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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation

Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP

Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, Founder

November 2014

marymotherofthepoor.org

1 Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation

November 2014

History

In 1996, while praying, Fr. Fernando Suarez was blessed

with a vision. In the vision, Jesus was pouring out many

graces and blessings upon him and as he received His graces

and blessings, he saw multitudes of poor children begging for

help. He did not understand the

vision then, but its image

remained in his heart. It was not

until the summer of 1997, that

the meaning of the vision became

clear to him.

During a two-week visit to the

Philippines, at least ten poor

children approached Fr.

Fernando out of nowhere, asking

for his support especially in their

studies. Trusting in the Lord, he

began sending money coming from his savings from giving

recollections and retreats during his Christmas and summer

holidays.

As time went by, the Good Lord continued to bless this

ministry and it has now become a foundation, "Mary Mother

of the Poor" (MMP). With the help of the brothers of the

community, and friends who support and share this vision,

the foundation was able to grow, flourish and became

established.

Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation Page 2

Mission and Objectives

We are a non-profit, tax exempt

charitable organization of

Catholic religious and lay persons

in the US, Canada and the

Philippines, founded by Father

Fernando M. Suarez, dedicated

to the following:

Mission To seek holiness in evangelizing and working with the

poor through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin

Mary.

Objectives

1) To relieve poverty by providing food and other basic supplies to

persons of low income, by establishing, operating and maintaining

shelters for the homeless, and by providing counseling and other

similar programs to relieve poverty.

2) To coordinate health care and social services for people with

debilitating diseases, illnesses and conditions including aging.

3) To advance & teach religious tenets, doctrines, observances and

culture associated with the Roman Catholic faith.

4) To provide supervised programs intended to help youth develop

their talents and become good citizens.


November 2014

Contents

History……………………………………………….……1

Mission and Objectives………………….………….2

Contents.…………………………………….…………..3

MMP Ongoing Projects………………..…………..4

Feeding Program…………….………………….…5-8

Relief Efforts……………………………………….9-13

Housing Program…………………………………..14

Medical and Dental Missions…………………..15

Livelihood Program..……….….………………….16

Scholarship Program………………………….17-18

Youth Program……………………………….…19-22

Solar Light Distribution…………………………..23

Mass Wedding……………………….………….24-25

Building of 3 Churches……………………….26-28

History of MMMP……………………………..29-30

Healing Ministry………………………………….….31

The Presence of MMMP in Ilin……….….32-33

Future Goals of MMP………………………….….34

About the Founder………………………………….35

Ephesians……………………………………………….36

Contributors…………………………………….….....37



Ongoing Projects:

Feeding Program

Relief Efforts

Housing Program

Medical and Dental Missions

Livelihood Program

Scholarship Program

Youth Program

Solar Light Distribution

Mass Wedding

"For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat..."

"I was thirsty and you gave

me something to drink..."

"I was naked and you clothed me..." "I was sick and you looked after me."

Matthew 25: 35-36


November 2014

Feeding Program

eeding Program – 4,000 school children

are being fed in the following communities

and barangays 3 times a week in Mindoro

in partnership with Kiwanis Philippines:

Ilin Proper, Ambulong

Island, Labangan, Ansiray,

Catayongan, Pawican,

Tibago, Pitogo, Natandol

and Manga. Mothers of the

students join the other mothers in cooking for

their children. There is no electricity and running

water so they start cooking in the morning to

serve for lunch.

F


“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So spread your love

wherever you go. If you cannot feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” - Mother Theresa


November 2014

MMP STREET CHILDREN FEEDING PROGRAM


`

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD

and he will repay him for his deed. - Proverbs 19:17

MMP visited the fire victims of Malabon and surprised the children with a

treat. There were 160 families rendered homeless. They spoke to the residents

of the communities involved: Anonas Community, Chico and Barangay

Outpost Community, East Riverside Community, Sta. Cruz Community and

the BEC Youth Group, Lourdes Chapel Group, West Riverside Community

and Del Monte Community. The surprise was handing out of coupons to the

children of the families and asking them to go to St. Peter and St. John Church

basement to enjoy "Jollibee" treat of burgers, French fries and drinks. The

visit ended with a Eucharistic Celebration and Healing Prayer.


