CBCP Monitor
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Vol. 18 No. 17 August 18 - 31, 2014
The News Supplement of Couples for Christ
A Very Special Love
The CFC HOLD Marian Conference 2014 By Alma Alvarez Inspired by the teachings of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose feast day was celebrated last August 14, the CFC Handmaids of the Lord honored the Blessed Virgin Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, during the HOLD Marian Conference held last August 9, 2014. More than 2,000 HOLD leaders and members from Metro Manila and nearby provinces attended the annual conference on Mama Mary, held at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. Edythe Avendaño, HOLD Coordinator for Metro Manila, main speaker of the conference, opened the session explaining the special relationship of the Blessed Mother with the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. This relationship of Mary as Spouse of the Holy Spirit is unique, and not like the marital relations between a man and a woman as the faithful know it, explained Avendaño. But like in any marriage, there is the presence of three essential qualitites. First, there is love. Mary being the favored one was chosen even before her birth, having been conceived without original sin. She being the Immaculate Concepcion, Mary was hand-picked to play a role in the salvation of humankind.
The union brought about by married love is the most intimate of all. The Holy Spirit filled her and Mary was immersed in the spirit, fully obedient to His will, allowing Him to act fully in her life. This intimacy in their relationship made procreation possible—the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life, chose Mary’s womb to be the dwelling place of the Savior. Thus, the role of Mary, the Spouse of the Spirit is more than just to bear and give birth to the Son of God. Her role is the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation by bringing forth Jesus the Redeemer. She also brings men into communion with Christ. (CCC) Mary’s role as bearer of life, and light, are manifested in many incidents in her life in the Holy Spirit: the visitation to Elizabeth (where the Spirit manifested in quietness when the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt upon hearing Mary’s greeting); the birth of her Son (light came into the world during Jesus’ birth); Jesus’s presentation in the temple (Simeon recognized Him as the promised Messiah and prophesied that she would have to share Him with both Jews and gentiles); the wedding feast in Cana (bring light in a bleak situation); passion and death of Jesus (picture of calmness as she witnessed the suffering and death of her Son became an
inspiration to the seemingly hopeless disciples). Personal testimonies from HOLD leaders Ophel Tuazon, Maricel Lim, and Letty Jayme illustrated the various stages in the life of Mama Mary in their own lives—in silence, in adoration, in obedience, in beholding and pondering the events in her life, in walking with eyes of faith, in letting go and letting God. Mini-session speakers Myra Respicio, Elizabeth Marcelo, Bing Santos, Baby Valle and Evelyn Ylagan led the delegates to moments of reflection on each stage. The Holy Spirit was the driving force of Mary’s life, with Mary completely yielding her will to His. The key to this very special relationship is Mary’s faith. “We can never be the Spouse of the Holy Spirit like Mary, but we are all called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit,” Avendaño stated. She added, “This can only be possible if we have a deep and abiding relationship with Him, founded in our faith in and love of God. By surrendering to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, we allow ourselves to be transformed into the sons and daughters God wants us to be. Hence, like Mary, we should be able to radiate the light of Christ to others.”
Tootsie Lopez leading the praisefest
Edythe Avendaño
39 Years of Ligaya
Couples for Christ, represented by Chairman Joe Tale and his wife Babylou and some CFC leaders, attended the thanksgiving Mass and lunch hosted by the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) Community on the occasion of their 39th Anniversary last July 25, 2014 at the LNP Center in Taguig City. Also present were the leaders of Ligaya’s Partners in Mission—the BCBP, Familia, the Institute for Pastoral Development, and Women for Christ, to name a few. Dr. Arcado Tamayo, the head of the Federation of Transparochial Charismatic Communities, with his group graced the occasion as well. The lunch was a time of fellowship and sharing with one another. For some of the CFC leaders who attended, this was the first time they were meeting the other leaders of outreach and affiliate organizations. Jun Cruz of LNP was the lively emcee of the affair and ensured that members from the various communities had the opportunity to get to know one other and the community they represented over lunch. Among the LNP stalwarts present were Fr. Herb Schneider, who celebrated the Mass, Vic Gutierrez, who also served as CFC’s executive director at one point, and Spanky Meer, the Head Coordinator of LNP. In his welcome address, Spanky Meer mentioned the various groups are connected in pursuing a common cause and mission, with the ultimate goal of glorifying the Lord. It was a special time of togetherness for each one, especially when the stories of victories were shared around the different tables about the workings of the Lord in the various communities. The Holy
Beth Marcelo
Bing Santos
Evelyn Ylagan
Letty Jayme
HOLD leaders
Maricel Lim
By Shok Ariola
Myra Respicio
Spirit truly moved around and made everyone feel united in Christ. Joe Tale shared his reflections on the Word of the Lord, “Come and see,” encouraging all to see what the Lord has in store for everyone through these “connections”. He continued, “The Lord is asking all of us to just take one step forward and see, and as we come together we will begin to see much more.” Cruz also invited everybody to LNP’s upcoming activity, “The Harvest”, on September 6 and 7 where CFC was tasked to present the work of Global Evangelization. Also announced was the coming “Catchfire Rally” on Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2014 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Incidentally, this year’s rally is headed by CFC, together with Ligaya ng Panginoon. Couples for Christ’s history can never be written without the workings of the Lord through LNP. Thus, the CFC Community continues to praise and thank the Lord for the blessing of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon.
