Caritas: The Augustinian Mission to ‘Tahanan Mapagkalinga ni Madre Rita, Inc.’

Far from the bustling streets and loud engines of vehicles of the urban town of Guiguinto, lies a place obscured from view, quietly persisting in its mission to provide protection and welfare for the innocents, whose lives had never known the care and affection provided by their parents, or have spent their lives wandering the streets.

The obligation of nurturing a child in upholding good morals and principles is now given to the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation, whose mission has enabled them to give a safe space for children to grow and prosper in interior life. An Order that is also notable for establishing educational institutions, it is where the spheres of education and religious mission complement.

In Augustinian institutions such as La Consolacion School-Balagtas, students in the secondary level of education are to partake in such missionary work to orphanages run by the Augustinian Sisters. It is through the ‘Tahanan Mapagkalinga ni Madre Rita, Inc’ where the Sisters’ mission is made known to and cultivated by the students.

“…To Incarnate With Living Faith”

For 20 years, “Tahanan Mapagkalinga” has been the home of children who have been living in poverty and abuse of any kind. The house has been open to children regardless of gender, and caters to those around the ages of 5-16 years old. The Augustinian Sisters has always envisioned the place, as one for the sake of empowering “children in need of special protection to realize their self worth, to grow towards Christian maturity and to be integrated in a child freindly social environment.”

The way to the housing center takes several minutes to almost an hour. From the main road that passes through the main hub of Guiguinto, the gardens that sell various types of ‘flora’, to a detour through a small road spanning quaint residential homes. It is fortunate for the students that they have been provided means of transportation by the school to navigate through numerous turns within the subdivision. As students enter through the house, only a single pavement gives way to the vast garden of the orphanage dominated by weeds and trees. A statue of Our Lady of Consolation looks over the ‘green’ property.

Students were tasked arranged the setup at the lobby of the main building just before the children had arrived. The lobby was not enclosed, but an open area below the floors of the main building. Behind it, is a small field bordered by trees, as well as a small playground, composed of swings, see-saws and a slide, rests under the canopy.

Prior to the missions, the students have already prepared a main program, integrated for both members of the class and the orphans, presided by their class adviser. Moreover, provided financial contributions to buy necessities such as canned goods, rice and educational materials.

The program soon starts after the children proceeded at the main lobby. An opening prayer was recited before the class proceeded with the main program. Various activities were done that included games and recreational activities, much to the children’s excitement and enthusiasm. One particular segment of the program, a singing number led by a member of the class, was met with acclaim by the audience.

Recreational activities usually involved playing in the playground by the field and academic instruction presided by students. Academic materials are mostly composed of booklets pertaining to basic arithmetic and language. Most girls in the class are keen on teaching the children. Meanwhile, the boys are much more keen on amusing children at the playground.

The Rule of ‘Unity, Charity, Truth’

As the outreach program reaches to an end and all contributions by the students are about to be handed out for the housing center, pleased by the outcome of the program, the children returned their gesture through a humble song of appreciation and gratitude, pleasing them before the students bid farewell.

Having a place to call home in the case of these children, the house is certainly successful in its own right. The protection it provides to these children is integral in reviving the “the heart of a child”, a restoration of their innocent joy.

The Augustinian Sisters, from its origins in 1883, have remained persistent in spreading its missions, uniting under the rule of incarnating the “compassionate Christ” at every community it serves. Giving hope to numerous children who have been severely deprived of it, “Tahanan Mapagkalinga” remains open and in perseverance in giving young people, the needed guidance on their journey in discovering their self-worth, potential, and in pursuing knowledge and virtue.