November 2014

Relief efforts

elief Efforts – For the last 5 years, Fr.

Fernando has been hosting close to 200

priests nationwide in a Priest Tennis

Tournament. A registration fee

is collected and MMP add its

own funds to make up 1

million pesos to the year’s

recipient. This year’s 2014

funds raised were given to the

ruined churches in Tacloban and to the needs of

places that were terribly devastated by typhoon

“Yolanda” last year. The province is slowly

rebuilding its ruined churches and homes.

R


Typhoon Pablo – MMP donated 1 million pesos to typhoon Pablo

victims in the Diocese of Tagum and Mati in Davao. Money was raised

from the 4th Fr. Suarez’ Priest Tennis Tournament with around 200

priests from 25 Dioceses participating last February 5-7, 2013.

Our very own MMP supporter Grace

De Vega of Hawaii was instrumental in

re-building the Church of San Isidro

Labrador in Davao. In attendance was

the Bishop of Tagum, the Most Rev.

Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz, DD.


November 2014

From

USA

To the

Philippines

Typhoon Yolanda – MMP, in an attempt to help out the victims of

typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) started a campaign for people in the

United States to send “balikbayan” boxes to the Philippines. To

date, we have received 162 huge boxes of relief goods of non-

perishable goods, clothes, shoes, school supplies etc. from the USA.


Typhoon Ondoy – MMP Relief Efforts in Taytay, Rizal for victims

of Typhoon Ondoy. The medical and relief team provided help to

over 10,000 families in West Bank, Manggahan Floodway in Taytay,

Rizal. To begin with, most of them were already in poverty and they

do not have permanent jobs and were living in run-down shanties

alongside the floodway. Because of the torrential downpour and the

gusty winds brought by Ondoy, their homes were carried away but

they were able to take refuge in a nearby school. More than 1,000

sick people were treated and 3,000 relief packages distributed.


November 2014

Housing program

ousing Program – one million pesos

was raised in 2013 and given to help

re-build homes in typhoon devastated

Tagum through the Fr. Fernando

Tennis Tournament. Every housing sector has

its own chapel for worship.

H


Medical and dental mission

edical and Dental Mission – Dr. Ging

Reyes from Batangas and Annie Cruz

from London, England volunteered to

look after patients at the

medical mission in Ilin.

Helping out is Marife, a

local resident. Free

medicines were donated

from Korea and Germany.

Hundreds of patients are

seen free of charge. Sr.

Cris of the Franciscan

Sisters of the Sacred

Hearts with MMMP’s

Bro. Mark dispensed

free medicines. Dr. Jinky

Gianan with the help of

Hanna Alvarez provided

dental care as well.

M


November 2014

MMP Medical and Dental Mission in

Barangay Baclaran, Cabuyao, Laguna for

Typhoon Ondoy victims where the team

looked after 400 medical patients and 150

dental patients in an evacuation center

that served as a refugee camp. 1,000 relief

packages were given out as well.


livelihood program

ivelihood Program – MMP’s Livelihood

Program consists of Rosary Making in

Barangay Butong, Taal, Batangas and

Seaweeds Management with 32 families involved,

Bamboo Sticks Development with 50 families

involved and

Basket

Making in Ilin

Island,

Occidental

Mindoro. Recently, the MMMP Seminarians

have started Moringa Plantation in Ilin Island as

well as means of livelihood for the local

inhabitants and a group in the US is already

waiting for its harvest.

L


November 2014

Scholarship program

cholarship Program – MMP’s Educational

Assistance Program established by Fr.

Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP has been

responsive to the needs of our times helping

contribute in the realization of dreams of every

young person which would also improve the over-

all social condition of their families especially the

marginalized. The Educational Assistance

Program of Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP has

been fulfilling its goals for the past 12-years.

S

Education is the most powerful weapon

which you can use to change the world.

- Nelson Mandela

MMP’s Educational Assistance Program Goals:

1. To provide and support financially disadvantaged youth in

pursuing a quality high level of education and;

2. To improve the quality of life of every youth integrating the

spirituality and mission of MMMP in their lives and their

respective families.


