Father Purdy's Letters   page 1   March - April 2006 On the Saturday before Passion Sunday, Fr. Suelo and Mr. Michael Sestak visited the Provincial Prison near Bacolod.  Both Fr. Suelo and Mr. Sestak gave talks to the prisoners.  Fr. Suelo heard a number of confessions and offered Holy Mass.  There are over 75 inmates that attend normal catechism classes given by the members of the Legion of Mary.  Interestingly, the inmates will not go to confession to the Diocesan Catholic prison chaplain, nor receive Holy Communion from him because they do not trust nor wish to confide in him.  This very beautiful apostolate is worthy of our prayers and admiration. Fr. Albert Ghela and the members of the Legion of Mary in Jaro also make visits to a prison on our own island.  In early March, the boxes of used clothing arrived, 12 large boxes in total.  Thank you all for your generosity.  Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the clothing drive was learning to deal with the selfish attitude of a few people.  Because of the extreme poverty, some were inclined to take advantage of the generosity, and then jealousies set in amongst a few as to what the others received.  Of course these are faults of our wounded human nature.  In spite of the minor headaches involved with the project, your generosity shines out!  It is also a great joy to see our faithful nicely and modestly dressed.    In the monthly visit of the priest to Butuan, Fr. Purdy accompanied the youth in an outing to Surigao, to the residence of one of our faithful.  During the excursion, the children sang songs and performed a Lenten play.  The children also had fun at a nearby beautiful beach, where they enjoyed the crystal clear water. In early March, the brothers walked through the neighborhood around the Novitiate informing people of the Ash Wednesday Mass.  Around 70 faithful attended the Mass celebrated by Fr. Suelo, who imposed the ashes upon all of their foreheads.  On March 25, the Legion of Mary held the Annual Acies, the large meeting of the various Praesidia of the Visayan Region.  Legion members came from Bacolod, San Miguel, and Jaro to renew their Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as members of her Legion.  Also at the meeting, two conferences were given. The first was on the Ave Maria, the second on the apostolate of the Legion members, which is to help the priests in their apostolate, visiting hospitals, prisons, orphanages, making house visits, teaching catechism, etc.  Our work needs your prayers and your support.  Without the generosity of benefactors, our missions in the Philippines could not operate.  Please continue to support St. Bernard Novitiate. Wishing you a holy and grace-filled Lent, In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Novice Master back to Philippine page