Sr. Maria Roselyn T.

Felisilda, OP
1. Were you surprised by the facts presented? What could be the most surprising for
you?
- I also grow up in poverty, at a young age I and my siblings needed to work in order
to help our parents. We needed to sell anything on the street. Candies, cigarettes, junk
foods, cheap fruits, toys, drinks, and many more. We needed to be very careful as we
approach Jeepney passengers and we are doing it rain or shine from early morning
until late at night. Our Capital is also borrowed from lending (Bombay). We are
already very happy if, for the entire day, we have 300-500 clean earnings.
(Accumulated earnings) At least we have Something to pay for the house rentals and
for the bills.

- As someone with that condition, I am very much aware that many of us children lost
our childhood since at a very young age our playground is our place of work. On my
part, the busy street of Cebu. I am aware of the reality that many of us though we put
our lives in danger, though we work so hard still our earning is just very little.
2. How do you feel about the predicament of the people in the given locality? How do you
feel about the way those people cope with the situation?
- I pity them for I know how it feels to be in that situation. I always want to be of help to them in
any means I can. It is actually one of the many reasons why I joined the convent. To extend my
helping hands to those people in deep poverty. It’s like passing God’s goodness forward. I want
to inspire them not to be contended with that kind of life and to still continue and finish their
studies no matter how difficult it is. I will not be tired of sharing my family’s story to inspire
them.
With our situation, we tried our best to really study. Sometimes we go to school on an empty
stomach and no baon. We walk to school; our uniforms are handed me over. On college days, we
are always on a promissory note but We continue to strive because we want to be out of poverty
and there is no other way.
3. How do the principles and themes of Catholic Social doctrines which you learned relate
to this issue?
- Those principles and themes are the things that every person and family should
enjoy but, in our case, for us who are in great poverty; we won’t mind about that
principles and themes. The only important thing for us is to “SURVIVE”. To make
sure that we have something to fill our stomachs for the next meal.
4. What initiatives has the local church/community or other groups done to address the
issue? How do you assess them?
- I’m not sure about other places but in my case, I’m very grateful to our local church, and the
priests in our parish because they really helped us a lot in going out of that poverty. They
designed income-generating projects, help us learn new skills, and helped the youth find
scholarships for our studies.
5. What other initiatives or actions would you propose?
What my Parish did was really very good, my family and many families from our place was
really helped to go out of that situation. I know there are still a lot of families suffering from dire
poverty. I hope many local churches will really be sensitive in addressing the needs of the
people. I hope to see more religious actively involved in designing programs to alleviate the
suffering of the poor. As what St. James wrote in his letter “If a brother or sister is without
clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be
filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” In short,
how can we talk about the Love of God if we ourselves cannot show that love to them.
So, with this I’m proposing that every Parish or religious Congregation should adopt a barangay;
study the needs of their adopted barangay not just their spiritual needs, design a program,
connect to a government agency or any funding agency, and start the project. For example, that
barangay who have a place for gardening maybe they can teach them a new way of doing it. For
faster harvest. Then connect to local markets for selling.

Question 1
What does the Catholic Social Teaching mean when it speaks of “preferential option for the
poor”? Does it imply marginalizing the rich?
- I always believe that “WE are blessed to bless” The rich are given much because they
have a mission and that is to share it with others. They already receive so much and so
they cannot be recipients all their lives they have the call to be sensitive to the needs of
others. The church already helps them in Identifying who are those that need help.
Question 2
Doesn’t starting with human dignity lead to an emphasis on the individual instead of the
community? What does the Catholic Social Teaching say regarding this matter?
The catholic social teaching does not only focus on the needs of every individual but also on the
common good of society. It may look like giving emphasis on the individual but let us look at it
in the long run. If people are deprived of their needs of justice and etc. It would result to a
chaotic world.
Question 3
Which of these ten key themes of the Catholic Social Doctrine do you consider most important?
Are certain ones more foundational than others? Do any of them challenge your previously held
opinions regarding the role of institutions like government, labor unions or family, etc.? Explain
your answers.
I think all of them are of equal degree of importance. We all have different needs I might not
need much needs on The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers but others are
screaming for it. I think all of these 10 themes of the catholic social doctrine are designed
to cater to the different needs of every individual.

2.What does the Catholic Social Teaching mean when it speaks of “preferential option for the
poor”? Does it imply marginalizing the rich?

3.Doesn’t starting with human dignity lead to an emphasis on the individual instead of the
community? What does the Catholic Social Teaching say regarding this matter?