How do you dispose of religious items?

Dear Nanay,

We live in a flood-prone area here in Bulacan. Our house was submerged in floodwaters for days during typhoon Ondoy and the recent flooding caused by habagat last August. Religious items like posters and small statues were soaked in floodwater and damaged in the process. How do we dispose of them properly? Thanks very much. — BS                                  

Dear BS,

I am not sure what you mean when you say you want to “dispose” of the items.  Do you mean you want to sell them or to “throw them away”?

I recently replied to a letter sender who wanted to sell some antique furniture.  You can find the letter here: www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2013/02/24/912285/selling-antique-buyers-dont-care-sentimental-value.

However, if you are looking to throw them away, that might be a little trickier. Depending on the actual condition of the items, the first thing I would do is to bring them to your local parish priest. Ask him if the church would have any use for the items because you want to donate them instead of just throwing them away.  Having said that, if the church does not want the items, then perhaps ask him if he has any suggestions on how to dispose of the items properly.

One dear friend I have, who is a priest, suggested that you wrap the items nicely in a brown paper bag and bury them in your backyard. 

Sincerely,

Nanay

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Dear Nanay,

I read your advice to Jealous Girl and you could not be more correct.  But I also want to offer my thoughts.

Jealous Girl, jealousy is not a good thing.  Nanay is correct in saying that sometimes we cannot help but feel jealous. That is just being human.  But you must control these feelings of jealousy otherwise they will eventually consume you and turn you into a person that you do not want to be.  It will destroy your goodness, charity, humility and generosity. 

Instead of asking,“what do I get?”  “What do I deserve?”  “What is in it for me?”  “Everything is about me, me and me.”  Isn’t it about time we tried to make it about what can I do for others?  How can I help others?  And make it about others, others and others?  The more you give, the happier you will be,  the more at peace you will be.  And soon you will find that jealousy is not even an issue and that you can genuinely feel happy for your sister.

So what do you think?  Don’t you think it is time to change your name to Generosity Girl? — A FORMER JEALOUS GIRL

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If you have a question, email us at asknanay@nationalbookstore.com.ph or just drop your letter at drop boxes in all National Book Store branches nationwide.