02 Jun 2022
At the end of May, the MSC community of Bayagnan Island in Surigao City came together to give their blessing to the new homes constructed by the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, and to pray for the families who will live in them.
Hundreds of thousands of families were displaced from their homes last December, when Typhoon Odette hit the Philippines to devastating effect. The strongest storm of the year, the super-typhoon killed hundreds, injured many more, and laid waste to hundreds of thousands of homes, many of which were completely destroyed.
The MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project has allowed for the repair and construction of safe, secure residences for over 330 households who had been left homeless by Typhoon Odette. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
The MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project has allowed for the repair and construction of safe, secure residences for over 330 households who had been left homeless by Typhoon Odette. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
The MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project has allowed for the repair and construction of safe, secure residences for over 330 households who had been left homeless by Typhoon Odette. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
In March, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Philippines began distribution of housing materials to five districts across Bayagnan Island, and with true community spirit, everyone involved contributed to making the project a great success. The materials provided have allowed for the repair and construction of safe, secure residences for over 330 households who had been left homeless by the typhoon.
The end of May saw MSCs from the Surigao District, together with Msgr. Edito Alcala DCS, lead a beautiful blessing ceremony for all of the families involved in the housing project.
“This housing project was established to help the families who were greatly devastated by Typhoon Odette in 2021,” read a placard mounted at the blessing ceremony. “It is made possible through the support of MSC mission partners, friends, and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) all over the world.”
“This housing project was established to help the families who were greatly devastated by Typhoon Odette in 2021,” read a placard mounted at the blessing ceremony. “It is made possible through the support of MSC mission partners, friends, and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) all over the world.” (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
“This housing project was established to help the families who were greatly devastated by Typhoon Odette in 2021,” read a placard mounted at the blessing ceremony. “It is made possible through the support of MSC mission partners, friends, and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) all over the world.” (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
“This housing project was established to help the families who were greatly devastated by Typhoon Odette in 2021,” read a placard mounted at the blessing ceremony. “It is made possible through the support of MSC mission partners, friends, and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) all over the world.” (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
Earlier in the year, Irish Provincial Superior Fr Carl Tranter MSC received a letter from Fr Richie Gomez MSC, community leader at the MSC Centre for the Poor in the Philippines, with deep gratitude for the support of our mission friends in the Irish Province at a time of real and urgent need. “I would like to thank you for your untiring support to the Philippine Province,” he wrote. “We are your extended arms, feet, mind, and heart in reaching the poor, and now with our typhoon survivors.”
MSCs from the Surigao District during the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, which took place in Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, on May 25th, 2022. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
MSCs from the Surigao District during the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, which took place in Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, on May 25th, 2022. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
MSCs from the Surigao District during the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, which took place in Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, on May 25th, 2022. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
MSCs from the Surigao District during the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, which took place in Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, on May 25th, 2022. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
MSCs from the Surigao District during the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, which took place in Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, on May 25th, 2022. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
MSCs from the Surigao District during the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project, which took place in Bayagnan Island, Surigao City, on May 25th, 2022. (Image via @mscmissionphil on Facebook.)
Following weeks and months of grief and suffering, and an enormous struggle to rebuild lives that had been shattered by the effects of the typhoon, it is a true blessing to see the hope, joy, and spirit of togetherness and unity that shone through on this special day. We offer up our prayers with those of our MSC brothers in the Philippines, and we wish every blessing of the Sacred Heart upon them, and upon all of the families beginning a fresh new chapter in their new homes.
Images via the Facebook page for the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Inc.
Please click here to watch a video of the blessing of the MSC Typhoon Odette Housing Project,
via the MSC Mission Office Facebook page.