LETTER FROM A MISSIONARY IN FRANCE

Fr. Percy Redoña, CMF

I would like to say to you first: "Peace be with you." Peace because you might be surprised or disturbed by my writing to you! Because it has been decades that I have not been communicating to the Philippine province...and to you never! Peace also, because it is my wish to all the Filipinos who are suffering because of the lack of peace...in Zamboanga, in Basilan...with all those bombings that are happening, so it is peace that I wish to all through you.

In my curiosity and in my bit of nostalgia for the Philippines, I branched myself into your web-site, since I have my PC and access to internet. I browsed on the news that you featured and saw your pictures in Vietnam, and that has triggered me to write to you, as simple as that.

Since the first week of September, I have transferred to a new community, in Marseille, after three years of stay in Perpignan. The Marseille community is not a parish community; it is something " liberal" with various specialized ministries at least for two of us: Emilio Novoa and myself. Emilio takes charge of the aging community of Spaniards and at the same time he is the regional chaplain to " forains", people who move from city to city to give amusements to people, like circus... the " ferias " you know. While me, I have become a chaplain to a growing number of Filipino migrants in this city. It is estimated to be about 700, just estimation!

Last October 13 we have inaugurated the chaplaincy and we have 3 Sundays in a month for our assemblies and celebrations. It is so exciting, at last! but it is so tasking, since the Filipinos are very demanding ! They demand me often to eat with them in their apartments! But aside from that, there's a lot of evangelizing or re-evangelizing efforts to be done, after almost 3 years that they been abandoned by their former chaplain! Added to that, I have been appointed to replace someone in the provincial council, so since June I have become a counselor to our Superior, Isaias Velasco, together with a Mexican, Gildardo Valencia. So this is it...a new assignment, a new, mission, a new life in the southern part of France.

Maybe, you can help me make publicity for a volunteer to come to France...to come and replace me with regards to the Filipinos or to help me with regards to them! Since the Filipinos are more in number who frequent our church in Marseille!

Je te remercie pour votre patience de lire cette longue lettre. Et je te souhaite bon courage et bonne réussite dans ta mission de recruter de nouveaux séminaristes pour notre Congrégation!

A bientôt!

Yours truly in Christ and Mary

Percy Redoña, CMF