Baby Valle
Clergy Appreciation at Canada 20th Year
It was truly an impressive array of Clergymen trekking the halls of the Radisson that weekend. It was an SRO affair where twenty-two pastors were honored with dinner at the Atrium Hall. An assembly of leaders and members of Couples for Christ gave a rousing welcome to express their support for their dear pastors. The 22 pastors honored during the Clergy Appreciation night were Fr. Gerald Cooper, Fr. Avi Colaco, Fr. Greg Mulligan, Fr. Raj Savariappan, Fr. Marc Cramer, Fr. Joseph Vadassery, Fr. Francis Mariappa, Fr. Paul Kavanagh, Fr. Angelo Benedict Urbanii, Fr. Roque Concepcion, Fr. Nong Zamora, Fr. Abraham Joseph Srambical, Fr. Jim Corrigan, Fr. Neil Lustado, Fr. Martin Pasala, Fr. Rainerio Sarce, Fr. Darius Libiran, Fr. John Pinto and Fr. Paulson Kananaikal. Fr. Paulson had to go back to Fort McMurray to prepare for Mass that same night. Absent but still honored were Fr. Nilo Macapinlac, Spiritual Director of CFC Edmonton; Fr.
Antony Rajkumar Fernando of St. Andrew Parish, Edmonton; and Fr. Paul Moret of St. Matthew Parish, Edmonton. The honorees were escorted to their seats by Area Heads in their ‘Filipiniana’ attire. CFC Canada National Director Greg Parillas welcomed the pastors and acknowledged their work in their respective parish as well as their support for the evangelization work of CFC. In their honor, a magnificent ‘black light presentation’ entitled “The Hand” was performed. The presentation was a depiction of the sons of Melchizedek doing the work of The Great High Priest, as they celebrate the Holy Mass holding the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It was like an Oscar Awards night for the members of the clergy as each pastor was called onstage and their individual contribution acknowledged. As a token of appreciation, Parillas, assisted by Eric De Los Reyes, Country Coordinator for CFC Canada/ C3
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CBCP Monitor Vol. 18 No. 17
August 18 - 31, 2014
Build My Church: God's Marching Order
Filipinos in Erbil Extend Humanitarian Assistance to Iraqi Refugees
By Lito Santos “To hear the voice of God in one’s life, one needs to open his heart to surprise, otherwise, one can start fleeing from God.” - Pope Francis 11 August 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad reported that Filipinos in Erbil, Kurdistan in northern Iraq have voluntarily shared their time and money to help ameliorate the adverse condition of thousands of Iraqi refugees from Mosul and Sinjar who are mainly Christians and ethnic minorities that escaped the ISIS rebels’ brutality. The relief and humanitarian assistance from the Filipinos, who are mostly members of the Couples for Christ in Iraq and UAE, answered the immediate needs of the displaced Iraqis who are taking refuge in Erbil, a region which remains safe and calm despite the ongoing US airstrikes that targeted the ISIS in areas outside Kurdistan.
For two days, the Filipino volunteers prepared almost 2000 packs of sandwiches for lunch and dinner to Mar Elias and Mar Yosef Parish Churches. They distributed rice, oil, noodles, eggs, biscuits and hundreds of bottles of drinking water, among other food items. They also handed out packs of baby’s milk and diapers to nursing mothers and personal hygiene kits. More than 200 Iraqi families in Erbil’s refugee camps and temporary shelters benefited from the warm generosity of the Filipinos, who continue to extend tirelessly their helping hands to the Iraqis with that distinct Filipino smile. (Text and photos from https://www.facebook.com/dfaphl) George B. Campos
The News Supplement of Couples for Christ
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The Ugnayan News Supplement is published by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc., with editorial offices at 156 20th Avenue, 1109 Cubao, Quezon City. Editorial trunk line: (+63 2) 709-4868 local 23 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856 www.couplesforchristglobal.org cfcglobalcommunications@gmail.com facebook.com/CFC.Global.Mission
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Alma M. Alvarez Associate Editor
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God calls each of us for His divine purpose, and it is only by His grace can we respond to His calling. The Lord uses us in His ways that simply flow, to accomplish His divine plan through us and for us. God Intervenes Such was how the BUILD MY CHURCH program came about. Different persons of the same faith, each with the same vision of having a decent and respectable place of worship, that is worthy of our God, crossed each other’s’ paths. Divine intervention staged the foundation of this BMC program, as the miracle unfolded in our lives. God Speaks Thru Haggai A brother in the CFC community heard and heeded God’s call. Through his exposure with the different chapels where CLPs were conducted, a brother, Pete Aventajado saw the sorry state of our supposedly “Place of Worship”. Having served as Palawan Provincial Head for three years, he was deeply bothered and perplexed about the existing conditions of the House of God. Dilapidated walls & facade that could barely support torn down
