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BE HAPPY AND STAY ALIVE: An Easter Message of the MSP Father Moderator

VERY RECENTLY, I had the chance to visit Fr. Benjie Pelias, MSP in his parish at Maria Cristina, part of the Prelature of St. Mary’s-Marawi. In such a short period of time after he was appointed Parish Priest, he was able to build a small, but very decent and simple rectory through the help of his friends. Conspicuously posted on the wall before entering his bedroom, are cut-out letters that read, “Live and Stay Happy.” Honestly, he told me that it should have been “Be Happy and Stay Alive,” but the youth who did the cut-outs put it the other way around. This motto can be well understood in the context of his recent bout with his illness and the MSP charism as well.

Living a joyful missionary life, regardless of physical condition and pastoral situation, is nothing new to every MSP missionary because this attitude has been spelled out in our charism: “Ours is a joyful missionary spirit flowing from deep union with Christ through Mary and in the power of the Holy Spirit willing to spend ourselves and be spent in sharing His Gospel to all.” Thus, every MSP member is greatly challenged to genuinely express and share with authenticity the joy and gratitude that emanate from the experience of God’s unconditional love. 

Joyfully spending oneself in sharing God’s message of love to our brothers and sisters in our respective mission areas is a basic prerequisite and is fundamental to MSP way of life. This is what gives MSP a unique character and a peculiar trait that distinguishes its member from other missionaries. People whom we serve and live with can easily notice the big difference the way MSP fulfills the mission mandate of Christ-----that is, with passion and enthusiasm, with joy and gratitude, with unwavering faith even in the midst of adversities.

That is the power of the Resurrection! That is the power of God’s unconditional Love! That is the power that compels us to become zealous messengers of hope to the underprivileged, and courageous witnesses of Christian joy to people of different beliefs. 

HAPPY EASTER to one and all! Be happy at all times and stay alive with and for Christ!


Rev Fr ALFREDO G. AFRICA, JR., MSP

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