Grand Total of the Educational Assistance Program is 194

NAME OF SCHOOL/INSTITUTIONS/PARTNERS

STATUS OF

BENEFICIARY

TOTAL NUMBER OF

BENEFICIARIES

CHRIST THE KING SEMINARY SEMINARIAN 2

CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES STUDENT SCHOLAR 10

COLEGIO DE SAN LORENZO YES SCHOLAR 2

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARINAS SEMINARIAN 1

DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF SAN JOSE SEMINARIAN 10

DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF SAN JOSE STUDENT SCHOLAR 2

INFORMATICS STUDENT SCHOLAR 6

INFOTECH STUDENT SCHOLAR 12

LA CONCORDIA COLLEGE RELIGIOUS 1

LEMERY COLLEGES STUDENT SCHOLAR 3

LYCEUM OF APARRI STUDENT SCHOLAR 25

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY STUDENT SCHOLAR 2

NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY –IIRT STUDENT SCHOLAR 80

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO STATE COLLEGE STUDENT SCHOLAR 19

OUR LADY OF CAYSASAY STUDENT SCHOLAR 2

RIZAL COLLEGE OF TAAL STUDENT SCHOLAR 5

SAN BEDA COLLEGE SEMINARIAN 1

SANTUARIO DE SAN VICENTE DE PAUL STUDENT SCHOLAR 6

STA. ISABEL COLLEGE STUDENT SCHOLAR 1

ST. VINCENT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY SEMINARIAN 2

UNIVERSITY OF THE VISAYAS STUDENT SCHOLAR 1

UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI SEMINARIAN 1

Live as if

you were

to die

tomorrow.

Learn as if

you were

to live

forever.

- Mahatma

Gandhi


November 2014

Youth program

outh Program – The Mary Mother of the

Poor Youth Evangelization Services

Program (MMP YES) is an initiative of

Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP in an

effort to reach out to the youth and journey with

them in their downtrodden and restive moments.

Now, under the Missionaries of Mary Mother of

the Poor (MMMP) - Office of Mission and

Ministry (OMM) in fulfilling its mission and

ministry to be part of the Church’s teaching about

Evangelization in the modern times, it shall be

more responsive to the new challenges that the

contemporary world creates for the mission of

the Church.

Y


The MMP Youth Evangelization Services (YES) PROGRAM uses the

MODULE on HEAP (Human Evocative Approach) which employs a

variety of activities that will enhance group dynamics, critical thinking and

cohesiveness among the youth. The youth member will also be trained as a

facilitator of the program and animator for the songs and other

interpretations for the situation and deepening processes.

The MMP YES PROGRAM youth member will undertake two (2) years

of rigid training, formation and service to the mission and ministry of

MMMP and after completion of the program, will proceed with their college

education and become recipient of the MMP Educational Assistance

Program.

MMP’s Youth Program Goals:

1. To instill in the minds of the youth a great mission to serve the Church

and their fellow youth.

2. To improve the quality of life of every youth and their respective families

integrating the spirituality and mission of MMMP.

3. To advance and teach religious tenets, doctrines, observances and culture

associated with the Roman Catholic faith.

4. To provide supervised programs intended to help youth develop their

talents and become good citizens.


November 2014

SPORTS DAY

SKILLS BUILDING DAY

MMP’s (YEs) First suMMEr Youth CaMP in ilin

MMP’s Youth Program Objectives:

1. To have a clear and operative procedure in screening, evaluating and

approving of MMP YES youth member;

2. To equip every youth with a comprehensive background of the program

that will require undergoing rigid trainings and formations;

3. To empower every youth so that they can identify their strengths and areas

of developments;

4. To nurture every youth to become a reflective, cohesive and dynamic

team member, and;

5. To help the MMP YES youth member to grow and develop as a well-

rounded individual: emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.


MMP’s (YEs) lEads the stations of the cross In the Streets of San Jose on Good Friday – April 18, 2014


November 2014

Solar light distribution

olar Light Distribution – 3,000 LED Solar

Lights have been distributed so far with the

help of MMP and in partnership with

Watts of Love Foundation based in Illinois,

USA. The health of the children has greatly

improved as the toxic kerosene being inhaled has

been eliminated with the gift of the led solar light.

