Reposted from Cyprus Mail, March 14, 2010

By Alexia Saouli

AS ROMAN Catholics from across the region prepare to descend on Cyprus en masse this June to greet His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the pressure is on to ensure security measures and general sprucing up are completed on schedule.

Security is always the biggest headache for any high-profile visit, but in this case it’s even more of a challenge. The Pope will be staying at the friary of the Holy Cross Church, which lies partially in the buffer zone near Paphos Gate in Nicosia and partially in the Turkish occupied area of northern Nicosia. Surrounding the friary and church are empty, decaying buildings, piles of disintegrating sandbags, and narrow streets, not all of which are controlled either by the government or the UN Peacekeeping Forces.

Father Umberto Barato, Vicar General for Cyprus of the Latin Patriarchate and Attaché of the Apostolic Nuncio, explained why the Pope would be staying at his “house� during his visit.

“The friary is the seat of the Apostolic Nunciature to Cyprus,� he said, adding that the Nunciature was the residence of the person sent by the Vatican to a country. “So the Pope always stays in the Apostolic Nunciature of a country as it’s his house,� he said.

All of which explains the renovations currently being carried out both at the friary and the church next door.

“When the announcement of the Pope’s visit was made, the superiors from Jerusalem thought it would be convenient and the right time to restore the house [where the priests and brothers live] which was built in 1959 to 1960.�

The Italian priest said the building had never really been touched since or modernised and that things such as the electrical wiring was a “shambles�.

“So much so that the electrician said it was very dangerous and we could have had a fire,� he said. “So the superiors thought it was high time to restore the house and also to present a better house to the Pope and his entourage.�

Changes include double glazing being added to the doors and windows. The room allocated for the Pope is normally the common room of the friary which will “naturally be furnished a bit better, but nothing else�, the priest said.

Father Umberto said the community has taken advantage of the Pope’s visit to also carry out improvements to the adjacent church.

“There was a leak on the roof and some bits of the paintings on the ceiling are being touched up. Now we will put scaffolding to repair everything and maybe the lights will be changed and the microphone and loudspeakers,� he said.

Whilst the renovations are carried out Father Umberto and another priest are staying at the Terra Santa College in Nicosia, although Father Umberto does continue to work out of his friary office every day.

Twelve of the Pope’s 30-member entourage – which include Vatican police and two Swiss Guards – will stay at the friary including his secretary, guards and a doctor. The rest will stay in a hotel.

Benedict XVI is expected to arrive in Paphos on the afternoon of June 4 where he will be met by Archbishop Chrysostomos II and President Demetris Christofias. From there the group will go to Chrysopolitissa Church where a small ecumenical ceremony will be held before coming to Nicosia. He will leave from Larnaca airport on the afternoon of June 6.

Father Umberto admitted that security is a concern because the friary was located in the buffer zone.

“The United Nations is involved, as are local police and Vatican police. They will meet next Monday to discuss what to do,� he said.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the impending meeting and said the Police Headquarters Operations Office would be handling the Pope’s security during his visit, but that no action plan had been drawn up yet.

“I don’t know if they will close off roads around the house. It depends on the local police, the security and government,� added Father Umberto.

The Finance Ministry and Press and Information Office (PIO) were unwilling last week to comment on arrangements, saying that they had to wait formal announcements by the Vatican and the government.

Father Umberto said the issue of upgrading the area surrounding the friary, has also been discussed. “But this is up to the UN and the local authorities,� he said.

A central committee of management and coordination has been set up, he added. The chairman is Monsignor Ioussif Soueif, the archbishop of the Maronites of Cyprus with Father Umberto as the deputy chairman. The committee coordinates about ten commissions – made up of priests, sisters, religious and lay volunteers – who will take on the various organisational aspects together with the local authorities.

The parish priest said the Pope was visiting the country at the invitation of the Archbishop of Cyprus and the president. “He will visit the President and the Archbishop with his Synod of the Church of Cyprus,� he said.

“But also he comes here to meet the Catholic Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops of the Middle East to give them the Instrumentum Laboris, a booklet that the Vatican has prepared for the coming of the Synod of the Middle East next October in the Vatican in Rome.�

The clergymen are coming from the Middle East including Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, Alexandria and possibly Iran.

