BRUSSELS, Belgium - Despite the cold weather, Filipinos in Belgium trooped to Dilbeek, a town outside Brussels to celebrate Filipino Chaplaincy’s 12th anniversary.

For many, the chaplaincy has been instrumental in providing support and guidance especially to Pinoys who do not have necessary working permits.

Toto Panahon, a Eucharistic minister attested that the chaplaincy became a venue for Pinoys in Belgium, who for some reasons or another, cannot go home and suffer homesickness.

“Mahalaga para sa maraming Pinoy ang pagkakaroon ng chaplaincy na katulad nito. Marami kasi ang di makauwi dahil walang mga papel at patuloy na nangungulila sa kanilang mga pamilya. Dito kasi sa chaplaincy, makakasama mo ang mga kababayan mo na handang dumamay sa iyo,” he said.

Rev. Father Raymund Gaspar, for his part, thanked those who came to celebrate with the chaplaincy.

“Kami po ay labis na natutuwa sa ipinagdiwang namin ngayon na masasabi naming isang matagumpay na araw para sa mga Pilipino,” he said.

Early Christmas treat
It may still be a few days before Christmas but the Filipino chaplaincy, in coordination with the Filipino community and Children’s Ministry, were able to send several boxes of new and slightly used clothes, shoes and toys to Novaliches Parish Church and Manila Archdiocesan Seminary System Foundation Incorporated (MASSFI).

“At ngayon naman po, ang mga damit at laruang ito ay ipapamahagi namin para magbigay po kahit konting saya sa mga kapatid natin dito at yan po ay sa pagtutulungan ng Brussels na nais nilang ipadama ang kanilang pagmamahal at pagkalinga sa mga kapwa Pilipino, sa mga kababayan sa Pilipinas kaya sana po ito ay isang maagang pamasko para sa kanila,” Fr. Gaspar said.

They also donated more than 2000 Euros to MASSFI and to Our Lady of Light Parish in Cainta Rizal.

Members of Children Ministry, on the other hand, consider it very significant to be part of the chaplaincy’s noble project.

“Ginagawa po naming ito para makapagpasaya at makatulong sa mga bata sa Pilipinas lalo na yung mga nasalanta ng bagyo,” Isabelle Fabian of Youth Ministry said.

Young as they may be, but these children vow to do everything they can to help fellow kababayan especially those who have been victims of the recent typhoons in the Philippines.