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When Chita Monfort, Executive Director of the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls (PWHS) Apostolate asked that I write about the annual recollection/planning of the Apostolate’s Core Group (held February 7 & 8, 2008 at Betania Retreat House), I was hard put looking for inspiration, because truth be told, I suffer from writer’s block... and I’m not even a writer!

Isaiah 55:12-13 falls on my lap..."For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song...and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign."

Indeed, this is the crux of all the work PWHS does — for the dead, for the living, for the Lord: to prepare us, still breathing, to meet our Creator in joy; to persevere in praying and implementing programs/activities for those who have passed on the threshold to eternal life, always deeply involved in physical and spiritual endeavors that will finally lead the departed ones face to face with God in His kingdom; to be full always with gratitude to God for this one great opportunity to serve Him, totally and completely trusting in His guidance and providence.

PWHS planning sessions are encounters heavy with hard work, learning experiences, open discussions, surprises.. and at times, bruised egos. The February 2008  are no different. The two groups formed to discuss and provide solutions to major issues of the Apostolate work as a team, each positing dynamism and dishing out innovative ideas to grow PWHS not just in numbers, in management, but in its spiritual pilgrimage as well.

PWHS members all over the Philippines and around the world, now counting at more than 90,000, can expect in Year 2008 and onwards the following:

    1. Outreaches, teach-in programs to stimulate and sustain interests in the Apostolate thus getting more and more members to join its mission;

    2. Bible Study thru the "Ala-alang Walang Hanggan" Radio Veritas program of Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, Spiritual Director of PWHS, every 2nd Sunday at 7:00 to 8:00PM;

a. Exciting and interesting articles and members’ sharings in the Fore&Aft Quarterly;

 

b. Intensified commitment to 2nd Monday Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Holy Souls, in Manila Cathedral; members’ more personal prayers, daily masses, Blessed Sacrament visits, sacrifices and almsgiving: all these to feed and make our spirits strong;

    3. Annual Nov 2 All Souls Day Mass in Commemoration of the Dear Departed; PWHS 16th Foundation Day on July 26, 2008 with the theme, "Purgatory in  the Writings of St. Paul;" and preparations for the PWHS Congress in 2009 (celebrated every three years) with "Jesus of Nazareth" by Pope Benedict XVI as a possible theme;

    4. More concerted efforts to be recognized as a Catholic lay organization; work closely with more Dioceses for accreditation  to spread respective laity devotions to the Holy Souls in Purgatory;

And the most exciting of all the 2008 plans (which was once a dream and now becoming a reality), and for which Isaiah 55: 12-13 is an inspiration, is the:

    5. Holy Souls Oratory (HSO): A place of prayers and sanctuary devoted to the bereaved and grieving; a place where people can have quiet prayers, 24-hour prayers for the dear departed, retreats/recollections/teach-ins; a place for retired and active priests and nuns who 

can provide  spiritual counseling, comfort, and nourishment to those who come to the HSO.

The plan is to build the Oratory on top of a hill on two-hectare land at Morong, Rizal donated by the Monfort family.

To make this happen, logistical support, is now being mapped out and we are NOW knocking at the hearts of generous benefactors, institutions and others for financial support.

What lies ahead for the PWHS is no less demanding. But we believe that in God’s hand, everything is possible. We believe, too, that PWHS members all over the world must combine this utter trust in God’s providence with continued and relentless efforts to help the Holy Souls in Purgatory and to wholeheartedly support all the endeavors of the Apostolate — "nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa."

I thank and praise the Lord for the opportunity to again facilitate the planning sessions of the Core Group. Group 1 consists of: Edna Agustin, Violette Ramiro, Fely Calderon, Carlos Oda and Chita Monfort; Group 2: Jun Vibandor, Lydia Olano, Menchie Dioquino and Rose Baybay. To them, I give my sincere gratitude for making the task assigned to me productive, easy, fun and a venue for my own spiritual journey. My so called "legendary temper" and "old hat antagonism" have hurt some of my co-workers during the planning. For this, I am very, very sorry. I beg forgiveness. I recite now as a mantra Proverbs 21: 23, "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles" to be more aware of and sensitive to others; and I pray that the Lord help me learn a lesson from the Wise: to be a person who knows what to say and when to say it.

God bless us all and may He have mercy on our souls when it is our time to  be with Him.