22 November 2013 - The Filipino Catholic community in Milan gathered at the San Lorenzo Maggiore Church and offered solemn prayers on November 16 for the healing and recovery of the millions of kababayans in the Philippines devastated by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The solidarity in faith, through the “Misa ng Bayan”, concelebrated by Filipino, Italian and Indian priests, also served as an opportunity to collect in-kind and monetary donations for the Don Bosco Foundation in Leyte and Eastern Samar.
In his homily, Father Rico Crisostomo emphasized that despite the tragedy that struck the Philippines, Filipinos remain strong and resilient and that faith keeps Filipinos united and hopeful.
Father Giancarlo Quadri, Director of Pastoral Council for Migrants, read the letter of Cardinal Angelo Scuola, Archbishop of Milan, who shares in the sadness with the Filipino Catholic community of Milan. In his message, Cardinal Scuola appealed to the diocese’s Christian communities to take action with prayer and to give aid through Caritas Ambrosiana in support of the initial financial contribution of €10,000 already sent to Caritas Manila. It was explained that such immediate and substantial financial assistance are to be used to buy relief goods in the Philippines and also favorable to the local economy, instead of the collection and shipment of relief goods from Italy to the Philippines to stave off significant shipping costs.
The Philippine Consulate General in Milan expressed profound gratitude to the spontaneous outpouring show of generosity from Filipinos, Italians and other foreigner friends to help through financial and in-kind donations in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda.
Most importantly, the Consulate voiced its solidarity with all, most especially with Filipinos in northern Italy, to sustain actions and efforts given the urgent need for ready-to-eat food, water, shelter and medicine in the on-going relief operations, and the immense and long task to rebuild lives and communities in the next step of rehabilitation expected to commence in the coming weeks. END