roofs, either made of “pawid” (dried palm leaves) or rusted corrugated GI sheets and roughly-done concrete floors—dirt floors for some, were the common “features” of God’s house in his area of service. It dawned on him that we were busy tending to our own houses while we take for granted the house of our Lord, which deserves all the splendor, beauty and majesty befitting our God. A spark continually ignites in his heart... something must be done to uplift the existing conditions of the “House of God”. God Prepares Us For His Mission God called me in a similar manner, as I was tasked to help our parish in rebuilding one of our chapels which was relocated due to reblocking, which a process the government usually does to correct placement of illegally built structures along public roads. The said chapel was similar to what Pete had seen, rusty roofs and grilles, cracked plaster walls with its concrete cross chipped, awaiting to crumble anytime. I, together with my husband Lito Santos, have served the mission areas at Laura and Payatas, QC. since 1996 (year we graduated from CLP). We have been used to seeing run- down chapels where CLPs and other activities of CFC were being held. I too, felt a tug in my heart every time we, as a couple, served in these chapels—the supposedly “sacred & dignified” place where we BMC/ C3
The Clergy Speaks CFC Leaders Meet New Bishop of Nepal
August 6 is a significant day for the members of the clergy being the Feast Day of their Patron and inspiration, St. John Mary Vianney. Born on May 8, 1786, St. John Vianney was the son of simple peasants. Grace attracted him heavenward from the beginning. But it was only after much toil and trouble in France that St. John Vianney was admitted to the priesthood. He was then seventeen years old, but scarcely had any schooling. Study proved very difficult for him and he did not show natural talent. But his tutor was convinced that this upright and innocent youth would serve the Church well by his holiness if not by his learning, and did not lose patience. It was through his intercession that the young John was finally granted admission to the seminary and ordained as a priest. As parish priest of Ars for 41 years, he had a long struggle for the conversion of the people and their wayward ways. It took many years but eventually, all hearts were conquered. Today, he is admired as the edifying example of the pastor in the church and in his humble and modest manner of life.
In the Mass celebrated by Parañaque Bishop Jesse Mercado D.D., last August 6, the celebration of the feast of St John Mary Vianney, He exhorted the
Church ordained ministers in their role to empower the laity through suitable formation programs; through the celebration of the sacraments, especially Eucharist and Reconciliation and by giving particular attention to the formation and spiritual accompaniment of lay Christians and ecclesial groups engaged in social and political life (cf. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, n. 539). He reminded them that parishioners expect them to be present in their parishes, like shepherds who never abandon
their flocks. They are to be available and approachable as their spiritual fathers and brothers and to give good preaching, whether through homilies, conferences, recollections, retreats, etc. He reminded them that the laity look to the clergy as men of prayer who, like our Lord, will teach them how to pray. These, he said, correspond to what they promised during their ordination. He asked them to "stir into flame the gift of God" that they received through the imposition of hands quoting 2 Timothy 1:6.
Fr, Robert Rivera, SJ from the Loyola House of Studies said that St. John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars, is a genuine inspiration in his priestly life in two ways. First, he is a fine example of what can be accomplished when one entrusts the whole self fully to the Lord. John Vianney had physical and intellectual obstacles that many would consider
insurmountable. But because of his abiding faith in God, he was able to fulfill his aspirations to be a priest, even though many of his superiors and peers were saying this could not be so. His was a life that proclaims "with God, all things are possible!" Second, having been given this gift of the priesthood, he utilized it fully to care for God's people. The accounts especially of the time he would spend in the confessional are legendary. He would stay there practically the whole day, with little regard to personal rest and nourishment, so as to extend God's mercy to the flock. People would seek him out from far and wide because of his gentle care and the wisdom he brought to the sacrament of reconciliation. Fr Rivera said that St Vianney is rightfully a patron and inspira-
tion to priests. They are constantly reminded through St. John Vianney that the priesthood is a gift from God, not a priest’s personal project. He said that “Through him, I and all of us priests are reminded that with God on our side we need not fear. But with God on our side we are also tasked to care for all, especially the least in the world”. The life of St. John Vianney is the story of a humble and holy man who barely succeeded in becoming a priest, but who converted thousands of sinners. This ignorant priest ended well and worthy to be The Patron Saint of Priests. To quote him, “The saints did not all begin well, but they all ended well.” St. John Vianney, pray for us.
