Editorial
A Grain in the Earth
By Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, M.I.C.
No matter how small, every grain thrown into the earth produces a harvest. Multiplied, it becomes food, brings comfort and saves lives. However, there is a requirement to this production: in the earth, this grain must die...(cf. Jn 12:24).
Indeed, to speak of solidarity is to speak of the gift of self, of openness, of attention to others and to what is happening in our world. In fact, it’s a call for a more equitable distribu tion of natural resources to all the peoples of the world.
This summer’s issue explores solidarity, a call to generosity. It’s true, we feel called upon from all sides to share what little riches we may have. There are so many countries where entire populations suffer from a lack of food, healthcare and decent housing due to wars or natural disasters. These situations call out to us, disrupting our daily lives and spurring us on to be generous, to rescue innocent victims and support all refugees or migrants displaced by these tragedies. Isn’t Pope Francis right to advocate for global solidarity?
All the texts in this issue call for happiness and openness, the guarantee of fulfillment after death to self. Isn’t this one of the leitmotifs of our dear foundress Delia Tétreault who said: Sow happiness by the handful, it is the bread that is most lacking on our poor earth.
Take advantage of this beautiful season to sow your grain in the earth so that it may bear abundant fruit for those around you! Happy reading!
At the Heart of Solidarity
By Maricris B. Diuyan, M.I.C.
Times of crisis are turning points in people’s lives, both personal and social. A person may find in it an opportunity to grow and succeed, but the opposite is also true: the situation can lead to regression and frustration. Whatever the case, a crisis is a traumatic and stressful experience, and it takes a helping hand to cope and survive. Disruptions such as pandemics or natural calamities are disastrous for most of us, but life goes on, and we must learn to be steadfast and resilient.
Bayanihan Spirit
This type of upheaval is nothing new for the Filipinos, as the archipelago straddles a typhoon belt that brings a number of cyclonic storms every year. In times of disaster, the bayanihan spirit is deeply felt by individuals and groups who come together to lend a helping hand. The word bayanihan comes from bayan, meaning “city or community”. It is closely related to another word, damayan, which designates the act of compassion toward others. Thus, bayanihan can be described as a typically Filipino com passionate solidarity.
This solidarity is expressed in many ways: it may involve organizing donation drives, repacking basic necessities or food, or even risking one’s own life to save that of others. Giving help or assistance without expecting anything in return, even if the other person is a stranger, is a distinctive feature of Filipino culture [ … ]
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