Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, Founder
November 2014
marymotherofthepoor.org
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
History
In 1996, while praying, Fr. Fernando Suarez was blessed
with a vision. In the vision, Jesus was pouring out many
graces and blessings upon him and as he received His graces
and blessings, he saw multitudes of poor children begging for
help. He did not understand the
vision then, but its image
remained in his heart. It was not
until the summer of 1997, that
the meaning of the vision became
clear to him.
During a two-week visit to the
Philippines, at least ten poor
children
approached
Fr.
Fernando out of nowhere, asking
for his support especially in their
studies. Trusting in the Lord, he
began sending money coming from his savings from giving
recollections and retreats during his Christmas and summer
holidays.
As time went by, the Good Lord continued to bless this
ministry and it has now become a foundation, "Mary Mother
of the Poor" (MMP). With the help of the brothers of the
community, and friends who support and share this vision,
the foundation was able to grow, flourish and became
established.
November 2014
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Mission and Objectives
We are a non-profit, tax exempt
charitable organization of
Catholic religious and lay persons
in the US, Canada and the
Philippines, founded by Father
Fernando M. Suarez, dedicated
to the following:
Mission
To seek holiness in evangelizing and working with the
poor through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
Objectives
To relieve poverty by providing food and other basic supplies to
persons of low income, by establishing, operating and maintaining
shelters for the homeless, and by providing counseling and other
similar programs to relieve poverty.
1)
2) To coordinate health care and social services for people with
debilitating diseases, illnesses and conditions including aging.
3) To advance & teach religious tenets, doctrines, observances and
culture associated with the Roman Catholic faith.
4) To provide supervised programs intended to help youth develop
their talents and become good citizens.
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Page 2
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Contents
History……………………………………………….……1
Mission and Objectives………………….………….2
Contents.…………………………………….…………..3
MMP Ongoing Projects………………..…………..4
Feeding Program…………….………………….…5-8
Relief Efforts……………………………………….9-13
Housing Program…………………………………..14
Medical and Dental Missions…………………..15
Livelihood Program..……….….………………….16
Scholarship Program………………………….17-18
Youth Program……………………………….…19-22
Solar Light Distribution…………………………..23
Mass Wedding……………………….………….24-25
Building of 3 Churches……………………….26-28
History of MMMP……………………………..29-30
Healing Ministry………………………………….….31
The Presence of MMMP in Ilin……….….32-33
Future Goals of MMP………………………….….34
About the Founder………………………………….35
Ephesians……………………………………………….36
Contributors…………………………………….….....37
November 2014
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Ongoing Projects:
"For I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat..."
"I was thirsty and you gave
me something to drink..."
Feeding Program
Relief Efforts
Housing Program
Medical and Dental Missions
Livelihood Program
Scholarship Program
Youth Program
Solar Light Distribution
Mass Wedding
"I was naked and you clothed me..."
"I was sick and you looked after me."
Matthew 25: 35-36
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Feeding Program
F
eeding Program – 4,000 school children
are being fed in the following communities
and barangays 3 times a week in Mindoro
in partnership with Kiwanis Philippines:
Ilin Proper, Ambulong
Island, Labangan, Ansiray,
Catayongan, Pawican,
Tibago, Pitogo, Natandol
and Manga. Mothers of the
students join the other mothers in cooking for
their children. There is no electricity and running
water so they start cooking in the morning to
serve for lunch.
November 2014
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“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money
can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So spread your love
wherever you go. If you cannot feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
- Mother Theresa
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MMP STREET CHILDREN FEEDING PROGRAM
November 2014
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD
and he will repay him for his deed. - Proverbs 19:17
`
MMP visited the fire victims of Malabon and surprised the children with a
treat. There were 160 families rendered homeless. They spoke to the residents
of the communities involved: Anonas Community, Chico and Barangay
Outpost Community, East Riverside Community, Sta. Cruz Community and
the BEC Youth Group, Lourdes Chapel Group, West Riverside Community
and Del Monte Community. The surprise was handing out of coupons to the
children of the families and asking them to go to St. Peter and St. John Church
basement to enjoy "Jollibee" treat of burgers, French fries and drinks. The
visit ended with a Eucharistic Celebration and Healing Prayer.