(Clockwise from top) Bro. George and Sis. Cynthia greeting Bishop Paul Simmick; Campos presenting the CFC mission kit to Bishop Paul; Bishop appreciating the contents of CFC mission kit; Bishop Paul blessing the leaders; Group photo at the entrance of Bishop’s house
CFC Executive Director George Campos and wife Cynthia led other CFC leaders of CFC Nepal to a meeting with His Excellency, Bishop Paul Simmick, new Bishop of the Vicariate of Nepal last August 8 at the Bishop’s house located in the outskirts of Kathmandu City. Campos, together with the other leaders Mon and Tita Santiago, CFC South Asia Regional Coordinators; Mar and Au Japitana of CFC Bahrain; and country coordinators for CFC Nepal, and Chiren Satyal, CFC Nepal Family Ministries Head, updated the Bishop about CFC, its vision and mission, the family ministries and building the church of the poor programs. Gyan and Sujata Rai, country leaders of CFC
Nepal, also appraised Bishop of Paul of the current status of CFC Nepal in terms of parish presence, number of members and its involvement in the different parishes to support the parish priest. Bishop Paul was given a copy of CFC mission kit and showed so much interest in CFC that the meeting lasted for almost 2 hours despite the fact that he was leaving for South Korea for the Asian Youth Day in the evening. During this meeting, he also led the group into the Bishop’s chapel where relics of St. John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa were kept. He also gave a blessing to the leaders. Fr. Richard Vas, administrative assistant of the vicariate, was also present to welcome and meet with CFC.
Archbishop Gagnon of Winnepeg Meets with CFC Leaders
“I want to work with you in in the family renewal of the diocese”, Archbishop Richard Gagnon of Winnepeg told his Couples for Christ (CFC) visitors. The CFC delegation, headed by Eric de los Reyes, Canada Country Coordinator, and wife Carina; Arnel Simbulan, Central Region Head, and wife Marivic; and Ador Cabrera, Manitoba Area Head, with wife Vicky, called upon the Bishop last July 17, 2014. Archbishop Gagnon expressed appreciation in the life & mission of Couples for Christ, and discussed with the group ways to work together in family renewal. In the light of “New Evangelization”, the Archbishop wanted CFC to bring its Christian Life Program specifically to the more open young Caucasian couples as well as to the Hispanics and First Nations communities. For the Caucasians, new ways were discussed like evangelizing through a post-Cana retreat, youth and/ or social justice programs of CFC. Archbishop Richard Joseph Gagnon was installed on Jan 3, 2014 as the 7th Archbishop of
Winnipeg as appointed by Pope Francis. He was previously the 16th Bishop of Victoria and chose as the motto for his Coat of Arms, "To obey is to serve in love." In February 2003, Pope John Paul II named Father Gagnon a Prelate of Honour, in recognition of his faithful service to the Church and exemplary performance of his duties who "rendered outstanding distinguished service in the Church in Vancouver as a loving, effective, and dedicated pastor, a man who is ever ready to meet new challenges—a servant ready to go wherever called." CFC also committed to work with the Archdiocese on its 100th Year Anniversary celebration sometime in May 2015. On the other hand, Archbishop Gagnon expressed his desire to celebrate mass during the CFC National Conference in July 2015. Before the meeting ended, His Excellency bestowed his blessing to the CFC delegation and to the whole CFC community.
CBCP Monitor Vol. 18 No. 17 August 18 - 31, 2014
Ugnayan
God's Glory Revealed in Nepal!
Team R.O.T.I. Goes to India
By Chito del Rosario
By George and Cynthia Campos How lovely are the mountains at feet of Him... Who brings good news, good news... Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness.... Our God reigns... Our God reigns.... It was really a sight to behold, God's majestic creation... When you see His handiwork, you can't help but be in awe of its intricate design, wonderful shapes, hues and colors, the mountains, hills, plains and valleys, but most of all the strength and character of the people living out their Catholic Christian faith amid challenges and difficulties. Nepal has a 30M population with more or less about 10,000 Catholics, less than a hundred Filipinos, some working at the United Nations and others married to Nepal nationals. A country with predominantly Hindus and Buddhists, introducing the Catholic faith to Nepalese is quite challenging, more so Couples for Christ. But with God's blessing and grace, the seeds planted by our CFC brethren from Bahrain a few years ago grew bore fruit. Couples for Christ touched the lives of the Nepalese and their lives were never the same since then. God never fails to inspire and enrich us every time we go on mission. And our Nepal mission trip was not an exception. Here, we could see that in spite of the different beliefs of the people, bringing them together is not impossible with God. Couples for Christ’s openness to accept whoever God calls strongly convey the message of welcoming everybody. It was so heartwarming to know that even a Hindu husband attended the Abba Father Weekend, while his Catholic Nepalese wife attended the Women's Conference. How the conference made an impact on the life and attitude of the husband was so inspiring as he shared his learnings and the transformation taking place in him. Truly, when God moves, we must expect surprises.
