St. Hannibal Empowerment Centre: October 2015

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

Name: Saint Hannibal Empowerment Centre

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, October 30, 2015

JUNE 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

Rogate: Celebrating Many Blessings Staged by the Feast of St. Hannibal. Jesus was passionate for the Kingdom of God. Doing so, he worked for the outpouring of various blessings for the poor and oppressed. Such was the same passion that inspired St. Hannibal to care for the least. With the celebration of St. Hannibal's feast which sets the tone of June, the month has been indeed showered with Kingdom blessings!

Happy Feast Day, St. Hannibal! June is a special month for SHEC because it starts with the feast of the saint from whom it is named, St. Hannibal Maria Di Francia. The celebrations consisted of procession and Eucharist which took place at the St. Hannibal Subdivision, Phase 2, Rodriguez St., Malibay, Pasay City. SHEC admin, staff and SHaCC communities gathered to thank the Lord for all the graces and blessings received, especially through the intercession of St. Hannibal.

Almost Heaven Make-over. Last June 2, 2015 Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, RCJ visited the Almost Heaven Retreat House to supervise its ongoing development. At the time, the double-decks and the ceilings were under construction. A problem arose regarding the boundaries, a solution of which was to relocate some markers. But with God's work, all will be well at the end of the day, and Almost Heaven make-over will truly be a masterpiece.

BP 220 Workshop. To be oriented on the salient points of BP 220 or the Building Code for Socialized Housing which will serve as guide for the SHaCC Phase 17, SHEC and the contractor in the construction of housing project buildings, concerned SHaCC and SHEC staff attended the workshop on BP 220 at Great Eastern Hotel, 1403 Quezon Ave., Quezon City last June 3, 2015.

Inter-agency Meeting. Last June 5, 2015, different housing agencies met at the Ateneo Compound to share their respective evaluations and plans for the creation of pilot projects. Remarkable is the fact that SHEC housing project is one of the privileged subjects of study. Truly, this is yet another proof that Kingdom work is very much alive at SHEC.

Gabi ng Kabataan Celebrations. At last, the much awaited and much prepared GNK or Gabi ng Kabataan Celebrations which preoccupied the youth of SHEC in the whole of May has been enjoyed by the youth and their audience last June 7, 2015 at the St. Cecilia's Hall of the St. Scholastica's College, Malate, Manila. It was indeed a showcase of talents and passion for the mission and values of the Kingdom of God.

RYMSC Camp. To celebrate a victory party for the success of the Gabi ng Kabataan, as well as to strengthen the bond among the youth, the committee heads, teachers, some performers of the GNK 2015, RYMSC young professionals (RY Yuppies), Fr. Orville R. Cajigal, RCJ, Andrea Reyna and George Valenzuela held an RYMSC Camp at Little Bridge Resort, Brgy. Butong, Taal, Batangas. The joyful event happened last June14-15, 2015.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

MAY 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

Rogate: Spirituality of Hope inspired by Mary and the Spirit. May is dedicated to Mary, the Flores de Mayo or May Flower. Accordingly, Mary's connection to the youth who are hoped to grow into good Christians like blooming flowers is worth pondering. Mary is also the Mother of the Poor, and being so, she fits well as the mother of the beauty of God's creativity manifesting itself even in lowly areas like the slums. Where the Spirit blows, new creation takes place anyway, and with Mary's intercession and guidance, all the more that Kingdom mission in the slums could breathe fresh air of hope. This needless to say serves as impetus for Kingdom workers at SHEC to continuously form the youth to become jewels of the Kingdom.

RYMSC Recollection. SHEC started the month of May through a recollection for new members of the Rogate Youth Ministry, SHEC Chapter last May 1-3, 2015. The goal of the activity was to give the youth an avenue to reflect on the value and importance of God, self, family and organization, as well as to formally integrate them as members of RYMSC. 35 youth participated in the activity which was facilitated by Fr. Arlene Gumangan, RCJ, Fr. Orville R. Cajigal, RCJ, and 10 RYMSC facilitators.

SHaCC and PABANAL conduct Planning Session. Man proposes, God disposes so they say. But proposing under the guidance of the Spirit surely makes SHaCC and PABANAL communities attuned to the disposition of God. Indeed, they conducted their planning session in such context at the Almost Heaven Retreat Center, Banaue, Ifugao last May 9-10, 2015. Said session was facilitated by Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, RCJ and some leaders and officers of SHaCC phase 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,17 and PABANAL.

Gabi ng Kabataan Practices and Team-building. Running through the whole of May was the daily practice for the GNK or Gabi ng Kabataan (Youth Night). Two weeks before the general practice set on May 31, 2015, the committee heads and teachers initiated some team-buiding activities to strengthen the bond among the leaders of the RYMSC. The two day event, May 15-17, 2015 took place at the Fr. Hannibal Formation Center, 65 St. Hannibal St., Merville Park, Paranaque City.