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by Susan Palmes-Dennis
A MUSICAL for the benefit of the poor, homeless and abandoned will be held at the Halton Theater of CPCC at 1206 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina 28235 on Aug. 8 to 10 this year.
Entitled “The Messiah”, it is an original Caribbean musical by Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) and Superior General with God’s little ones at Bethlehem home, MOP in Jamaica.
The musical is also a celebration for the MOP as it celebrates 33 years of existence. “A joyful service with Christ on the cross,” stated its fliers that were distributed in Catholic Churches around Charlotte.
Organizers said “The Messiah” is a musical drama consisting mostly of reggae and Caribbean rhythms with dances, colorful costumes and powerful performances.
Among the members of the MOP community are Filipinos from Masbate and Naga City who were among those distributing fliers and information at St. Mark Catholic Church at Huntersville, North Carolina.
To quote Wikipedia “The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) is an international Roman Catholic monastic religious institute of brothers dedicated to joyful service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the poorest of the poor.”
Started in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung in Kingston, Jamaica it has now grown to over 550 brothers from 13 countries.
Their headquarters is in Kingston, Jamaica, where they maintain six mission homes for destitute persons, including abandoned sick, disabled, or dying men, women, infants, and children.
They also operate in India (Andhra Pradesh and Orissa), the Philippines (Naga City and Cebu), Haiti (Cap-Haïtien), Uganda (Kampala), Kenya (Nairobi) and in Monroe, North Carolina, the US. A mission is being established in Indonesia.
The brothers, who gave away all personal belongings, take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Everything is done in community including eating, sleeping, and traveling.
All their daily activities revolve around prayer, service and worship. More than just giving aid with food, clothing and shelter, the Missionaries of the Poor are dedicated to building up the Church and spreading the faith.
Dedicated to the Holy Rosary, they wear the beads on their sash, and it was on the feast of the Holy Rosary in 1997 that the Holy See recognized them as religious community. Ho Lung stepped down as leader of MOP in 2014, with Brother Augusto Silot succeeding him.”
Among those excited about the presentation are spouses Raymund and Jesette Kelly of Plaintain,Charlotte who personally invited the Filipino brothers of the MOP to their home.
“I have to watch this,” Jesette told me. Tickets are priced at ddult $25.00, with reservation fee at $40, senior/child is $15.00. A family special is priced at $60.
The play runs on Aug. 8, Friday at 7 p.m., Aug. 9 on Saturday, at 2 p.m and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. For more information email at messiahincharlotte@gmail.com.
(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)