The simplicity of our Nepalese brethren, how they appreciate what they have and humbly thanking the Lord for these provisions remind us what really matters in life. In Nepal, the electric power supply is out between 15-20 hours each day. But this is not a hindrance for our CFC brothers and sisters to come to teachings and prayer meetings. CFC comes together in a dimly lit room with battery-operated lights, sharing God's love and faithfulness, quenching their thirst for His word, acknowledging their true source of power and light. Reverence and humility characterize the way they present themselves to the Lord be it in personal prayer or in the Holy Mass. Their piety and deep faith in Christ as well as in His Blessed Mother Mary bind us deeply together as one CFC family, no matter what color or race. By God's grace, CFC Nepal has taken into heart the goal of being present and active in all its parishes. A 30-minute courtesy call made with the new and only Bishop of Nepal was extended to two hours. Bishop Paul Simick, not knowing much about CFC yet, asked a lot of questions. In the end, the good Bishop opened the door for CFC to present to all the priests our plans and programs. God continues to pave the way for us to reach out and touch more hearts. He opens more doors for us to be His hands, His feet, His ears, His mouth. He wants His presence be experienced and felt. CFC Nepal is indeed the love child of God and of our brethren from Bahrain who gave their yes to God's call, dared to go on mission to this beautiful country, willingly offered their time, talent and treasure, generously shared that which they were richly blessed with, the love of God. The mission continues. Nepal now is blessed with passionate purely local CFC leaders and members who would be the bearers of Christ's glad tidings in the Himalayas. Yes, our God reigns... He truly reigns...
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The recent India mission by CFC Singapore revealed successive unforgettable experiences for a CFC worker like me. Our team waited for over a year for this opportunity to serve as mission volunteers to India. We thought it wouldn’t come, but nevertheless my wife Ruth, Perci and Tessie Limpiada, Jing Mantaring, Jho Dongallo, Rosse Sulla, Mario Masilang Jr., Oli Suaiso, and myself made ourselves available helping out in any opportunity given. Suddenly the news came with a quick turn of events that built the excitement and readiness with God’s grace we are available! The mission team, nicknamed R.O.T.I. for "Reach Out To India”, was named after the staple bread in Singapore, much like the bread of life. The team anticipated the mission with enthusiasm. Needless to say, we just wanted to scramble and go! We all got the visa 1 day before the scheduled departure in order to make the weekend CLP. With joy in our hearts, we travelled together the three and half hour flight to India, plus the four-hour land trip in the dark night. The driver was driving too fast, prompting the team to start praying the Rosary, asking Our Lady for protection and entrusting all to God. We arrived shaken, but safely at the hotel about 3:00 AM and we were just glad to see the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Agustin at the lobby! God is truly good! Our brother Michael, our gracious host, waited for us till we were settled in. We rested for the night, looking forward to what God had in store for us in the coming days. It was God’s gift that we were able to see the shrine of the local martyr, Blessed Pilai, and pray to Jesus and Mother Mary on the hill. We spent the day
practicing songs, and praying some more, this time to the Holy Spirit to fill us and Christ to protect us. With Michael and India Country Coordinators Hector Poppen and his wife Garnet, we paid our visit to his grace, Bishop Paul Raj of Palayamkottai. We had a good discussion about what the CLP is all about and he was happy to welcome us with the traditional Tamil customs, covering us with cloth and praying over us. God’s faithfulness did not end there. The bishop graced the CLP with opening remarks and did the Tamil translations for all the talks! For this we were truly grateful since most of the participants understand little English. In this mission, the team also learned to “be still” and let the Holy Spirit work His way. The parish priest allowed us to use the place from 2pm to 8pm for the 6 talks, but despite the tight schedule, amazingly we finished all the talks on time. The talks were truly Spirit-filled and the participants were all joyful as they reflected on the CLP. The following day, we spent more time on group discussions and building relationships. Language was never a barrier as brothers and sisters excitedly poured out their hearts. Participants wrote heart-warming affirmations of the CLP. We ended the day with a solemn celebration of Holy Mass in Tamil, finishing off with our traditional CFC fellowship via a sumptuous lunch. And at the end of the day, as we went off again for the four-hour van drive, we all praised and thanked God for his goodness! All the way we talked about the joy of service despite the challenges as God’s plan for the mission unfolded. We all felt the love of our CFC brethren. We were humbled by the love and support of Bishop Paul Raj. And we were overwhelmed by the unforgettable smiles of our new brothers and sisters in Christ!
