THE ROSARY BANK
By Dr. Aniceta F. Po (Philippines)
Yes! We're bankers! Dr. Manuel M. Po (Catholic Physicians Guild of the Philippines president 2011-2017) and I own a bank. We are CEO and assistant to the CEO respectively. We have no employees but have lots of volunteers. Our bank is not of the capitalist, monetary kind, not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not covered by the Philippine Deposit & Insurance Corporation, have no ATM machines and cards, nor passbooks. But anybody can deposit or withdraw, if not instantly for the latter, just a couple of days-notice will do.
The start was rather providential. In September 2005, an oncologist friend, Dr. Carlos Dy (an Opus Dei) asked for help to collect 2000 rosaries for a big activity for cancer patients, survivors, and families of living as well as demised. We called up relatives, friends, even our patients. In about 2 weeks, I personally delivered to his clinic 2000 rosaries of various materials, sizes, and colors. So, we thought everything was through. But we still received calls and deliveries of rosaries to our home and clinic. By December, piles of grocery bags full eased out space in our bedroom. As December 8 is the usual first communion date in schools, we decided to distribute them to public schools together with leaflets “’How to pray the Rosary. Teachers were so appreciative and asked for regular supplies for catechetical purposes as well. We advised our donors not only to give, but to ask from us when they see a need in public grade or high schools in DEPOSIT.
I was invited to guest at the Family Crusade", a daily program of Radio Veritas,, the Catholic radio station of the Philippines. I talked on the Rosary Bank.. Nova Arias of Shepherd's Voice Publishing and Bernard Canaveral were the hosts. At the end of my talk, I announced over the air my contact numbers and clinic address as pick-up and delivery points of rosaries and leaflets. Before leaving, I approached Ms. Arias and asked if it was possible to ask for back issues of their books and magazines. It was a big YES! All for free, on a pick-up basis. We were overwhelmed with initial haul of 3 vans full of catholic reading materials! Kerygma, Didache, Sabbath, Companion, Mustard- for grade schoolers., Fish- for teens, and Gabay-Didache in the vernacular. These now come on a regular basis. In turn, we distribute them to public grade and high schools; individually to students or to their libraries; poor parishes especially remote ones; provincial jails as well as national penitentiary and correctional; charity hospices and homes for the aged; missionary nuns, catechists, Catholic organizations' projects whose end beneficiaries can't afford such reading materials. In a third world country like ours, these are not priorities in most families' budget.
We are now continually deluged with requests for rosaries, many times over than donations. We never turn down requests- they are always by the hundreds, biggest single- 700. Some public schools, poor parishes, by the thousands, but on staggered dates as they hold first communions and catechetical activities by batches. We have even sent to Shanghai, China and Daly City jail, California USA. We always bring a big batch to our monthly medical missions around the country thru San Francisco Del Monte Rotary Club R.I district 3780 mobile surgical van. They are offered optionally, but are always consumed as some patients would ask for extras for a family member or two. We denied one request though- for souvenir giveaways at a 25th year high school reunion - gently defining the bank's priorities. By the Lord's blessings, our stocks always suffice.
We used to buy when stocks don't fill in. Since three years ago, I learned how to make them and taught others who are interested too. They pick up materials from me and bring in completed products in continuous cycle. Secretaries of doctors in the hospitals volunteered too. We make them nonstop as time permits. Sky blue chalk beads rosaries are our trademark. As of this writing, we have distributed not less than 900,000 rosaries. As of 2017 - 600,000. As of 2022, not less than a million.
We are both in our early sixties, still active in medical practice., I in OB-GYN and he in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. We learned that time and finances are not ultimate factors in spreading the faith. But managing them is the essence. Asking others for help is a practice in humility while reaping the fruits in cash, --in kind, or service towards our goal visibly reflects God's intervention and His will. Ours is a very minute contribution in evangelization and re-evangelization, but we have vowed to take this apostolate unto our deathbeds.
Nota Bene: If you wish to contact us, kindly use this email address:
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