The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Batch 1990 has invited Fr. Gregory Ramon D. GASTON, Rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, to give his Lenten reflections in webinars to be held on Fridays March 22 and April 5, 2019. CPD and CME credits are available (see bottom of this page on how to register for free).

The regular webinars are at the same time opportunities to know more about the Collegio, the “Home in Rome” for Filipino priests doing further studies.

When the priests return after two to four years, they are assigned to the seminaries and other special ministries, including health-related apostolates such as hospital chaplaincies, bioethics committees, orphanages, feeding programs, drug rehabilitation, care for abandoned children and elderly, and so on.

For this reason, supporting the Collegio is a concrete way of helping our country. In need of particular assistance at present is the Collegio Library, hopefully soon to be renovated with your help. It will focus on Filipiniana books and journals, especially when it comes to Philippine religiosity and related themes, such as culture, history, and society as a whole. (For details on the PCF, please visit www.pcfroma.org.)

Individual/group donation of any amount may be coursed through:

• ACCOUNT NAME: University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Foundation (UPMAF), Inc.
• REFERENCE/NOTE: PCF thru UPCM90
• BANK/BRANCH: BPI Ermita
• BRANCH ADDRESS: Midland Plaza Condominium, M. Adriatico Street, Manila
• PESO SAVINGS ACCOUNT NO: 3283 5199 01
• For issuance of tax-deductible Official Receipt, please email a copy of the deposit slip, with TIN, cellphone, & address to: upcmclass1990@gmail.com

US-based donors may make a tax-deductible gift (US IRS 501c3) via Friends of the Collegio.

Spirit break

Published March 10, 2019, 12:05 AM

(from https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/03/10/spirit-break/)

IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST

By DR. JOSE PUJALTE JR.

“I cannot understand the depths of this mystery. Give me the grace to love it.”

– Thomas Merton (1915-1968),Trappist monk and mystic, Lent and Easter Wisdom

Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr.

Every year, at this time of the year, I give me way to my medical school classmate, Fr. Greg Gaston to share his thoughts.

“The Lenten season invites us to reflect a bit more on God’s love, in preparation for Easter. Ash Wednesday reminded us of our nothingness, a nothingness that we especially experience when we deal with the sick and dying – that indeed, from dust we came, and unto dust we shall return. But with God’s infinite love, we become his greatest creation.

Lent invites us to prayer, fasting, and good works. This is foolishness to some, who might see them as an invitation to waste our time, and even to harm and punish ourselves. But when we pray, we turn to God who is our source of life and being. Fasting makes us forget ourselves a bit and reminds us to unite ourselves with those who have less in life. Good works bring us to share with others not only our spare time, coins, or old clothes, but our very selves.

Lent actually invites us to discover God’s power and wisdom by looking at the cross, so that even though we are dust and nothing on our own, we can do great things because of God’s love.”

***

The UP College of Medicine (UPCM) Class 1990 is holding a 2-part Lenten recollection webinar series by Fr. Gregory Ramon D. Gaston, SThD, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (www.pcfroma.org & www.friendsofthecollegio.org). The Collegio is the residence in Rome of Filipino priests doing further studies for two to four years, after which they are assigned to various seminaries and specialized ministries back home in the Philippines. Fr. Greg did the first two years of Medicine proper with our batch, after which he discovered his vocation to the priesthood.

Our class is also inviting everyone to the following:

• Beyond Physical Healing: A Spiritual Journey (March 22, 2019, Fri, 12-1 pm MNL) with Dr. Edgardo Ulysses Dorotheo (reactor)
• Becoming Instruments of Divine Grace and Healing (April 5, 2019, Fri, 12-1 pm MNL) with Dr. Edgar Manaois (reactor)

Moderator: Dr. Jose Paciano Baltazar Reyes

Open to all healthcare providers, medical and allied medical students, religious, patients and their families, here and abroad.  CPD/CME units are available for MDs, nurses and pharmacists.

Registration is FREE at bit.ly/lenten032219 and bit.ly/lenten040519

Join online through UP Manila livestream and FB LIVE using any computer or mobile device.

For inquiries, contact upmedwebinars90@gmail.com

Thank you very much for your generosity!