GKare Goes to Davao
BMC/ C2
worship and commune with our God. I felt helpless during those times not knowing what I could do to correct those situations. Little did I know that God had listened to my frustrations and given me an opportunity much later to be assigned the task of rebuilding our own chapel within the scope of our parish to make things right for the House of God—a house that is decent, respectable and conducive place of worship that is appropriate for our God. That chapel is named Our Lady Of Fatima. God Calls Everyone For His Mission The same circumstances and situations led one to the other, the same vision of uplifting the existing conditions of our places of worship made the sparks in our hearts ignite for a common purpose and mission. Such were the ways where God calls us. There are no coincidences in one’s life, especially if it is God’s plan. God’s calling was very clear... GOD wants us to rebuild His house, a place worthy of Him—the King of Kings! God Brings All Willing Together For His Mission Soon after, some CFC leaders were consulted and the vision of having a decent and dignified place of worship for our God started its course. Pete spearheaded the program, scouting for chapels that need renovation, refurbishing and rehabilitation, to be the “pilot” project, without even a name for the said program. But what’s in a “NAME” to start with, as long as the vision was very clear - REBUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. The vision and passion coupled with faith & trust in the Lord were all that matters. God Reveals His Mission Located on a side street along Batasan Road, the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel was a case of reblocking by the Quezon City government. Its original site was built on a government property, among the residential structures, that gave way for a new alley. The House of God was very typical of the chapels we see on depressed communities—dilapidated and torn-down. Built and maintained through the meager funds from Mass collections and donations from kind-hearted parishioners in the area, it can only do so much. As long as it served its function of accommodating the people who gather for worshipping our Lord—a roof over their heads; walls and doors usually made of grilles, with the least cost possible, thus sacrificing an edifice of beauty and majesty which the Lord our God deserves. God Shows Us The Way With its “shell” structure already done and no funds at all to continue the construction, I was resigned to the idea that it would just be another case of the “typical chapel”—just an enclosure for worshipping our God. Timely was the “program”, by which Bro Pete was called by the Lord. God led him to this lowly chapel, amongst the few others he visited, and with much discernment, his search
for the pilot project has finally ended. The vision of having a chapel worthy of our God finally came into a reality, as donations in cash and in kind from members of CFC from different sectors started pouring in. Set your mind for what is “BEST” for the Lord—“huwag mong tipirin si Lord” (don’t be stingy with God) as Pete would say, because He deserves the best, after all, this is the House of God. With all his eagerness and passion, Pete made me realize that God answers our prayers in His appointed time, never early and never too late, and that miracles do happen. The Lord made sure that the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, the pilot project, would not be just another case of a “typical chapel” because He had specifically called Bro Pete to build His Church as was written in the scriptures: “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18). Truly, a divine promise from our God.
By Nathan Gomez ANCOP USA once again answered the cry of our poor brethren last August 7-10, 2014, when 32 missionaries were sent to Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum, Davao del Norte for a surgical mission. The team was headed by Dr. Bernardo Cueto, President of Give Kare Health Foundation, Inc., and other specialist and volunteers from accredited and prestigious hospitals like the V. Luna General Hospital, UST Hospital, Makati Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Manila Doctors Medical Center, Holy Infant Jesus Hospital, Batangas Regional Hospital, FEU Hospital, Medical City and the UP PGH Medical Center. Upon their arrival at Davao International Airport, the mission went to the hospital, attended
God Explains The Mission He Gives Us “BUILD MY CHURCH”, a very appropriate name for the CFC’s new program. Simple, yet very clear. It elevates a new standard in the physical dimension of our faith as it completes our mission in Couples for Christ—Building the Church of the Home, and Building the Church of the Poor. BMC strengthens our vision of families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth, as we take part in rebuilding the physical structure into a place of worship that is respectable and dignified, a worthy House of our God.
Canada/ C1
God Blesses The Work When We Do His Mission As Christians, we need to be our brothers’ keeper even in the practice of our faith and be a blessing to others. The help we did in sharing our time, talent and treasures in rebuilding the pilot project, the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, made a big difference in the lives of the parishioners. It gave them a sense of belonging and pride, every time they heard Mass. The number of churchgoers doubled even if the area was reduced by half its original size. So inspired was our parish priest and our Bishop that they have made known their plans for other chapel projects that we can consider to rebuild. I could not recall a better time than this when our relationship with our clergy was at its best because of the completion of this project. Indeed, the Lord blesses our CFC community when we obey Him and involve ourselves in programs that will glorify Him. What a great opportunity to share our blessings and be in solidarity with our less fortunate brothers and sisters, with whom we share our faith and love for Christ. Being a part of this Build My Church program gave me a new sense of purpose and meaning in my spiritual and Christian life. Let us all be a part of BMC, rebuilding a chapel that is beautiful and majestic- worthy of our God. May its beauty and majesty lead us to a glimpse of heaven and own special place prepared for us, by God.
Canada, awarded a plaque of recognition to each pastor. An audiovisual presentation followed, detailing the early beginnings of CFC in 1981. It also featured the beginnings of CFC Canada from its non-profit incorporation with the Ministry of Industry in British Columbia on March 31, 1994. The highlight
the Mass and made a courtesy call with Department of Health Asec. Dr. Romulo Busuego. After which the team put on their gloves and masks and performed minor and major surgeries such as thyroidectomy, hysterectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, fistilectomy, lumbar lipoma, hernioplastry, mastectomy, lobectomy and chloecsytectomy, just to name a few. Overall, within a span of 3 days, they served 26 patients for minor surgery, 34 patients for major surgeries. A total of 417 patients who underwent for free an Eye Refraction and received free reading glasses according to their eye grades. And to celebrate the victory of the surgical mission, the team went for a fellowship and honoring night. Before the team flew back to Manila, they paid a visit to the patients who were admitted and had their exit conference with Dr. Brain Dalit and Elvira Obero.
of the presentation was the stories of the different chapters belonging to the Western Provinces of Canada in a slideshow. The evening was capped by the laying of hands over the pastors, led by Parillas. The pastors called it a night but not for the couples who took to the dance floor and boogied the night away.
