St. Hannibal Empowerment Centre

St. Hannibal Empowerment Center (SHEC) is a religious organization of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus. It is a community of Spirit-led persons which aims to follow Jesus Christ in his union with his Father and in his proclamation of the kingdom of God. It is an inserted community among the squatters. The goal of SHEC is to empower the poor people of Metro Manila, Philippines, through housing, livelihood, education, health, waste management, youth and values formation.

About Me

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Location: Pasay City, Metro Manila

Mission: Its mission is to empower the poorest of the poor and catalyze an integral Christian transformation of urban poor communities in collaboration with the local Church by a holistic process that addresses concerns on housing, livelihood, education, health, environment and sanitation, justice and peace, youth formation and values formation. The goals of SHEC consist of assisting in alleviating poverty among urban poor communities in Pasay and other cities in Metro Manila; and building the foundation of community transformation through intensive values formation. Its objectives are, specifically, to facilitate the organization and formation of people’s organization that are self-sufficient and empowered, facilitate the values and spiritual formation and capability building of urban poor leaders, to assist the urban poor / informal settlers of Pasay and other cities in Metro Manila in realizing their dreams of achieving security of tenure through in-city relocation, to facilitate the implementation of economic programs and basic social services in urban poor communities, and to facilitate access to formal education in favor of the poor and deserving students.

Friday, August 30, 2013

June 2013 Highlights

The month of June is quite significant in the life of SHEC because on it falls the feast of St. Hannibal. But more than the merry-makings of the event, SHEC remembers in a special way the reasons and convictions it shares with Jesus and St. Hannibal. Love of God and love of humanity, creation included—this remains as a guidepost guiding SHEC along its journey towards the Kingdom of God. Jesus ignited the first inspiration. St. Hannibal made a big step. SHEC continues the journey, and in the spirit of the new evangelization, it strives hard to make the Rogate spirituality (a Kingdom inspired way of life) ever fresh and refreshing in dynamic contexts.


Happy Feast Day, St. Hannibal! Everybody has a reason for existing, but not every reason for existing is meant for everybody. In fact, to live that everybody may live, even if it entails sacrifice of the self, is a very rare and therefore most precious reason for existing. St. Hannibal is such a precious person because he devoted his selfless existence for the welfare of everyone, most especially the poor orphans during his time. Like Jesus on the cross, he suffered for the sake of the many. His legacy is so influential that to date, institutions which help the poor, like the St. Hannibal Empowerment Center, have continued to grow and bear fruit. June 1 is St. Hannibal’s feast day, and the aforementioned are more than enough reasons for SHEC to celebrate and thank the Lord for the graces received, and to thank St. Hannibal for guiding and helping the community. The festivities started with a mass followed by games, dances and meals.

Thank you and Good-bye, Joyce!  To serve at SHEC is indeed a noble work, for doing so is not only about professional growth. More than anything, it is about the vocation to help in the promotion of God’s Kingdom, especially its Good News to the Poor. But there are times that one has to leave SHEC for other noble reasons. But  the spirit of service continues, for deep in the Kingdom worker’s heart, the values imbibed will always exude from his/her being wherever the Spirit might lead him/her to be. The seeds of the Kingdom continue to grow everywhere when this happens. It is always a sad moment to throw a despedida, but it has to be done when it comes. Last June 3, 2013, SHEC had to bid good-bye to Mary Grace Dalay. “Thank you, Joyce for sharing yourself with SHEC, SHaCC, PABaNAL, RYM SHaCC and PABaNAL chapters! You may leave SHEC, but your goodness will bring SHEC to wherever you go!”


Man proposes, God disposes. To have faith in God is one thing, to work hard is another. But both have to complement each other in order for the mission to go on. Humanity needs to cooperate with God’s grace so that God’s blessings may be shared by all, the less fortunate more especially. Aware of this, SHEC conducted its Annual Evaluation and Planning of SHaCC and PABaNAL Leaders for the year 2013-2014 at the Lazo Farm, Cabuyao, Laguna last June 8-9, 2013. The participants were ZenaidaEspera, Ben Paragsa, Christina Caillo, Cecille Tan, Cecilia Felicilda, Noemi Henon, Racquel Santos, Evangeline Agonos, CrislinaLingayon, Josephine LAcdang, Lolita Lopez, Fernando Amarillo, Juana Sarmiento, Susana Laurente, Orlando Quinto, Gemma Ortega, Delsa Padilla, Jocelyn Satajo, Cherry Ramos, Lydia Arayan, Gina Estanel, Lily Ornopia, Abe Camilla, Carla RicarteRosebilindaPeros, AnnavillaVillaris, Magdalena Brenches, Nancy Camila, ArnelBrenches, Estrella Buenaflor, Flora Loreto, DedeniaLisay, Daisy Mamza, NelynBalbalosa, Mary Ann Merelos, Johannes Baytan, Michael Felicilda, Anabella Maglaya, Rubina Ong, Anabella Lagaran.


  

Enjoy, Enjoy! You indeed celebrate when you are happy doing what you ought to do. That’s one key to sustain one’s vocation, especially the call to serve in God’s Kingdom. Of course, who won’t say no to an outing after a splendid performance! Accordingly, the performers during the 50th World Day Prayer for Vocations went for relaxation at the Little Bridge Resort, Butong, Taal, Batangas last June 16, 2013. Surely, the Kingdom of God is also about laughter and joy!

posted by Saint Hannibal Empowerment Centre | 7:08 AM | 0 comments