LeI1teI1 LessoI1s .
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by Renee C. Punzal, CYA National Moderator
~t was Ash Wednesday. The teaching in the prayer meeting was on how to more meaningfully observe the Lenten season. The speaker suggested that we make a personal Lenten program which would give us more time for prayer, receiving the sacraments, meditation on Jesus' sacrifice and victory, penance, fasting, and almsgiving.
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A few Lenten practices With my zeal and youthful . enthusiasm, I included every- have impressed deep lessons on thing that was recommended as my heart For instance, I gave up part of my personal observance all food condiments in order to of the season. Sticking to my list forego the pleasure of good food. was not always easy, and there Although that was intended to express a desire for simplicity, were occasions when I would forget about it. I won't run the Lord revealed one thing more through my whole list with you, - that I was a strong-willed perbut let me just say that that Lent son. Yes,my willfulness was exbecame a very memorable season pressed even through ketchup indeed! C-ontinued on page 2
BACK INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by Reymund Simbulan,
CYA-Polytechnic
''You Catholics are worshipping idols and false gods!" I was a "born-again Christian" then, and I would accost numerous Catholics with those words. In fact, I enjoyed doing that very much. For five years, I was an active member ofa born-again Christian group. It all started when I was in Grade 3 when a classmate invited me to attend Sunday school in the church she was part of. I liked the Bible class and the kind way they treated us. From then on, I continued attending different Christian fellowships. Although my family was very Catholic, I stopped joining them for Sunday mass. By the time I was in high school, I was very much into the born-again type of Christianity.
University of the Philippines
Young as I was, I became quite good in debating; anything that Catholics did, I was against it! There was a Catholic catechist In our school. Eve r y time this man w
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preach, I would argue with him. He was amazed that I sounded like a professional debater although I was only in second year high school. One day he asked me, "Are you a born-again Christian from birth?" I said no. He then challenged me,"So, you were just converted. Continued on page 2
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Lenten Lessons
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and soy sauce! I always wanted to be in control. By accepting food as itwas cookedand served, I was gaining a lot more virtue. It was a valuable insight into myself, an d it was at th at time that I allowed God to enter into a very personal area of my life.•.•••..• Another thing I sacrificed that Lent was secular entertainment, in particular watching TV and movies. In their place, I spent more time in prayer, and
in other forms of recreation with family and friends. Itwas an expression of wanting to focus on God instead of cluttering up the -----------I~
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~, "}«,1M 9aUtU«J ~ ffl4IZe ~, " -----------season with -distractions. This practiceof spending lessTVtime also gave me an unexpected plus: an Improvement in my study habits, resulting in higher grades.
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I would brag about my achievements every time there was a Did you first consider knowing the religion you were leaving?" Qui- . chance. I would cheat in class to maintain my position and prestige. etly, I sat down and thought about I resented being corrected by any~hat he had said. one, and chivalry was not in my I decided to know more about vocabulary. All my classmates the Catholic faith. I looked up the hated me for that! history of the Catholic Church in Ironically, one of those classrelation to other religions. I mates eventually invited me to atopened every encyclopedia, and read all the materials that would tend a Christian Life Series being help me to know the truth. Before sponsored by CYA. I went to that the end of my sophomore year, af- seminar not knowing that it would ter carefully considering both the be the turning point of my life. At Catholic and born-again sides, I the prayer session, the CYAStaffer decided to return to the Catholic said that if we really want to give our lives to God, we have to stand Church. To make up for the past, up for Him. So I stood up, and I also decided to start defending readily offered my life to the Lord. the Catholic faith! I even wrote two articles, which were published I thought it was easy to folin the Opinion section of a reputalow Christ. But the Lord made it ble newspaper, about my Catholic clear to me that my bad attitudes faith. had to go. He wanted me to beHold on! That's not the end come humble and honest. It was of my story. You don't know me hard for me to change because I quite that well yet. Personally I didn't want to! was a very proud person. My school grades were very good, and I even graduated Salutatorian. ~o
I can go on enumerating what I learned then, and what I continue to gain until now, whenever I make my personal Lenten programs. You can make your own program, too!
But God really loves me, and He made a way for me to change. Until now I don't know how He did
Letus look at this season as though we are on an extended retreat. Let us offer all of these expressions to the Lord, especially those which involve giving up things which are closest to our hearts' desires. Let us allow God to take their place instead. Enter into a more meaningful Lenten season and let Jesus refresh you with a deeper knowledge of Him and of His great love! it, but I am a very different person today - the exact opposite ofwhat I used to be. God is not yet finished with me. The process is still going on. I am far from being a perfect Christian, but I'm sure striving to be one!