CBCP Monitor
Ugnayan
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CFC Canada Eastern Regional Conference – The Beloved Weekend
Vol. 18 No. 17
August 18 - 31, 2014
CFC Canada Western Conference Held in Edmonton
By Marivie Dalman
By Renee Ardiente From July 25th to 27th, Mohawk College’s McIntyre Performing Arts Centre in Hamilton, Ontario played host to the Eastern Region Beloved Weekend. Nearly 900 delegates from the Greater Toronto Area, Windsor, St. Catharines, Ottawa, Montréal, and even as far away as New Jersey, Kenya, China, and Indonesia, gathered to witness to God’s love and the guiding hand of Mary in CFC Canada over the past years. Opening night of the conference featured the Choirs of Mary competition, where each delegation regaled the crowd with their musical talents as they performed covers of hymns, rewritten classics to honour our Blessed Mother, and even original musical compositions. CFC was blessed to have had Non-
oy Dalman, Noli Manuel, Eric delos Reyes, Ricky Cuenca, and Rouquel & Nina Ponte on hand to share the messages of the weekend. Inspiring sharers also related their struggles and triumphs in their faith journeys, adding life to the various talks. Each session was prefaced by deeply stirring creative numbers, songs and dances calling us to joy, hope, action, and reflection. It was beautiful to see the combined efforts of the Family Ministries in every aspect of the weekend, from the preparation of the creative segments to handling logistics and production, ensuring the smooth execution of the weekend – truly a testament to our community working for and with each other not only as individual families, but as the wider CFC family. The Saturday program concluded with the “Groove 70s” night, a
chance for brothers and sisters to dance the night away in their best disco finery. The room was a sea of afros, bell-bottoms, and sequins as each delegation presented 70sthemed dance numbers, proving that they can still “bust a move” with the best of them! Sunday began with the celebration of the Mass with Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Diocese of Hamilton, w h os e m e s s a g e of h op e ca r r i e d through the day’s session to the afternoon’s praise fest led by Noli Manuel. One of the most beautiful moments of the weekend occurred here, as spouses linked hands and arms and worshipped the Lord together, singing out their love for God and one another—a song of love from the beloved to the Lover, and a perfect end to an amazing and blessed weekend of love.
Couples for Christ: The New 'Pirates' of the Caribbean New brave souls of Couples for Christ missionaries recently went on mission to Grenada in the Carribean. This is the team’s first mission trip but everything went well through God’s grace. The missionaries not only enlightened many young people from Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada through the Theology of the Body session, which is part of the 100% Free advocacy of CFC Youth for Christ. They also conducted different workshops and a Youth Conference. They likewise conducted activities for the kids and held a one-day SFC conference and sports fest for young adults. The mission team also participated in some sessions of CFC Carribean Conference. Indeed, the
Lord has used each one of them tremendously in showing His love to His people. Just like any adventure, the mission team has also experienced difficulties to make it more fulfilling. During their first days, the team experienced some discomfort. But being the missionaries that they are, each one went out of their comfort zone and claimed God's victory in this mission. The experience truly helped the missionaries to appreciate life more. And as a reward, God gave them the treasures of the Carribean—good food, great music and many other things that one will only experience in the region. Indeed, the Lord has given them the best.
The atmosphere at the Radisson Hotel was exciting as delegates from all over Western Canada congregated at the Edmonton venue for the Beloved Weekend Conference. Traveling from the ends of Victoria and as far as Winnipeg, the delegates came in droves to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, and more importantly to be nourished spiritually. The gathering started with a concelebrated Mass, with Fr. Raj Savariappan of the St. Anthony Parish, Lloydminster as main celebrant, assisted by Fr. Martin Pasala from Annunciation Church, Edmonton and 8 other priests. After a rousing musical number, CFC National Director for Canada Greg Parillas, together with Noli Arzadon (Western Region Coordinator) and Manny Cerin (Area Director for Edmonton) declared the Conference officially open. The festivities of the evening started with the “Parade of Colors”. The duo of Stephen & April Tamayo were the dynamic emcees of the night. The crowd was wowed with the presentations for “A Song for Mary”. Central Alberta, Red Deer and Calgary came up with original compositions. After another concelebrated Mass of 8 priests led by Fr. Roque Concepcion of Saskatoon, and assisted by Fr. Angelo Benedict Urbanii from Yellowknife, Nonoy Dalman took to the stage for the Prologue on Day 2. The first talk was given by second generation CFC member, Noli Manuel, who spoke about his journey with the Lord which started in YFC. He spoke of the Family, being the unit of society
which should be a civilization of love and prayer. Eric De Los Reyes, Country Coordinator for Canada gave a message of hope in Talk # 2: “The Message of the Manger.” “The New Mission”, the third talk, was given by Ricky Cuenca. His stories about the many new and creative ways to evangelize, whatever the occasion, wherever the place and whenever the opportunity arises was echoed by Francis and Liz Almeida who shared their as missionary workers in Bhubaneswar, India. Sunday started with the Holy Mass led by Fr. Jim Corrigan and assisted by Fr. Avinash Colaco. Fr Jim had this to say of CFC: “You wonder why we are supportive of CFC? It is because you have been so supportive of the work we do in the parish.” Rouquel & Nina Ponte were the speakers for Talk 4. Picking up from their Deepening Prayer Retreat, Rouquel encouraged the participants to be open to the messages of God. Nina recalled the many messages that God gave to Couples for Christ, from the very beginning when only a few couples were committed to it. God said CFC will “win the world for Christ.” God now says, “CFC will heal the world!” Moreover, she says God wants us to work “nameless and faceless,” without need for praise or recognition. The Beloved Conference will go down the annals of history in Canada because the Western Conference in Edmonton broke all records. It is considered the largest regional gathering of Couples for Christ in Canada. There were more than a thousand delegates who came including 22 priests from various parishes.
