THE Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and Abandoned Foundation (MMMHEAF) vowed to continue to care for elderly people as the institution celebrated its 20th foundation anniversary recently.
On September 16 as the foundation marked 20 years, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle visited and “shared the joy and blessings” with the elderly wards of the MMMHEAF.
To date, the foundation which maintains the home for the aged in San Pedro, Laguna, has served more than 400 elderly people, some of whom have since left, and 125 of whom have died.
The cardinal was the principal guest and presider during the concelebrated Mass and solemn blessing of the newly expanded and furnished Mother Mercy Chapel inside the elderly home’s compound.
Tagle was assisted by Laguna Diocesan Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, and Imus, Cavite, prelate Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, DD, together with 17 priests and a deacon.
The cardinal mingled with the elderly residents of the house and blessed them.
He focused on the meaning of “church” during the Mass at the chapel, which was filled to capacity with friends of the institution, nuns, benefactors, the institution’s board of directors, priests and political leaders.
Dr. Mercedes “Ched” Oliver, the principal donor of the home, said in her post-Communion message that “God is the provider of this house. Before we ask for help, the help comes at a time we need them.”
“We continued to provide those who stayed with us with spiritual care with the help of the priests and the sisters of the Missionary Sister of Saint Francis Xavier from Myanmar,” she wrote in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines web site.
Oliver said the elderly wards they have accommodated were not only given physical and spiritual care, but also given proper Christian burials in Oliver’s own memorial park.
Doctora Ched, as she is fondly known, appealed to would-be partners to help the poor and neglected elderly saying, “Please believe that God who is not outdone in generosity will repay you. Please don’t hesitate to help the foundation so that you may share in the blessings we received in caring for the elderly and the abandoned.”