25 Years of Blessings Receiving and Giving Away

E-vites have been sent. Please RSVP by this Friday, July 28 via Evite or call 630-858-3758. We are serving a hearty appetizer buffet this year and want to make sure we have enough for all. This evening continues to be a free event as a thank you for your continued support and prayers for the Oikos Sisters.

You will see butterflies ‘flying’ around our event this year. In the Philippines if you see a butterfly, it signifies blessings are coming your way. When blessings come to the Oikos Sisters, they are filled with joy. With overflowing happiness, they give the blessings away to those in need! 

Our online auction will begin at 9am July 28 and end at 9pm the night of our event. We have many interesting items to bid on, including a trip to the Cayman Islands! These items will be on display at our event. This link to the FUN auction below will become active at 9am on July 28.

https://aesbid.com/PHG23

This year we are collecting school supplies for our LOVE BOXES. As you may recall, last year we collected flashlights. We ship these “love boxes” to the Oikos Sisters who distribute the supplies to families in need. Elementary and High School may be free for children in the Philippines but it’s only accessible to them if they have the transportation, uniforms and school supplies. Many students are not educated for these reasons. We welcome crayons, pencils, sharpeners, markers, water color paints, pens, scissors, rulers, calculators, school bags, backpacks and gently used tablets too! (No notebooks please as they use a specific kind in the Philippines.) Thank you!

As always, the focus of this enjoyable evening will be the updates and stories of the Oikos Sisters and thanking you for your continuous, kindhearted generosity and prayers. We will have an entertaining game or two (don’t forget to bring a few $20 bills so you can play). Bring a new friend too as we celebrate together!

We are so happy to announce that Sr. Clarissa and Sr. Sarah are already here in the United States and are joyfully sharing the life and work of the Oikos Sisters as they care for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines!! Their stories depict the reality of life in the Philippines, so different from ours here in United States and in other countries around the world, but there is such hope and joy to be heard and felt! Please check out the information below to see if you’re able to catch up with them this summer:

Chicago, Illinois: July 8th and 9th: Immaculate Conception Church, Morris IL

July 15th and 16th: St. Petronille Church, Glen Ellyn, IL

July 22nd and 23rd: St. Peter Damien, Bartlett, IL

July 29th and 30th: St. Daniel the Prophet, Wheaton IL

FUNdraiser for the Oikos Mission: August 4th, St. Daniel the Prophet, Wheaton, IL (must RSVP for the FUNdraiser)

Manchester, New Hampshire: July 29th and 30th: St. Katherine Drexel Parish, Alton/Wolfeboro, NH

Buffalo, NY: August 12th and 13th: St. Mary & St. Mark, Holley, NY

August 27th: Holy Cross Church, Buffalo, NY

On May 3, 2023, the Oikos Ptochos Tou Theou celebrated their 25th Founding Anniversary!  It was 25 years ago that 4 young Filipino women, who were professionals in their given fields of work, decided to give their “fiat,” their YES, to the Lord.  That meant leaving their families, work…pretty much their whole lives, and live together as a community of lay women dedicated to serving the poor…at that time their work was saving abandoned children from a life on the streets.  Two years later, those four women founded a religious community in the Diocese of Borongan, Eastern Samar, in the Philippines with the help of their Bishop and their spiritual director.

The Sisters modeled their lives after the life of St. Francis of Assisi by living simply among the poor they served, giving up possessions and relationships to follow the Lord.  Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they began to form their community and mission, which today includes 7 professed Sisters, one novice, about 50 lay co-workers and benefactors and donors from all around the world!  Still living according to the Spirit, the Sisters are constantly adding new missions and ministries to their apostolate as they see the need and feel the Spirit moving them.

On May 3rd, Holy Mass was celebrated by His Most Reverend Crispin B. Varquez and concelebrated by the Oikos Sisters’ Spiritual Director Msgr. Lope Robredillo along with many priests throughout the Diocese of Borongan.  Many attended the joyous event despite the fact that there was torrential rainfall!