S


mass wedding

ass Wedding – Because of poverty,

couples in Ilin Island are living

together without the Sacrament of

Marriage. Through MMP supporters, mass

weddings were held with everything paid for

including wedding garments, wedding rings and

wedding reception. Thereafter, the married

couple’s children were baptized and confirmed.

M

Mass Wedding (Kasalan ng Bayan)

2014

78 Couples were married

on Feb 10, 2014 in the

Mass Wedding (Kasalan ng

Bayan) at Santisima

Trinidad Church in Ilin

Island, Mindoro.


November 2014

Kasalan ng Bayan 2013


1) St. Peter’s Church – Butong, Batangas

Through the help of MMP, St.

Peter’s Chapel in Barangay

Butong, Taal, Batangas was

inaugurated on June 29, 2009 by

His Excellency Most Rev.

Ramon C. Arguelles, DD on the

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul.


November 2014

2) Sto. Nino Church – Pagkilatan, Batangas

This chapel is a replica of the Miraculous

Image of the Holy Infant of Prague in Czech

Republic. The Sto. Nino Chapel is part of the

project of the Mary Mother of the Poor

Foundation designed by Architect Reggie

Ragojos. It was blessed on January 18, 2010

by the Archbishop of Lipa, His Excellency

Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, STD, DD.


3) Santisima Trinidad Church-Ilin, Mindoro


November 2014

Ilin Island Becomes a Formation Community of MMMP

February 11, 2013 marked a historic day in the life of the MMMP. On this day, Most

Rev. Bishop Antonio Palang, SVD, DD blessed the first house of formation, the St.

John Paul II Formation House. This is where the Seminarians begin their training to

become priests serving in God’s Church. Communal Prayer, Adoration, the Liturgy of

the Hours and the Rosary are practiced daily. The island provides a rich experience of

“formation through exposure”, as they live together with the poorest of the poor.

The Feeding Program for the malnourished children started in the whole island of Ilin,

as well as house to house evangelization, solar light distribution, basic catechism,

preparation for the sacraments, Bible study with the poor and house to house praying of

the Holy Rosary. Experiencing the life of God’s blessed poor will not only strengthen

the Seminarians’ call and mission to be totally selfless but also to understand the

DIVINE PROVIDENCE of God which the poor experienced daily.

The blessing continued at the Saint John Paul

II Formation House at the back of the chapel

Thanks to DMCI, Mr. Vic Consunji, Ms. Lucy Consunji,

Mr.& Mrs. Manny Sta. Cruz, Mr. & Mrs. Baby Ignacio

Most Rev. Antonio Palang, SVD, DD officiates

the altar blessing at Santisima Trinidad Chapel

Fr. Fernando Suarez, founder of MMMP blessed

the church vicinity with Fr. Jeff & MMMP

Seminarians


The Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor or MMMP, a public

association of the faithful towards becoming a Society of Apostolic Life under the Apostolic

Vicariate of San Jose, Philippines, was founded by Rev. Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP and

Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Shannon, MMMP, under the canonical protection of Most Rev. Antonio

Palang, SVD, DD, on July 16, 2011. Since then, the Community has been doing apostolates in

the following areas: rekindling Church communities in mountainous and remote areas and island

villages where the poorest of the poor are situated; building churches and outreach centers for the

poor that provide dignified place for worship and cater to the very basic medical needs through

medical missions; establishing livelihood programs for the poor; reviving youth ministries, the

birth to the Youth Evangelization Services (YES) Movement that now goes to public schools in

various dioceses in the country; and establishing and sustaining scholarship programs for the very

poor and deserving students. Evidently, the MMMP is passionately involved in "bringing Good

News to the poor...a Church for and with the poor" as emphasized by the CBCP's Pastoral

Letter on the Era of New Evangelization, "Live Christ, Share Christ."

