Profound gratitude is the feeling of the members of the Teresian Association (TA) in Amman, Jordan as they celebrated two important events during the month of July.
Feast of Saint Pedro Poveda
On July 26, two days before the actual date of St. Pedro Poveda’s martyrdom, TA Members, with the Friends of Poveda (FOP) and a great number of migrants gathered at the Our Lady of the Annunciation Church for the anticipated Eucharistic celebration.
Elisa Estrada and Amabel Sibug, TA members from the Philippines, have long been in Jordan, not only as administrators of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA)Library and collaborators in the local church, but also as transforming presence in the life of migrants: Filipinos, Sri Lankans, Iraqis, Syrians, Egyptians and Palestinians.
Their presence is viewed by migrants as pillars to hold on in times of their need, and most of all as motivating force to a new way of life with the Lord.
As one Junior Friend of Poveda, Danward Cura Pineda told his mom: “Mama, since we joined the Friends of Poveda, our life is changed, and we now have family bonding.” The mother, immensely delighted, shared this sentiment of her son as she related the whole story to the TA members.
Testimonies of peoples as to the effect of the TA presence in their life is a fitting tribute to celebrate Saint Pedro Poveda’s martyrdom and the 100 years of Pontifical approval of the Teresian Association.
CNEWA anniversary
On July 17, Elisa Estrada and Amabel Sibug, led the Friends of Poveda (FOP) choir in animating the solemn mass for the 75th founding anniversary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association(CNEWA). Main celebrants were the Papal Nuncio to Jordan, Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, Msgr. Peter Vaccari, President of CNEWA, assisted by several local priests, including the Filipino chaplain.
In attendance were the staff of CNEWA-New York and CNEWA-Jordan, several priests representing different churches in Jordan, a group of migrants, foreign diplomatic corps and nuns from different congregations, as well as local Jordanians who are in one way or another, beneficiaries of the CNEWA.
“The Lord will not abandon us.” This is the opening homily of Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso during the 75th anniversary Eucharistic celebration. It is also the enduring sentiment of migrants who feel accompanied by the TA members in their difficult journey in a foreign land.
Elisa and Amabel stand as advisers and organizers of Eucharistic celebrations in five churches in Jordan, while the FOP play important roles as Eucharistic ministers, lectors, altar servers, choir… Junior Friends of Poveda provide music with their guitars, tambourines and harmonica. The spirit of Saint Pedro Poveda is alive and felt in the Filipino community as well as by local and foreign citizens in Amman.
TA Amman, Jordan.
Published in News