JESUS CHRIST CARES FOR CANCER PART 3
Beyond Grateful
By ALO GELANO
JCCFC Chairman
Beyond Grateful
By ALO GELANO
JCCFC Chairman
THEY say it takes a village to raise a child. The same could be said with a Mercy Ministry. Behind every project are many individuals who generously share their time, talent, and treasure to extend God’s love and blessings to the poor and the sick.
Jesus Christ Cares For Cancer (JCCFC) is blessed to be surrounded by such kindhearted people – from our servant-leaders to our team of volunteers, donors, and friends. Because of them, we can bring Jesus to indigent beneficiaries through the financial assistance they receive and spiritually uplifting programs during our gatherings every third Wednesday of the month.
Our monthly assembly, which was shelved during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Pandemic, resumed in July 2023 with double blessings.
Fr. Arlo Yap, SVD (right) presided over the Thanksgiving Mass. And Bro. Bo Sanchez (extreme right), the heart of the Light of Jesus Family, gave a talk on God’s goodness.
*We are now in Part 3 of our feature on Jesus Christ Cares for Cancer (JCCFC) for July. Part 1, posted in The FEAST FAMILY, July 7, 2024 issue, presented the celebration of JCCFC’s 9th Founding Anniversary. Part 2, posted
July 14, 2024, was the first part of JCCFC Chairman Bro. Alo Gelano’s article, Beyond Grateful. Some pictures of Part 1 were not included so, we include Part 1 here, in Part 2, for those who missed the issue.– Editor
Health Care Experts
The all-important mental health was the main focus in August and September of 2023 with the Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center (LOJPCC), headed by Dr. Michele Alignay, providing professional counseling for children and adults battling cancer as well as their family members.
Celebrity psychiatrist Dr. Bernadette Manalo (right) focused on recognizing blessings amid challenges.
Dr. Cecille Cruz, a child oncologist at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), presented different sources of financial assistance and other free government services.
Professional massage therapy is a luxury to many. Our beneficiaries are no exception.
Majority have not experienced having one in their entire life. Thanks to Ms. Omil Lameda’s
HaGod Alternative Medicine and Training Center, everyone had a once-in-a-lifetime experience in October.
Feast Builders and Ministry Servants
Feast Builder and Life Coach Bro. JC Libiran kicked off our pre-Christmas celebration in November by sharing his spiritual journey.
Other blessings came from Feast Mandaluyong servant-leaders who donated proceeds of their fundraiser, gift bags from JCCFC Director Marin Uy, and Life Begins Today book from yours truly.
What better way to honor Jesus, the King of Kings, and celebrate His birthday than with a fun-filled day that resonates with His love and goodness?
From buffet-sponsored lunch and snacks to Kris Kringle, games, cash prizes, and gift bags from Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television (SVRTV) made everyone forget their worries and pain.
With all the blessings our Lord poured the previous year, it is fitting to start 2024 with a Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, RCJ. A devout healing priest, Fr. Dex traveled from Rosales, Pangasinan, to pray over every single one of our beneficiaries and our team.
We are equally grateful to Feast Bay Area (FBA) servants Sis. Edna Blanco, Remie Macapas, and Mayette Ngo for their Shirts For A Cause donation.
JCCFC Vice Chairman and Feast Mercy Ministries head Bro. Hermie Morelos and his lovely wife, Sis. Reng, touched lives with their triumphant victories over many trials, including overcoming cancer.
The hands-on reflexology demo training by HaGod Alternative Medicine and Training Center professional therapists capped our Love Month offering.
Feast Builder Bro. Alvin Barcelona brought the house down with his Worship concert and motivational talk in March. Cameras went up, with everyone recording The Feast Provincial head’s performance, which included crowd favorites Ale (for Alleluia) and Pare (Praise the Lord!).
The treats didn’t end there. Our beneficiaries had a blast with free tiangge consisting of clothes, shoes, and toys donated by FBA servants bro. John Alvin Cenido and family.
Miracle Witness, Devotee, Singer, Priest Fundraiser
April was no April Fools with Feast Builder Bro. Tony Valenzuela sharing his miraculous exit in Israel at the start of the Hamas siege last October.
Another blessing was the lunch treat from our coordinator, Sis. Ginalyn Luaton of the FBA First Timers Ministry.
Incidentally, Sis. Gina spent her birthday interviewing a cancer patient at PCMC with JCCFC Board Secretary Maritess Cordero.
In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in May, we requested Atty. Ethel Aldea to talk about her Marian devotion as well as her journey as a cancer survivor.
The radio program host is also the founder of the online Big C Prayer Community.
A staunch JCCFC supporter since Day 1, Feast Builder Bro. Adrian Panganiban, rendered not just one but several Worship songs as a fitting tribute to our Lord.
Part 2 of the free tiangge was blessing No. 3 that capped a faith-filled day.
We’re halfway through the year, and so we held a
Thanksgiving Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This time, Fr. Albert Garong, SSP, of the viral Father Brews fundraiser. The Holy Mass was made even more meaningful and beautiful with the musical rendition by gifted children of the Catholic Filipino Academy (CFA) Orchestra.
Why We Do What We Do
Everything about JCCFC is our offering to Jesus.
As Bro. Bo often says, service is a reward in itself, and it is a privilege to serve Him who matters most. It is also heartwarming to receive messages of thanks and how the above-mentioned activities impacted the lives of our beneficiaries and their families.
Allow me to share with you several messages from parents of young kids bravely fighting leukemia … “Maraming salamat po sa dedikasyon nyo na makatulong. God bless po.”
“Sobra po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat sa pag tulong po ninyo sa amin ng walang kapalit. God bless your heart po and all volunteers.”
“Maraming salamat po sa mga donors and most specially to Jesus Christ. Thank you thank you so much.”
“Pakisabe nlang po kila bro Hermie and sis ren maraming maraming salamat po sa binahagi nilang kwento. Alam ko po madaming na inspire at ptuloy na magttwala kay God. Thank you thank you thank you din po sa inyong lahat.”
“Thanks to God as always nagamit po namin sa gamot at gatas ang fund.”
“Lahat po ng ngyayare na activities every month na nagkikita kita tayo Malaki po ang naitutulong sa bawat isa. Hindi lang ung fund. Kundi ung lalo pa naming mahalin si God. Totoong npakabuti Nia. Lagi Siang may will na pag nakikita Niang hndi na kaya. Naiyak po ako knina sa kwento ng speaker nten dahil sa gitna ng hirap nila sa gitna ng lahat ng pagsubok na nrnsan nila hndi sila sumuko. Mas lalo nilang minahl si Lord. Sobrang feel na feel nmen si Lord. Sa lahat ng kabutihan Nia.”
“Maraming maraming salamat po sobrang laki po ng naitutulong samin ng JCCFC thanks to God.”
If you feel the Lord is calling you to support JCCFC,kindly check out its Facebook page.
We are beyond grateful to all who stand as strong pillars of JCCFC– everyone who has responded to Jesus’ call in Matthew 25:40: Whatsoever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for Me.
And in Matthew 25:36: For I was sick and you took care of me.