whether I could go to high school. My parents, both natives of Gainza (a fifth class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur), had to raise seven of us. I have four brothers and two sisters. And you could perhaps imagine how it was in the farm. I sometimes had to skip classes just to help out in the field. The harsh realities were not strange to me at an nearly age. My mother having to go the rounds of relatives or other people to borrow money, or to beg, so we can eat -- one could never forget that.

But though we were poor, we were a bit endowed up to here in the head. Both my sisters were going to college, all benefit of scholarships and as working students. Still they needed support. For my part, even I graduated valedictorian in grade school, going to high school was a question and my parents even asked me to stop for a while to make way for my sisters, to lessen the burden of supporting us. Still I did not want poverty to hinder my dream of studying all the way to college so I started looking for scholarship grants myself.

Acceptance Slip/ID to The Sisters of Mary School Boystown in Silang

And here comes the Sisters of Mary School, an institution that provides free food, shelter, clothing and secondary education to poor children so they break away poverty. So what else could I ask for? When I passed the entrance exam and the interviews with the Sisters, I knew my prayers had been answered.

God’s grace would keep flowing as long as one knew where to look. SMS had perhaps built a lot of reputation with its students at this time that even before graduation, companies were waiting to hire graduates. I was fortunate to be one of them. I became one of the pioneering graduates to work as draftsman in a Japanese company in Manila, the SHI Designing & Manufacturing, Inc. (SMDI). Still, my sights were trained towards a college education. After working for more than a year, I started looking for schools offering night classes. I had to settle, at this time, on a diploma course in computer programming at AMA-CLC in Paco. I finished the course in 2002. One year later, SDMI transferred me to its IT department as a junior programmer/trainee.

My pursuit of a college degree did not stop. In June 2004, I enrolled at STI College EDSA-Crossing for a degree in Computer Science. I chose the school because its night schedules worked like those for regular full-time students. Being a working student is not easy, as I’m sure others who’ve gone through the experience would agree. But with the training I got from the Sisters of Mary School, I endure the most trying moments from financial difficulties to physical to emotional fatigue.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (2008)

With my beloved parents at the STI Network Graduation at Crossroad 77 in Quezon City (2008)

But even in the middle of all these, there was one thing I consider my greatest achievement: I was financing my younger brother’s studies from his second year until he obtained his degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering in 2007. This was while I was also trying to finish my degree in Computer Science. On April 25, 2008, my sacrifices paid off. I received my diploma in Computer Science, graduating magna cum laude at STI. On top of that, I was 2008 STI Student of the Year, at the national level.

With former officemates at the Gurango Software office in Singapore (2010)

Today, life is much easier for me and my family compared to years ago. My mother does not have to beg or borrow, thank God. I am currently employed as Lead Requirements Analyst at Gurango Software Corporation in Libis, Quezon City. Now I can say that bright future is visible on the horizon. I just need to persevere and never forget to ask for His guidance and to be grateful always for the blessings that come my way – big or small.

Taking a day-off from work during an overseas assignment in Singapore (2010)

My stay at the Sisters of Mary School opened new horizons and opportunities for me and for thousands of fortunate young men and women. It was a privilege to be served by our dedicated Sisters. It was inspiring to see them so inspired to serve the poorest of the poor. Although I never met Fr. Al, for he was gone when I entered SMS, I want to thank him personally for bringing the Sisters of Mary to the Philippines.

To +Fr. Al, Mother Michaela Kim SM, +Fr. Urrutia SJ, my beloved Sisters of Mary, the dedicated teachers, all the staff and workers inside Boystown as well as the students I’ve met during my stay at Silang, Cavite campus, thank you very much! You have touched my life in ways you may never know and for that I will forever be grateful to God for bringing you into my life.

ALEJO "AL" S. SAN BUENAVENTURA
Batch 1999
The Sisters of Mary School - Boystown, Silang, Cavite, Philippines

***This story was originally published last 2011 in the coffee table book, Fully Alive! Celebrating the Story of Fr. Aloysius Schwartz and 25 Years of the Sisters of Mary in the Philippines

With Sr. Riza Riva, SM at the inauguration of the exhibit at Monsignor Al Schwartz Memorial Center
in Silang, Cavite featuring the first batch of recipients of the Fr. Aloysius Schwartz Award (2015)

From an IT career in the corporate world, I am now embarking on a different journey responding to God's call as a Jesuit Scholastic of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus and currently studying Philosophy at the Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

BREAKING NEWS! A Miracle is Unfolding in East Africa's Largest Country: Tanzania

2018-05-16T19:30:00.002-07:00

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Is.6:18)

Sr. Maureen with some Tanzanian children

Sr. Teresa visiting a family in the town

Sr. Maureen gathering the children for her morning Catechism class

Sister fetching water from the public well

The missionary Sisters of Mary with the happy and vibrant Tanzanian children

From Asia, to Latin America, and now to Africa! :)

The Sisters of Mary is now laying the foundation for a new charity program in Tanzania, East Africa's largest country, and the first in the African continent. They were graciously received and welcomed by His Eminence Polycarp of Phengo, Archdiocese of St. Joseph, Dar Es Salaam. The Sisters are now busy looking for the possible site for the establishment of a Girlstown program while already immersing and adapting themselves in the local culture and the Church in the country.