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Relief efforts
R
elief Efforts – For the last 5 years, Fr.
Fernando has been hosting close to 200
priests nationwide in a Priest Tennis
Tournament. A registration fee
is collected and MMP add its
own funds to make up 1
million pesos to the year’s
recipient. This year’s 2014
funds raised were given to the
ruined churches in Tacloban and to the needs of
places that were terribly devastated by typhoon
“Yolanda” last year. The province is slowly
rebuilding its ruined churches and homes.
November 2014
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Typhoon Pablo – MMP donated 1 million pesos to typhoon Pablo
victims in the Diocese of Tagum and Mati in Davao. Money was raised
from the 4th Fr. Suarez’ Priest Tennis Tournament with around 200
priests from 25 Dioceses participating last February 5-7, 2013.
Our very own MMP supporter Grace
De Vega of Hawaii was instrumental in
re-building the Church of San Isidro
Labrador in Davao. In attendance was
the Bishop of Tagum, the Most Rev.
Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz, DD.
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Typhoon Yolanda – MMP, in an attempt to help out the victims of
typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) started a campaign for people in the
United States to send “balikbayan” boxes to the Philippines. To
date, we have received 162 huge boxes of relief goods of nonperishable goods, clothes, shoes, school supplies etc. from the USA.
From
To the
USA
Philippines
November 2014
Typhoon Ondoy – MMP Relief Efforts in Taytay, Rizal for victims
of Typhoon Ondoy. The medical and relief team provided help to
over 10,000 families in West Bank, Manggahan Floodway in Taytay,
Rizal. To begin with, most of them were already in poverty and they
do not have permanent jobs and were living in run-down shanties
alongside the floodway. Because of the torrential downpour and the
gusty winds brought by Ondoy, their homes were carried away but
they were able to take refuge in a nearby school. More than 1,000
sick people were treated and 3,000 relief packages distributed.
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Housing program
H
ousing Program – one million pesos
was raised in 2013 and given to help
re-build homes in typhoon devastated
Tagum through the Fr. Fernando
Tennis Tournament. Every housing sector has
its own chapel for worship.
November 2014
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Medical and dental mission
M
edical and Dental Mission – Dr. Ging
Reyes from Batangas and Annie Cruz
from London, England volunteered to
look after patients at the
medical mission in Ilin.
Helping out is Marife, a
local
resident.
Free
medicines were donated
from Korea and Germany.
Hundreds of patients are
seen free of charge. Sr.
Cris of the Franciscan
Sisters of the Sacred
Hearts with MMMP’s
Bro. Mark dispensed
free medicines. Dr. Jinky
Gianan with the help of
Hanna Alvarez provided
dental care as well.
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
MMP Medical and Dental Mission in
Barangay Baclaran, Cabuyao, Laguna for
Typhoon Ondoy victims where the team
looked after 400 medical patients and 150
dental patients in an evacuation center
that served as a refugee camp. 1,000 relief
packages were given out as well.
November 2014
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livelihood program
L
ivelihood Program – MMP’s Livelihood
Program consists of Rosary Making in
Barangay Butong, Taal, Batangas and
Seaweeds Management with 32 families involved,
Bamboo Sticks Development with 50 families
involved and
Basket
Making in Ilin
Island,
Occidental
Mindoro. Recently, the MMMP Seminarians
have started Moringa Plantation in Ilin Island as
well as means of livelihood for the local
inhabitants and a group in the US is already
waiting for its harvest.
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Scholarship program
S
cholarship Program – MMP’s Educational
Assistance Program established by Fr.
Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP has been
responsive to the needs of our times helping
contribute in the realization of dreams of every
young person which would also improve the overall social condition of their families especially the
marginalized. The Educational Assistance
Program of Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP has
been fulfilling its goals for the past 12-years.
Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world.
- Nelson Mandela
MMP’s Educational Assistance Program Goals:
1.
To provide and support financially disadvantaged youth in
pursuing a quality high level of education and;
2.
To improve the quality of life of every youth integrating the
spirituality and mission of MMMP in their lives and their
respective families.