One of the most beautiful parts of the Mass, aside from the consecration of the Holy Eucharist, was the homily given by Msgr. Lope.  In it, Msgr. described the life of the Oikos Sisters saying “God gives and Oikos gives away.”  Truly, the Oikos Sisters have been greatly blessed by the Lord through their many benefactors and donors, including The Poor Household of God, who give their blessings and offer their sacrifices to the Oikos Community and Mission.  It is sort of like one of those revolving doors… donations come in and the Sisters send them out to whoever is in most need at that moment.  Because of their vow of poverty, the Oikos Sisters need little, but the needs of the poor are great.  And because of the generosity of so many people all throughout the world, the poor of Eastern Samar are receiving God’s blessings through the love and thoughtfulness of many who give to the Oikos Sisters.

Fifteen years ago, missionaries who had come to Eastern Samar on a medical mission through the Diocese of Joliet Partnership in Mission created The Poor Household of God organization originally intended to send children to school.  Now, through this organization and the many donors who give so generously, the Sisters are able to help where the Spirit leads them…and He leads them all over the place!

The Oikos Sisters would like to extend their most profound and sincere thankfulness to all the donors of the Poor Household of God, including all the associates and co-workers.  Through you, God is touching lives, saving children, giving hope and much needed care to the poor.  May God bless all who are a part of the Poor Household of God organization in any way!  You are all held tenderly in the hearts of the Oikos Sisters and their beneficiaries!

                 SILENT AUCTION FOR SOLO HOUSE CONCERT WITH WILLIE NILE!!!                       A private concert with Buffalo’s own Willie Nile held in your home!

Willie Nile is a singer/songwriter, poet and troubadour who sings from his heart and tells stories that will make you laugh and cry and feel great to be alive! 

 You and your guests will be bopping to his rhythmic beat, singing along and talking about this magical night for years to come!!

The concert will be up to a 90 minute show with Willie playing solo on his guitar, keyboard, harmonica and whatever else he can get his hands on!!  The date and time will be set between you and Willie Nile based on your schedules and his availability to be in Buffalo, no expiration date.

                                           Approximate value: $2,000.00                                                                                        Bidding starts at: $500.00                                                Bidding increments: $100.00

                                    Bidding opens on Saturday September 3rd at 9am                                                                   and ends on September 14^th at 9pm.                                                          Click on this link and create an account to begin bidding:                             http://www.32auctions.com/willienile

                         ***Get a group of family members and/or friends and bid together!!                                                             The more the merrier!!***

                         Check out more about Willie Nile at http://www.willienile.com/home

                                               To hear some of his music, click on this:                                                           Willie Nile – Let Me Be The River (Official Video) – YouTube

***Payment is a donation that can be made online on our secure donate page, here,                      or by check/money order made out to The Poor Household of God.                                                              Donations are tax deductible.

Oh! What a night!!  Many thanks to all those who came out to support the Oikos Sisters and their mission in the Philippines at the FUNdraiser at St. Petronille Parish in Glen Ellyn, IL on August 12th!!  It was a beautiful evening of generosity and love, and we just can’t thank your generous hearts enough!!!

There were over 80 items to bid on, and they were so awesome!!  From tickets to sports games to overnights at resorts, diamond earrings and handcrafted jewelry to prizes for the kids…it was a super fun night!  We enjoyed a delicious Filipino meal with so many yummy desserts.

Sr. Sarah talked about the new happenings in the Oikos Mission.  The greenhouse in Oikos Village is bountifully producing delicious lettuce, but it’s so good the workers and Sisters can’t keep up with the orders!  The Give Back in Gratitude Livelihood Ministry has helped everyone in Oikos Village to now have a livelihood!!  The “rent-to-own” style livelihood program so far is a success, and there even is a waiting list of hopeful families who want to avail of this ministry.  We couldn’t be happier with the progress being made!

As school begins to open up to face-to-face classes for the first time in two and a half years, the scholarship program in Oikos is on fire with new applicants hoping to be considered for educational assistance.  How we wish we could help them all!!!

