Volume I Version I   ☼   Today is 

DIOCESAN MINISTRY ON SOCIAL SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT (MSSD) 

 Diocese of Balanga

“JOURNEYING WITH THE POOR AND THE DISADVANTAGED

IN REALIZING THE FULLNESS OF LIFE ON EARTH”

Building Love Community:   KRISMA

INTRODUCTION

The Diocesan Ministry on Social Services and Development (DMSSD) is the social services and development ministry of the Diocese of Balanga.  Its programs and services are directed towards renewed spirituality and total human development of the poor and the marginalized.

            DMSSD shares the greatest vision of the Philippine Catholic Church as defined in the PCP II, Acts and Decrees, which states:

"This is our vision: that all Filipinos may have life in its fullness,

we need to bring forth a free nation, nurturing a civilization of life and love --

Where human dignity and solidarity are respected and promoted;

where moral principles prevail in socio-economic life structures;

where justice, love and solidarity are the inner driving forces of development.

We shall have to build a sovereign nation:

where every tribe and faith are respected; where diverse tongues

and traditions work together for the common good;

where members is  a call to participation and development,

and leadership a summons to generous service.

Ours will have to be people:

 in harmony with one another; through unity and diversity;

in harmony with creation and in harmony with the Creator.”

(PCP II, Acts and Decrees, 1992. LXXXIV)

            The great Biblical passage, “Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40), reminds us of three main things.  The first is service to God and neighbor that cannot be separated. Second, our service as Christian Church.  And lastly,  we are called as Christians to serve all people especially the poor, for this kind of service is also directed to the cause of God for His people.

            Making the kingdom of God happen to the poor or to the little ones means an effort we should do so that a righteous situation will happen.  To the unjust, the kingdom of God does not belong (1 Cor. 6:9).  There is no kingdom so long as the situation of poverty and injustice reigns.  The poor who are blessed because they will inherit the kingdom  (Lk. 6:20), can claim that they are the first beneficiaries of this kingdom when justice reign, human rights are respected, dignity of man is protected and the right to a decent living is ensured.  All these immediate benefits go to the poor who are often if not always dehumanized.  For as long as the poor remains poor, we cannot claim the kingdom of God in our midst.   Where there is poverty and concentration of wealth to only few, there is no justice, which is the heart of the kingdom (Lk. 6:20-25).  But when the poor start to practice their rights as persons and when poverty is slowly overcome then we can say the kingdom that Jesus’ preached is beginning to happen here and now.

            Social Action apostolate proceeds from the inspiration of the scriptures.  The church witnesses the great love of God for the poor who remained poor until now.  Both the scripture and concrete situation of man prompt her to espouse for the full respect of the dignity of man, exposure for the protection of common goods and for the participation of every man in running his society and the promotion of peace based on mutual trust.  She responded concretely by preaching the establishment of just society and by working for justice she believes will bring men to total human development, without neglecting her duty to assist the hungry, poor, unemployed and those in one way or another are afflicted.

            The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) further gave concrete expression how the social action apostolate will be grounded and become more responsive to the signs of the time. “ The Church must exert efforts to reduce the gap between faith and practice in the area of social justice by working for greater justice and equality in the society.  Action in behalf of justice is to be pursued as a sign of Christian witnessing to Christ and His teachings.  The social apostolate is to be constantly given solid religious grounding through catechesis and organic linking with worship (Sec.1, Art. 20, #1-3).  Further, the social action apostolate, since it is the Church work that is specially focused on the task of Christian social transformation, must become a vital involvement of the Church at all levels, its thrust towards justice and peace and the integrity of creation being related to all other apostolate”.

            The DMSSD is taking upon herself the challenge of journeying with the poor and the afflicted in realizing the fullness of life; wherein there is peace and equality; there is dignity and mutual respect; and where everybody enjoys and nurture all forms of God’s creation. DMSSD's ultimate mission is to make God’s work incarnate in life by bringing Gospel values to bear on and manifest in the lives of the people.

