Fr Marc and Four of the Scholars
Imagine a traffic jam. Then put 23 million people into it. That’s Manila.
This is a world-class city, full of really hard-working people who seem to be going 24/7. You’d expect them to be grumpy all the time. So far I haven’t met a soul that fits that description. Rather they are gentle, solicitous, thoughtful, kind. Caught in a traffic snarl that would cause homicides in New York or Boston, they rarely use the horn. They are deeply oriented toward each other. Filipinos do almost nothing by themselves.
Maybe this is one reason why Fr Marc’s house of scholars in Agata Street is so full of grace.
Marc and Suzanne came to the Philippines in 1978 as Bible translators for the Summer Institute of Linguistics (aka Wycliffe) in service to the Abaknon people of Capul in Northern Samar, where we are headed today. The House of Scholars in Manila is a small intentional community of five young people, plus Marc, all drawn from the Abaknon community. The current group, ranging in age from 17 to 27, are attending university-level programs in everything from accounting to industrial engineering. They receive a small stipend, room, board, and tuition from the Inabaknon Heritage Society. They also live according to a modified Benedictine rule: Morning Prayer and Eucharist (English) at 5:15 a.m., Evening Prayer (Inabaknon) at 7:30 p.m. In each of the offices there is serious time for reflection and praise. To hear the Jubilate chanted softly in Inabaknon, in four parts, is to have died and gone to heaven! When Marc is not here, the eldest resident, Richie, takes on what supervision of the community is necessary: the others tease him for his authority, calling him The Bishop, which he takes with a broad shy grin. I offered him my ring, but he turned me down flat!
On Agata Street: Take our Picture! (No, Don’t)
Walking is Better than Driving!
As a linguist, Marc has not only translated the Scriptures himself: that would be too easy. He has been a leader in recruiting “mother tongue” translators, who along really have a sense of the delicate ins and outs of their languages. This is why, I suspect, the people actually own the Scripture as theirs. He is also licensed to teach Scripture and theology to Roman Catholic seminarians and clergy. I have asked for a Bible and Prayer Book in the language of Capul.
There is much more to tell. It being 3:45 a.m., however, I have to head out for a flight to the south for our island visit, the last leg being in outrigger canoe. I will be blessing the new library and education center and meeting with a host of local elders and people. Please pray for your sisters and brothers on Capul and traveling mercies and blessings for Marc and me.
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