Emergency Relief has become a big part of the Oikos Mission in the past few years.  Families suffering from typhoon-related damage to their homes and livelihoods can no longer wait for government assistance to help them.  To see our latest venture in helping the poor families of Barangay Ponod, Southern Leyte, check out this video:     (1) Southern Leyte Mission – YouTube

Thank you to all our supporters, donors, prayer warriors and friends who keep us in their minds and hearts!!  We couldn’t do what we do without you!!!

To God be the Glory!!!

It’s time for the Poor Household of God Fundraiser to support the work of the Oikos Sisters in the Philippines!!!  Free Filipino Dinner, Meet Sr. Sarah and hear about the work of the Oikos Sisters, have fun and win prizes!!!

This year’s FUNDRAISER is full of fun and exciting items to bid on!! And there are different ways to attend and help out:

***Come in Person!!!***  You can join us in person on Friday, August 12, 2022 at        St. Petronille Parish in Glen Ellyn…420 Glenwood Ave. Glen Ellyn, IL from 6-10pm  RSVP by August 4th by calling Mary Jane Trinkus (630-858-3758)

***Join us Online!!!***  If you’re unable to join us in person, join online!!  The online auction starts at 9am on August 5th and runs until August 12th at 9pm.  You can bid anytime, multiple times, from the 5th until the 12th!!  Here’s the link that will be open on August 5th at 9am:  https://aesbid.com/PHOG22

***Make a Donation!!!***  Unable to join us in person and don’t like auctions???  You can click here to make a donation to the Oikos Sisters!!

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity to the Oikos Sisters!!  Truly, there is no limit to the good we can do in this world…together!!  Thank you for your part in helping the poor of Eastern Samar, Philippines!!  You are in our prayers!!!

The Oikos Community was so thankful for the visit of Dr. Vic and Mary Jane Trinkus, the director of The Poor Household of God, to our mission in Borongan City, Eastern Samar!  The Trinkus’ stayed for about a month, going on Mission to the areas affected by Super Typhoon Odette, joining the Holy Week and Easter services and celebrations and just living and working with the Sisters in Oikos Village.  The entire mission was so blessed by their visit!!  

We are so excited about the Summer Mission Appeal this year!                                                                       Once again this summer, an Oikos Sister will be coming to Illinois, New Hampshire and New York!  This summer, we will welcome Sr. Sarah Noonan, the newest Oikos Sister originally from Buffalo, NY.  We invite you to join us for the summer appeal for the Oikos Community and Mission, and hear her vocation story!

Sr. Sarah will be arriving in Illinois in July and here are the dates of her appeals so far:          ***July 16/17 at St. Anne’s Church in Oswego, IL                                                           ***July 30/31 at St. Andre Bessette in Laconia, NH                                                        ***August 6/7 at St. Peter Damien in Bartlett IL                                                              ***August 13/14 at Immaculate Conception Church in Morris, IL                                 Dates in Buffalo, NY to be announced.                                                                         Please try and come to one of our appeals… and, just a thought, you can also join us at any of the parishes online if you’re out of state or cannot come to mass!!  If you feel so inspired, you can make a donation right here on our website!!

Also, don’t forget our ANNUAL FUNDRAISER!!! ***  August 12, 2022 ***              Save the Date! More details to come…

                                                                                           Sr. Clarissa sends her love and her prayers for all of you and for a fruitful and fun mission appeal!!  Don’t worry…you’ll see her again!!

 And all the Oikos Sisters send their love and prayers to all of you for your kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness and care!!  Truly, they would not be able to do the work they do without YOU!!  So, Salamat Po!!  Thank you!!

On December 16, 2021, a powerful super typhoon, Typhoon Odette, rampaged through parts of the Philippines.  The area where we live, Eastern Samar, was not affected too much, but other areas suffered greatly as a result of this massive storm. The areas southwest of us, Maasin, Bohol and Southern Leyte were worst hit.