The Action Update A Q4arterly Publication of Christ's youth in Action
EDITORIAL BOARD 'Jake C. Yap Chairman
Nette P. Hilario Editor-in-Chief
Rogel L. Plata 'Renee c. Punzal . Raoul R. Roncal Lorna S. Campos Tisha-S.Colayco Editorial Consultants
Arnel S. Lalicon Circulation
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) JYews.J6irs New Affiliates! CYA-Bacolod, CYA-Davao City and CYA-Malaybalay are now affiliates! Last October 20, CYABacolod(led by Chapter Head Pepe Ledesma) became affiliatesin a simple ceremony attended by National Director Rogel Plata, Regional Director Raoul Roncal, National Moderator Renee Punzal, and some other Manila-based staffers. Meanwhile, CYA-Davao City (led by Langging Rodil, their eversmiling Chapter Moderator) and CYA-Malaybalay (led by Chapter Head Peter Mutia) became affiliates last October 28in Davao City. Rogel and Renee were there for the solemn event, along with Rico Bautista and Elma Requiron. Again, warmest congratulations to our new affiliates!
MinCon '95 Held The fifth annual Mindanao Conference was held last October 24-29 in Davao City. Attended by about 150leaders from Zarnboanga, Malaybalay, Cagayan de Oro, nigan, Davao, and from our new group in M'lang, it was the biggest MinCon so far! The mission team included Rogel Plata, Renee Punzal , Rico Bautista and Elrna Requiron. Aside from giving the Basic Evangehzation (BE)course and Building Committed Christian Groups I (BCCG I) courses, the team also gave the Christian Relationships Series (CRS) and the Christian Sexuality (CS) course. The MinCon ended with a retreat on "Holiness". About200leaders were present at this weekend retreat. It was a spiritually refreshing time for everyone!
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five hundred young people trooped to Xavier School for a fun, modern barrio fiesta! The day began with a Mass concelebrated by Bishop Rolando Tirona, OCD, Fr. Vicente Cajilig, OP, and Fr. Roy Rodriguez, OP. Then we honored our former CYA staffers,and awarded RaffyRamirez and Geg Ocam po the Service Award, and the Glory of God Family (represented by no less than Bo Sanchez himself}with the Partnerin-Mission Award. Food '"m a n d '" g am e s < booths z w e r e opendur::r ing lunch -e time, giv0 the . ing a gym real festive atmosphere. Entertainment time was a star-studded occasion, with Jamie Rivera and our very own YOF as specialperformers. The UP brothers and sisters also prepared an evangelistic musical skit called "Pinggoy's Puppets". And of course, who could forget the lively unity dance which only seems to get better each year. (j)
We heard an inspirational talk from Raoul Roncal, and a special voice messsage from Rogel, who was unable to come because of his scheduled chemo treatment. Though the celebration is over, the spirit of giving thanks to God lives on!
Luzon Mission Trips
Fiesta at Fifteen
September and October were busy, fun-filled months for the CYA staffers and members of Northern/ Central and Southern Luzon.
CYA celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in a more creative way last November 19. One thousand
In Pili, Carnarines Sur in the Bicol Sector, CYA gave a Teachers' Recollection on "The Role of
Teachers in Youth Evangelization" to 30 professors of the University of NorthEastern Philippines (UNEP) last September 23. Simultaneously, the first Bicol-wide CLSretreat was held. It was attended by 30 young people from Naga, Pili, Legazpi and Iriga City. Sector Moderator Bob Lopez, Sector Administrator Marlo Valencia, Tisha Colayco, Jojo Arreza, Yrreg Pedernal and Bibins Mutuc spent two weeks (Oct 19-31) giving a Crossroads Retreat to 400 UNEP students in !riga, as well as conducting Men's Households and Women's Households in Naga. Up north, Alvin Zenarosa, Gigi Tupas, Myra Leyva, Arlene Tan, Oca ViIlaluz, Ronald Gutierrez and Alex Filamor stayed in Laoag from Oct.26-29 to give a Crossroads Recollection and a student leaders' retreat-cum-training to about 30 students from Laoag and Batac. Meanwhile, Gil Galeste, Penny dela Peiia, Susan Canlas, Buen Bontigao and Mike Paderon (a brother from Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon, our Partner in Mission) gave a CLSretreat in St. Paul's Uni.., versity in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. They were afterwards joined by Bambi Sitaca for a Crossroads retreat and YIELDsessions in Baguio. They even had a barndance with brothers and sisters there!
Comings and Goings We say "adieu" to volunteers Ronald Gutierrez and Juliet Reyes this semester, as we welcome Mel Clarion, Edsel Creencia and Arlene Tan to the CYA stafffamily. Arlene is a very special "import" from CYA-Los Angeles who has been here since August to receive training in youth evangehzation. Erratum:The Action Update failed to include Maricar Villariba and Terry Montaiio among those staffers who ended their term last Janu~ and May of 1995,respectively. Our sincerest apologies.
