Tuesday, June 19, 2012

My First Book - The Pastoral Care of the Filipino Migrant Family




FOREWORD



Father Jerry Gomez has written a book that challenges all of us in Church ministry to recognize a heavily – Catholic yet often overlooked ethnic group in our parishes.


            “The Pastoral Care of the Filipino Migrant Family” highlights the enormous impact that Filipino immigration has had throughout the world. In Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as our own country, Filipinos labor as domestics and maintenance workers, as well as highly-skilled medical professionals.

            Father Gomez documents how this human movement, encouraged by the government of the Philippines as a way to boost its economy via remittances sent home to families, has an impact on the spiritual and personal lives of all Filipinos, including those who leave and those who are left behind.

            Working with demographic data and personal anecdotes gleaned from ministry to Filipino expatriates in Rome and New Jersey, Father Gomez describes the heartache of many families in the Philippines, where spouses and often children are left behind for years to cope without a beloved husband, wife, mother or father. He points out that this has enormous social consequences.

            He also challenges the Church to be a source of support and comfort to these families, both in the Philippines and around the world. The Church, he says, is ably situated to both welcome and to warn against the excesses of materialism and consumer culture that often accompanies the paychecks earned via overseas labor.

            Father Gomez’ work is a fruit of his pastoral service to Filipino immigrants. We are happy to have him here in the Diocese of Camden and I hope his book can get wide distribution among those interested in outreach to this faithful and vibrant community. It deserves wide attention wherever the Filipino presence is felt which, Father Gomez points out, is just about everywhere.





+Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D.

Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Camden





April 11, 2012

New Jersey, U.S.A.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Thank You Batchmates

In behalf of Batch '82, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Antonio Sugala Jr., Norman Macarayon and Fr. Jerry Gomez for their kindness and generosity. Thanks also for the support of their respective families. Without their support, our BATCH REUNION will not be materialized. We salute you 3 for your hard work, love and concern for the batch '82. We love you all and we always keep you all in our prayers!












Sunday, December 26, 2010