There was an immediate outcry from officials in those areas for help from within the Philippines as travel restrictions caused by the pandemic made it impossible for outside NGO’s to enter the Philippines to help.  We in the Oikos Community responded to their need.  Led by the Holy Spirit, Sister Mines, our Elder Servant, researched the areas of Southern Leyte looking for a town we would be able to help, and she was led to a small town on Panaon Island called Ponod.  It is comprised of 206 families and is located at the base of a large mountain facing the Pacific Ocean.  During the storm, they were assailed by landslides from the mountain, large waves from the ocean and strong winds that destroyed even cement homes.  Quite miraculously, no one in the town died from the storm, however 28 homes were completely washed out from the ocean, 80 homes were totally destroyed and 71 homes were partially destroyed!  Not only that, but the storm wreaked havoc on the coconut trees, the source of livelihood for the residents of Ponod.  It will be at least 7 years until they will be able to earn a living from the coconut trees again.

On January 17, 2022, the Oikos Community traveled to Ponod, Southern Leyte (an 8 hour drive) with 4 vehicles loaded down with clothes, food, 500 grocery packs, health packs, basins, blankets, cooking equipment and about 20 volunteers!  We stayed in Ponod for three days.  We gave the families there our food, grocery and health packs, we taught the kids how to properly brush their teeth, we had a good grooming day where the people got a shampoo, hair cut and their nails trimmed, we did catechism with the children and had some psych-social support sessions with the youth and the adults who were suffering emotionally from the storm.  We shared all our meals with the people of Ponod, sang songs with them, prayed with them and played with them!

But this is a “Mission in Progress.”  We plan on returning to Ponod to help them further.  In fact, today, on February 1st, a team of carpenters, chainsaw operators and workmen left for Ponod with a small number of the Oikos Community to continue the mission.  They are going to build 11 simple homes for the families whose homes have been washed out.  Currently these families are living on the beach, under tarps or make-shift tents comprised of sticks and boulders.  The construction team will stay in Ponod until the 11 homes are built!  Our dream is to build homes for all 28 families who have no home.

Here is a video of our immersion to Barangay Ponod:

This is an on-going mission, one we will be working on during the course of this year.  If you would like to help us help the families in Barangay Ponod and the surrounding villages, you can make a donation by clicking here.

And please pray for us as we do the work we were called to do!!  Thank you so very much for your support and prayers!!  May the Good Lord bless you!!!

In the Philippines, we celebrate Simbang-gabi, which is the novena before Christmas.  It is hard to find even a place to stand outside the Church for each of the masses during the 9 day celebration!!  After every mass carolers sing songs to get everyone revved up for the Christmas Celebration.  Here is a video of the Oikos Family singing songs after 4am mass on December 24th.  We hope you enjoy the video and we hope you have a beautiful Christmas Season and a blessed and healthy New Year!!

We at the Poor Household of God can barely contain our joy over the overwhelmingly amazing response to our FUNdraiser for the work and mission of the OIKOS SISTERS in the Philippines!!  Despite the challenges presented by a pandemic, we were able to have a wonderful hybrid event both with our online silent auction and our in-person evening event held on October 8, 2021.

Sr. Clarissa Abella, who represented the Oikos Sisters, gave a stirring talk about life in the mission and life in general during a pandemic in the Philippines.  It certainly made all present at the event feel grateful for all the blessings we have in the United States.  But mostly we felt excited to be a part of the work the Sisters do for the poor in Eastern Samar in the Philippines.  Sr. Clarissa expressed her deep gratitude, and that of all the Sisters and beneficiaries of the Oikos Ptochos Tou Theou Mission, for all the love and support given to them through the donations of so many generous hearts!!  For certainly, the Oikos Sisters could not do all that they are able to do without the love and generosity of everyone who participated in our FUNdraiser, both online and in person.

So, from all the way across this amazing planet of ours, the Oikos Sisters send their love, thanks, prayers and deepest gratitude to all of you!!!  “May our Loving Father in heaven bless you 100 fold for your generosity and care for the poor.  Thank you for partnering with us!  Salamat Po!!  Thank you so very much!!”

And from all the associates and co-workers of the Poor Household of God, we express our greatest thanks as well!  Working together we can make a huge difference in the world one event, one person, one donation at a time!!  Thank You and God Bless!!!