November 2014
Grand Total of the Educational Assistance Program is 194
NAME OF SCHOOL/INSTITUTIONS/PARTNERS
CHRIST THE KING SEMINARY
CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLEGIO DE SAN LORENZO
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARINAS
DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF SAN JOSE
DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF SAN JOSE
INFORMATICS
INFOTECH
LA CONCORDIA COLLEGE
LEMERY COLLEGES
LYCEUM OF APARRI
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY –IIRT
OCCIDENTAL MINDORO STATE COLLEGE
OUR LADY OF CAYSASAY
RIZAL COLLEGE OF TAAL
SAN BEDA COLLEGE
SANTUARIO DE SAN VICENTE DE PAUL
STA. ISABEL COLLEGE
ST. VINCENT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF THE VISAYAS
UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI
STATUS OF
BENEFICIARY
SEMINARIAN
STUDENT SCHOLAR
YES SCHOLAR
SEMINARIAN
SEMINARIAN
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
RELIGIOUS
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
SEMINARIAN
STUDENT SCHOLAR
STUDENT SCHOLAR
SEMINARIAN
STUDENT SCHOLAR
SEMINARIAN
TOTAL NUMBER OF
BENEFICIARIES
2
10
2
1
10
2
6
12
1
3
25
2
80
19
2
5
1
6
1
2
1
1
Live as if
you were
to die
tomorrow.
Learn as if
you were
to live
forever.
- Mahatma
Gandhi
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Youth program
Y
outh Program – The Mary Mother of the
Poor Youth Evangelization Services
Program (MMP YES) is an initiative of
Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP in an
effort to reach out to the youth and journey with
them in their downtrodden and restive moments.
Now, under the Missionaries of Mary Mother of
the Poor (MMMP) - Office of Mission and
Ministry (OMM) in fulfilling its mission and
ministry to be part of the Church’s teaching about
Evangelization in the modern times, it shall be
more responsive to the new challenges that the
contemporary world creates for the mission of
the Church.
November 2014
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The MMP Youth Evangelization Services (YES) PROGRAM uses the
MODULE on HEAP (Human Evocative Approach) which employs a
variety of activities that will enhance group dynamics, critical thinking and
cohesiveness among the youth. The youth member will also be trained as a
facilitator of the program and animator for the songs and other
interpretations for the situation and deepening processes.
The MMP YES PROGRAM youth member will undertake two (2) years
of rigid training, formation and service to the mission and ministry of
MMMP and after completion of the program, will proceed with their college
education and become recipient of the MMP Educational Assistance
Program.
MMP’s Youth Program Goals:
1. To instill in the minds of the youth a great mission to serve the Church
and their fellow youth.
2. To improve the quality of life of every youth and their respective families
integrating the spirituality and mission of MMMP.
3. To advance and teach religious tenets, doctrines, observances and culture
associated with the Roman Catholic faith.
4. To provide supervised programs intended to help youth develop their
talents and become good citizens.
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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MMP’s Youth Program Objectives:
1. To have a clear and operative procedure in screening, evaluating and
approving of MMP YES youth member;
2. To equip every youth with a comprehensive background of the program
that will require undergoing rigid trainings and formations;
3. To empower every youth so that they can identify their strengths and areas
of developments;
4. To nurture every youth to become a reflective, cohesive and dynamic
team member, and;
5. To help the MMP YES youth member to grow and develop as a wellrounded individual: emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.
MMP’s (YEs) First suMMEr Youth CaMP in ilin
SPORTS DAY
SKILLS BUILDING DAY
November 2014
MMP’s (YEs) lEads the stations of the cross
In the Streets of San Jose on Good Friday – April 18, 2014
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Solar light distribution
S
olar Light Distribution – 3,000 LED Solar
Lights have been distributed so far with the
help of MMP and in partnership with
Watts of Love Foundation based in Illinois,
USA. The health of the children has greatly
improved as the toxic kerosene being inhaled has
been eliminated with the gift of the led solar light.
November 2014
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mass wedding
M
ass Wedding – Because of poverty,
couples in Ilin Island are living
together without the Sacrament of
Marriage. Through MMP supporters, mass
weddings were held with everything paid for
including wedding garments, wedding rings and
wedding reception. Thereafter, the married
couple’s children were baptized and confirmed.