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Serving God With A Glad Heart by Pepe Ledesma, Sector Head of CYA-Western and Chapter Head of CYA-Bacolod
Visayas
It all began in February of 1990 it to. But despite my feelings, somewhen a mission team from Manila came , thing kept me from whipping out my why-I-should-not-serve-list and just to Bacolod and met with Art Legarde walking away from it all. I stayed and of the Brotherhood of Christian. Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP). I kept my mouth shut. was very new in the renewal Still overwhelmed, I flew back to then, havBacolod a few days later and immediing just ately tried to find someone to pass the finishe d bomb to. No one was there. I was stuck the Chrisand ready to quit, but my heart would tian Life not let me, not until my replacement Program came anyway. I continued to serve with as a a heavy heart. member One day, I came home from a CYA of the activity spent and frustrated, asking in r:.._-------- •••• - Singles B C B P my heart if I should continue with my a service or not. I prayed to God and few months earlier. My action asked Him the million dollar question: group leader (AGL) and our members "Lord, why ME ?" And I sensed the began supporting the newly-formed Lord reminding me of my own CYAin the University of St. La Salle painful youth, and by leading their prayer meetings and then asking: "If you serving in their first Christian Life Sehad had the opportunes. nity to turn to Me at Three months later, when my AGL an early age.... ?" I did decided that he could no longer serve not allow the Lord to in CYAas in the past, Paul Henares (of finish the question. I Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon-Bacolod) knew the answer. I fell asked me to take a more active role in down on my knees and CYA. I readily accepted the challenge, asked for His mercy to confidently thinking that all this was let me see beyond my own just a temporary measure until they needs. could find someone else who could lead From that day on I surrendered my the group. Or so I thought. service to the Lord. He assured me that In spite of my initial confidence, I even as CYA-Bacolod continues to grow, began to feel uncomfortable and appre(aside from the growing unit in La Salle, hensive about leading CYA-Bacolod we now have a CYAunit in Riverside because I' was a neophyte in the reCollege) so will He continue to mold me newal. I felt ill-equipped to lead and as His servant. relate to people half my age. I actually Renewed, refreshed, and equipped came up with a long list of reasons why with a vision and a sense of urgency I shouldn't take on the job! for our work, I have come to terms with One month later, I came to Manila my own doubts. '1 now serve the Lord to meet with, Terry Savage,then the because I dream of being with Him Visayas Regional Director. We talked someday, and because I want to bring about what CYAis, its mission and vias many souls as I can to heaven. I sion, its goals and objectives. We dis- thank God for allowing me to serve Him cussed everything except my foremost with a glad and generous heart! concern - would I take on the job or not? I felt trapped' and hemmed ill! eYA-Bae%d is now an affiliate! Napilitan! It's like someone passed me Kudos to Pepe and to a/l our brothers and a bomb and I didn't know who to pass sisters in Becoux:
CHRlST'S·YOUTH IN ACTION (CYA) is a Catholic movement of young Filipinos dedicated to evangelizing the youth and training leaders for the service of the Church. We serve colleges, universities, parishes and renewal groups'in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region. AFFILIATES. Assumption College. Ateneo de Manila University. CYA-Bacolod City. CYA-Baguio City. CYABukidnon.CYA-Cagayan de Oro. CYACebu City. CYA-Davao City. CYA-lligan, City. CYA-Laoag. CYA-SOLV (De La Salle University). CYA7Zamboanga City. . Don Bosco Technical College. Far Eastern University. Holy Angel University. Mapua Institute of Technology. Miriam College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines. St. Paul College-QC. sr. Scholastica's College. University of Santo Tomas. University of the PhilippinesDiliman. ASSOCIATES. CYA-AC (Los Banos). AIlgeles University Foundation. Araneta University. EmifioAguinaldo College.CYAGeneral Santos City. CYA-lloilo City. Mariano Marcos state University (Ilocos Norte). NAMEI. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Rizal Technological Colleges. San Beda College. San Juan de Dios College. 'San Pablo C'ity Colleges. st. Paul College-Manila. St. Paul UniversityTuguegarao. UP-PGH. ASSISTED. CYA-Basilan. BCBP~ PALS. Catholic students Society,(Malaysia). Colegio de San Lorenzo. Concordia College. CYA-Dumaguete City. CYA-Iriga City. CYA-La Salle Lipa. CYA-La Union. CYA-legazpi City. CYA-Los Angeles (USA). CYA-Lucena City. CYA-Lyceum of Batangas. CYA-Naga City. CYA-Nueva Vizcaya. CYA-Samar. CYA-Tagbilaran. East Asia Institute of Computer Technology. Fatima Medical College. MCU. 'Martinez MedicalCollege. Republic Central Colleges (Pampanga). San Mateo (Rizal). Sower's Field (Cagayan de Oro). st. Joseph Institute (llocos Sur). sto. Tomas (Batangas). TUP-Taguig. University of the Assumption (Pampanga). University of the East. UERM. YAFC-Manila. YMPACT. CYA is a Partner in Mission with the following communities and renewal movements: Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. The Brotherhoodof Christian Businessmen and Professionals. Familia. Institute for Pastoral Development. The Light of Jesus -Community. The Servants of the Word. Tahananng Panginoon. Women for Christ. Word of Joy Foundation. All donations to CYA are tax-deductible. Please forward all correspondence to our offtce at Unit 2, 127 Don Alejanc!ro Roces Ave., Laging Handa, 1103 Quezon City. Telephone number: (632) 971943. Fax number: (632) 9227514.