Manila (Philippines). On 22 November 2020 VIDES Philippines (VIDES Pinoy) celebrated the 25 years of the Group’s activity with an online meeting. More than 50 were the connected participants – Volunteers in Germany, the United States, New Zealand, Italy, and the Philippines – welcomed by Lezeil Ebdane, President of VIDES Pinoy.
The meeting was attended by Sr. Runita Borja, General Councilor for Youth Ministry, the Provincial of the Philippine Province St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello (FIL) Sr. Mabel Pilar, the Director General of VIDES International Sr. Annecie Audate, the VIDES Pinoy Delegate Sr. Maria Imelda David, and other Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Ex-Provincials, and VIDES Delegates. Mr. Guido Barbero, President of VIDES International, and the representatives of the VIDES Groups from various countries, sent their greetings.
The event began with Holy Mass presided over by Fr. Andy Peter Lubi from Mindoro who, in the homily of the Solemnity of Christ the King, presented Jesus as king and shepherd who looks at His sheep with mercy and compassion. He encouraged the participants to have the same gaze as Christ, to be signs of His presence among the poorest.
Sister Annecie Audate in her presentation, expressed gratitude to all the people who allowed VIDES Pinoy to reach this goal: “We sincerely thank the first Volunteers who had the intuition to start Vides Pinoy, to create a network of solidarity, an organization that today is an active interlocutor for the defense and promotion of human rights. We thank in particular the young people who have embraced the VIDES proposal with enthusiasm and creativity, contributing to the development of voluntary service and to their human and spiritual maturation. ”
In conclusion, Sister Annecie recalled Mr. Felimon “Jun” Pimentel, who passed away in August 2020, who was one of the pioneering volunteers of VIDES Pinoy and contributed to the preparation of the events for the 25th anniversary celebrations.