78 Couples were married
on Feb 10, 2014 in the
Mass Wedding (Kasalan ng
Bayan) at Santisima
Trinidad Church in Ilin
Island, Mindoro.
Mass Wedding
(Kasalan ng Bayan)
2014
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Kasalan ng Bayan 2013
November 2014
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1) St. Peter’s Church – Butong, Batangas
Through the help of MMP, St.
Peter’s Chapel in Barangay
Butong, Taal, Batangas was
inaugurated on June 29, 2009 by
His Excellency Most Rev.
Ramon C. Arguelles, DD on the
Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul.
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This chapel is a replica of the Miraculous
Image of the Holy Infant of Prague in Czech
Republic. The Sto. Nino Chapel is part of the
project of the Mary Mother of the Poor
Foundation designed by Architect Reggie
Ragojos. It was blessed on January 18, 2010
by the Archbishop of Lipa, His Excellency
Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, STD, DD.
2) Sto. Nino Church – Pagkilatan, Batangas
November 2014
3) Santisima Trinidad Church-Ilin, Mindoro
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Ilin Island Becomes a Formation Community of MMMP
Fr. Fernando Suarez, founder of MMMP blessed
the church vicinity with Fr. Jeff & MMMP
Seminarians
Most Rev. Antonio Palang, SVD, DD officiates
the altar blessing at Santisima Trinidad Chapel
February 11, 2013 marked a historic day in the life of the MMMP. On this day, Most
Rev. Bishop Antonio Palang, SVD, DD blessed the first house of formation, the St.
John Paul II Formation House. This is where the Seminarians begin their training to
become priests serving in God’s Church. Communal Prayer, Adoration, the Liturgy of
the Hours and the Rosary are practiced daily. The island provides a rich experience of
“formation through exposure”, as they live together with the poorest of the poor.
The Feeding Program for the malnourished children started in the whole island of Ilin,
as well as house to house evangelization, solar light distribution, basic catechism,
preparation for the sacraments, Bible study with the poor and house to house praying of
the Holy Rosary. Experiencing the life of God’s blessed poor will not only strengthen
the Seminarians’ call and mission to be totally selfless but also to understand the
DIVINE PROVIDENCE of God which the poor experienced daily.
The blessing continued at the Saint John Paul
II Formation House at the back of the chapel
Thanks to DMCI, Mr. Vic Consunji, Ms. Lucy Consunji,
Mr.& Mrs. Manny Sta. Cruz, Mr. & Mrs. Baby Ignacio
November 2014
History of Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor
The Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor or MMMP,
a public
association of the faithful towards becoming a Society of Apostolic Life under the Apostolic
Vicariate of San Jose, Philippines, was founded by Rev. Fr. Fernando M. Suarez, MMMP and
Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Shannon, MMMP, under the canonical protection of Most Rev. Antonio
Palang, SVD, DD, on July 16, 2011. Since then, the Community has been doing apostolates in
the following areas: rekindling Church communities in mountainous and remote areas and island
villages where the poorest of the poor are situated; building churches and outreach centers for the
poor that provide dignified place for worship and cater to the very basic medical needs through
medical missions; establishing livelihood programs for the poor; reviving youth ministries, the
birth to the Youth Evangelization Services (YES) Movement that now goes to public schools in
various dioceses in the country; and establishing and sustaining scholarship programs for the very
poor and deserving students. Evidently, the MMMP is passionately involved in "bringing Good
News to the poor...a Church for and with the poor" as emphasized by the CBCP's Pastoral
Letter on the Era of New Evangelization, "Live Christ, Share Christ."
On top of all the missionary activities of the MMMP is the establishment of "Eucharistic villages"
in different communities wherein adoration chapels are built and renewed catechesis are
conducted among the young and the old. This is part and parcel of the young Community's
response to the Holy Father's urgent invitation "to arouse in every believer the aspiration to
profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope" (Porta
Fidei, 9). It even demonstrates the very core of the MMMP's passionate response to the call
for new evangelization (cf. 14).
