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(Shared during the 2nd National Congress and 11th Foundation Day)
NOT AN OBSTACLE FOR THIS PRAYER WARRIOR
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Araceli Grepo came all the way from Cavite to share what she does on All Souls’ Day |
"After accepting the challenge of being an area coordinator despite my physical inconvenience, a number of members have been recruited to join the PWHS to create and spread awareness of the plight of the holy souls in purgatory.
A year after the First National Congress of PWHS in July 2000, we in Gen. Trias, Cavite City, launched a 9-day liturgical novena for the holy souls and holy masses in commemoration of the faithful departed led and celebrated by our parish priest, Rev. Fr. George A. Morales. We used the hundred copies of that little book, " Basahin O Pagsisihan Mo " with the Litany of the Saints for the poor souls.
On the 10th day, Nov. 2, 2002 after the mass, we visited the three cemeteries in town. Xerox copies of St. Gertrude’s prayer were distributed to all. We prayed for the souls of the dead in that cemetery. Each with lighted candles, we prayed all together. Then with bottle fonts we sprinkled holy water to as many tombs as there were in the cemetery.
In November last year we repeated the same with as many members as can be accommodated in hired passenger jeeps. This was in spite of the rains of that morning. The PWHS Gen. Trias will try to make this a yearly program of activities. A mass is offered by PWHS members on first Fridays for the holy souls in purgatory. After the daily masses, a group of our members pray the Rosary for the souls. The prayer of St. Gertrude the Great is not only an eight o’clock evening prayer but a prayer prayed by the Legion of Mary and Apostleship of Prayer in our parish, St. Francis of Assisi after every meeting."
From ARACELI GREPO of Gen. Trias, Cavite; active PWHS member since Feb. 2001
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REWARD:
A NEW LEASE IN LIFE.
"I am Teodoro (Boy) Reponso Amodia, A Mechanical Engineer, married to Rosalina (Abette) Tonco Barrera, a Nutritionist. We were married on her birthday last June 11, 1980. At present we are residing at Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
My wife and I are active members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), a Catholic community since last February 1993.
In my childhood days, my parents trained me how to treasure hard-earned money. I was made to go to neighboring towns to sell laundry soaps, where I earned P1.40 after a whole day of selling. I gave my earnings to my mother for my savings and used it in buying pants or T-shirts. In the family of two brothers and four sisters, we were taught how to pray the memorized prayers and were brought to church to attend mass every Sunday and Holidays of obligation.
My parents were into the buy-and-sell business and though both did not finish elementary, they did fulfill their obligations to all of us. We all became professionals.
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Teodoro Amodia with his wife Rosalina, and the rest of his family |
Last June 12, 2002, a day after our 22nd Wedding Anniversary, I felt a severe pain in my stomach. The pain was so intense so that for the first time in my life I was admitted in the hospital. Different lab tests and ultrasound were done to find out the cause of my abdominal pain.
It was found out that the gallstone caused the pain, but the result of the ultrasound was alarming. There were multiple masses in the right lobe of my liver. I was advised by my attending physician to go to Cebu Doctors Hospital for further check-up.
In Cebu Doctors Hospital, another round of the laboratories were done and a biopsy of the mass of my liver was made to find out the status of the tumor. The result of the biopsy was very serious. The tumor was malignant. The doctor said that the best thing to do is to remove the tumor but my liver is cerotic so that it cannot be operated. The only recourse is a Chemoembolization of the tumor. Chemoembolization is a procedure wherein the tumor is wrapped with a chemical and the blood vessel supplying food for the tumor will be blocked to cut down supply. This may be great help but it was to be coupled with a prayer for it will not guarantee a 100% cure. It will surely ease the pain only. In case it will not work, the doctor said that I only had to live for 2 months or less.
Three days after the procedure, I was discharged from the hospital. From that day on, my prayers were so intense. I requested all my brothers and sisters in the BCBP Community for an intercessory prayer for my healing. I also sought the intercessory prayer from the two Monasteries in our place.
