They are the poor that no one wants to talk about. Victims of addiction, compulsion and substance dependence. The depressed, angry, suicidal, and persons living with HIV. What should be our response as a church and as a people?
Rt Rev Richard Mickley OSAe, abbot of the Order of St Aelred, asked that very question of himself and three brave volunteers in the Philippines capital of Manila. What is the Christ-like response to these most marginalised of God's people? Would not Bl Mother Theresa include these among her poorest of the poor?
The answer led them to establish The Well, an apostolate which would enable them to address a series of real problems, and a social outreach that would shine a light on these people whose issues had too long been swept under the rug of societal complacency.
It began with Father Abbot's vision of a New Community, an authentic Christian family, driven more by a love for humanity than a proselytising drive. The community of Servant Worker Friends would be animated by that Aelredian Charism through which "God is friendship". But all would be welcome with no religious requirement, and no evangelistic expectation. Instead, they woild be a listening ear, a helping hand, and a shoulder to cry on. Just as Jesus was to John and Mary.
And so--appropriately enough--on May Day
2013, The Well opened its doors in the Ortigas Centre of Metro Manila. Opened its doors in a figurative sense since at first theu had no physical doors. No hosting parish, b
Rt Rev Richard Mickley OSAe, abbot of the Order of St Aelred, asked that very question of himself and three brave volunteers in the Philippines capital of Manila. What is the Christ-like response to these most marginalised of God's people? Would not Bl Mother Theresa include these among her poorest of the poor?
The answer led them to establish The Well, an apostolate which would enable them to address a series of real problems, and a social outreach that would shine a light on these people whose issues had too long been swept under the rug of societal complacency.
It began with Father Abbot's vision of a New Community, an authentic Christian family, driven more by a love for humanity than a proselytising drive. The community of Servant Worker Friends would be animated by that Aelredian Charism through which "God is friendship". But all would be welcome with no religious requirement, and no evangelistic expectation. Instead, they woild be a listening ear, a helping hand, and a shoulder to cry on. Just as Jesus was to John and Mary.
And so--appropriately enough--on May Day
2013, The Well opened its doors in the Ortigas Centre of Metro Manila. Opened its doors in a figurative sense since at first theu had no physical doors. No hosting parish, b