“He will give them the Instrumentum Laboris during the mass on Sunday,� said Father Umberto.

Although he could not verify where the mass would be held at this stage, he estimated thousands would attend.

“We expect about 15,000 to 20,000 people for the mass including all the immigrants, people from Lebanon and Palestine and so on,� he said.

Cyprus’ location is crucial to this aspect of the visit. “Cyprus is not the Middle East but it is a door to the Middle East and all the Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops can come to Cyprus,� said Father Umberto.

“Last year they couldn’t all go to Israel, for instance the ones who live in Syria and Lebanon. It is a neutral country here and they can come from all over.�

By Joy B. Miranda (Tinig Pinoy March)Sad things are happening these days for Filipino community especially here in Nicosia. There was the controversial news regarding the fire victims, then the Filipina who jumped off from the 3rd floor apartment damaging her spine and will not be able to walk again Then the series of raids by the immigration police tracking down all illegal migrants and another series of robberies victimizing mostly Filipinos, breaking into apartments and stealiing valuables like laptop, cellphones, jewelries and cash. What is happening now? It seems that crime rate has increased dramatically! Jobs are at stake and living situations of most OFWs especially the stay out workers have become worst. Rental for apartments and rooms / bedspaces are expensive. My fellow pinoys, I hope you would think wisely. Think of the best thing to do perhaps start planning or try keeping your options open. I always say that if life in Cyprus has become hard, dont make it harder by stubbornly insisting to stay even if you dont have permits to stay. There is life away from Cyprus. Just love the life you have so be extra careful.

Since it is my natal month, I would like to share a piece sent to me by a friend from Hawaii. Said piece was also given by his mom and he forwarded to me acknowledging the fact that according to him, words fit my personality so well. Thanks to all who greeted me and those who share their blessings to me here in Cyprus. God bless you all.

Taken on my birthday

“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you; but make allowance for their doubtings too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, yet dont deal in lies; Or being hated, yet dont give way to hating; And yet dont look too good nor talk too wise; If you can dream – and not make dreams your master; If you can think thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat these two impostors just the same; if you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap of fools, or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, and loss, and start again at your beginnings, and never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, to serve your turn long after they are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you, Except the WILL which says to them “Hold on!” If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, and – which is more – you’ll be a man, my son!” (Rudyard Kipling)

with Lolay, fatima and Jen

 

By Maria Nieves

The Sisters of the St. Joseph of the Apparition Convent was very glad to see again their former student by the person of Sr. Esperanza Magsino, the first Filipina nun of the SJA Convent who was trained by Sr.Antonia, now a Delegation Head Bursar base in Paco, Manila, Phils. She arrived last Feb. 24^{th from Rome where she attended the Provencal and Bursar session of the congregation on The Formation on the Religious Life from Feb.10-24, 2010 as the Delegate Superior of the SJA Philippines. During her stay in the convent, she managed to see her fellow Legionaries and friend in other religious groups. Sr. Espie, together with her sister, were the founder of the Legion of Mary Nicosia- Cyprus with the guidance from Sr. Antonia. She was also invited in the church to speak about herself after the Sunday mass then later joined the SJSC- Filipino group in their Sunday lunch. According to Sr. Espie, she had 3 purposes of her stop over here in Cyprus. First, to see again the family of her former employer when she was still working as a housemaid before she became a nun. Second, to be with the Sisters of SJA where she started her vocation especially with her former mentor Sr. Antonia even for a few days only. Last but not least and the most important purpose is to ask some help in the form of financial donation for their on- going out-reach program project in Valencia, Bohol, Philippines. The project is called “St. Emilie Play-Learn nursery classes”, a charitable foundation, which will benefit the poor children in Valencia. The school will hold morning and afternoon classes to at least 20 children per session for 2 hours a day. Hired lay professional teacher will be in-charge of the nursery under the assistance and management of the two sisters from Manila. A native of Batangas and is now a golden girl at 50, Sr. Espie used to be a domestic helper in Singapore for 5 years, in Hong Kong for a year and 3 years here in Cyprus. She has deeper understanding of being a servant. She said, “hindi puwedeng lagi na lang akong katulong, I want to be a servant of the Lord”, she stressed. “I talked with the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition and was amazed and inspired by the beauty of their simplicity. Their simple life pushed me to talk with them more often. I believe that God will continue to bless them.” She added, “I started as a catechist of Sr. Antonia and attended French class during my day-off to prepare myself as an aspiring postulant. During this time, I was able to go to Israel. My employer, Mr. and Mrs. Solos Kassinis supported my air ticket to travel, they told me to pray for them to have a baby girl, since they’ve already have a son whom I took good care of. Soon after that, God blessed them with a beautiful daughter,” Sr. Espie’s litany. After 3 year’s contract, the Congregation sent her to the provincial superior in Greece for 2 months. Later to the superior general for another 2 months in France. And then to Rome for an intensive formation for 2 years as a Novitiate. This time she was sent to England for a couple of months to join the community. In her second year, she was sent to Malta. She went through a lot of experiences, trials and sufferings, “but thanks God I passed through it,” Sr. Espie continued. “I was ambitious enough to go around and to travel. Finally from Rome I went back to the Philippines. At that time the congregation was newly opened in the country. With 15 years in my professional vows, I have traveled in 15 countries in the world and attended 4 international meetings as the Delegate Head from the Philippines. At present, the congregation of the SJA Philippines had 4 communities located at Paco Manila where they have the Catholic school for 8 years, in Amparo Village Novaliches, Quezon City where they have the formation and training school, in Moonwalk Las Piñas which is set like a church, and in Bani, Pangasinan. This year, SJA Philippines started another outreach program in Valencia, Bohol to establish the St. Emelie Play-Learn Nursery Classes foundation school. ” I would like to appeal for your assistance and generosity to dream with us and believe for the importance of the formation and education of the Filipino children,” she pleaded.}

