God is merciful!

God is so kind and merciful!

A sharing from Fr. Eliseo Napiere (Fr. Loloy), Executive Secretary

Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI)

May 1, 2010

(An e-mail sent to Bishop Bosco Lin, President of ECMI, by Fr. Loloy)

Dear Bishop Lin,

Greetings!

Yesterday, April 29, I visited a 21-year old Filipino seafarer who attempted to commit suicide on board M/T Ruby 3, 150,000 gross tonnage, a Greece owned with Panama flag tanker vessel docked in Mai-liao port from Iraq. This young seafarer attempted to commit suicide by using a pair of scissors in stabbing himself. He worked as an ordinary seaman and got a problem when his mother informed him through telephone about the operation of his younger sister. His mother asked from him US$ 200 for the operation but he had nothing to give since he has not yet received his salary.

He sold phone cards on board thinking that he can help for the operation of his sister through the proceeds of his phone cards. But the phone cards were lost and he could not find them. He was so much troubled and worried that he cannot help his beloved younger sister. While looking for the phone cards, he saw a pair of scissors. Suddenly, he lost his mind and stabbed himself. Somebody from the crew saw him and rushed him to a hospital in Taibao City.

He is now recuperating but his heart and lungs are now relatively damaged according to the doctors. I ministered to him and it seems that he is now okay. His agency hired a care-giver to take care of him in the hospital. Because of what has happened, I plan to visit Mai-liao port authority to negotiate the presence of a port chaplain or an AOS pastoral worker if a priest is not available there.

Sincerely yours,

Fr. Loloy

(After a month)

June 3, 2010

Dear All,

Attached are the pictures of our seafarer in Mai-liao Port hospitalized at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Tai-bao City, Chiayi County. After more than a month of fighting for his life he came out victorious. He was discharged this afternoon from the hospital and now staying in one of the hotels in Kaohsiung with his aunt. AOS (Stella Maris) Kaohsiung will look after him until he will fly back to Manila on June 5th together with his aunt. Hospital bills are already settled by the Ship Owner through the agency.

Thanks for your prayers! We all know the story and saw how the hands of God worked in saving his life. Thank you Roy and Rev. Hendrik for you encouragements and support and to all of you out there. Our seafarer is extending his gratitude to all of us.

Fr. Loloy

Issue 310, June 2010