May God and Our Lady of Banneux, the Virgin of the Poor, continue to guide you, dear Sisters, as you extend your mission to the poorest of the poor, wherever it is, and wherever the Lord calls you to serve His people with joy in the Name of Christ!

Thank you very much our beloved Venerable Fr. Aloysius Schwartz for the continuous outpouring of love and guidance from above and to our generous benefactors for helping the Sisters of Mary continue the legacy of their beloved Father Founder. To God be the glory!

The Sisters of Mary started as a small group of women of Christian faithful formed into a religious Congregation on the feast of the Assumption in 1964 by Fr. Aloysius Schwartz in Busan, Korea. Through the invitation of ecclesiastical and government authorities, they have expanded to the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Honduras. They are “contemplatives in action”. That is, they strive to unite the vocations of Martha and Mary. Their active life is balanced by three hours of daily prayer and contemplation. The Most Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, granted through the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, the decree that they are a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right on March 2, 2000.

Source: http://www.thesistersofmary.com/ | Photo (c) The Sisters of Mary

Father Al: On Belief in Jesus

2013-05-25T16:30:00.000-07:00

“If you truly believe in Jesus there will spring up from the depths of your heart a never-ending stream of living joy.” – Servant of God, Fr. Al Schwartz

Father Al: Champion of the Poor

COME AND JOIN US! TOGETHER, LET US SERVE THE LORD WITH JOY!

A Blessed Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM 2021

2021: 57th Foundation of the Sisters of Mary (Korea) and 36th for the Philippines

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, OUR DEAR SISTERS OF MARY!

BREAKING NEWS! CARDINAL TAGLE CO-OPTED INTO THE ORDER OF BISHOPS

In Memoriam: Mr. George E. Doty (1918-2012) | Long time friend and generous benefactor of Fr. Al and The Sisters of Mary

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace with his lovely wife - +Marie J. Doty and our dear Fr. Al. +Amen.

***

“If I did not have the Catholic faith and I wanted to invent a faith for myself, what would I do? I think I would reinvent the Catholic faith. It may sound foolish, but I think of a loving God, a forgiving God. How can you beat that?” ~ George E. Doty

Truly, the George E. and Marie J. Doty Award by the American Federation for Aging Research is a fitting tribute to these two great people.

The last but definitely not the least in the inaugural class of the Founding Spirit: The Fordham University Hall of Honor.

The Charles Carroll Award in Catholic Philanthropy : George and Marie Doty (1999). In a spirit of profound admiration, affection, and gratitude, and in recognition of their generous and caring lives in service to humanity and to the church.

***

Our sincerest and deepest condolences to the bereaved family of our beloved, George E. Doty - a very generous man and a very loyal supporter of the wonderful programs of Fr. Aloysius Schwartz and the Sisters of Mary not just in the Philippines but in other countries as well especially in Korea.

More about this great man and his beloved wife can be found on the links below:

Photo Credits: The Sisters of Mary, CNEWA, Fordham University

Related Post: Congratulations Sisters of Mary on the Inauguration of the Marie J. Doty Memorial Infirmary

PRAY: INTERCESSORY PRAYER, FR. AL's BEATIFICATION & CANONIZATION

TESTIMONY: "Heaven" on Earth

READ: Account of Dolores Vita, Mass of Thanksgiving for Venerable Aloysius Schwartz

WATCH: Farewell, Fr. Al (16 March 1992)

WATCH: Unfinished Symphony, The Inspiring Story of Fr. Aloysius Schwartz

PRAY: ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE VIRGIN OF THE POOR & INVOCATIONS

WATCH: Heart to Heart: Fr. Al Speaks to his Friends

WATCH: Oh! My Papa - Retracing Fr. Al's Charitable Mission

LISTEN: Fr. Al Speaks about Prayer

WATCH: Sr. Maria Cho, SM on COVID-19 and the World Villages for Children

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:

Father Al: On Christ and Human Suffering

EASTER GREETINGS 2020 from our beloved SISTERS OF MARY!

PRAY: Stations of the Cross [Chant] by +Fr. Teodoro A. Urrutia, SJ (1913-2004)

In Memoriam: Sr. Michaela Kim, SM (1942-2019) on Her 1st Birthday in Heaven

Sisters of Mary @ 54: God's Miracles Abound

LOOK! World Villages in Tanzania, Africa

TESTIMONY: 'So what else could I ask for?'

BREAKING NEWS! A Miracle is Unfolding in East Africa's Largest Country: Tanzania

Father Al: On Belief in Jesus