As I went to my parents-in-law in Antequera, Bohol, 18 km. Away from Tagbilaran City, Nanay Toring Balabis, a 93-year old sister of my wife’s grandmother enticed me to read the Read Me or Rue It booklet. At first I did not have any interest in it. Out of respect, I reluctantly accepted the booklet but did not read it. Every time I went to Antequera , she always asked me if I read the booklet and I answered her " Not yet". Three weeks passed, until I came to think that what is wrong if I read it?
That was the start of my reading of the booklet and I found out that it was very interesting. For the first time in my life, I came to know that the Holy Souls in the Purgatory could help the living. There and then after reading the contents, I followed some instructions, made novenas and offered mass for the remission of the sins of the Poor Souls in the Purgatory. I enrolled in the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls and ordered 20 booklets of Read Me or Rue It and gave them to my friends and to those who have dreaded diseases for free.
After doing the prayers, novenas and activities for the remission of the sins of the Poor Souls in the Purgatory, blessings and blessings from our Almighty Father in heaven were received. I noticed that almost all my prayers were heard and granted. The Chemoembolization tumors shrank so that my attending physician told me that there would be nothing to worry anymore for my tumors. We just had to pray that there shall be no more tumors that would grow.
Last February 28, 2003, upon the advice of my physician, I tendered my retirement papers to the corporation where I was working. I was a section chief of National Power Corporation, a government-owned and controlled corporation. I had been in for 25 years. When I gave my retirement papers to GSIS, an employee who received my papers informed me that I could avail the retirement under the Total Disability Program in which when approved, I will be entitled to an immediate pension regardless of age. At present, I am 50 years old. This is another blessing. My application was approved and I received a pension the following month. In addition to it, all my loans in GSIS were written off, meaning I need not pay for it anymore.
Last June 2003 was the first year of my extended life. I consider this the greatest gift from God. I owe all these blessings from the people who offered prayers for my healing and the Holy Souls in the Purgatory who I know prayed for me also as I have prayed for them to ease their burden in Purgatory and most specially to our Almighty Father in Heaven.
During my vacation together with my family in Baguio and Manila last May 25-31, 2003, I tried to locate the office of PWHS in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila to give my heartfelt thanks to what they had done to help me. After our conversation I bought ten green scapulars and gave them to the people in need of them.
In "Read Me or Rue It" booklet, It was said that the more you help the needy, the more you receive help and I really believed in that. Just like how I helped the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Good day and may God bless us all."
Prepared and submitted by: Teodoro R. Amodia
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SHE PRINTS NOVENAS FOR THE HOLY SOULS
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Sally So, sharing the joy of being involved in the apostolate |
For almost two years, I still had not gotten hold of the draft of a novena until this year. I met with Bishop Villegas, and I was told that it is Father Jojo Zerrudo whom I should get in touch with because he is the Spiritual Director of the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls. One good thing happened after another; it was so hard to look for Fr. Jojo Zerrudo. I tried reaching him by his cellphone only to find out that his parish church was only walking distance from my former residence at Del Monte Ave.
After I got in touch with Father Jojo, I was told to look for Mr. Carlos Oda of the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls. I was happy to know that there was already a novena being prayed with the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat. After my friend shared her experience with me, what I did was to gather as many materials as I could (about the holy souls) so as to be able to come up with a novena. In fact, one of them was the "Read Me or Rue It" booklet, which a friend of mine from the St. Paul Parish gave to me. It is really providential that I am here and I had experienced so much from this congress.
And so, after so many years of waiting and praying that a novena be printed for this intention to pray for the souls in purgatory, finally, praise the Lord, I am here in front of you sharing this God-given opportunity to pray and offer a 9-day devotion for the holy souls. As you have heard, Sister Chita mentioned that you have this novena in the congress kit. This is the result of so many years of wanting to have a novena printed. This is an answered prayer.
For your information, I have 5,000 copies of the Tagalog novena and 5,000 copies of the English novena printed and this will be given for free.
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