By CBLlauderes

Im so blessed my Lord i can see you

In all the lovely things

So fine and true.

I see you in the beauty

Of the flowers and the rain

I see you between the lines

Of the sweet refrain.

Im so blessed my Lord i can see you

Even when im lonely and in pain

I see you in the beauty

Of the stars at night

I see you in my life that feels alright.

I see you Lord in sorrow and in happiness

I see you in the glory of the sweet success

I see you Lord every hour everyday

I can see you Lord whenever i pray.

Im so blessed my Lord i can see you

In the smile of the baby sweet and true

I can see you in the eyes of my very best friend

I see you in this crowd

Just like the love will never end.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in support of the Philippine Honorary Consulate has started the OFW Courses for the overseas Filipino workers in Cyprus last January 31,2010.

The Basic Caregiver Course for the OFWS in Cyprus is in partnership with the Houston Medical Ltd in conducting the training course in Nicosia, Larnaca & Pafos.

The HML staff are fully qualified and experienced registered emergency medical technician /paramedic officers with a long years experience gained in the Royal Army Medical Corps and other medical institutions worldwide. HML offers a wide range of First Aid Courses to Advanced level plus advice on Occupation Health & Safety at work, and many more .

Houston Medical offers first class training to their clients, using the latest protocols and technical information available to ensure that students are prepared and trained to the highest possible standards. Houston Medical is also associated with Nuco-Training ,country’s largest and most highly respected Train the Trainer organizations in the UK.

Together with the OFW Family Club, one of the biggest Filipino organization in Cyprus assist in monitoring the 5 week course from January to June 2010.

POLO-OWWA has likewise conducted the Business Counselling Seminar or Kabuhayang Pinoy held for four Sundays at the POLO office, Philippine Honorary Consulate for the first batch. The course for the second batch of participants will be held at the function room of Hotel Centrum starting March 14.

The course includes the financial literacy and business planning which provides learning skills for OFWS in managing their hard earned money.

Ito ay ang isang kurso na nagbibiagy kaalaman upang matulungan ang mga kababayan nating nais magtayo ng sarili nilang kabuhayan sa paghahanda sa kanilang pagbabalik sa Pinas.

The Overseas Filipino Volunteers in Cyprus is the training coordinators for the said seminar.

The major courses are offered to OFW who are active OWWA members .This is a way of encouraging OFWs to enroll in the OWWA membership. Courses do not have admission or registration fees however reading materials are not free of charge.

For more information contact 357 22 106 440 or email owwacyprus09@yahoo.com.