On top of all the missionary activities of the MMMP is the establishment of "Eucharistic villages"

in different communities wherein adoration chapels are built and renewed catechesis are

conducted among the young and the old. This is part and parcel of the young Community's

response to the Holy Father's urgent invitation "to arouse in every believer the aspiration to

profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope" (Porta

Fidei, 9). It even demonstrates the very core of the MMMP's passionate response to the call

for new evangelization (cf. 14).

Being God's anointed in the healing ministries, Fr. Fernando, within the spirituality of the MMMP,

serves as healing priest worldwide who draws his charism from the power of the Holy Eucharist.

Inspired by this, the MMMP then engages itself on activities that go beyond the corners of the

Vicariate of San Jose. It is now actively involved on television, radio, and Internet ministries, sick

visitation, retreat giving, and prison ministry. It is even more engaged in a number of student

grants and in feeding and livelihood programs that seek sustainable development among

beneficiaries.

After Three (3) years of its canonical founding, the Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor now

has 20 seminarians, who are studying philosophy, theology and canon law in Manila, some are

into pastoral management program, while the rest are into other different formation stages through

its various apostolates like teaching catechesis in public schools and canonical preparation of

candidates to the reception of the sacraments. Its Mother House and Chapel is in the simple and

quiet island of Ilin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines.

History of Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor


November 2014

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November 2014

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We are NON-PROFIT TAX-EXEMPT

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION

in 3 countries:

USA

CANADA

PHILIPPINES

We do tax filing with the governing

agencies of these countries.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE GOALS

of Mary Mother of the Poor (MMP)?

MMP intends to maintain on-going

spiritual and temporal support to the

impoverished in the Philippines while

expanding its reach to other countries

around the globe.


November 2014

About the founder

r. Fernando Mortel Suarez was born on February 7,

1967 in Butong, Taal, Batangas in the Philippines. After graduating as a

Chemical Engineer, he worked for five years in a chemical plant before

answering the Lord’s call to leave it all behind and become a priest. In 1995, he

was invited to Canada and was ordained a priest by His Excellency Archbishop

Marcel Gervais at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on May 18,

2002. After a strong calling to start a new community of priests in the Philippines,

focused on ministering to the poorest of the poor, he

founded the Missionaries of Mary Mother of the

Poor in the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose,

Occidental Mindoro, Philippines on March 2011.

r. Fernando discovered that the Lord had given

him a very special gift of healing around the

age of 16. God began to use him in a powerful way

as he reached out to people who were in need. At

first, he struggled to understand the gift that God had

given him and thus he hid the gift for 20 years.

However, after ordination to the priesthood, the gift

could not be hidden any longer. When he blessed

and prayed with people as a priest, many were

getting healed. The sick and troubled began to seek

him out and they were able to find the healing touch of Jesus through his hands.

To date, Fr. Fernando Suarez has prayed with literally millions of people in need

of healing graces of God, all over the world.

he healing ministry of Fr. Fernando is truly a gift from the Lord. He also

stands in awe as he witnesses the action of God using his hands in healing

the people in front of him of all sorts of physical, emotional and spiritual illnesses.

He calls it a mystery that is difficult to comprehend. The Holy Spirit has given

wisdom to this humble man who is diligently working in the vineyard of the Lord,

healing the sick and ministering to the poor. The Lord continues to use him in

even greater ways to help enkindle a burning desire in the hearts of the faithful

who are so desperately seeking the love of Jesus in their lives.

F

F

T


“Now to Him who is able to

accomplish far more than all you

ask or imagine, by the power at

work within us, to Him be glory

in the church and in Christ Jesus

to all generations, forever and

ever.” Amen.

- Ephesians 3:20-21


November 2014

Contributors:

Fr. Jeffrey Mark Shannon, MMMP Co-Founder


and Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor

Rhorie H. Abalos, M.B.A.

Executive Director

Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, USA

Hanna J. Alvarez Executive Director

Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, Philippines

Bro. Polie L. Atienza, S.T.B. General Secretary, MMMP

Bro. Alvin Cabria, S.T.B. Moderator, MMMP Youth Ministry

Bro. Albert V. Damiao, J.C.B. Moderator, MMMP Office of Mission and Ministry

Dorothy Violeta MMMP Office of Mission and Ministry

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