OUR OBJECTIVES

• Build and strengthen discerning and empowered faith communities among the poor and marginalized wherein all efforts to alleviate them from poverty are carried through from the genuine perspective of Christ’s teachings.
• Promote renewed way of life and moral values in the conduct of community organizing and community development -- modeling Jesus Christ-in-mission – as the inner driving force in working for social transformation. (Spirituality of Social Transformation – PCP II)
• Alleviate the living condition and improve the quality of life of the poor by implementing viable and sustainable community social enterprises that promote total human development.
• Implement programs that facilitate healing and rehabilitation from traumas of the neglected, abused and abandoned children; work for their total human development; Facilitate reintegration and rebuilding of the family.
• Provide care giving and developmental programs for the neglected, abandoned and sick women and men elderly.  Reenergize their faith and spirituality as they look forward to internal life.
• Initiate programs that promote protection, conservation and respect for the environment; inculcate stewardship of God’s creation.
• Enhance and promote IP’s indigenous spirituality witnessing a Resurrected Christ thru their loving and respectful communion with the whole created universe;
• Alleviate the living condition, preserve their cultural integrity, and improve the quality of life of the IPs by implementing viable, sustainable and environmental conservation-oriented socio economic projects.
• Advocate for the “Church of the Poor”. Promote sharing of resources from the rich and the better off sectors to give preferential loving option for the poor following the example of Jesus Christ.

OUR PROGRAMS

1. Four (4) Program Departments guided by the above said orientation will journey with the people for change in the spirit of ‘PAG-IBIG’.

2. Caritas Bataan – for Faith Community Building & Community Development, which shall be called  Kristyanong Magkakapitbahay or “KRISMA”

3. Munting Tahanan Home for the street children – to cater for rehabilitation and total human development of the neglected, abandoned and abused children.

4. Bahay Puso Home for the elderly – to render love and care; and developmental services for the abandoned, neglected and sick elderly.

5. Indigenous People’s Apostolate – to cater to the ADC concerns of the IPs and work for the upliftment of their living condition.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1.      Love of  Preference for the poor

It is a demand of Jesus Christ for His disciples to follow His own love for the poor (PCP II-312-Renewed Evangelization). Option for the poor has consistently been the thrust of the church, not only because of the scripture and the magisterial admonitions but also because of the social realities.  In all places a great number of people continue to languish in the morass of poverty and injustice.  This reality leaves us with little choice but to embrace concern of God for His little ones.

2.      Transformative Discipleship

Witnessing the Resurrected Christ-in-Mission, unconditional love must govern every actions in rendering the programs for the poor.

3.      Gospel-based action for Social Transformation

Our struggle to build the Kingdom of God is a pilgrim journey; a journey to truth and justice, to love and peace; a journey to full life (PCP II-Renewed Evangelization).

a)      confronting the sinfulness as root problem

b)      acknowledging the sinfulness as root problem

c)      following Jesus-in-Mission

d)      Transforming the way of life – radical living of what we preach

         and witnessing to the demands of the Gospel

OUR INSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS

A.   Core Values

“Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40 )

God-centeredness in all actions and in dealings with people.

We believe that the highest expression of our  love of God is by rendering unconditional love and care for our brothers and sisters and in all His creations.

B. Core Competences

a)      Faith Community Organizing and Development

b)      Community Social Enterprises development

c)      Psychosocial Therapy

d)      Advocacy

e)      Counseling

f)       Training

C. Work Principles

a)        Spirit of Volunteerism, Service oriented and Apostolate-driven action

b)        High Commitment and dedication to work at all times

c)        Team work spirit

d)        Humility, Honesty and transparency

e)        Motivational working atmosphere

f)         Obedience and Respect for Authority

g)         Maximum service with minimum resources

D. Management Principles

h)       Integrity and Professionalism

i)        Consultative and Process-oriented decision-making

j)        Development Impact-driven

k)        Principled democracy and participation

l)         Fair, Just and Humane

m)       Caring for people, Trusting and Motivating

I.                   THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF MSSD

I.                   SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

A.     CARITAS BATAAN

Programs and Services:

1.      Faith Community Building

2.      Livelihood Development Program

3.      Disaster Response Program

4.      Environmental Concerns

5.      Justice and Peace Advocacy

6.      Indigenous Community Program

B.  BAHAY PUSO APOSTOLATE FOUNDATION, INC.

(Bahay Puso Home for the Aged)

 VISION 

Manatiling ganap ang pagkatao na may dignidad at pagpapahalaga sa sarili

bilang anak ng Diyos;  Maibalik ang sigla sa piling at pagklalinga ng sariling pamilya;

Makamit ang kapayapaan ng isipan, maging malaya sa bagabag ng kalooban at

madamang muli ang tunay na pagmamahal;  Madama ang kaligayahan

sa loob ng isang tahanang puno ng pagmamahalan at pagkakaisa tulad ng

isang pinagpalang pamilya;  Maibalik ang katatagan ng kalooban at

tiwala sa sariling kakayahan upang manatiling malikhain sa mga

gawaing marangal at kapaki-pakinabang;

Mapanatiling masigla at matibay ang pananampalataya sa Diyos upang

maging ganap ang kahandaang humarap sa Kanyang Kaharian.

MISSION

(Pagtatalaga)

Upang matulungang matupad ang mga ito, nagtatalaga ang BAHAY PUSO na:

1.       Tumugon sa mga batayang pangangailangan ng mga matatanda (basic welfare services) upang sila ay magkaroon ng kaginhawahan ng katawan at isipan (food, clothing & medical assistance);

2.       Tiyakin ang isang maayos na tahahan na may espiritu ng pagmamahal, pagpapahalaga at kahandaang magtaguyod sa kanilang kapakanan;

3.       Magbigay ng  panahon at pagkakataong mapanatiling masigla ang kanilang pananampalataya sa Diyos at sa Kanyang mga Salita;

4.       Magbigay ng lahat ng oportunidad na mapanatili ang kanilang kasiglahan at tiwala sa kakayahan;  gabayan sila sa paglikha ng mga bagay na kapaki-pakinabang at magpapasigla sa kanilang katawan at isipan;

5.       Tumulong sa lahat ng pagkakataong makabalik, kilalanin, maka-ugnayan at makasama ang sariling pamilya;  at,

6.       Maglagay ng mga programang magpapasigla sa kanilang mga damdamin at muling bubuhay sa espiritu ng pakikipag-kapwa-tao.

Kasihan nawa kami ng Diyos.

BAHAY PUSO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

1.    Human Development Program (HDP)

2.    On-going formation and Faith Community Building

3.    Health and Nutrition

4.    Skills Enhancement and Livelihood Program

C.     MUNTING TAHANAN APOSTOLATE FOUNDATION

OUR VISION

"Ang mga batang lansangan ay maging huwarang Kristiyano,

na may pagpapahalaga sa buhay

at may kakayahang tumayo sa sarili, at maging kaagapay

sa pag-unlad ng mapayapa at makatarungang lipunan".

OUR MISSION

To be able to fulfill this vision, MTAF commits itself: to:

Teach the street children to become Christ-centered 

with strong moral values, loving and caring in all God's creation;

Protect the rights and promote the general welfare

and well-being of the street children;

Provide holistic approach in facilitating their total human development;

Help develop their self-confidence, dignity and self-worth;

Develop their capability to become self reliant;  and,

Facilitate family reintegration.

Programs and Services:

1.      Welfare Assistance 

·         Food

·         Temporary Shelter

·         Clothing

·         Health Service

2.      Educational Assistace

3.      Psychosocial Therapy

4.      Psychoeducation and Value Formation

5.      Family Development