HOLD Leaders Visit SG for Retreat, Conference
Singapore HER 4 participants and HOLD ICore leaders together with Rev Fr Stephen Yim, the Spiritual Director of Couples for Christ Singapore, who celebrated the Mass.
HOLD International Coordinator Didi Galsim and HOLD ICore Singapore Coordinator Sis Lynda Geraldez went for a pastoral visit to Singapore to conduct the HER (Handmaids Enrichment Retreat) 4 and the Echo of the 2014 HOLD ICON (All Women Conference). HER 4 is a strictly stay-in Silent Retreat, conducted by Galsim at the Montfort Centre on 19-20 July 2014. The participants were composed of leaders from the HOLD Singapore who have completed HER 1,2 and 3, wives of National Council and Chapter head and 2 leaders from Sibu Sarawak, Malaysia.
Brunei Holds “God’s Beloved” Catholic Women’s Conference
By Debbie Cinco With blessings and support from the Apostolic Vicar of Brunei Darussalam, Rt. Rev. Bishop Cornelius Sim, the echo-conference of the HOLD Icon “God’s Beloved”, which is the 4th Catholic Women’s Conference in Brunei Darussalam, was held on 3 August 2014 at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Bandar Seri Begawan. A total of 189 Catholic women from the Vicariate’s three
parishes attended the conference. Edythe Avendaño, CFC HOLD ICore member, and Dale Villanueva, HOLD Regional Coordinator for East Africa were speakers. This event also jump-started the activities for CFC Brunei’s 20th Anniversary, which falls on September 2014. In his welcome address, Bishop Cornelius Sim referred to a book titled "The Beloved of God", exhorting women and men alike are truly loved by God, and that the proper response should be to love Him back. He added, “The
best model for loving God back is our Mother Mary, who showed us how to really “behold and ponder” God’s messages and will for her life.” He further explained that Jesus knew how to love in a "divine" way because He is God, but it was through His mother, Mary, that he learned how to love in a "human" way. This is why Christians should always look at Mother Mary as inspiration. After a lively praise and worship led by Ammie Alano, the morning session began with Tess Aquino taking
the participants down memory lane, 3 years to be exact, when CFC started its journey with the Blessed Virgin Mary. She then led the HOLD sisters to behold and ponder the events in each person’s life as Mary did. While in this posture of beholding and pondering, Len Filio, speaker for the next session, led everyone to reflect on the mission and vision as followers of Jesus, on a personal and community level, reflecting whether each person’s life manifests what is proclaimed. A personal testimony from Rosemarie Alon-Alon illustrated this. In the last session for the morning, Dale Villanueva and the sharing Luz Nirona, showed how pondering leads to acceptance of God’s will in every stage of life. However, distractions will always be present in our daily life which can lead the faithful away from God, as demonstrated by sharer Ruby Ligutom. Debbie Cinco led the afternoon praise and worship, after which, the participants reflected on the Seven Sorrows of Mary, via Janet Dominguito. With every sorrow, Edith Recato pointed to how
each person’s life, like Mary’s, bring each to the foot of the cross. From the cross, last session speaker Edythe Avendano, guided the participants to the empty tomb with Mary Magdalene—a sinner, a follower, a saint, a true beloved of God. By the examples of Mary Magdalene and the sharings by HOLD sisters Dale Villanueva and Gemma Nuezca, the HOLD members were encouraged that HOLD can and will be transformed by God’s love as long as each says “yes” to Him. Avendano also reminded how to attain and maintain inward and outward beauty as HOLD sisters, together with Mdm. Mayie Ochoa, wife of Mr. Nestor Ochoa, Philippine Ambassador in Brunei Darussalam, who all wore beautiful attires for the specific roles women of God play paraded onstage for the Beloved Walk. The conference ended with a minipraisefest led by Nanette Ramos and a closing remark and blessing from Assistant Parish Priest Rev Fr. Arin Sugit.