Being God's anointed in the healing ministries, Fr. Fernando, within the spirituality of the MMMP,
serves as healing priest worldwide who draws his charism from the power of the Holy Eucharist.
Inspired by this, the MMMP then engages itself on activities that go beyond the corners of the
Vicariate of San Jose. It is now actively involved on television, radio, and Internet ministries, sick
visitation, retreat giving, and prison ministry. It is even more engaged in a number of student
grants and in feeding and livelihood programs that seek sustainable development among
beneficiaries.
After Three (3) years of its canonical founding, the Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor now
has 20 seminarians, who are studying philosophy, theology and canon law in Manila, some are
into pastoral management program, while the rest are into other different formation stages through
its various apostolates like teaching catechesis in public schools and canonical preparation of
candidates to the reception of the sacraments. Its Mother House and Chapel is in the simple and
quiet island of Ilin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines.
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
australia
Philippines
`United States
austria
france
greece
canada
November 2014
The healing ministry of fr. Fernando suarez
Hong kong
31
livelihood
Movie nights
is;adIslandMindoro
Mmmp's presence In Ilin island
Eucharistic services
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
November 2014
The presence of mmmp in ilin island
The MMMP Community
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We are NON-PROFIT TAX-EXEMPT
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
in 3 countries:
USA
CANADA
PHILIPPINES
We do tax filing with the governing
agencies of these countries.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE GOALS
of Mary Mother of the Poor (MMP)?
MMP intends to maintain on-going
spiritual and temporal support to the
impoverished in the Philippines while
expanding its reach to other countries
around the globe.
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
About the founder
F
r. Fernando Mortel Suarez
was born on February 7,
1967 in Butong, Taal, Batangas in the Philippines. After graduating as a
Chemical Engineer, he worked for five years in a chemical plant before
answering the Lord’s call to leave it all behind and become a priest. In 1995, he
was invited to Canada and was ordained a priest by His Excellency Archbishop
Marcel Gervais at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on May 18,
2002. After a strong calling to start a new community of priests in the Philippines,
focused on ministering to the poorest of the poor, he
founded the Missionaries of Mary Mother of the
Poor in the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose,
Occidental Mindoro, Philippines on March 2011.
F
r. Fernando discovered that the Lord had given
him a very special gift of healing around the
age of 16. God began to use him in a powerful way
as he reached out to people who were in need. At
first, he struggled to understand the gift that God had
given him and thus he hid the gift for 20 years.
However, after ordination to the priesthood, the gift
could not be hidden any longer. When he blessed
and prayed with people as a priest, many were
getting healed. The sick and troubled began to seek
him out and they were able to find the healing touch of Jesus through his hands.
To date, Fr. Fernando Suarez has prayed with literally millions of people in need
of healing graces of God, all over the world.
T
he healing ministry of Fr. Fernando is truly a gift from the Lord. He also
stands in awe as he witnesses the action of God using his hands in healing
the people in front of him of all sorts of physical, emotional and spiritual illnesses.
He calls it a mystery that is difficult to comprehend. The Holy Spirit has given
wisdom to this humble man who is diligently working in the vineyard of the Lord,
healing the sick and ministering to the poor. The Lord continues to use him in
even greater ways to help enkindle a burning desire in the hearts of the faithful
who are so desperately seeking the love of Jesus in their lives.
November 2014
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“Now to Him who is able to
accomplish far more than all you
ask or imagine, by the power at
work within us, to Him be glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and
ever.” Amen.
- Ephesians 3:20-21
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
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Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
Contributors:
Fr. Jeffrey Mark Shannon, MMMP
Co-Founder
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation
and Missionaries of Mary Mother of the Poor
Rhorie H. Abalos, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, USA
Hanna J. Alvarez
Executive Director
Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, Philippines
Bro. Polie L. Atienza, S.T.B.
General Secretary, MMMP
Bro. Alvin Cabria, S.T.B.
Moderator, MMMP Youth Ministry
Bro. Albert V. Damiao, J.C.B.
Moderator, MMMP Office of Mission and Ministry
Dorothy Violeta
MMMP Office of Mission and Ministry
November 2014
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