Volume 1 Issue 2 June 1, 2013 Lingayen, Pangasinan
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n what is arguably the most touching moment of the LKV so far, this morning’s mass celebrant asked KFCs and parents to pray over each other in an unscripted move of the Holy Spirit.
Head of the Luzon Kids’ Village (LKV) photographers’ team Rachel Paningbatan posted a Facebook status shortly after, saying, “Watching kids praying over their parents during mass, a very overwhelming experience.”
After asking everyone present to promise to “follow Jesus” and to “pray always”, Fr. Victor Embuido, spiritual director of CFC - Pangasinan, asked parents to come down from the bleachers to pray over their kids.
Another LKV photographer, Ruel Tenerife, who took awesome shots of the pray-over, remarked candidly, “Namiss ko tuloy ‘yung family ko! (This made me miss my family!)”
Teary-eyed Fr. Embuido, who is also the parish priest of Our Lady of Purification, Binmaley, asked parents to entrust their children to Jesus and Mary. After, the kids, who were asked to kneel for the pray over, took their turn in praying for their parents, some of whom got teary-eyed in the process. Even the service team could not help but be moved by the sight.
Keep the family together After the pray over, Fr. Embuido reminded everyone to go to mass regularly as a family. Some 81 parents came to the LKV with their kids, while most of the KFCs were accompanied by their coordinators. The LKV 2013 is ongoing at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
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Day 2 - Holy Mass - Creative & Family Competitions - Workshops - Fire hose bath - Session2
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According to KFC ate (big sister) Sarah Felix, 17, teaching kids how to praise God through action songs encourages a more mature view and way of relating to God.
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Gospel cannot be limited by age nor understanding, which is probably why kids get to learn about and love Jesus through simple songs and dances. “Why do we need to teach them how to sing? Because singing is twice praying,” said CFC – Kids for Christ (CFC – KFC) international coordinator Nic Escalona, quoting St. Augustine. Short, repetitive, simple songs This highly common evangelistic tactic -- that is used by possibly every single kids’ and youth ministry in the country – seems to be broken down into a science by KFC, which has been doing children’s formation for the past 16 years. “Gumagamit tayo ng song and dance with [the] right timing and lyrics kasi in a simple way, doon nila ma-eexpress ‘yung love nila sa Panginoon (We use song and dance…because in a simple way, that is how they express their love for the Lord),” said Blair Jereza, who served as pastoral worker for KFC for three years. Jereza explained that KFC songs -- most of which are original compositions of community members -- are short, easy to learn and repetitive for a reason. This is done to adjust to kids’ shorter attention spans and a still developing understanding of more complex concepts and words.
“Since bata pa sila ang ginagawa nila puro hingi. Hindi sila nagpapa-thank you. ‘Pag tinuturan sila na mag worship, ‘yun na ‘yung way natin na masabi sa kanila na dapat nag-thathank you din kay God and ‘yung ways Niya dapat fino-follow natin, (Since they are kids, what they mostly do is ask for something. They don’t say thank you. When they are taught how to worship, that’s our way of telling them that we should also thank God and follow His ways),” Felix, who has been in KFC in Cainta, Rizal for as long as she can remember, explained further. Just like the parents Through monthly meetings, kids are gradually taught a charismatic form of prayer where they are encouraged to close their eyes, raise their hands and imagine being with Jesus. This form of prayer is largely patterned after Couples for Christ’s (CFC) way of worship. The shared charism of CFC and its family ministries reflects one of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines’s (PCP II) pastoral priorities, that of making the family “the focal point of evangelization.” In the message of the National Pastoral Consultation On Church Renewal, the Philippine Church affirms that “family integral faith formation of children, youth and parents must take place” -- something which CFC has been doing ten years before (PCP II). [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
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What exactly do KFCs think about ‘following Jesus’? Excerpts from the LKV Essay-writing contest entries
“Follow God”. Reading the Word of God seems to be just simple words, but if you understand it, it is an extravagant command from an extravagant person. Jesus wants us to be obedient, generous and loving. >>Bianca Sophia Panganiban, Central A There was one experience of mine when our family was going home from a party. We saw a man scavenging. We gave our food to him. We had a lighter feeling because we knew that it was generosity. I will always share. Generosity is one thing that keeps me following Jesus. >>RJ Christine Valiente, Zambales I will follow Jesus because I believe I can be a good follower like Noah and I believe that Jesus is our Way. >>Chyna Marquez, Quezon province
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hat does it mean to be a Kid for Christ? A priest said, two promises can summarize what every KFC member should do. This morning, Fr. Victor Embuido asked everyone present at the LKV 2013 to make the following promises: 1.) ‘I will follow Jesus.’ 2.) ‘I will pray always.’ “Today you make a promise. Promise mo ‘yan kay Jesus, promise ng lahat ng mga nandito..Hindi lang ng mga KFC, pati ng mga magulang, pati mga camera man natin, walang maiwaan (This is your promise to Jesus, a promise of everyone here, not just of KFCs, but also parents and even our camera men, no one will get left behind),” Fr. Embuido, the spiritual director of Couples for Christ – Pangasinan, said during his homily this morning. So how can KFCs ‘pray always’? Fr. Embuido said kids can do the following: - Make the sign of the Cross first thing in the morning (and not reach for the cell phone). - Pray before meals and be proud of the sign of the Cross even in malls or in public places. - Be proud of being a kid for Christ, a kid for Mary and a kid for the Church. The LKV is on its second day with the ongoing Champions’ Night which features the winners of today’s competitions. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
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