Photo: St. Francis Parishioners at the GK Bayanihan Build (January 2006)

Earlier this year, the parish of St. Francis of Assisi, in San Jose, California became the first parish in the US to officially partner with Gawad Kalinga (GK) by sponsoring a village in Ocampo, Camarines Sur.

Fr. John Sandersfeld (pictured left), pastor of St. Francis took the trip to the Philippines along with a dozen parishioners to participate in the Gawad Kalinga sponsored Bayanihan Build program. The trip was Fr. John’s first trip back to the Philippines in over 20 years and the first trip ever for some who went with him.

Located in the Bicol region, Ocampo is about an 8 to 10 hour drive from Manila. St. Francis parish along with personal contributions from it’s parishioners are sponsoring approximately 35 homes to be built at the site and hopefully more to come. It was there where the St. Francis contingency worked side by side with GK recipients for 5 days. Most of the recipients of this GK village were victims of the recent typhoons that devastated the Philippine countryside just a month earlier.

Fr. John now shares his GK experience in his homilies at Sunday masses and every chance he gets. “I wanted to see for myself and meet the people” he shares. “We came in hopes that we could help” he continues, “And yet we received more in return.” He also often reflects on what he witnessed. And to paraphrase, “We went and visited families who were supposed to be the poorest of the poor. Yet I saw a liberated family living a simple life and very happy. Liberated from the shackles of a schedule, an organizer, a cell phone and all the things society dictates we need, they are the blessed ones.” “GK is really not about the houses, but restoring dignity and hope…our Christian faith in action.”

So supportive is Fr. John of GK that just last month, another contingency from St. Francis went and participated in the summer Bayanihan Build. This time he sent his associate pastor Fr. Loi, along with a dozen youths and young adults, to experience for themselves first hand the true meaning of stewardship and how blessed they are to come from the land of plenty.

Fr. John, a true shepherd, leading by example, a practitioner of what he preaches, an example of what it really means when we say “I believe in God…”.

Photo right: Fr. John Sandersfeld at the GK Bayanihan Build (January 2006)