Marlena Brabent, The Philippines

Marlena, of St Francis of Assisi Church in east Cannington is a civil engineer who works for a large engineering consultancy in the city. She always had a strong desire to experience overseas missionary work and contacted the Catholic Mission Office in Perth. Because of her heavy work schedule it was arranged for her to spend just 10 days with a community of missionary sisters working amongst the poor in the outskirts of Manila in the Philippines. Here she recounts her brief but powerful experience:

My mission experience in the Philippines in June was an eye opener. I experienced a way of life very different to my own. The city of Manila is full of noise, children, dirt and smiles. The Sisters of St Joseph of Apparition showed me Jesus’ love in every act of kindness they performed. The sisters made me feel at home and showed me their communities.

I visited the St. Emilie Learning Center. This is a nursery & pre-school (year 1 to 3). The children were beautiful and the class rooms were colourful and happy. During my time at the school I learnt about some of the struggles faced by the sisters and the community at large. Many children can not afford schooling. The Philippine government provides free eduction in government schools but children are still absent for many different reasons. Some reasons might be they have transport problems, no money for books or they feel embarrassed because they have no food to eat at lunch time like the other children or they feel better staying at home helping their parents earn money for the family. Some students at St Emilie Learning Center have been sponsored to go to school. The sister work tirelessly to ensure their students get a good education.

I visited Bani, Pangasinan where two sisters stayed and helped the farming/country community. One of the works they do is they bring communion to the sick. I participated in this one morning. Talking about poverty is different from seeing it affect real people. Visiting people in their homes and experiencing their lifestyle truly showed me what family, hardship and poverty can mean. The first family we visited had just lost their relative. A mother of two had died that morning of liver cancer. She was still in her early 40s and left behind a boy in year 9 and a girl in year 4. We shared in their grief and prayed with them. There were other families we visited. Their life is hard. I can’t imagine how I would cope if I had to take care of a sick mother and my four small children. My life in Australia feels so very rich that it seems unfair. But looking at these families showed me that although it is hard, they still smile.

The Philippines is a wonderful country. I was also shown its great beauty in the time I was with the sisters. They took me to One Hundred Island which is literally one hundred islands off the main land which you can take a boat out to and swim at one of the island’s many beaches. The sisters also took me to Baguio, a city in the mountains with amazing views. The hospitality and warmth I was shown in my short stay I will never forget and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to experience all I have.

Joanna Lawson, Vietnam

Attached to the Sacred Heart College Year 11 immersion, Joanna Lawson, 28, went to Saigon for two weeks to teach English to the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. While she was there, she visited the various projects run by the order:

"One of the nuns, Sr Dominique, had set up a shelter for single mothers and pregnant girls who in Vietnam are treated like lepers. We heard from these girls how sometimes they were forced into prostitution because they were sold by their poor families. Some had boyfriends that dumped them when they got pregnant, and then were disowned by their families. But when they were sure that they were alone in the world, saddled with a stigma and a baby on the way, Sr Dominique took them in and showed them real love. She has saved many babies from abortion, and all the mothers there love their babies. Some are reconciled to their families. Some are battling on but want to make a better life for themselves and their new baby. Whatever it is, Sr Dominique has made this difference in her world. Just one person. Why not me?"

Joanna went to India to discover more about her ancestry and to deepen her awareness of the dynamics of poverty. She travelled for three months and spent much of her time volunteering with several religious ordes, including the Missionary Brothers of Charity.

"I was astounded by the geographic beauty of India, it really was a place that was stunning to behold. I was also taken aback by the amount of wealth held by some people over there, I have never seen mansions like there are in some parts of Mumbai. It's sad that there are people that are so rich but right outside their door are people crying out for food, respect and love, and they just get ignored. "The Indian people are warm and friendly though, especially to travellers."The Brothers and other missionaries are working to be the bridge for that gap. I hope and pray that Jesus strengthens them to carry on their work, and also that the Holy Spirit guides the lay people who have a missionary vocation to see that this kind of work is not only for Religious, and that they come and join in with the consecrated people. I think mission is for everyone, and for some people that means mission in the traditional sense of going out to be with the poor."

Joanna has since been involved in starting her own project for the poor in India.

Joseph Laundy, India

Joseph Laundy of St Simon Peter Parish, Ocean Reef, spent two months in India, and volunteered much of his time with the Missionary Brothers of Charity at the motherhouse in Kolkata, and at the Santhi Bhavan home for the disabled in Kanniyakumari, the southern-most town of India.

While he was there he participated in the Brothers’ daily work of feeding and caring for patients, attended daily Mass and adoration with the community, and experienced both the great beauty and challenges of Indian culture. Joseph said of his trip:

“Australia is a very lucky country. We rarely see the poverty, disease and rejection found on our streets as seen in India. When I came back home to Australia I really missed the opportunity to offer a little support to those people suffering in terrible circumstances and to give the way Christ did - without any return. I feel very blessed to have done this work I cherish ever more my faith in Jesus Christ.”